Islam: Practices

What you'll learn

This revision guide covers the essential Islamic practices required for AQA GCSE Religious Studies. You'll study the Five Pillars of Islam, Sunni and Shi'a differences, and the significance of festivals and special occasions. Understanding these practices is crucial for achieving top marks in both short-answer and extended-response questions.

Key terms and definitions

Salah — the compulsory daily prayers performed five times a day facing Makkah (Mecca)

Zakah — compulsory charitable giving of 2.5% of wealth above a certain threshold, paid annually

Sawm — fasting during the month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food, drink and other physical needs

Hajj — the annual pilgrimage to Makkah that every Muslim must undertake at least once if physically and financially able

Shahadah — the declaration of faith stating "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah"

Wudu — the ritual washing performed before prayer to ensure spiritual and physical cleanliness

Id-ul-Adha — the Festival of Sacrifice commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah

Id-ul-Fitr — the Festival of Breaking the Fast marking the end of Ramadan

Core concepts

The Five Pillars of Islam (Sunni tradition)

The Five Pillars form the foundation of Muslim worship and practice. These obligatory acts are central to a Muslim's relationship with Allah.

Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)

The Shahadah is the fundamental statement of Islamic belief. It consists of two parts:

• "There is no god but Allah" (affirming monotheism)
• "Muhammad is the messenger of Allah" (accepting Muhammad as the final prophet)

Muslims recite the Shahadah throughout their lives, whisper it to newborn babies, and hope to say it as their final words. Converting to Islam requires sincerely declaring the Shahadah before witnesses.

Salah (Prayer)

Salah is performed five times daily:

• Fajr (before dawn)
• Zuhr (midday)
• Asr (afternoon)
• Maghrib (sunset)
• Isha (night)

Before prayer, Muslims perform wudu (ritual washing) to achieve physical and spiritual purity. This involves washing the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, head and feet in a specific order.

Muslims pray facing the qibla (direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah). In mosques, the mihrab (niche in the wall) indicates this direction. Prayer involves a sequence of movements called rak'ah, including standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting while reciting verses from the Qur'an and prayers in Arabic.

Significance of Salah:

• Demonstrates submission to Allah
• Provides regular spiritual discipline throughout the day
• Creates unity among Muslims worldwide who pray in the same way
• Reminds Muslims of Allah's greatness and their dependence on Him

Zakah (Almsgiving)

Zakah requires Muslims to give 2.5% of their surplus wealth annually to those in need. Wealth must reach the nisab (minimum threshold) and be held for a full lunar year.

Zakah is distributed to:

• The poor and needy
• Those in debt
• Travellers in difficulty
• Those working to spread Islam
• New converts who need support

Significance of Zakah:

• Purifies wealth and the giver's soul from greed
• Reduces inequality in society
• Recognises that all wealth comes from Allah and should be shared
• Creates social responsibility within the Muslim community

Many Muslims also give Sadaqah (voluntary charity) beyond the compulsory zakah.

Sawm (Fasting)

During Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar), Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. They abstain from food, drink, smoking and sexual relations.

Exemptions apply to:

• Young children (before puberty)
• Elderly or chronically ill people
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Menstruating women
• Travellers on long journeys

Those who miss fasts should make them up later or feed a poor person for each day missed if unable to fast.

Significance of Sawm:

• Develops self-discipline and control over desires
• Increases empathy for those who experience hunger regularly
• Strengthens the Muslim community (ummah) as believers share the experience
• Commemorates the first revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammad
• Allows time for spiritual reflection and increased worship

Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Hajj occurs during the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah. Every Muslim who is physically and financially able must perform Hajj at least once.

Key rituals include:

• Wearing ihram (white seamless garments symbolising equality and purity)
• Performing tawaf (circling the Ka'bah seven times anticlockwise)
• Walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa
• Standing on the plain of Arafat in prayer (the most important ritual)
• Throwing stones at pillars representing Satan in Mina
• Sacrificing an animal to commemorate Ibrahim's obedience

Significance of Hajj:

• Fulfils a commandment from the Qur'an
• Unites Muslims from all countries and backgrounds
• Commemorates the actions of Prophet Ibrahim and his family
• Provides spiritual renewal and forgiveness of sins
• Strengthens commitment to Allah

The Ten Obligatory Acts (Shi'a tradition)

Shi'a Muslims follow Ten Obligatory Acts rather than the Five Pillars. These include:

