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The Five Pillars of Islam, Explained Simply
A short guide to the five pillars of Islam: shahada, salah, zakat, sawm and hajj, and how Noor helps you keep prayer and fasting.
- Shahada: the declaration of faith
- Salah: five daily prayers, Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha
- Zakat, sawm (fasting in Ramadan) and hajj
The details
Made for the moments that matter
In short:The five pillars of Islam are shahada (the declaration of faith), salah (five daily prayers), zakat (obligatory charity, usually 2.5 percent of qualifying savings above the nisab), sawm (fasting from dawn to sunset in Ramadan) and hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah once for those who are able). Noor supports two of them in daily life: salah, with prayer times, reminders, Qibla and a prayer tracker, and sawm, with a Ramadan calendar and fasting log. It does not calculate zakat or plan hajj.
1. Shahada: the declaration of faith
The first pillar is bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger. It is the foundation of a Muslim’s belief.
2. Salah: the five daily prayers
Muslims pray five times a day: Fajr at dawn, Dhuhr at midday, Asr in the afternoon, Maghrib at sunset and Isha at night. Facing the Qibla, towards the Kaaba in Makkah, is part of the prayer.
3. Zakat: charity for those in need
Zakat is the yearly obligatory charity given by Muslims whose savings reach the nisab threshold. The usual rate is 2.5 percent of qualifying wealth. Ask a trusted scholar how it applies to you.
4. Sawm: fasting in Ramadan
Muslims fast from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan, eating Suhoor before dawn and breaking the fast at Iftar. Those who are ill, travelling or otherwise exempt follow the guidance for making up missed fasts.
5. Hajj: pilgrimage to Makkah
Muslims who are physically and financially able perform the pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in their lives.
Where Noor fits
Noor helps with two pillars you practise daily or yearly: salah, through prayer times, reminders, the Qibla compass and a prayer tracker, and sawm, through the Ramadan calendar, Suhoor and Iftar times and a fasting log. Noor does not calculate zakat or plan hajj.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the five pillars of Islam?
- The five pillars of Islam are shahada (the declaration of faith), salah (the five daily prayers), zakat (obligatory charity), sawm (fasting in Ramadan) and hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are able).
- How many times a day do Muslims pray?
- Five times: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. Noor shows each prayer time for your city and can remind you.
- Can Noor help me keep my five daily prayers?
- Yes. Noor shows prayer times, sends reminders, points to the Qibla and lets you track each prayer as on time, late or missed.
Make room for prayer in your day
Prayer times, Qibla and Quran are available without a Premium purchase.