Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam are core beliefs that shape Muslim thought, deed, and society.

Shahada (Belief): The Shahada is the Islamic proclamation that "There is no God except God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God."
Salat (Prayer): Formal prayer occurs five times a day, from dawn until sunset. It is preceded by wudu, or purification of the body. The names of the five prayers are Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha.
Saum (Fasting): 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 God. Usually, this fasting entails no drinking or eating during the daylight hours for the entire month of Ramadan.
Zakat (Alms-giving or charity): Charity given to the poor. It benefits the poor and it helps the giver by moving him towards more holiness and submission to God. Alms-giving is considered a form of worship to God.
Hajj (Pilgrimage): 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. A pilgrimage counts as hajj if it occurs during the month of Hajj (the last month of the lunar year); otherwise it is called umra.