The Pillars of Islam. The act of accepting Islam was simple. In the presence of two witnesses, the person, male or female, recited the shahadah, a testimony of faith in the One God and His Messengers (Muhammad being the seal of the prophethood), with the Arabic formula la ilaha ilia Allah wa Muhammadun rasulullah (There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God). Having fulfilled the first pillar of Islam, an act repeated daily throughout life, one committed oneself to the other four obligatory acts of worship, or pillars. They were the five daily prayers (salat), purification of wealth through charity (zakat), observing the fast during Ramadan if one was healthy and residing at home (siyam), and performing the hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah, once in a lifetime if means and health permitted. Acceptance...