The five pillars of Islam are the fundamental beliefs of the faith, with the Testimony of Faith being the highest priority. The other pillars include ritual prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca. These pillars emphasize the monotheistic nature of Islam and the importance of assisting the poor and following in the footsteps of Muhammad.
The five pillars of Islam are the fundamental beliefs of the Islamic faith. They are believed to be first and foremost in importance in how one lives one’s life. They possess the same kind of sacred qualities that the Ten Commandments reserve for Jews and Christians. One major difference is that they don’t simply describe what to avoid, but what one must do to be faithful and true in one’s practice of Islam.
The pillar of the highest priority is the Testimony of Faith or Shahadah. Every Muslim must believe and say that there is no God but Allah. This underlines the monotheistic nature of Islamic belief, which differed from some of the polytheistic practices that could be found in the 7th century AD
While both Jews and Christians could certainly be found in the area where Muhammad came to power, many worshiped numerous gods. Thus, the emphasis on the one true God, the God of Abraham, and the belief in one God distinguished Muslims from those who were polytheists. He also made them brothers with Jews and Christians.
The second of the five pillars of Islam is ritual prayer, or salat. Every day, Muslims pray in Arabic five times a day. These daily prayers are always done facing Mecca, the spiritual home of Islam.
Almsgiving is the third pillar. Called Zakat in Arabic, all Muslims are obligated to assist the poor. This system is quite similar to the practice of tithing which is common in many Christian denominations. However, not everyone is required to give the same percentage. A rich man could give two and a half percent of his total savings each year. Those with large farms could donate 10-20% of their assets each year, or a portion of their profits.
The fourth of the five pillars of Islam is fasting or Siyam. All who are able must fast between the hours of sunrise and sunset during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is Ramadan. Small children, pregnant women and the elderly do not need to fast. Even most seriously ill people are not obligated to fast. However, all others must observe Siyam in obedience to the Five Pillars.
The last of these is pilgrimage or Hajj. Every Muslim must try during his life to make the annual Hajj to Mecca. This is considered jihad, as Hajj can be difficult and one may encounter difficulties along the way. However, most consider the Hajj to be of enormous spiritual importance as one is following in the footsteps of Muhammad.
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