BELIEFS & COMMUNITY
Islam: belief, worship and Muslim community life
Religious Values guide · Updated
Islam centers on worship of one God and the guidance Muslims believe God revealed through the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran is its foundational scripture, and the Prophet's example helps shape faith and practice. Prayer, generosity and responsibility to others connect personal devotion with membership in the wider Muslim community.
Muslims share central convictions while differing in legal schools, theology and community traditions. Sunni and Shia sources are identified separately below.
God, revelation and prophetic example
Tawhid is the oneness of God: worship belongs to God alone. Muslims regard Muhammad as God's messenger, rather than divine. The Quran guides belief and conduct; hadith preserve reports about the Prophet's words and actions. Interpreting these sources requires learning, and Muslims do not all follow one global religious office. Schools of interpretation help explain differences in everyday observance.[1][2]
The rhythm of worship
The Five Pillars are the declaration of faith, prescribed prayer, obligatory almsgiving, fasting in Ramadan and pilgrimage to Mecca for those able to undertake it. Daily prayer creates repeated moments of devotion. Fasting is from dawn to sunset, with exemptions and accommodations in religious law. Zakat is an obligation with specific rules, distinct from the broader practice of voluntary charity.[1][2]
Shared practices and different traditions
Sunni and Shia Muslims share the Quran, reverence for Muhammad and core practices such as prayer and Ramadan fasting. They differ over religious authority and parts of their legal and historical inheritance. A Shia source may organize religious duties differently from a simple Five Pillars introduction. Language, dress and local customs also vary across Muslim communities and should not be confused with universal requirements.[1][2]
Common questions
Do Shia Muslims perform five daily prayers?
Yes. The number of prescribed daily prayers is five. In Shia practice some prayers may be performed together in one time period, so the number of separate visits or prayer sessions does not necessarily tell you how many prayers are being observed.[2]
Can I visit a mosque to learn?
Ask the mosque about a suitable visiting time, dress and arrangements for observing prayer. An introductory class or open day can provide context. Questions about conversion, fasting or personal obligations are best discussed with a knowledgeable teacher in the community.
Sources & further reading
The sources below explain the beliefs and practices discussed here. Where a guide describes a broad movement, a named organization illustrates its own approach.
- 1.Yaqeen Institute: Islam, Iman, Ihsan
A Sunni Muslim explanation of faith, worship and spiritual growth.
- 2.Al-Islam.org: Discovering Shia Islam, practices
A Shia Muslim account of prayer, fasting and other duties.