The Five Pillars of Islam makeup the foundation of Islam. They are the core beliefs accepted by Muslims as followers of the Faith.

1. Kalimah (Declaration of Faith)

This is the first and foremost pillar of Islam and every other belief flows from it. A believer declares his acceptance of Islam by reciting:

2. Salāt (Prayer)

Prayer is the basic and most important means by which man communicates with Allah and draws near Him. The Islamic concept of prayer is a direct pouring forth of the soul by the supplicant before the Divine Majesty.

There is no need for, nor does Islam accept an intermediary between God and man.

***Some benefits behind the practice of Salāt include:

These are only but a few of the rewards of Salāt, and they touch only the surface of the wisdom behind the Islamic form of prayer. For a personal understanding, a person should get in the habit of preforming and practicing Salāt in order to experience the benefits for themselves firsthand, as words do not do justice to direct experience.

3. Fasting (During the month of Ramadan)

The third act of worship in Islam is the fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan by all able, adult Muslims. By fasting, a Muslim can purify himself spiritually and physically, elevate his soul, and obtain nearness to Allah.

Fasting means to abstain from food, drink, smoking and conjugal relations from dawn to sunset. Sacrificing of physical needs increases a Muslim’s awareness of the suffering of the poor and needy. Ramadan was appointed by God for this spiritual exercise. It was the month during which the Holy Qur'an was first revealed to the Holy Prophet (sa).

The Holy Qur'an allows exemption from fasting to the elderly, the chronically sick and children. They may make up for fasting by feeding the poor. Temporary exemption is permitted to those traveling: the sick, pregnant and nursing women, and menstruating women. They are expected to make up the fasts at a later time.

4. Zakāt (Tax on unused Wealth)

Zakāt is the fourth pillar of Islam, which is known as the purification of one's wealth.

It is a kind of tax which requires a Muslim to give up a certain amount of his possessions (2% rate on a yearly basis) for the upkeep of the poor and those who have no earning capacity.

The amount varies according to the type of property owned. The tax can be levied on land, livestock, and liquid assets (gold, silver, stocks, and bonds etc.).

***Zakāt is one of the blessed ways to protect mankind from extreme division between the rich and the poor, where all the wealth of the affluent accumulates at the top, and the gap between the two grows exponentially.

5. Hajj (the Pilgrimage):

Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is the pilgrimage to Mecca which a Muslim, who is able-bodied and has the means, is required to perform at least once in his lifetime. It is an elaborate series of religious rites which extend over several days for their accomplishment, performed at the Holy Ka’aba, Mecca (Arabia) and other special holy sites.

The central feature of this pilgrimage is the Ka’aba, which is believed by Muslims to be the first house built for the worship of One God.

The Hajj serves as a striking reminder of the Oneness of Allah and it emphasizes the brotherhood/sisterhood and equality of human beings, as well as the importance of mankind’s willingness to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their Creator.

Another aspect of this pilgrimage is that one follows the footsteps of Prophet Abraham (as), and his righteous bloodline, thus remembering the connection between Islam and the father of our religion, the Prophet Abraham (as).

Reference: https://www.alislam.org/question/five-pillars-of-islam/