Understand the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam and the Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a Islam, explaining how these practices express core Islamic beliefs and shape Muslim life
Before we begin studying Islam's practices in detail, let's recall what you learned in Year 10 about Islamic beliefs.
The Five Pillars (Arkan al-Islam) are the five fundamental acts of worship that every Sunni Muslim is expected to perform. They are considered obligatory duties that shape a Muslim's entire life.
The Prophet Muhammad said: 'Islam is built upon five things: the testimony that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger, establishing prayer, paying zakah, making the pilgrimage, and fasting in Ramadan' (Hadith, Sahih al-Bukhari).
The sincere recitation of the Islamic creed: 'La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur rasulullah' (There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger). This is the doorway into Islam.
Five compulsory daily prayers performed at set times: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night). Prayer maintains the Muslim's connection with Allah.
An obligatory annual payment of 2.5% of savings to help those in need. Zakah purifies wealth and ensures social justice. It is a duty, not optional charity.
Fasting during the month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset. Muslims abstain from food, drink, and sinful behaviour. Sawm develops self-discipline, empathy, and spiritual awareness.
The annual pilgrimage to Makkah that every Muslim must undertake at least once in their lifetime if physically and financially able. Hajj commemorates the actions of Ibrahim and his family.
Shi'a Muslims follow the Ten Obligatory Acts (Furu al-Din), which include the Five Pillars but add five more duties:
1. Salah (Prayer) — 2. Sawm (Fasting) — 3. Zakah (Almsgiving) — 4. Khums (20% tax on surplus income) — 5. Hajj (Pilgrimage) — 6. Jihad (Struggle for the faith) — 7. Amr bil Ma'ruf (Encouraging good) — 8. Nahi Anil Munkar (Forbidding evil) — 9. Tawallah (Love for the Ahl ul-Bayt) — 10. Tabarra (Disassociation from enemies of the Ahl ul-Bayt)
The key difference is that Shi'a Islam includes Khums (a 20% tax on surplus income, paid partly to religious scholars) and duties related to supporting the Ahl ul-Bayt (the Prophet's family).
The Five Pillars are not simply religious rituals — they form a complete framework for life. Each pillar addresses a different dimension of the Muslim's relationship with Allah and with other people:
Shahadah establishes the intellectual and spiritual foundation — declaring belief. Salah maintains that connection through regular worship. Zakah ensures that wealth serves the community, not just the individual. Sawm builds inner discipline and empathy with those who suffer. Hajj unites the global ummah (community) in shared devotion.
Together, they create a rhythm of life that keeps Allah at the centre of everything a Muslim does.
The pillars are not just individual duties. They create community: praying together in the mosque, sharing wealth through zakah, fasting together during Ramadan, and standing shoulder to shoulder at Hajj. Islam is a communal faith — the pillars make that real.
The word 'Islam' means 'submission to God.' The pillars are acts of submission — they require Muslims to prioritise Allah's commands over personal comfort, wealth, and convenience. This is the practical expression of Tawhid.
Consider how each pillar connects to the Islamic beliefs you studied in Year 10. For each pillar, identify which belief it expresses in action.
'The Five Pillars are the most important part of being a Muslim.' Evaluate this statement.
In your answer you should:
• Refer to Muslim teaching and belief
• Give developed arguments to support this statement
• Give developed arguments to support a different point of view
• Reach a justified conclusion
For: The pillars are direct commands from Allah through the Prophet — obligatory, not optional. They structure every aspect of life. The hadith calls them the foundation of Islam itself. Without them, faith has no practical expression.
Against: Some Muslims argue that inner faith (niyyah/intention) matters more than external practice. Sufi Muslims emphasise spiritual closeness to Allah over ritual. Also, the six articles of faith (beliefs) come before the pillars — you must believe before you can practise.
Five Pillars (Arkan al-Islam): The five fundamental acts of worship in Sunni Islam — Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Sawm, Hajj
Ten Obligatory Acts (Furu al-Din): The Shi'a framework of ten duties including the pillars plus Khums, Jihad, and duties to the Ahl ul-Bayt
Khums: A 20% tax on surplus income in Shi'a Islam
Ummah: The worldwide Muslim community
Niyyah: Intention — essential for any act of worship to be valid