"Recite what is sent of the book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular prayer: for prayer restrains from shameful and evil deeds; and remembrance of Allaah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt and Allah owes the (deeds) that you do."
What are the 'Five Pillars of Islam'?
There are five compulsory acts of worship that are paramount to Islam. They are the Vow of truth, Salaah (Prayer), Zakaah (Charity), Fasting and Hajj (Pilgrimage).
What is the Vow of truth?
"I testify that, none but Allah deserves to be worshipped and Muhammed (PBUH) is the messenger of Allah". It is after taking this pledge that one becomes a Muslim. The person who chants this pledge vows that he will offer worship to the One and Only creator and none else, and that he will lead his life, following the practice and example of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).
What is Salaah (Prayer)?
"A person, who does not desist from bad and unjust deeds after offering prayers, strays away from Allaah." Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)
It is the compulsory responsibility of every Muslim to offer Salaah five times a day. The timings to be strictly adhered to fall before sunrise, during midday, evening, after sunset and at night. The Salaah is to be performed after doing ritual ablutions which symbolises purification of body and soul. It is certain that the life of a true Muslim who sincerely takes the vow of truth and offers prayer five times, meticulously standing with folded hands, bowing, prostrating and sitting, thus involving oneself in a conversation with Creator, will be freed of all wrongs.
What is Zakaah (Charity)?
"Of their wealth take alms, that so thou mightiest purify and sanctify them; and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower." ( Holy Qur'an 9:103 )
The literal meaning of Zakaah is 'to purify'. It is not just a form of charity or almsgiving. Muslims are liable to set apart a share of their own wealth for those who suffer poverty and want in the society. This compulsory charity is known as Zakaah. The Zakaah rate of per annum is fixed at the of 2.5% for goods to be traded and 10% for agriculture produce, (5% if the produce is the result of irrigation). Certain minimum limits have been prescribed for each item, above which 'Zakaah' is due. The Zakaah is to be 
lected from those liable by the government or by an institution entrusted by the community, in order to distribute to the deserving.
What is Fasting (Saum )?
"Ramadhaan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgement (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spent it in fasting." Holy Qur'an 2:185
It is the responsibility of a Muslim to abstain from taking food and drink and also to abstain from sexual intercourse during day time for a period of one month. Ramadhaan, the month in which the Qur'an was first revealed, is the stipulated month for fasting. The believer who observes fasting for a month is able to elevate his self above all temptations of a physical nature.
What is Hajj ( Pilgrimage )?
"Whoever performs Hajj solely for the sake of Allaah and, in the course of it, abstains from sensuality and disobedience, he returns from there as immaculate as a child just born." Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)
Every healthy and affluent Muslim should undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca, once in his life time. This pilgrimage is known as Hajj. People of different nationalities, languages and ours, gather in millions at Mecca during the month of Hajj. The concept of one humanity upheld by Islam is explicit during Hajj pilgrimage when the pilgrims have the same thought, carry the same prayer on their lips, and are uniformly dressed (the man using just two pieces of cloth - one to wear and the other to cover and the women covering all the parts of their bodies except their face and hands). A single humanity, where there is no discrimination between master or labourer, black or white, elite or lowly, native or foreigner, is symbolized by the multitude of humanity that assemble for this holy pilgrimage.
What is Ka'baah?
The Ka'baah is a place of worship situated in Mecca. It is the first shrine built to worship the Almighty. It was in the premises of the Ka'baah that Ibraaheem (PBUH), the prophet, abandoned his child and wife, obeying God's command. Ka'baah was rebuilt by Ibraaheem and his son Ismail following God's command. Muslims around the world offer Salaah, facing Ka'baah. The Hajj rituals are performed in the premises of Ka'baah.
Do Muslims worship Ka'baah?
Muslims worship only the Omnipotent Creator of the universe. The Ka'baah is a creation, and being the first monument built for the worship of the One True God, Muslims revere it. The Hajj is performed around the Ka'baah, but it does not contain any prayer to the Ka'baah. This applies also to the Salaah being performed facing the Ka'baah. He who worships the Ka'baah and offers prayers to it, does not belong to the Islam.
What is the view of Islam with regard to Virtue and Vice?
Man is incapable of accurately distinguishing and understanding virtue and vice. Prophets were sent by the Almighty to enlighten man on the nature of virtue and vice. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) is the last prophet and therefore for any man after Muhammed (PBUH), the yardstick to measure virtue and vice is simply the life of Muhammed (PBUH) and the Qur'an, the sacred ******ure presented through him. It is sufficient to look up the Qur'an and the ideal life of Muhammed (PBUH) to comprehend the good and bad related to any subject.
What are the specialities of the character of a Muslim?
• All creatures are Allah's family; and Allah loves them most who treat His family well and kindly.
• Allah will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy
• The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but strong is the one who controls himself while in anger
• Modesty and chastity are the parts of the faith.
• The one, who protects the honour of his brethren in his absence, will be saved from the horrible sufferings of Hell.
• It is treacherous to lie to your brethren in matters that he trusts you. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)
The Qur'an and the sayings of Muhammed (PBUH) enjoins each Muslim to have the following characteristics in each of his actions. They are-honesty, justice, honouring of contracts, patience, perseverance, tolerance, mercy, humility, affection, decency, love, respect etc.
What are the characteristics that ought not to be in a Muslim?
• Anybody who speaks a lot will have a lot of mistakes, and those who commit a lot of mistakes will have a lot of sins, and those who have a lot of sins will in the Hellfire.
• No one will enter Paradise who has even a little bit of pride.
• To be virtuous is to be morally upright. Vice is which causes doubts in your mind and which you did not wish to be seen by others.
• Miserliness and immorality are two bad qualities, which can never come together in a true believer.
• Gossippers and slanderers will never enter Paradise. If any one has any of the following four bad qualities, he is a hypocrite. If he has the only one of these four, there will still be signs of hypocrisy in him until he gets rid of that vice. The four bad qualities are - betrayal of trust, speaking untruth, breaking agreements and shouting foul words during quarrels. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)
The Qur'an and the sayings of Muhammed (PBUH) make it clear that, Muslims ought not to harbour feelings deceit, jealousy, greed, hatred, treachery, extravagance, miserliness, pride, hypocrisy, vainglory, mockery, falsehood, gossip, scandal- mongering and short temper.
What is the Islamic stand regard to food?
Islam does not accept the stand which recommends the absolute abstinence from food and drink, in order to attain salvation. While permitting the consumption of all good food and drink, Islam strongly and particularly disapproved excesses in this field. A true Muslim is one, who completely abstains from the forbidden food and drink such as carcass, pork, blood, alcohol and the meat that is slaughtered in the name of some one other than Allaah.
What is the Islamic code of dress?
Garments are for beatifying and for covering one's body. The mode of dress should never display excess show and arrogance. Islaam teaches a decent way of dressing to all women and men. The paramount purpose of clothing is to cover one's nakedness. No man or a woman should dress in a way which rouses sexual desire in a stranger. Women ought to fully cover all the parts of their bodies except the face and hands. The aim of prescribing such a dress code for woman is to protect her honour and to ensure her safety.
How do Muslims regard entertainments?
Islaam, while allowing all entertainments that cheer one's mind and body, strictly states that they should not transgress the limits. Islaam detests all those pleasures which keep man away from the consciousness of God and those that cause moral degeneration.