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Pillars of Islam

Explore the Five Pillars of Islam: belief, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage, and see how they shape daily life, community, and worship.

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Fascinating Fact:

Five daily prayers at set times: dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset, night. Prayers require purity, facing the Kaaba, and mindful recitation and bowing.

In Specialist Islam, the Pillars of Islam summarise core worship and character: the declaration of faith, regular prayer, charitable giving, fasting in Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Makkah. Together they build discipline, gratitude, and community responsibility.

Key Terms

Shahada: The declaration that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger.
Salah: The five daily ritual prayers performed at set times facing the Kaaba.
Zakah: Obligatory charity, usually a fixed percentage of eligible wealth, to support those in need.

To explore primary sources and classic works, see this curated List of Islamic texts on Wikipedia.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

The Five Pillars are Shahada (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakah (charity), Sawm (fasting in Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah for those able).

Who must perform Hajj and when does it take place?

Hajj is required once in a lifetime for adults who are physically and financially able. It occurs in Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic year.

How is Zakah different from voluntary charity (Sadaqah)?

Zakah is compulsory and calculated on eligible wealth to aid specific groups. Sadaqah is voluntary and can be given anytime to anyone in need.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

What is the percentage of Obligatory Charity (Zakaah) on Muslims?

3.5%

1.5%

2.5%

4.5%

All things belong to God, and wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The original meaning of the word zakat is both ‘purification’ and ‘growth.’ Giving zakat means ‘giving a specified percentage on certain properties to certain classes of needy people.’ The percentage which is due on gold, silver, and cash funds that have reached the amount of about 85 grams of gold and held in possession for one lunar year is two and a half percent.

Our possessions are purified by setting aside a small portion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth. A person may also give as much as he or she pleases as voluntary alms or charity

2 .

How many times should a Muslim perform pilgrimage in his / her life?

It is mandatory to perform once in a lifetime, if they have enough provisions for performing Pilgrimage (Hajj)

It is mandatory for Muslims to perform Pilgrimage (Hajj) at least twice in a life time

It is not mandatory at all for Muslims to perform Pilgrimage (Hajj)

It is mandatory for Muslims to perform Pilgrimage (Hajj) at least five times

The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform it

3 .

Where do Muslims go for the Pilgrimage (Hajj)?

Baitul Muqaddas (Al-Aqsa Mosque Palestine)

Karbala (Iraq)

Dubai (UAE)

Makkah (Saudi Arabia)

4 .

What are the Pillars of Islam?

Belief (Shahadah), Prayers (Salaah), Obligatory Charity (Zakah), Fasting (Sawm), Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Belief (Shahadah), Prayers (Salaah), Fasting (Sawm), Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Obligatory Charity (Zakah), Fasting (Sawm), Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Belief (Shahadah), Prayers (Salaah), Obligatory Charity (Zakah), Pilgrimage (Hajj)

5 .

How many times does a Muslim offer Obligatory Prayers (Salaah) in a day?

Five times

Four times

Three times

Six times

Muslims perform five prayers a day. Each prayer does not take more than a few minutes to perform. Prayer in Islam is a direct link between the worshipper and God. There are no intermediaries between God and the worshipper

6 .

What is Belief (Shahadah)?

Shahadah is the recitation of Quran

Shahadah is declaring there is no God except Allah, and Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

Shahadah is declaring that there is no God

Shahadah is the recitation of Quran during Prayers

The testimony of faith is saying with conviction, “La Ilaha Illallah, Muhammadur Rasool Allah.” This saying means “There is no true God but Allah, and Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger (Prophet) of Allah.” The first part, “There is no true God but Allah,” means that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, and that Allah has neither partner nor son. This belief or testimony of faith is called the Shahada. The testimony of faith is the most important pillar of Islam

7 .

Which direction do Muslims face while offering prayers (Salaah)?

Baitul Muqaddas (Al-Aqsa Mosque Palestine)

Kaaba (Makkah)

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Abu Dhabi)

The Al-Fateh Mosque (Bahrain)

Muslims pray facing the Kaaba which is in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is the direction toward which Muslims from all over the world pray facing

8 .

When do Muslims observe fasting (Sawm) for a month?

During the month of Rajjab

During the month of Dul-Hijjah

During the month of Sha’ban

During the month of Ramadhan

The fourth Pillar of Islam, the Fast of Ramadhan, occurs once each year during the 9th lunar month, the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar

9 .

Is it permitted to drink water while Fasting (Sawm)?

It is permitted to drink little water while fasting

No, it is not permitted to eat or drink anything while fasting

It is permitted to drink juice while fasting

It is permitted to eat dates while fasting

Fasting helps Muslims develop self-control; gain a better understanding of Allah’s gifts and greater compassion towards the deprived. Fasting in Islam involves abstaining from all bodily pleasures between dawn and sunset. During this period from dawn to dusk, Muslims eat not a grain of food nor drink a drop of water. It is not just the food and drink which is forbidden, but also everything which can be associated with evil such as foul speaking, lying, ogling etc.

10 .

Which one of the Pillars is considered as the most important Pillar

Prayers (Salaah)

Fasting (Sawm)

Belief (Shahadah)

Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Belief or Testimony of Faith is considered as the most important pillar of Islam

Author: Mohammed Azmath (Respected Islamic Scholar and Educator)