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Shahadah: The first pillar of Islam, the declaration faith. Voluntarily uttering the phrase “La Illahah Illal Lahu, Muammadur Rasulul Lah” (I bear witness that there is no got but God, and the Muhammad is last and Final Messanger.) Shadhadah comes from the Arabic word, Shahid, meaning witness. You yourself are a witness to your own declaration, to a signing, one could say of your own contract. Only you will feel negative repercussions if this contract it violated, therefore, the Shahadah is a personal means of verification. You and only you, can keep yourself in check. It’s perhaps one of the most symbolic things to say. For anyone can utter words without sincerity, but to be able to say that these words are the foundation for your faith says a lot about Islam; and yourself. You decide how strong you want this foundation to be.

Salah:  Salah, or prayer. A Muslim must pray five times a day, every day. One could say that it’s the practical demonstration of Shahadah. Within prayer you are bringing yourself to take maybe at most 5  minutes of your time, dropping what you’re doing and just keeping in touch with God and yourself. My dad says prayer is often a time of self evaluation, he says we make a lot of mistakes in a day, and that praying 5 times a day covers all bases, so you can go to bed without remorse. Prayer also in the most physical of manners humbles you. When you bend down in a position known as Ruku, or bowing, you say in Arabic, “Sub-hana Rabbi-al ‘azeem” (Praise Allah, the most powerful) notice, how humbling this is. You are saying “Praise God, the most powerful” while you are bowing, while your core, the very source of your power is compromised in a bowing state. Another aspect of prayer, Sujud, or prostration happens when you lower yourself to the ground. While face down, you say “Sub-hana Rabbi yal a’la” (Glory to my Lord, the Most high) again humbling yourself towards a higher deity. Here you are, face down, and your are saying “Glory to God, the most high” and you are in your lowest position.  Humbling if nothing else.

Zakat: Alms giving, charity. Another important aspect of Islam. A compulsory payment made exclusively to help those in need. It is neither implemented as option charity nor as a governmental tax. It’s mandatory but it will not help the government, it seeks to help only those in need. This also creates an aspect of trust among the Muslim people, a safety net of sorts, where Muslims have no need to fear receiving aid from those they call brothers. And those who are giving learn the line between excess and necessity.

Sawm:  Sawm, or fasting. During the month of Ramadan, all those who are physically able fast for thirty days from Sun up to sun down. During this time, you cannot eat, drink or engage in spousal relations. Ramadan serves as a means to heighten spiritual awareness. Taking away from the aforementioned activities leads for one to focus on reading the Qur’an and praying.  It helps you learn self control, and helps a person rise above such vises of greed, selfishness, and laxity,

Hajj:  Hajj, or the pilgrimage to Mecca, the last, and usually final pillar in Islam. Hajj is an annual event in which every Muslim who is physically and financially able should make an effort to attend. Every year thousands upon thousands of Muslims make the trek to Saudi Arabia for the single sole purpose of becoming for spiritually attuned, for the worship of one God. Muslims from every corner of the globe travel for the same single goal. Each Muslim wears two simple white garments, known as Ihram. When a Muslim dons these garments, he or she is indistinguishable from another. He is just another pilgrim. Another Muslim who has come to the perform the Ultimate in worship. You cannot tell a beggar from a surgeon, a nomad from a banker. All are equal. Hajj is the personification of God’s view of Muslims and humanity: simply equal.