Five Pillars of Islam

Five Pillars of Islam

Monotheism is defined as the belief in the existence of one God or the oneness of God. The religion of Islam is a monotheistic religion; the foundation of Muslim life consists of the five pillars of Islam. To the followers of the Islamic religion, these five pillars are basic acts; therefore, believers consider them mandatory.

The core message of Islam is the belief in the one true God and the acceptance that he alone should be worshipped. The first pillar of Islam requires the declaration of faith in one God, and Muhammad as his messenger, by doing so it effectively follows the core message of Islam. The Shahadah is an Islamic creed, which is to be stated during daily prayer and other special occasions. Reciting of the Shahadah is also a requirement when converting to Islam. The Shahadah in its shortest version reads, “There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God.” Muslims believe that the first pillar is without value unless the person reciting it is sincere. The first pillar plays a key role in the Islamic religion due to the direct emphasis on the religions most fundamental and important aspects.

The second pillar of Islam is Salah, which means prayer. Muslims have a requirement to offer five daily prayers, which are timed according to the position of the sun, one at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. The Islamic faith is based on the belief that individuals have a direct relationship with God. The five daily prayers serve as a way for Muslims to feel united with God. Although it is recommended to pray in a mosque, it is not a requirement, praying can also be preformed alone or with a group. Many Muslims perform their prayers at home, school or even work.

Zakat or alms giving is the third pillar of Islam and is the practice of giving to charity. Zakat is required by all Muslims that are able to do so. Social responsibility is considered a service to God, and through the zakat, this obligation is...