- Muslims attempt to follow "The straight path" that is free of corruption, and has very distinct standards.
- Islam has set and defined ways to lead a righteous life, which Muslims see as an advantage because it is free of ambiguity.
- Prayer should be done on schedule, however it is acceptable to wait or delay praying based on circumstances. Furthermore prayer does not have to be done in congregation and is not as essential as it is to Christianity and Judaism.
- Charity of 1/40th of ones net worth is mandated annually in the five pillars, and is to help those in need instead of religious institutions.
- Fasting is also part of the five pillars in the month of Ramadan, and it is meant to teach self-discipline, and to force us to be compassionate and understand how fragile we are.
- The Five Pillars help to establish the religions core beliefs as well as to provide a code for daily conduct according to religious values that are associated with rituals.
7: How does Islam guide its followers in decision making?
- The reliance on a feeling of family and brotherly love among followers to foster compassion.
- The Koran provides spiritual teaching and guides the actions of its readers.
- The idea that the world as a whole requires nourishment to create the sentiment of responsibility for others.
- By using the nuclear family as a guide for the society as a whole as a means of demonstrating how to treat one another.
- Customs like polygamy are allowed by not encouraged as the man is supposed to love each wife equally, a task that is near impossible.
- Islam creates a guide to decision making through the Koran and a sense of community that is reinforced through its teachings and seen in situations like race relations and women's rights.