The Five Pillars and Ten Obligatory Acts (1RB0)

Living the Muslim life

Five great duties shape the life of a Sunni Muslim, the Five Pillars. Shi'a Muslims keep a longer list, the Ten Obligatory Acts. Both share the same heart: the Shahadah, the declaration of faith. This module explores the pillars, compares Sunni and Shi'a practice, and weighs Muslim Salah against Christian worship.

The Five Pillars

Sunni Islam rests on five duties:

Match each pillar to its meaning

What is the Shahadah?

What is the Shahadah?

• The declaration that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger
• The pilgrimage to Makkah
• The fast during the month of Ramadan
• The giving of alms to the poor

Five Pillars and Ten Obligatory Acts

Sunni and Shi'a Muslims share the same core practices but organise them differently.

Which are the Five Pillars?

Select the TWO that are among the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam.

• Salah, ritual prayer
• Hajj, the pilgrimage
• Khums, a one-fifth payment
• Jihad, the struggle

Salah and Christian worship

Salah can be compared with worship in Christianity. Both set aside regular, structured time for God, yet they differ in rhythm and form.

The Shahadah, shared by all

The Shahadah is the declaration of faith: that there is no god but Allah, and that the Prophet Muhammad is his Messenger. Saying and believing it sincerely is what makes a person a Muslim. It is central to both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims, and stands behind every other practice. The Qur'an urges believers to keep up prayer, which restrains them from wrongdoing, Surah 29:45.

Complete the picture

The first pillar is the _____, the declaration of faith. Muslims pray, a duty called _____, five times a day, and fast during Ramadan, a duty called _____. They give _____ of their surplus wealth to the poor. Once in a lifetime, those who are able make the _____ to Makkah.

Order the Five Pillars

Put the Five Pillars into the order they are traditionally listed.

• Shahadah, the declaration of faith
• Salah, prayer five times a day
• Zakah, giving to those in need
• Sawm, fasting during Ramadan
• Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah

The Shi'a obligatory acts

Select the TWO acts kept among the Shi'a Ten Obligatory Acts that are NOT one of the Sunni Five Pillars.

• Khums, a payment of one fifth of certain income
• Jihad, the struggle in the way of Allah
• Salah, ritual prayer
• Hajj, the pilgrimage

Pillars and Ten Acts

Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE.

• The Shahadah is the declaration of faith, central to all Muslims.
• Only Shi'a Muslims keep the pillar of Salah.
• Khums is a duty kept especially by Shi'a Muslims.
• The Five Pillars of Sunni Islam include Jihad.
• Salah is performed once a week, like a Sunday service.

Name the practice

For each description, choose the practice the Muslim is carrying out.

• A Muslim washes, faces Makkah, and performs a set sequence of movements. Which pillar is this?
• A Muslim gives away 2.5% of their surplus wealth to help the poor. Which pillar?
• A Shi'a Muslim pays one fifth of certain income for religious causes. Which act?

Salah and Christian worship

Compare Salah in Islam with worship in Christianity. Explain what they share and how they differ. Write in clear, full sentences.

• Explain what Salah is and how often it is performed
• Explain what Christian worship often involves
• Explain one thing the two have in common
• Explain one way in which they differ