Practices

Salah, the formal prayer performed five times a day, is the second pillar of Islam. Muslims pray at appointed times facing the Kaaba in Mecca, after a ritual washing (wudu), as a direct link with God.

Zakat, the third pillar of Islam, is an obligatory annual payment of a fixed portion of one's accumulated wealth (commonly 2.5%) to people in need — an act of worship that purifies wealth and supports the community.

Sawm, fasting during the month of Ramadan, is the fourth pillar of Islam. From dawn to sunset Muslims abstain from food, drink, and marital relations to grow in God-consciousness, with exemptions for those unable to fast.

Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is the pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca that every able Muslim must perform once in a lifetime. Held annually, it traces its rites to the Prophet Abraham and draws millions of pilgrims from around the world.

Dua (personal supplication) and dhikr (the remembrance of God) are central forms of devotion in Islam. Beyond the formal prayer, a Muslim can call on God directly at any time, and keep the heart at rest through the constant remembrance of Him.

Wudu is the ritual washing a Muslim performs to be in a state of purity for prayer. It is required before the formal prayer (salah), washes specific parts of the body, and remains valid until broken by certain natural occurrences.