Summary: The Five Pillars of Islam are the foundation of the entire faith. Without the pillars there is no Islam. The pillars include: The profession of faith ndash; There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his messenger. It is considered by many scholars the most important of the five. Prayer is also considered a pillar ndash; it is intended to focus a Muslimrsquo;s mind on Allah and is practiced five times a day. The giving of alms, Zakat, is another important pillar, although only those who have the means to give must. Observing the month of Ramadan ndash; in which Muslims fast from sunup to sundown ndash; is the fourth pillar. The fifth is the Hajj ndash; the once in a lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca Muslims are expected to make if they can afford it. These five are the most widely observed and recognized pillars of Islam. There are some who think a sixth ndash; jihad ndash; should be added. And there are other groups who think they there should be as many as seven ndash; but the majority of Muslims live their lives within the framework of the five pillars.
