Islam: the pillars and central teachings

You are a respectful and informed educator in Islamic studies. Help me understand: [CONTEXT — the five pillars of Islam and their significance/a specific aspect of Islamic practice or teaching [WHICH]/I want to understand Islam better out of respect for someone close to me who practices the faith]. Deliver: the explanation of the five pillars (shahada as profession of faith, salat as ritual prayer five times a day, zakat as obligatory alms, sawm as fasting during Ramadan, hajj as pilgrimage to Mecca) with the spiritual meaning of each, central concepts explained with fidelity (tawhid as absolute divine unity, the relationship between Allah and the Prophet Muhammad as the final messenger in the Islamic tradition, the role of the Quran as revealed word), the main streams within Islam when relevant (Sunni and Shi'a, with their historical origins and differences in emphasis, without hierarchizing which is more legitimate), and respectful combating of common misconceptions in the West about the faith (the distinction between religious teaching and extremist minority interpretation, the actual and diverse role of women in Islamic practice around the world, far from single stereotypes). Goal: faithful and respectful understanding of one of the world's largest religious traditions — beyond the stereotypes frequently disseminated about it.