Islam
The Five Pillars
The five pillars of Islam are the fundamental 'building blocks' of Islam. As the name 'pillars' suggests, they alone are not the entire faith, but they are the foundation upon which the faith rests. They are also considered 'obligatory' - that is, when you become Muslim you are promising to Allah that you will do these things if it is possible to do so. Before you make the decision to become Muslim, think carefully about what this will involve so that you are prepared for the practical implications.
The five pillars are all physical acts. There are six pillars of belief that are known as the 'Articles of Faith'.
Here is a brief summary of the five pillars. This is not intended as a comprehensive guide, but should be enough to get you started.
Shahadah
The 'declaration of faith' that one must read aloud to become Muslim. In Arabic it reads 'laa ilaha il Allah, Muhammad ur-rasoolullah'. In English it means 'there is no god but Allah, Muhammad is His messenger'. If you utter these words, with sincerity and two Muslim witnesses, you become Muslim.
Salah
Prayer. Every Muslim is required to pray five times a day (although there are certain exceptions, such as when a female Muslim is menstruating).
The times of prayer are:
- Fajr - between dawn and sunrise
- Dhuhr - just after midday until half way through the afternoon
- Asr - from mid-afternoon until just before sunset
- Maghrib - from sunset (i.e. when the sun has completely disappeared from the horizon) until dusk
- Isha' - from dusk until dawn
Zakat
The word 'zakat' means 'purification' or 'growth'. In Islam it is the practice, once a year, of giving a small percentage of your wealth to the needy and other groups specified by Allah. The rate for cash is 2.5%, although the rules are a little more complex than this. Note that this 'religious tax' only applies to those with a certain level of wealth.
Hajj
The pilgrimage to Mecca. For all those Muslims who are able to afford to do so, it is a requirement that they make the trip Mecca, Saudi Arabia, once in their lifetime (again there are exceptions, such as for the blind). The pilgrimage involves visiting the holiest sites of Islam, including the Ka'ba (the 'house of God') and the performance of rituals.