Five Pillars Of Islam
1. Shahadatain (Testimony). To bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah (The Creator), and that Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa salam) is His Messenger, ("La ilaha illa Allah , Muhammadur rasoolu Allah.").
2. Salah. Muslims perform five prayers a day. Prayer in Islam is a direct link between the worshipper and Allah. There are no intermediaries between Allah and the worshipper. The five salah are: Salatul- Fajr (The Dawn Prayer), Salatul- Dhuhr ( The Noon Prayer), Salatul- Asr (The Afternoon Prayer), Salatul- Maghrib (The Sunset Prayer), and Salatul- Isha (The Evening Prayer).
3. Zakaah (Charity/ Support of the Needy). All things belong to Allah, and wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The literal and simple meaning of the word zakaah is purity or purification, while its technical meaning designates the annual amount in kind or cash that a Muslim with means must distribute among the rightful beneficiaries from his yearly net savings. Its religious and spiritual significance is much deeper and more valuable than its humanitarian, and socio-political value.
4. Sawn (Fasting). Every year in the month of Ramadhan, Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, abstaining from food, drink and sexual intercourse. Although the fast is beneficial to health, it is regarded principally as a method of spiritual self-purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry.
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca). The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca is an obligatory act once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. It is the largest annual convention of faith where Muslims meet to know one another, study their common affairs and promote their general welfare without prejudice or bias as to one's color, race or nationality as well as status in life.
Nesaa Rj, 02/02/2012
(references: 1. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam, Darussalam Houston, pp.65-68. 2. This Is The Truth (A Newly Discovered Scientific Facts Revealed in the Qur'an and Authentic Hadeeth), compiled by Abdullah M. Al-Rehaili, p. 72-73)