The Islamic faith is traditionally understood to be built on five foundational pillars or core practices. Key pillars:
- Shahada: the declaration of faith, affirming the oneness of God and that Muhammad is His messenger.
- Salah: the performance of the five daily prayers.
- Zakat: obligatory almsgiving to support the needy and the community.
- Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan.
- Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca, required at least once in a lifetime if physically and financially able.
These five are widely recognized across Sunni and many other Islamic traditions as the essential framework of worship and practice. Some Islamic scholars and traditions discuss additional dimensions of faith (such as iman, ihsan, or broader theological concepts), but when asked “how many pillars are essential to the Islamic faith,” the standard answer is five.
