The Five Pillars, Ten Obligatory Acts & Shahadah
The Five Pillars of Sunni Islam
Islam is built on five core duties known as the Five Pillars. Just as the pillars of a building hold up its roof, these five duties hold up the entire faith. If a Muslim neglects any one of them, their spiritual life is weakened. The Prophet Muhammad said: “Islam is built upon five things” (Hadith, Sahih al-Bukhari).
The Five Pillars are: Shahadah (declaration of faith), Salah (prayer five times daily), Zakah (charitable giving of 2.5% of savings), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in a lifetime).
The Five Pillars are not optional — they are fard (compulsory) for every adult Muslim of sound mind. They give Muslims a shared identity across the world, uniting the global ummah through common acts of worship, charity and devotion. Whether a Muslim lives in London, Jakarta or Cairo, these duties connect them to every other believer.
Each pillar addresses a different aspect of devotion. The Shahadah establishes belief, Salah maintains daily contact with God, Zakah ensures social responsibility, Sawm builds spiritual discipline, and Hajj connects Muslims to the origins of their faith. Together they form a complete framework for living according to Allah’s will. Neglecting any pillar is considered sinful because each one supports the others.
The Ten Obligatory Acts in Shi’a Islam
Shi’a Muslims — particularly Twelver Shi’a — follow the Ten Obligatory Acts. These include four of the Five Pillars (Salah, Sawm, Zakah and Hajj) but not the Shahadah, plus six further duties that reflect Shi’a theological priorities.
The ten duties are: Salah (prayer), Sawm (fasting), Zakah (almsgiving), Hajj (pilgrimage), Khums (a 20% tax on surplus income), Jihad (striving in the way of God), Amr bil ma’ruf (commanding what is good), Nahi anil munkar (forbidding what is evil), Tawalla (loving the Ahl al-Bayt — the Prophet’s family), and Tabarra (dissociating from the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt).
The additional duties reflect Shi’a emphasis on social justice, the authority of the Prophet’s family, and the responsibility of every Muslim to actively promote good and resist evil in society. Khums is particularly important because the money is partly given to the descendants of Muhammad, supporting the religious scholars who guide the Shi’a community.
Both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims share the core duties of prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage. The key difference is that Shi’a Muslims have additional obligations including Khums (20% tax) and duties related to social justice and loyalty to the Prophet’s family.
The Shahadah — Declaration of Faith
The Shahadah is the first and most fundamental of the Five Pillars. It is a single sentence that captures the entire foundation of Muslim belief:
“La ilaha illa Allah wa-Muhammad rasul Allah” — “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.”
The first half of the Shahadah affirms Tawhid — the oneness of God. This rejects any form of Shirk (associating anything with God). The second half acknowledges Muhammad as God’s final messenger, meaning Muslims accept the authority of his teachings and the Qur’an.
The Shahadah in Daily Life
The Shahadah is woven into every stage of a Muslim’s life. It is whispered into the ear of a newborn baby so it is the first thing the child hears. It is recited during every set of daily prayers. Muslims hope it will be the last words they speak before death. Sincerely reciting the Shahadah before Muslim witnesses is the only requirement for converting to Islam — once spoken with genuine belief, a person becomes part of the ummah.
Shi’a Muslims add a third clause to the Shahadah: “and Ali is the friend of God.” This reflects their belief that Ali, the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, was divinely appointed as Muhammad’s successor. By including Ali in the declaration of faith, Shi’a Muslims affirm the authority of the Imamate — the line of twelve Imams descended from Ali who they believe are the rightful leaders of Islam.
Why is the Shahadah the Most Important Pillar?
The Shahadah is placed first among the Five Pillars because it is the foundation for everything else. Without sincere belief in one God and the prophethood of Muhammad, the other pillars — prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage — would have no meaning. The Qur’an declares: “Your God is one God. There is no deity except Him, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful” (Qur’an 2:163). Every act of Islamic worship flows from this declaration.
Tawhid is not just a belief — it shapes every aspect of a Muslim’s life. If Allah is the only God, then only He deserves worship, obedience and devotion. This means Muslims should not place anything — money, status, other people — above God. Surah 112 states: “Say, ‘He is God the One, God the eternal. He begot no one nor was He begotten. No one is comparable to Him.’” The Shahadah is how Muslims publicly commit themselves to this belief every single day.