Sawm

Sawm is fasting during the month of Ramadan, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
The purpose of Sawm is attaining taqwa (self-restraint and fear of God), appreciating what one has, empathising with those less fortunate, purifying the soul, and demonstrating submission to God.
Fasting from dawn until sunset includes abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, and procreation.
Exceptions to fasting exist for the ill, menstruating women, pregnant or nursing women, the elderly, and children before puberty.
It concludes with the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, a festive time with prayers, feasting, gift giving, and charity.

Zakat

Zakat, or almsgiving, is a mandatory act of charity for financially able Muslims and another of the Five Pillars of Islam.
It involves giving 2.5% of one’s savings to the needy and poor annually.
The obligation of Zakat is emphasised in the Quran and the Hadiths.
Zakat purifies the wealth of the giver, aids in social cohesion, and serves as an act of worship.

Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Every adult Muslim, physically and financially able, must partake in Hajj at least once in their lifetime.
Rituals during Hajj include Tawaf (circling the Kaaba), Sa’ee (walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah), the Day of Arafat, and animal sacrifice.
Hajj culminates in a festival, Eid ul-Adha.
Completing Hajj signifies fulfilling a divine command and acts as expiation for past sins.

Mandatory congregational prayers take place on Fridays (Jumu’ah), at Eid festivals, and during the funeral (Janazah).
Prayers include recitation of verses from the Quran, physical movements like standing, bowing, and prostration.

Salah, five daily prayers, is an essential private act of worship.
Du’a (personal supplication) and Dhikr (remembering Allah) are significant in private worship.
Reading and contemplating the Quran also forms an important part of private worship.
Night prayer (Tahajjud) holds special significance for offering voluntary worship.