1) Shahada: Testifying to God's One-ness: The declaration "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His prophet."

2) Salat: Prayer. General Features of Islamic Prayer Five prayer times each day: early morning noon mid-afternoon sunset evening Raq'ah:Bowing and prostration. Represents submission to God. Ablutions, symbolic purification by washing hands, feet, etc. with water (or sand). Qiblah, direction for prayer towards Mecca. Designated byMihrab, niche in the wall.

Du'a, spontaneous private prayer exists, but is less important than communal worship. Elements of Public prayer: Masjid (Mosque): Minaret(Tower forMuadhdhinto announce services). Imamleads prayers. Worshippers stand behind in straight lines. Imam or other scholar delivers a sermon (khutba) from the pulpit (minbar). Women are not required to attend prayers. When they do, they usually stand behind the men men. Friday,Yawm al-Jum'ah(Day of Assembly), main day of public prayer.

3) Zakat: Giving charity. Originally a free-will donation (what is no calledSadaqah). Now largely compulsory. General rate: 2 1/2% of income annually. Given only to needy Muslims, or for religious purposes, etc.

4) Sawm: Fast In memory of the revelation of theQur'an. During month ofRamadan, daylight hours. Those who have medical exemptions etc. should fast at another time. 'Id al-Fitr, Feast of Fast-breaking: at beginning of next month.

5) Hajj: Pilgrimage. Every Muslim man and woman (if physically and economically able) should try to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life-time. Egalitarian atmosphere,Ihram: donning of simple white garments. Refraining from sex, haircuts, jewelry, arguing, etc. Importance of theKa'ba, associations with Abraham, Hagar Ishmael and Muhammad.

Symbolic reenactments of past events: Tawaf: CirclingKa'bacounterclockwise seven times, emphasizing its centrality. Touching black stone of Ka'bah Sa'y: Running seven times between hills and drinking fromZamamspring (recalling Hagar's running for water) Throwing 49 stones at stone "Satan"s (recalling the resistance to Satan's attempts to prevent Abraham from sacrificing Ishmael). On eighth day pilgrims move to the desert and live in tents. Rituals performed there include: Wuquf: Standing in prayer at the Plain of Arafat and Mount of Mercy. 'Id al-Adha(Feast of Sacrifice): Head or household slaughters animal for feast. Meat is also distributed to the poor. Return to Mecca for second circling of Ka'bah.The Five Pillars of Islamby Matt SlickThe Five Pillars of Islam are core beliefs that shape Muslim thought, deed, and society. A Muslim who fulfills the Five Pillars of Islam, remains in the faith of Islam, and sincerely repents of his sins will make it to Jannah (paradise). If he performs the Five Pillars but does not remain in the faith, he will not be saved.1. Shahada1. The Shahada is the Islamic proclamation that "There is no true God except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."2. This is the confession that Allah is the one and only true God, that Allah alone is worthy of worship, and that Allah alone is the sovereign lord who does what he wills with whoever he wills. It means that all his rules and laws found in the Koran are to be followed. It means that the Christian doctrine of God as a Trinity is false--as are all other belief systems including pantheism.3. Muhammad is the true and greatest prophet of Allah, and recognition of Muhammad as the Prophet of God is required. It was through Muhammad that Allah conveyed the last and final revelation.2. Prayer (Salat)1. Prayer involves confession of sins, which begins with the purification of the body and ends with the purification of the soul. Prayer is performed five times a day. The first prayer is at dawn and the last at sunset.2. The names of the prayers are Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha. The Maghrib prayer is the sunset prayer. Isha is the prayer that is said after sunset. There is also a prayer that is said right after Fajr known as Shurooq.3. Fasting (Saum)1. The month of Ramadan is the month of fasting in Islam. It is an act of worship where the faithful follower denies his own needs and seeks Allah. Usually, this fasting entails no drinking, eating, or sexual relations during the daylight hours for the entire month of Ramadan.4. Alms-giving or charity (Zakat)1. This is about charity given to the poor. It benefits the poor and helps the giver by moving him towards more holiness and submission to Allah. Alms-giving is considered a form of worship to God.5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)1. This is the pilgrimage to Mecca. All Muslims, if they are able, are to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. It involves financial sacrifice and is an act of worship. Muslims must make the pilgrimage the first half of the last month of the lunar year.