Islam: Five Pillars and Duties

Sunni Islam: the Five Pillars (Arkan al-Islam)

Pillar	Name	Practice
1	Shahaadah	Declaration of faith
2	Salah	Five daily prayers
3	Zakah	Compulsory charitable giving
4	Sawm	Fasting during Ramadan
5	Hajj	Pilgrimage to Makkah (for those able)

Shi'a Islam: the Ten Obligatory Acts (Furu' al-Din)

Act	Name
1	Salah — prayer
2	Sawm — fasting
3	Hajj — pilgrimage
4	Zakah — compulsory giving
5	Khums — additional one-fifth tax (see Zakah slide)
6	Jihad — striving in the way of God
7	Amr bil Ma'ruf — commanding what is good
8	Nahy 'anil Munkar — forbidding what is wrong
9	Tawalla — showing love to the friends of God (Imams and their followers)
10	Tabarra — disassociating from enemies of God

Both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims observe Salah, Sawm, Hajj, and Zakah. Jihad appears as an explicit Shi'a obligatory act; Sunni Muslims also consider jihad an important duty, particularly in the sense of personal spiritual struggle. The additional Shi'a acts (7–10) reflect the centrality of the Imamate in Shi'a theology and the duties that flow from it.

Shahaadah — the declaration of faith — is the foundation of Muslim practice: "Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasul-Allah" — "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." Reciting the Shahaadah with sincerity and understanding is the act by which a person enters Islam. It is the first thing whispered to a newborn and the last words a Muslim hopes to hear before death.

Salah (formal prayer) is performed five times each day at set times. The five prayers are:

Prayer	Time
Fajr	Before sunrise
Dhuhr	Midday
Asr	Afternoon
Maghrib	Just after sunset
Isha	Night

Before prayer, Muslims perform wudu (ritual ablution) — washing the hands, face, arms, head, and feet in a prescribed order — to enter a state of physical and spiritual purity.

Each prayer consists of a set number of rak'ahs (units of movement), which include standing, bowing (ruku'), and prostrating (sujud) while reciting verses from the Qur'an including Surah Al-Fatiha (the opening chapter). Muslims face the Qibla — the direction of the Ka'aba in Makkah — when praying.

Salah can be performed anywhere clean — at home, at work, outdoors, or in the mosque. Jummah (Friday midday prayer) is a congregational obligation for Muslim men, performed at the mosque and including a sermon (khutbah).

Sunni vs Shi'a differences in Salah: Shi'a Muslims may combine the five prayers into three prayer sessions (combining Dhuhr with Asr, and Maghrib with Isha). Shi'a Muslims often use a small clay tablet (turbah), made from sacred earth, to touch their forehead to during prostration. Both traditions observe the same basic movements and Qur'anic recitation.

Different views on importance: Some Muslims regard Salah as the most important pillar after Shahaadah, arguing that regular prayer structures the entire day around consciousness of God. Others emphasise that prayer without justice and charitable action is incomplete. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said that Salah is "the pillar of religion."

Sawm is the practice of fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The fast commemorates the month in which the Qur'an began to be revealed to Muhammad.

Duties during the fast: from the first light of dawn until sunset, Muslims who are fasting must abstain from all food, drink (including water), smoking, and sexual relations.

Benefits of fasting: Sawm develops self-discipline and consciousness of God (taqwa); it promotes empathy for the poor and hungry; it strengthens the community through shared practice; it is an act of obedience and gratitude to Allah.

Exceptions: Those exempted from fasting include: children who have not reached puberty; the elderly or seriously ill; travellers; pregnant or breastfeeding women; those who are menstruating. Those who miss days must make them up later, or in some cases pay fidyah (compensation).

The Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) falls in the last ten days of Ramadan, most often observed on the 27th night, though its exact date is uncertain. It is the night on which the Qur'an first began to be revealed. The Qur'an (96:1-5) records the first words revealed to Muhammad:

"Read in the name of your Lord who created — created man from a clinging substance. Read, and your Lord is the most Generous, who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not." — Qur'an 96:1-5

Laylat al-Qadr is described as "better than a thousand months" (Qur'an 97:3); Muslims spend it in prayer and Qur'an recitation, seeking forgiveness and blessing.

Zakah is compulsory charitable giving — the third Pillar of Sunni Islam and one of the Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a Islam.

Origins: Zakah is commanded in the Qur'an (9:103 and many other verses) and is understood as purifying wealth — the root of the word means 'purification' or 'growth'. By giving a portion of wealth to those in need, Muslims acknowledge that wealth ultimately belongs to Allah.

How and why it is given: Any Muslim who possesses wealth above a minimum threshold (nisab, roughly equivalent to the value of 85 grams of gold) for a full lunar year is required to give 2.5% of their total savings annually. Zakah is distributed to specific categories of recipients defined in the Qur'an (9:60), including the poor, the destitute, debtors, and those working to collect and distribute it.

Benefits: Zakah reduces inequality, supports the vulnerable, and strengthens the community. It is seen as both an act of worship and social justice — fulfilling the duty to care for others is inseparable from the duty to worship Allah.

