What are the pillars of fasting?

The jurists agree that abstaining from things that break the fast from the true dawn until sunset is one of the pillars of fasting. They differed regarding the intention (niyyah). The Hanafis and Hanbalis held that it is a condition for the validity of fasting, while the Malikis and Shafi'is held that it is a pillar, added to abstinence. Fasting is not valid except with the intention along with abstaining from things that break the fast.