What are the ‘Five (5) Pillars’ of Islam?
They are the framework of the Muslim life: faith, prayer, charity, fasting & pilgrimage. 1 – Faith There is no god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad (PBUH) is His messenger. This declaration of faith is called the ‘Shahada’. 2 – Prayer Salat is the name for the daily obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day. The prayer can be performed alone or in congregation at a mosque. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam and no priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Quran chosen by the congregation. Verses from the Quran are read throughout the prayer. Muslims face the direction of the Ka’ba (holy shrine in the city of Makkah) during the prayer and take ablution before beginning. Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall. Although it is preferable to perform prayers in a mosque, a Muslim can pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and schools. 3 – The ‘Zakat’: Charity One of the most importa
