the fifth pillar

5. Pilgrimage: the Qur’ran commands Muslims to make a hajj which is a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, if they are physically and financially able to.
a. Men must wear 2 pieces of unsewn white cloth called the ihram
b. Women must wear a white down and headscarf
c. While wearing these clothes no one can kill any animal or insect, removed any hair or engage in any sexual act.
d. Then they stand at Arafat and listen to sermon from Mount Arafat.
e. Muslims may also spend the night at Muzdalifah, throw stones at the 3 pillars (where Ishmael drove away Satan’s temptations).
f. They may also sacrifice an animal such as a sheep or a goat
g. Additional acts include
i. Kissing or touching the Black Stone
ii. Running seven times along a corridor of the Great Mosque.
iii. Taking water from a well called Zamzam.


http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar282380&st=islam

the fourth pillar

4. Fasting: must fast in the month of Ramadan
a. Ninth month of Islamic calendar which is lunar
b. While fasting Muslims don’t eat food, drink any beverages including water, smoke or having any type of sexual relations.
c. At night or before sunlight they may do all these things
d. Some people may be excused from fasting including the sick, injured, elderly and pregnant or nursing women.

http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar282380&st=islam

the third pillar

3. Almsgiving: Arabic term is zakat = purification.
a. Muslims must give a certain percentage of their wealth to the needy, which helps them recognize that all things belong to God.
b. Zakat is paid once a year in the form of a tax.
c. Most donations go to mosques, Islamic centers, or welfare organizations

http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar282380&st=islam

the second pillar

1. Prayer: required to pray 5 times a day; just before dawn, midday, midafternoon, just after sunset and at night.
a. Prayer is called salat
b. Most important demonstration of devotion to God
c. Before praying Muslims must wash their hands, their face, parts of their arms and head, and their feet.
d. When praying Muslims stand facing the Holy city of Mecca in Saudia Arabia.
e. Repeat “God is the greatest” and an opening verse of the Qur’ran called Fatihah.
f. Each cycle of prayer is called a raka which means bowing in Arabic. Cycle includes; Qur’ran recitation, the bow, kneeling face down twice, sitting and standing up.
g. Fridays, Muslims gather together to pray. Typically men pray at the front of the group and women pray in a separate section behind or beside them.

http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar282380&st=islam

the first pillar

1. Shahadah: means an act of bearing witness, the basis of all the other pillars.
a. “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah” à 1 God, monotheism
b. “I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” à Muhammad = God’s messenger

http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar282380&st=islam