Muslims are required to pledge their complete allegiance to Islam by adhering to their "Five Pillars of Faith" that consist of the following:

1) Recite the Sahada (Statement of Faith) whereby they proclaim that there is no god other than the Islamic god, Allah, and that Muhammmad is the prophet (messenger) of Allah. (Required of all new converts, in the presence of witnesses);

2) Prayer (Salat) five times per day while kneeling in the direction of Mecca - Islam's Holiest city located in Saudi Arabia.

3) Pay Alms (Zakat) by giving one-fortieth of their income to the needy;

4) Observe the Fast (Siyam) during the month of Ramadan: The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Adults are required to fast from sunrise to sunset and to abstain from certain activities throughout the observance of their holy month; and;

5) Accomplish the required pilgrimage (Hajj). Muslims are expected to make a personal pilgrimage to pray at the Ka'ba, Islam's holiest shrine, located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. This journey must take place at least once in their lifetime, however, Muslims who are unable to make the pilgrimage due to illness or personal hardships that prevent them from traveling are exempt from this pillar of faith.

 

For the record, Islam is a monotheistic religion by the proclamation that there is only one god. However, the god of Islam is not the same as the Deity of Jewish and Christian faiths as explained in the topical section: "Analyzing Islamic Theology."

 

Note: Muhammad's original invitation for Jews and Christians to accept Islam as an "authentic" and superseding extension of their faith is derived from the following text: