5 Pillars Of Islam Research Paper

The five pillars of Islam

To live life as a Muslim it is essential for one to understand the basis of this religious belief. For a practicing Muslim that would be what is known as the five pillars of Islam. This is probably best understood as the core values of the faith. Simply put what one must believe and do in order to be considered a practicing Muslim. These five pillars are where the worship practice begins for the Muslim believer, the substratum of the faith. Muslims believe that the foundation for the five pillars were set during the lifetime of Mohammed (p.472). No one pillar out ranks the other in value, but all are viewed equally and hold the same level of importance. All of these pillars have a great significance and address different aspects of the faith. Like most religions some of these practices are directly related to special seasons or times when they are to be performed. It is expected of all adult Muslims that these pillars be performed (p.472).

This is known as the Shahada. The declaration that Muslims believe is: "there is no God but God and Mohammed is the messenger of God" (p.472). While equally important as the other four pillars, this particular pillar differs in that it is a declaration of Faith and not something that is "practiced". This is the core and cornerstone of the Muslim belief. This affects every aspect of the individual’s life. It governs or should govern how you live, how you think, and how you interact with others. One way of putting it would be that this is the belief and declaration that secures your