The five pillars of Islam are the foundation of Muslim practice. They are acts of worship that shape belief, character and community. Let's take each one in turn, with its evidence.
1. Shahada — the declaration of faith
"There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger." It is the entry point into Islam and the summary of its creed.
2. Salah — the five daily prayers
Performed at Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. Check accurate times for your city on our prayer times page.
3. Zakat — the annual charity
A fixed 2.5% of qualifying wealth. Work out yours with the Zakat calculator.
4. Sawm — fasting in Ramadan
Fasting from dawn to sunset in the month of Ramadan, as mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183.
5. Hajj — the pilgrimage
Once in a lifetime for those who are able. See our step-by-step guide: How to Perform Hajj, and the shorter How to Perform Umrah.
"Islam is built upon five..." — Sahih al-Bukhari 8; Sahih Muslim 16