Practices shared with Sunni Islam:

• Salah (prayer)
• Sawm (fasting)
• Zakah (almsgiving)
• Hajj (pilgrimage)

Additional Shi'a practices:

• Khums — giving one-fifth of surplus income (beyond living expenses) to charitable causes, particularly supporting religious scholars and descendants of Muhammad
• Jihad — struggling to maintain faith and defend Islam
• Amr-bil-Maruf — encouraging good actions
• Nahi Anil Munkar — discouraging wrongdoing
• Tawalla — loving and being loyal to those close to Allah and the Imams
• Tabarra — dissociating from enemies of Allah

Jihad

Jihad means "to struggle" or "to strive" in the way of Allah. It has two main forms:

Greater Jihad (Spiritual Struggle)

• The internal struggle to be a better Muslim
• Resisting temptation and sin
• Developing good character
• Overcoming personal weaknesses
• Living according to Islamic principles

Lesser Jihad (Physical Struggle)

• Defending Islam and the Muslim community when under attack
• Must only be declared by proper religious authority
• Strict rules apply: no harming civilians, destroying crops, or killing innocents
• Must aim to restore peace and justice

Most Muslims emphasise the greater jihad as more important. The concept has been misunderstood and misused by extremist groups, but mainstream Islam condemns terrorism and violence against innocents.

Festivals

Id-ul-Fitr

Id-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is one of Islam's most joyous celebrations.

Practices include:

• Performing special congregational prayers in the morning
• Giving Zakat-ul-Fitr (charity) before prayers to help the poor celebrate
• Wearing new or best clothes
• Sharing festive meals with family and friends
• Visiting relatives
• Giving gifts, especially to children

Significance:

• Thanks Allah for the strength to complete Ramadan
• Celebrates spiritual renewal and self-discipline achieved through fasting
• Strengthens community bonds through shared celebration

Id-ul-Adha

Id-ul-Adha occurs during the Hajj period and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Isma'il (Ishmael) in obedience to Allah. Allah provided a ram to sacrifice instead.

Practices include:

• Performing special prayers
• Sacrificing an animal (usually a sheep, goat or cow)
• Distributing meat: one-third to family, one-third to friends, one-third to the poor
• Wearing best clothes
• Celebrating with family meals

Significance:

• Remembers Ibrahim's absolute obedience to Allah
• Reinforces the importance of sacrifice and submission
• Provides food for those in need
• Unites Muslims worldwide in shared celebration

The mosque and worship

The mosque (masjid) is the Muslim place of worship. Key features include:

Physical features:

• Minaret — tower from which the call to prayer is announced
• Dome — represents the universe and Allah's power
• Mihrab — niche showing the direction of Makkah
• Minbar — raised platform where the imam delivers sermons
• Prayer hall — main area for worship, covered with prayer mats
• Wudu area — washing facilities for ritual purification

Rules and etiquette:

• Remove shoes before entering
• Dress modestly
• Men and women usually pray in separate areas (women often in a gallery or separate room)
• No images of living things (to avoid idolatry)
• Clean and simple decoration, often with geometric patterns or calligraphy

Functions of the mosque:

• Daily prayers and Jummah (Friday) prayers
• Religious education (madrasah classes)
• Community centre for meetings and events
• Welfare work and charitable activities
• Funeral services

Jummah Prayer

Friday midday prayer is particularly significant. Men must attend (women may attend but it's not obligatory). The imam delivers a khutbah (sermon) addressing religious and community issues before leading the congregation in prayer.

Worked examples

Example 1: 4-mark question

Question: Explain two ways in which Salah affects the lives of Muslims. [4 marks]

Model answer:

One way Salah affects Muslims is by providing structure and discipline to their daily routine. Muslims must pray five times a day at set times, which means they organise their work, studies and other activities around prayer times, constantly reminding them of their relationship with Allah (2 marks).

Another way is that Salah creates unity among Muslims worldwide. All Muslims perform the same movements, recite the same Arabic words, and face the same direction (towards Makkah), which creates a sense of belonging to the global ummah (Muslim community) (2 marks).

Examiner note: Each developed point earns 2 marks. You must explain how it affects Muslims' lives, not just describe the practice.

Example 2: 5-mark question

Question: Explain two reasons why Hajj is important for Muslims. Refer to sacred writings or another source of Muslim belief and teaching in your answer. [5 marks]

Model answer:

One reason Hajj is important is because it is commanded in the Qur'an as a duty for all Muslims who are able. The Qur'an states "Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by people who are able to undertake it." This makes Hajj one of the Five Pillars and an essential part of being a practicing Muslim (2 marks).

