Five Pillars of Islam

1.      The Shahada is the core belief of the entire Muslim belief system. It is central to their identity because a Muslim’s life very much revolves around practicing Islam and this saying is the center of all Islam.

2.      It mentally and physically helps them because the bowing helps them to fully submit to Allah and realize their nothingness. The praying also helps them to constantly realize who they have to thank for their lives.

3.      It makes them look like a very family-like community that takes care of each other. It’s obvious that they care about the poor and want all to have everything they need in life.

4.      It helps because it calls them back to times of frailty and dependence. It helps them recognize their dependence on God.

5.      It is a pillar because it is a requirement of the Islamic faith that all Muslims go on the Hajj and least once in their life if they are able. It is similar because all religions have some kind of requirement for their members. It is different because most religions don’t have a holy city and all don’t require a pilgrimage to it.

6.      Some of the challenges are having to pray five times a day in one direction which takes time, you have to be financially and physically able to travel to Mecca, healthy enough to fast, and it’s hard to give charity if you have little to yourself already.