This mini-lesson works through the AQA GCSE topic Islam: Practices: the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam and the Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a Islam — Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Sawm and Hajj — plus the major festivals (Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Adha, Ashura) and the meaning of jihad.
Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Practices are stated as Muslims themselves teach them, noting Sunni and Shi'a differences where they matter. Press Start when you're ready.
Two frameworks
The Five Pillars & the Ten Obligatory Acts
Most Muslims are Sunni and follow the Five Pillars: Shahadah (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakah (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting) and Hajj (pilgrimage). These are the foundations of a Muslim's religious life.
Shi'a Muslims instead follow the Ten Obligatory Acts. These include the same core duties of prayer, almsgiving, fasting and Hajj, together with extra acts.
Salah, Sawm, Zakah, Hajj — shared with the pillars.
Khums — a religious tax of one fifth (20%) of surplus income.
Jihad — the struggle to please Allah and defend Islam.
Amr-bil-Maruf (encouraging good) and Nahi Anil Munkar (forbidding evil).
Tawalla (loving the family of the Prophet) and Tabarra (dissociating from their enemies).
Careful: the Five Pillars belong to Sunni Islam; the Ten Obligatory Acts belong to Shi'a Islam. Both frameworks include prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage — do not treat them as completely separate.
Shahadah
The declaration of faith
The Shahadah is the first pillar — the Muslim declaration of faith: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." Sincerely reciting and believing it makes a person a Muslim.
Sunni & Shi'a: Sunni and Shi'a Muslims share this declaration. Many Shi'a add a phrase honouring Ali as a friend of Allah, reflecting Shi'a belief about the Prophet's family.
It affirms Tawhid — the oneness of God — and Muhammad's role as prophet.
It is whispered to a newborn baby and said by a dying Muslim.
It is heard in the call to prayer (adhan).
Quick check
Understanding the Shahadah
?Which best describes the Shahadah?
Salah
Ritual prayer
Salah is ritual prayer. Sunni Muslims pray five times a day at set times, always facing the Ka'bah in Makkah. Before praying, Muslims perform wudu — a washing (ablution) of the hands, mouth, face, arms, head and feet to be pure for prayer.
Prayer follows set movements and words (rak'ah), ending in submission to Allah.
The Jummah (Friday) midday prayer is performed together at the mosque.
Prayer can be done at home, but praying with others is encouraged.
Sunni & Shi'a: Sunni Muslims usually keep the five prayers at five separate times. Many Shi'a Muslims combine them into three prayer times during the day, which is still five prayers.
Sawm
Fasting in Ramadan
Sawm is fasting during the month of Ramadan. From dawn until sunset Muslims take no food or drink, and focus on prayer, self-discipline and helping others. It builds taqwa (God-consciousness) and empathy with the poor.
Exempt: the very young, the elderly, the ill, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and travellers.
Missed fasts may be made up later where possible.
Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power) falls in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Muslims believe it marks when the Qur'an began to be revealed to Muhammad — a night of great spiritual value.
Match up
Practice → meaning
Tap a practice on the left, then its meaning on the right.
Zakah & Khums
Almsgiving
Zakah is obligatory almsgiving — the pillar of charity. Each year a Muslim who can afford it gives 2.5% of their surplus wealth to help the poor and needy. It purifies wealth and reminds Muslims that everything comes from Allah.
It supports the poor, those in debt, travellers and other groups named in the Qur'an.
Many Muslims also give extra, voluntary charity called sadaqah.
Shi'a Islam: in addition to zakah, Shi'a Muslims pay khums — a payment of one fifth (20%) of surplus income, split between religious causes and the poor. Khums is one of the Ten Obligatory Acts.
Quick check
What is Zakah?
?Which statement about Zakah is correct?
Hajj
Pilgrimage to Makkah
Hajj is the pilgrimage to Makkah, made once in a lifetime by every Muslim who is physically and financially able. It takes place in the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah and follows a set of ancient rites.
Ihram — entering a state of purity, with simple white clothing showing everyone is equal.
Tawaf — walking seven times around the Ka'bah.
Standing at Arafat — a day of prayer and seeking forgiveness, the high point of Hajj.
Significance: Hajj unites millions of Muslims of all backgrounds, follows the example of the Prophet Ibrahim, and lets pilgrims seek Allah's forgiveness and a fresh start.
Festivals
Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Adha & Ashura
Two major festivals mark the Muslim year.
Id-ul-Fitr — celebrates the end of Ramadan. Muslims attend special prayers, share meals and give to charity (Zakat-ul-Fitr) so the poor can also celebrate.
Id-ul-Adha — during Hajj, it commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah. Families may share the meat of a sacrificed animal with the poor.
Ashura is especially important to Shi'a Muslims, who remember the martyrdom of Husayn (the Prophet's grandson) at Karbala. For many Sunnis it is a day linked to fasting.
Quick check
Id-ul-Adha
?What does the festival of Id-ul-Adha commemorate?
Jihad
The struggle to be a good Muslim
The word jihad means "struggle" or "striving" in the way of Allah. Islam teaches two kinds.
Greater jihad — the inner, personal struggle to be a good Muslim: to worship faithfully, resist temptation and do what is right. Muslims regard this as the most important jihad.
Lesser jihad — the outward, military struggle to defend Islam. It is allowed only under strict conditions (for example, in self-defence, declared by proper authority, never harming innocents).
Important: jihad is not the same as terrorism. The vast majority of Muslims reject violence against innocent people, and see the greater jihad — struggling to live a good life — as the heart of the term.
Sort it
Which practice is this?
Tap a description, then tap the box that matches.
Sort it
Five Pillars ↔ Ten Obligatory Acts
Tap a duty, then the framework it is distinctive to.
🕌 Shared: Five Pillars (Sunni)
☪️ Extra in Ten Acts (Shi'a)
Quick check
Greater and lesser jihad
?What is the greater jihad?
Quick check
Fasting and the Night of Power
?What do Muslims believe about Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power)?
Recap
The practices to know
Frameworks: Sunni = Five Pillars; Shi'a = Ten Obligatory Acts (pillars plus khums, jihad, amr-bil-maruf, tawalla, tabarra).
Shahadah: declaration of faith — one God, Muhammad his messenger; Shi'a often add a phrase about Ali.
Salah: ritual prayer facing Makkah, with wudu first; Sunni five times/day, many Shi'a combine into three; Friday Jummah at the mosque.
Zakah: 2.5% of surplus wealth for the poor; Shi'a also pay khums (one fifth).
Sawm: fasting dawn–sunset in Ramadan; some exempt; Laylat al-Qadr = Qur'an first revealed.
Hajj: pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime if able — ihram, tawaf, standing at Arafat.
Festivals: Id-ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan), Id-ul-Adha (Ibrahim's sacrifice, during Hajj), Ashura (Shi'a: martyrdom of Husayn).
Jihad: greater = inner struggle to be good (most important); lesser = defence under strict conditions — not terrorism.
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