Another reason is that Hajj provides spiritual renewal and the opportunity for forgiveness. Muslims believe that completing Hajj sincerely washes away all previous sins, allowing them to return spiritually purified and start afresh in their relationship with Allah (2 marks).

Examiner note: For 5 marks, include a relevant quotation or teaching (1 mark) plus two developed points (2 marks each). The reference doesn't need to be word-perfect but should be recognisable.

Example 3: 12-mark evaluation question

Question: "Zakah is the most important of the Five Pillars." Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should: • refer to Muslim teaching • give developed arguments to support this statement • give developed arguments to support a different point of view • reach a justified conclusion. [12 marks + 3 SPaG]

Model answer outline:

Arguments supporting the statement:

• Zakah directly helps those in need, putting faith into practical action and fulfilling Allah's command to care for the poor
• The Qur'an frequently links prayer and charity together, showing their equal importance
• Zakah creates a just society and reduces inequality, which reflects Allah's will for humanity
• It purifies wealth and the soul from greed, addressing one of humanity's greatest temptations

Arguments for a different view:

• Shahadah could be more important as it is the foundation of all Islamic belief; without sincere faith, the other pillars become meaningless rituals
• Salah might be more important because it is performed five times daily, providing constant connection with Allah, while zakah is annual
• All Five Pillars are equally important as they work together; the Qur'an doesn't rank them in order of importance
• Different pillars might be more important to different individuals depending on their circumstances

Justified conclusion: While zakah demonstrates important values of social justice and compassion that are central to Islam, it could be argued that Shahadah is most important as the foundation of faith itself. However, many Muslims would say that ranking the pillars misses the point—they are all essential duties that work together to create a complete Islamic life. Ultimately, a sincere Muslim should strive to fulfill all five pillars equally.

Examiner note: Aim for at least three developed arguments on each side. Your conclusion should follow logically from your arguments and show critical thinking, not just repeat the question.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing Sunni and Shi'a practices: Remember that Shi'a Muslims follow the Ten Obligatory Acts, which include the Five Pillars plus additional obligations like Khums. Always specify which tradition you're discussing if the question requires it.

• Describing practices without explaining significance: Questions asking "why" or "importance" require explanation of meaning and impact, not just description of what happens. Always link practices to beliefs about Allah and Muslim life.

• Using imprecise terminology: Learn the correct technical terms (Salah not "Muslim prayer," Zakah not "charity"). Examiners reward accurate religious vocabulary.

• Forgetting to include religious teachings in 5-mark questions: When questions specify "refer to sacred writings or another source," you must include a Qur'an quotation, Hadith reference, or Muslim teaching to access full marks.

• Writing unbalanced evaluation answers: In 12-mark questions, you need substantial arguments on both sides. A one-sided answer, even if well-argued, cannot access the highest marks.

• Mixing up Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha: Remember that Id-ul-Fitr ends Ramadan (fasting festival), while Id-ul-Adha commemorates Ibrahim's sacrifice (sacrifice festival during Hajj period).

Exam technique for "Islam: Practices"

• Command words matter: "Describe" = give an account (no explanation needed); "Explain" = give reasons or make connections; "Evaluate" = consider different views and reach a justified conclusion.

• Mark allocation guides timing and detail: Spend approximately 1 minute per mark. A 4-mark question needs two developed points (2 marks each), not four simple points.

• Use the PEE structure for explanation questions: Point—make your point clearly; Evidence—support with religious teaching, practice or belief; Explain—show how this answers the question.

• In evaluation questions, use signpost phrases: "Some Muslims argue that..." "However, others might say..." "From a Sunni/Shi'a perspective..." This demonstrates you're considering multiple viewpoints.

Quick revision summary

Islamic practices centre on the Five Pillars (Sunni) or Ten Obligatory Acts (Shi'a): Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Sawm and Hajj form the core. Daily prayers maintain connection with Allah, while Ramadan fasting develops discipline and empathy. Zakah and Sadaqah address social justice. Hajj unites Muslims globally in pilgrimage to Makkah. Jihad involves both spiritual self-improvement and defending Islam justly. Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha celebrate religious devotion and community. Mosques serve as worship centres and community hubs, with specific architectural features supporting Islamic practice.