The five pillars of Islam are;
1. Faith or belief in the Oneness of god and the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad
2. Establishment of the daily prayers;
3. Concern for and almsgiving to the needy;
4. Self-purification through fasting;
5. The pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are able.
“There is none worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is the messenger of God." This declaration of Faith is called the Shahadah, a simple formula that all the faithful pronounce. The significance of this declaration is the belief that the only purpose of life is to serve and obey God, and this is achieved through the teachings and practices of the Last Prophet Muhammad.
Salah is the name for the essential prayers that are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. Prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Quran and is generally chosen by the congregation. Prayers are said at dawn, mid-day, late-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. These five prescribed prayers contain verses from the Quran.
An important principle of Islam is that everything belongs to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakah means both "purification" and "growth." Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need and for the society in general. Like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.
Every year in the month of Ramada-n all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown--abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations with their spouses. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are menstruating, pregnant or nursing, are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year if they are healthy and able. Although fasting is beneficial to health, it is mainly a method of self-purification and self-restraint. By cutting oneself from worldly comforts, a fasting person focuses on his or her purpose in life by constantly being aware of the presence of God.
The pilgrimage to Makkah (the hajj) is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to do so. The annual hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year. Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments that strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God.