In the pre-globalised world ummah consciousness was largely determined by the practice of the 'five pillars' of Islam (belief in Allah, payment of zakat (welfare tax for the poor), performance of hajj, daily prayers and fasting) and certain other key beliefs. The existence of these Islamic beliefs and practices was seen by many believers everywhere as evidence that the entire culture of the Muslim societies was Islamised, that is, had come to resemble the Arabian Islamic culture where Islam had originated. This transformation of all Islamised people was considered to be an integral part of Mohammad's social and religious mission. It was rather naively assumed by many Islamic intellectuals in the Middle East that such a cultural trajectory was the common destiny of all Islamised people. The difficulties of communication and contact with people in far-off regions fed this belief.