The Five Pillars

Shahada-Profession of Faith

Shahada-Profession of Faith

• When an infant is born, you have to whisper the shahada in its ears
• You have to recite that Allah is the only god
• You have to accept that even though there were prophets before him, Muhammad was the greatest
• You have to recite that Muhammad is Allah's prophet
• It is the first step of converting to Islam and becoming a Muslim

Salat-Prayer

Salat-Prayer

• Five times a day
• Before prayer, you have to do wudu, which is cleansing of oneself
• In wudu, you wash lots of your body parts three times
• Muslims pray in Mosques
• When you pray, you face the Quibla which is facing Mecca

Zakat-Charity

Zakat-Charity

• In some countries, the tax is called Zakat
• In some countries, Muslims give their individual donations
• You donate 2.5% of your income
• You care for the poor
• And money goes into funding Muslims and to the poor

Sawn-Fasting

Sawn-Fasting

• No good from sunrise to sunset
• Ramadan one month a year
• The sick, very young children, and the pregnant not required to fast
• There is a celebration at the end of Ramadan
• Eat huge feasts before sunrise and sunset

Hajj-Pilgrimage to Mecca

Hajj-Pilgrimage to Mecca

• This is for people that are financially and physically able
• Must pray at the Kaaba
• pilgrims wear simple garments to erase cultural and class differences to stand equal before God
• More than two million people visit Mecca a year
• Circle around the Kaaba counterclockwise seven times