Khums in Shi'a Islam: In addition to Zakah, Shi'a Muslims pay Khums — literally 'one fifth' — amounting to 20% of annual surplus income after all needs and expenses are met. Historically Qur'anic in origin (8:41, referring to a fifth of war booty), Khums today is paid to Shi'a religious authorities (marja') who distribute it for religious education, support of the descendants of the Prophet, and care for the poor.

Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Makkah, obligatory once in a lifetime for every Muslim who is physically and financially able. It takes place in the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah.

Origins: Hajj commemorates the trials of Ibrahim (Abraham), who was commanded by Allah to leave his wife Hajar and son Isma'il in the desert, and later to sacrifice Isma'il (replaced at the last moment by a ram). The rituals of Hajj re-enact events from Ibrahim's life and affirm submission to Allah.

Sites and actions:

Site	What pilgrims do
Ka'aba at Makkah	Pilgrims circle the cube-shaped structure seven times (tawaf) counterclockwise; they kiss or gesture toward the Black Stone; they pray two rak'ahs at the Station of Ibrahim
Mina	Pilgrims camp here; they throw pebbles at three pillars (Jamarat) representing the devil — re-enacting Ibrahim's rejection of Satan
Arafat	The central act of Hajj: pilgrims stand (wuquf) on the plain of Arafat from midday to sunset in prayer, reflection, and supplication — believed to replicate the Day of Judgement
Muzdalifah	After leaving Arafat at sunset, pilgrims spend the night here under the open sky, collecting pebbles for the stoning ritual at Mina

All male pilgrims wear ihram — two white, seamless sheets — symbolising equality before Allah: no distinction of wealth, status, or nationality. Women wear modest white clothing. The experience of millions standing together in prayer at Arafat is regarded as the spiritual summit of the pilgrimage.

Jihad means 'striving' or 'struggle' — striving in the way of Allah.

Type	Description
Greater jihad (al-jihad al-akbar)	The inner, personal struggle against one's own ego, desires, and moral failings; seen by many scholars as the most important and demanding form
Lesser jihad (al-jihad al-asghar)	Armed struggle or defence of the Muslim community when required by genuine need

The origins of the term lie in the Qur'an (e.g. 9:20, 29:69) and the practice of the early Muslim community. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said, on returning from battle: "We have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad."

Conditions for declaring lesser jihad: In classical Islamic jurisprudence, armed struggle may be declared only under specific conditions: it must be defensive (responding to aggression); declared by legitimate Islamic authority; proportionate; distinguishing between combatants and civilians. The use of the term for terrorism or attacks on civilians is rejected by the overwhelming majority of Muslim scholars.

Festivals and their importance:

Festival	Origins and significance
Id-ul-Adha (Eid al-Adha)	'Festival of Sacrifice'; commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son; marked by the sacrifice of an animal (cattle, sheep, or goat), with meat shared between family, neighbours, and the poor; coincides with the end of Hajj; expresses submission to Allah
Id-ul-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr)	'Festival of Breaking the Fast'; celebrates the end of Ramadan; Muslims attend congregational prayer, pay Zakat al-Fitr (a small obligatory charity), exchange greetings and gifts, and celebrate with family; in Great Britain, Muslim communities hold large outdoor prayers and community events
Ashura	10th of Muharram; observed differently in Sunni and Shi'a traditions. For Sunni Muslims, it is a day of fasting commemorating Moses' deliverance from Pharaoh. For Shi'a Muslims, Ashura is the most solemn commemoration of the year — marking the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (grandson of the Prophet) at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE; observed with mourning, processions, and passion plays (ta'ziyah)

In Great Britain, Eid celebrations bring Muslim communities together in public prayers, community events, and acts of charity — expressing a shared identity and joy.

1. Describing Hajj without naming the specific sites

The spec requires knowledge of Ka'aba (Makkah), Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. A general answer about 'going to Makkah' is insufficient. For the 6-mark or 12-mark question, name each site and describe what happens there.

2. Defining jihad only as holy war

Greater jihad — the personal inner struggle — is given at least equal weight in Islamic tradition. A balanced answer addresses both forms and notes the classical conditions and limits placed on lesser jihad.

3. Confusing Id-ul-Adha and Id-ul-Fitr

These are two different festivals with entirely different origins. Id-ul-Adha marks Ibrahim's sacrifice and coincides with Hajj. Id-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan fasting. Both involve congregational prayer and charitable giving, but their meanings are distinct.

4. Applying Sunni practice to Shi'a Muslims without noting differences

For Salah, Zakah, Ashura, and the overall framework of religious duties, Sunni and Shi'a practice differs in important ways. The exam expects awareness of both traditions — for example, noting that Shi'a Muslims pay Khums in addition to Zakah, or that Ashura is observed very differently in the two communities.

5. Omitting the Night of Power from Sawm answers

Laylat al-Qadr is explicitly named in the spec and is one of the most significant elements of Ramadan. Not mentioning it in a Sawm answer leaves a clear gap that limits the mark achievable on higher-mark questions.