History of the Middle East balance of power in the Muslim world as Egypt once again emerged as a major power. Religion always played a prevalent role in Middle Eastern culture, affecting learning, architecture, and the ebb and flow of cultures. When Muhammad introduced Islam, it jump-started Middle Eastern culture, inspiring achievements in architecture, the revival of old advances in science and technology, and the formation of a distinct way of life. Islam primarily consisted of the five pillars of belief, including confession of faith, the five prayers a day, to fast during the holy month of Ramadan, to pay the tax for charity (the
Ancillaries of the Faith Ancillaries of the Faith In Twelver Shia Islam, the ten Ancillaries of the Faith (Arabic: فروع الدين / "furūʿ ad-dīn") are the ten practices that Shia Muslims must perform. According to Twelver doctrine, what is referred to as pillars by Sunni Islam are called the practices or secondary principles. There are three additional practices. The first is jihad, which is also important to the Sunni, but not considered a pillar. The second is "Commanding what is just" (), which calls for every Muslim to live a virtuous life and to encourage others to do the same. The third is "Forbidding