The Five Pillars Of Islam

There are five pillars of Islam

1. The declaration of faith: To bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His messenger to all human beings till the day of judgment. The Prophet hood of Muhammad obliges the Muslims to follow his exemplary life as a model.

2. Prayers: Daily prayers are offered five times a day as a duty towards Allah. They strengthen and enliven the belief in Allah and inspire man to a higher morality. They purify the heart and prevent temptation towards wrong-doings and evils.

3. Fasting the month of Ramadan: The Muslims during the month of Ramadan not only abstain from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset, but also from evil intentions and desires. It teaches love, sincerity and devotion. It develops a sound social conscience, patience, unselfishness and will power.

4. Zakat: To pay annually 2.5% of one's net saving on which a year has passed as religious duty and purifying sum to be spent on poorer sections of the community.

5. Pilgrimage to Makkah: it is to be performed once in a lifetime, if one can afford it financially and physically.

Besides these pillars every action, which is done with awareness that it fulfills the will of Allah, is also considered an act of worship. Islam enjoins faith in the Oneness and Sovereignty of Allah, which makes man aware of the meaningfulness of the Universe and of his place in it. This belief frees him from all fears and superstitions by making him conscious of the presence of the Almighty Allah and of man's obligations towards Him. This faith must be expressed and tested in action.
Faith alone is not enough. Belief in one god requires that we look upon all humanity as one family under the universal omnipotence of god- the creator and nourisher of the all Islam rejects the idea of a chosen people, making faith in god and good action only way to heaven. Thus, a direct relationship is established with god, without any intercessor