Islam is like a tree whose roots are its beliefs and whose branches are its practices. If the roots are not firm and healthy, the tree will not survive - but the roots only form the foundation of the tree.

The Islamic Practices are referred to as such because they are the ways in which the theory of Islam - the Beliefs - are turned into reality. The different forms of outward worship translate a person's inner love and connection with the Almighty into a physical form.

Islam has ten fundamental Practices: prayers, fasting, two types of necessary almsgiving, pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah, jihad, enjoining good, forbidding evil, supporting those who walk in the path of God, and turning away from the enemies of God.

1) Prayers (Salaat),

2) Fasting (Sawm),

3 & 4) Almsgiving (Zakaat & Khums),

5) Pilgrimage to the Holy City of Makka (Hajj),

6) Striving to attain Purity and Concord (Jihad),

7&8) Enjoining Good & Forbidding Evil (Amr bil-Ma'rouf and Nahiy an al-Munkar),

9) Supporting those who walk in the Way of Allah (Tawalla),

10) Turning away from the enemies of Allah (Tabarra).

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