Faith · Explainer · Five Pillars
The Five Pillars of Islam explained.
The Five Pillars are the shared foundation of Sunni and Shia practice: the shahada (declaration of faith), salah (prayer), zakat (obligatory charity), sawm (fasting in Ramadan), and hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). This explainer sets out each pillar with its primary Quran and Hadith sourcing.
A note on tradition: this explainer reflects cross-madhhab Sunni and Shia sources. Where the practical detail differs, we summarise the main positions.
Shahada: the declaration of faith
The shahada is the testimony that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. It is the entry point into Islam and is repeated daily inside the call to prayer and the prayer itself.
“Islam is built on five: testifying that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, establishing prayer, giving zakat, pilgrimage, and fasting Ramadan.”
Sahih al-Bukhari · Book of Belief (Book 2) · Hadith 8 · narrated by Ibn Umar
Salah: prayer
Muslims pray five times daily at Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha. Timings vary by city and by season; see UK prayer times. The four Sunni madhhabs differ on some details of standing, hand placement, and audible recitation; the Ja’fari Shia school combines some of the daily prayers.
Zakat: obligatory charity
Zakat is a 2.5 per cent annual payment on qualifying wealth above the nisab threshold. Nisab is set against gold and silver spot prices, sourced monthly from the LBMA. Use the Zakat calculator to work out your payment.
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ
“Establish prayer and give the obligatory charity.”
Quran 2:43 · Surah al-Baqarah · translation: Sahih International
Sawm and Hajj
Sawm is the daily fast during Ramadan; see Ramadan 2026 UK. Hajj is the once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca for those who are physically and financially able. Detailed sub-explainers ship in the coming weeks under the Faith pillar.