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About Islam and Muslims Five Pillars of Islam |
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The Five Pillars of Islam
According to the Qur'an, there are five pillars or central guiding principles of Islam. The pillars offer practices and rituals that are thought to bring an individual closer to God by integrating the spiritual into everyday life. In brief, the five pillars are:
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Shahada is the foundation of the faith, the declaration that "There is only One God, and Muhammad is his Messenger."
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Salat calls for Muslims to perform five daily prayers at dawn, mid-day, late afternoon, dusk, and late evening.
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Zakat is based on the principle that all things belong to God and calls on Muslims to share 2.5 percent of their net worth, annually, with the needy.
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Sawm, or fasting, means that during the entire Muslim holy month of Ramadan from sun up to sundown, Muslims must abstain from food, liquids and sexual relations as a form of self-purification.
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Hajj is the pilgrimage that Muslims are required to make to Mecca at least once in their life, if they have the means to do so. The Hajji or Muslim pilgrim treats this journey toward self-betterment as a time for spiritual reflection.
For more information about the pillars of Islam, please explore our “Learn More” pages, including Recommended Reading and Multimedia Resources.
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