There are five pillars in Islam. They are as follow:
(1) ‘La ilaha illa-Allah’ and ‘Muhammadun-Rasul-u-Allah’ are two testimonies of faith that mean: (i) there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, (ii) and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
(2) To establish regular prayer (Salat) five times a day.
(3) To pay out the Zakat (obligatory alms).
(4) To observe fasting (Soum) in the month of Ramadan.
(5) To perform Hajj (annual grand pilgrimage) by visiting the House of Allah in Makkah.

EXPLANATION OF THE PILLARS OF ISLAM:
(1) Two Testimonies of Faith:
A person should declare his/her faith by uttering the two-part testimony with firm conviction and belief that (i) there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, (ii) and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
This clearly explains that no one has the right to be truly worshipped but Allah, who has no partner (associates). And that Muhammad is the Messenger and Prophet of Allah, who was assigned to convey His message to the entire humankind in perfect manner.
This combined testimony of faith forms first and the foremost pillar of Islam. There are several evidences to proof this pillar, which a person must accept with a firm conviction in order to enter the Islamic fold. Therefore, a person should declare the testimony with a pure heart and belief in Allah and for His sake. The utterance of the testimony should also be in total compliance with the Sunnah (traditions and way of life of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him). This is the criterion for a person’s faith to be accepted by Allah.
Moreover, Allah has ordained that the people should worship Him Alone in the strict manner as He revealed through the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Sincerity in worship to Allah Alone fulfills the testimony of faith (i) ‘La ilaha illa-Allah’, while strictly following the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) enables a person to achieve the second part of the testimony of faith i.e. ‘Muhammadun Rasul-u-Allah’.
Plainly speaking, ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ is to firmly believe in Allah and declare accordingly with total conviction that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. A person should always bear in mind that merely uttering this testimony by tongue is not enough, it is essential to practice in accordance with its meaning and implications. Therefore, one should accept it with a firm belief, adhere to its implications with utmost sincerity, honesty and love to Allah Alone.
While the meaning of ‘Muhammad-un- Rasul-u-Allah’ is to obey the instructions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). A person, who utters the testimony of faith should belief and trust in the Divine message that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) has brought from Allah and accomplished the religion of Islam in perfect manner.
Therefore, everyone must worship Allah in accordance with the Divine Laws as revealed and practiced by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
A person who asserts the testimony of faith with conviction and firm belief enjoys a number of benefits significant to his/her life. The basic among them is the emancipation of a person’s mind and soul from the incorrect way of worshipping the false deities and groping in the dark as that of the unbelievers.

(2) ESTABLISHING OBLIGATORY PRAYERS FIVE TIMES A DAY:
Worshipping Allah five times a day obligatory prayers forms the second pillar of Islam. The prayers are performed on specific times of the day and method in a perfect manner.
The five times obligatory prayers offered to Allah in different times of day and night are as follow:
- Fajr (dawn/morning) prayer
- Zuhr (Noon or mid-day) prayer
- ‘Asr (after-noon) prayer
- Maghrib (sunset) prayer
- ‘Isha (night) prayer

ADVANTAGES OF PRAYER:
The advantages of offering prayers are many, which include wide opening one’s heart, delight and spiritual enrichment of mind.
• The ablution of external and international parts of the body of a person, who offers five-time prayers, keeps him/her enthusiastic and energetic.
• The prayer prevents a person from committing sinful acts, which includes the illicit sexual desire.
The congregational prayers offered in the mosque promote broader understanding and fraternity enabling the worshippers to cement their relationship among one another.

(3) PAYING ZAKAT:
This pillar of Islam ordains upon rich Muslims to help the poor and destitute in the society through paying out to them a certain percentage of money from their wealth (financial assistance). It is an obligatory and a form of worship to Allah.
A Muslim should calculate from his fixed accumulated wealth and deduct a specific amount annually and given away, to the eight categories, as mentioned in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

ADVANTAGES OF ZAKAT:
A person who pays out Zakat (alms) achieves several benefits in this life and Hereafter.
Paying out Zakat purifies the wealth and trains the person showing him/her the ill effects of stingy behavior and the curse of being avaricious. It brings blessings by increasing his/her wealth.
Paying out Zakat brings manifold benefits to the society while meeting the financial needs of the Muslim Ummah enhancing mutual affection and a high esteem among one another.
It relieves a person from selfish and despotic behavior.
It saves a person’s wealth from evil eyes.
Paying out Zakat helps in easing the financial difficulties of the poor and deserving persons and promotes humility and sympathetic feelings in the hearts of those who receive it. Besides, it softens the heart of the donor filling it with mercy and a sense of realizing the hardship of the poor.

(4) FASTING IN RAMADAN:
Fasting in Ramadan, the ninth month of lunar calendar, is a kind of worship to Allah. During the fasting, a Muslim should abandon from food and drinks, sexual intercourse and similar things starting from dawn to dusk every day in Ramadan.
Fasting is a specific kind of worship to Allah and a Muslim has to strictly observe certain rules to perform this practice in Islam in the best possible manner. A Muslim should exercise caution while fasting by abstaining from the things that nullify the validity and reward of this worship from Allah.

ADVANTAGES OF RAMADAN:
Muslims by fasting in Ramadan, the holy month, can achieve several benefits and advantages.
The foremost benefit of this month is that the fasting trains a person to face any hardship in life.
It teaches forbearance and perseverance by encouraging him/her to sacrifice things such as hunger, thirst and other desires for the sake of Allah while fasting.
The practice enriches the soul and mind by purifying the thoughts and elevates a person to lofty ranks.
Other benefits include for a fasting person is remaining trustworthy by a constant fear of Allah and his/her sincerity and a sense to acknowledging the feelings of others as well, particular of those who of the destitute and poor.
Abstaining from food and drinks while the daylong fasting helps a person to achieve sound health of body and mind.

(5) PERFORMING HAJJ:
Hajj is an obligatory worship to Allah performed at least once in a lifetime for those Muslims, who are financially and physically sound. The pilgrims have to visit Makkah, the city that accommodates the House of Allah (i.e. Ka’abah), and other ritual sites near Makkah such as Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa.
ADVANTAGES OF HAJJ:
Benefits and advantages of performing Hajj are many:
Since a pilgrim is clad in Ihram during most of the pilgrimage, Hajj reminds a person about the life in the Hereafter and the Day of Judgment.
It trains a Muslim (a pilgrim) encouraging him/her to devote every efforts and endeavors spiritually, physically and financially for the sake of Allah Alone.
• Besides spiritual duties, Hajj also offers the Muslims, who come from around the world to understand each other mutually and help them establish relationship and promote fraternity.
This was the brief discussion about five pillars of Islam and their advantages, as the detailed explanation on each such topic would require larger space.
The pillars of Islam, all reflect the purity of religion of Allah, integrate the Muslim Ummah based on truth, utmost noble character teaching them to treat each other without any discrimination.
The teachings in Islam other than its pillars are aimed at reforming the Muslims in general and required to comply with the basics of its tenets. Otherwise, the Muslim Ummah would face the downfall, both in religion and the self-identity.