Revision notes written to the specification, with examiner tips and the required practicals. Every point here has flashcards in the Stickwise app.
Shahadah & Salah
The Shahadah is the declaration 'There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger'. It is whispered into a newborn baby's ear, repeated during prayer, and hoped for as the last words spoken before death. Salah is the practice of five daily prayers, performed after ritual washing (wudu), facing the direction of Makkah, and made up of units called rakah. On Fridays, Jummah prayer gathers the whole community together, though Shi'as may combine the five prayers into three sessions.
Shi'a Muslims follow the Ten Obligatory Acts rather than the Five Pillars alone: Salah, Sawm, Zakah, Khums (a tax of one fifth of surplus income), Hajj, Jihad, Amr-bil-Maroof (commanding what is right), Nahi Anil Munkar (forbidding what is wrong), Tawalla (love of the Prophet's family) and Tabarra (keeping away from their enemies). Four of these acts are shared with the Sunni Five Pillars.
Sawm, Zakah, Hajj & festivals
SawmSawm is the fast kept from dawn to sunset during Ramadan, honouring the Quran's revelation on the Night of Power. It is intended to build discipline and empathy, and the ill, elderly, pregnant and travellers are excused.
ZakahZakah is the giving of 2.5% of savings to the poor each year, which is believed to purify the wealth that remains. Shi'as also give khums, 20% of their surplus.
HajjHajj is a pilgrimage that Muslims who are able to must make once in a lifetime. Pilgrims wear plain white ihram clothing to show equality, circle the Kaaba, stand together at Arafat, and stone the pillars, retracing the journey of Ibrahim and returning home believed to be forgiven.
JihadThe greater jihad is the inner struggle to live rightly, while the lesser jihad is a strictly-conditioned defence of the faith. Terrorism against civilians fails every one of these conditions.
FestivalsId-ul-Fitr is the feast that ends Ramadan. Id-ul-Adha remembers Ibrahim's sacrifice, and meat from the festival is shared with the poor. Ashura is a day of mourning for Shi'as, remembering Husayn at Karbala, while for Sunnis it is a day of voluntary fasting.
🎯 Examiner tip: Link every practice back to a belief for top marks: Salah expresses Tawhid, Zakah expresses accountability at judgement, and Hajj enacts Ibrahim's submission. A full answer explains the practice together with the belief behind it.
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