1.   The Qur’an establishes specific actions that a Muslim must perform in order to be on the right path. Muslims refer to these acts as the “Five Pillars,” because they form the foundation for an Islamic way of life.

Shahaadah (testimony, or bearing witness): The most basic, essential element of the Islam is the belief that, “There is but one God, and Muhammad is God’s Prophet.”

Salaat (prayer): Muslim’s are instructed to pray five times daily, facing Makkah.

The traditional times of prayer in Islam are dawn, noon, mid afternoon, and evening. The exact times depend on the movement of the sun and vary according to the season. At prayer time, the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer from the top of the minaret (tower) of the mosque. Muslims face Makkah when they pray because this is where the Ka’aba is. The Ka’aba is a shrine that Muslims believe was first built by Abraham and dedicated to the worship of the one true God. It contains the sacred Black Stone, revered as a remnant of Abraham’s original structure.

Zakaat (almsgiving): The Qur’an instructs Muslims to be charitable and praises those who help the needy. This help may be monetary or in kind. Muslims give most generously during the holy month of Ramadan and on holidays. Additional contributions are also a way to atone for breaking the Ramadan fast.

Sawm (fasting): Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during the ninth month of the Islamic year (a lunar cycle). The fast is considered an act of personal worship, bringing one closer to God through sacrifice and purification of the body.

Hajj (pilgrimage): The Hajj commemorates the actions of the Prophet Muhammad during his last pilgrimage to Makkah. Millions of Muslims go to Makkah every year for the Hajj, making it the world’s largest religious gathering. Although it is the duty of all Muslims to fulfill the Hajj at least once in their lives, those who suffer from hardship are exempt from the obligation. The Hajj consists of a series of rites performed between the eighth and twelfth days of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Each pilgrim wears a simple garment called an ihraam. Some of the rites of the Hajj include collectively circling the Ka`aba and the symbolic action of casting stones at Satan. The central rite of the Hajj is wuquf, which means “standing.” On the plain of `Arafaat, where the Prophet Muhammad gave his Farewell Sermon, pilgrims spend hours praising God, praying, and asking for God’s blessings and forgiveness.

Islamic holidays