The five pillars to becoming a good Muslim

Shahada

The Shahada (Arabic: ‫( شهادة‬help·info) transliteration: Šahādah) is the basic creed or tenet
of Islam (Submission): "'ašhadu 'en-lā ilāha ilāh-lāhu wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan
'abduho wa rasūluh", or "I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that
Muhammad is fully submitted[abduho] and messenger of Allah". As the most important
pillar, this testament is a foundation for all other beliefs and practices in Islam. Ideally, it
is the first words a newborn will hear, and children are taught as soon as they are able to
understand it and it will be recited when they die. Muslims repeat the shahadah in prayers
in the part called 'Al Tashahud, after the second kneeling and before the end of the prayer
, non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam are required to recite the creed. Technically
the Shi'a do not consider the Shahadah to be a separate pillar.

Salat

The second pillar of Islam is Salat, the requirement to pray five times a day at fixed
times. The time of day to pray are at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night fall.
Each salat is performed facing towards the Kaaba in Makkah. Salat is intended to focus
the mind on Allah; it is seen as a personal communication with Allah, expressing
gratitude and worship. According to the Qur'an, the benefit of prayer "restrains [one]
from shameful and evil deeds".

Salat is compulsory but some flexibility in the specifics is allowed depending on the
circumstances. For example, in the case of sickness or a lack of space, a worshipper can
offer salah while sitting, or even lying down, and the prayer can be shortened when
travelling. The salah must be performed in the Arabic language to the best of each
worshipper's ability. If they cannot speak Arabic, then their native language can't be used.
The lines of prayer are to be recited by heart (although beginners may use written aids),
and the worshipper's body and clothing, as well as the place of prayer, must be cleansed.

Muslims performing salat (prayer)

All prayers should be conducted within the prescribed time period (waqt) and with the
appropriate number of units (raka'ah). While the prayers may be made at any point within
the waqt, it is considered best to begin them as soon as possible after the call to prayer is
heard.
Zakah

Zakat, or alms-giving, is the practice of charitable giving by Muslims based on

accumulated wealth, and is obligatory for all who are able to do so. It is considered to be
a personal responsibility for Muslims to ease economic hardship for others and eliminate
inequality. Zakah consists of spending a fixed portion of one's wealth for the benefit of
the poor or needy, including slaves, debtors and travellers. A Muslim may also donate
more as an act of voluntary charity (sadaqah), in order to achieve additional divine
reward.

There are two main types of zakah. First, there is the zakah on traffic, which is a fixed
amount based on the cost of food that is paid during the month of Ramadan by the head
of a family for himself and his dependents. Second, there is the zakah on wealth, which
covers money made in business, savings, income, and so on. In current usage zakah is
treated as a 2.5% levy on most valuables and savings held for a full lunar year, as long as
the total value is more than a basic minimum known as nisab (three ounces or 87.48g of
gold). As of 20 September 2008, nisab is approximately US$2,640 or an equivalent
amount in any other currency. Many Shi'ites are expected to pay an additional amount in
the form of a khums tax, which they consider to be a separate ritual practice.

Sawm (during month of Ramadan)

Many Muslims traditionally break their fasts in Ramadan with dates (like those offered
by this date seller in Kuwait City), as was the recorded practice (Sunnah) of Muhammad.

Three types of fasting (Sawm) are recognized by the Qur'an: Ritual fasting, fasting as
compensation or repentance, and ascetic fasting.

Ritual fasting is an obligatory act during the month of Ramadan Muslims must abstain
from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk during this month, and are to
be especially mindful of other sins. The fast is meant to allow Muslims to seek nearness
to Allah, to express their gratitude to and dependence on him, to atone for their past sins,
and to remind them of the needy. During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put
more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger,
envy, greed, lust, harsh language, gossip and to try to get along with each other better
than normal. In addition, all obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided.

Fasting during Ramadan is not obligatory, and even forbidden in some cases, for several
groups for whom it would be dangerous or excessively problematic. These include pre-
pubescent children, those with a medical condition such as diabetes, elderly people, and
pregnant or breastfeeding women. Observing fasts is not permitted for menstruating
women. Other individuals for whom it is considered acceptable not to fast are those who
are ill or on a travel. Missing fasts usually must be made up soon afterwards, although the
exact requirements vary according to circumstance.
Many Muslims break their fast with a date because it is claimed Muhammed broke his
fast with a date.
Hajj

The hajj to the Kaaba, in Makkah, is an important practice in Islam.

The Hajj is a pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah to the
holy city of Makkah, and derives from an ancient Arab practice. Every able-bodied
Muslim is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in their lifetime if they
can afford it. When the pilgrim is around ten kilometers from Mecca, he must dress in
Ihram clothing, which consists of two white sheets. Females are not required to make the
pilgrimage to makkah, as the Hajj is only mandatory for the men. After a Muslim male
makes the trip to makkah, he is known as a hajji( one who made the pilgrimage to
Mecca). The main rituals of the Hajj include walking seven times around the Kaaba,
touching the Black Stone, traveling seven times between Mount Safa and Mount
Marwah, and symbolically stoning the Devil in Mina.

The pilgrim, or the haji, is honoured in their community. For some, this is an incentive to
perform the Hajj. Islamic teachers say that the Hajj should be an expression of devotion
to Allah, not a means to gain social standing. The believer should be self-aware and
examine their intentions in performing the pilgrimage. This should lead to constant
striving for self-improvement

A pilgrimage made at any time other than the Hajj season is called an Umrah, and while
not mandatory is strongly encouraged.