Five Pillars
Essays

The foundation of Islam is called the "Five Pillars of Faith." They are "Testimony of Faith, or Kalima, Prayer (Salat), Fasting (Sawm), Almsgiving (Zakat), and Pilgrimage (Hajj).

This is a three-page essay (between 700 and 900 words) on the Five Pillars of Islam, describing them, analyzing them (that is, separating different elements and explaining each), and placing these Pillars in their historical and doctrinal context. The five pillars are thoroughly described and outlined in accordance with the Oxford History of Islam, and described accordingly with coherent argument.

The Five Pillars of Islam play a central component in the worship of the religion known as Islam. These five pillars outline the basic tenets of faith that are central to the practice of this religion.

The Five Pillars of Islam are Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm of Ramadan and Hajj. The Shahada refers to the fact that Allah is the only existing God (a strong statement of monotheism) and Mohammad is his prophet on Earth.