Islam Basic

The 5 Pillars of Islam

The five “pillars” of Islam structure a Muslim’s life, reinforcing faith and calling upon Muslims to be humble, generous, thankful, self-disciplined, tolerant, and thoughtful of others. Read more about the “Five Pillars of Islam”: declaration of faith, daily prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage.

• Declaration of Faith (Shahaadah)

Fundamental to a Muslim’s spiritual life is the declaration of faith (shahaadah). Here you can explore the deeper meaning of the declaration: “There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is the messenger of Allah.”

Converting to Islam
Embracing Islam is as simple as making the formal “declaration of faith” (shahaadah), because believing this fundamental testimony is what makes one a Muslim.

• Prayer (Salat)

Muslims pray at least five times a day. Learn all about prayer in Islam – how to do it, when and why. Includes detailed information on how to perform the dail

Perform the Muslim Prayers
How to perform the daily Muslim prayers, including the words and movements.

Daily Prayer Timings
Muslims observe five formal prayers each day. At what time do daily prayers occur? Here is an overview.

• Almsgiving (Zakat)

Muslims give a small percentage of their annual savings as alms or charity, called zakat. Learn about what zakat is and how to calculate the amount.

• Ramadan

Every year, Muslims spend one entire month in daytime fasting. Learn more

about the observance of Ramadan and the holiday that follows its completion, Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking).

• Hajj & Eid al-Adha

Learn more about the Islamic pilgrimage and the holiday that follows it, Eid al-Adha (the Festival of Sacrifice).

Hajj Information
Every year, millions of Muslims from around the world make the journey to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual pilgrimage (or Hajj). Dressed in the same simple white clothing to represent human equality, the pilgrims gather to perform rites dating back to the time of Abraham.