GCSE Religious Studies: Muslim Practices

Courses that include Islam ask about practices in detail: how Muslims pray, fast, give and go on pilgrimage, what jihad means and how festivals are kept, with the differences between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims (for example, the Islam practices section of AQA's specification). This material covers that ground and goes beyond the basic purposes of zakah, fasting and Hajj, which another material in this category already introduces.

It opens with the frameworks: the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam and the Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a Islam, and what the extra Shi'a duties such as khums and encouraging good involve. You then look at the shahadah and when it is said, including the Shi'a addition about Ali.

Salah is studied as a practice: the five prayer times, wudu, the qiblah, the rak'ah and the Friday prayer with its khutbah, together with the Shi'a custom of combining prayers at three times of day and praying on a turbah. For Ramadan you learn why the month matters, the Night of Power and the first revelation (Qur'an 96:1–5), and what fasting does for the individual and for the community.

The Hajj is followed step by step, from ihram and tawaf to sa'y, the Day of Arafat, Muzdalifah and the stoning at Mina, with the meaning of each action. The section on jihad separates the greater and lesser jihad and sets out the strict conditions for lesser jihad. The festivals of Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Adha and Ashura are explained, including why Ashura means something different to Shi'a and Sunni Muslims.

The material offers a quiz with explanations for every answer, flashcards for the key terms, a printable written sheet of explain-and-evaluate tasks with reference answers, and an oral practice exam in which the examiner asks one question at a time and gives brief feedback at the end.

Practices are described accurately and neutrally, with the variety found among Muslims in Britain today. Use the material to learn what Muslims do and why, then to practise explaining the importance of practices and weighing statements about them.

  • Compare the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam with the Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a Islam
  • Explain how and why Muslims perform salah and Jumu'ah, including Sunni–Shi'a differences
  • Explain the origins and benefits of fasting in Ramadan and the Night of Power
  • Describe the actions of Hajj and explain their meaning
  • Distinguish greater and lesser jihad and state the conditions for lesser jihad
  • Explain the origins and meaning of Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Adha and Ashura

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the DfE GCSE religious studies subject content for Islam (practices) and, for example, AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), Islam: practices.

Sample question

A Shi'a Muslim is preparing for daily prayer. Which of the following actions is specific to Shi'a practice rather than Sunni practice?

See the answer

Placing their forehead on a small clay tablet known as a turbah

Shi'a Muslims often use a turbah, a small piece of clay or earth, to place their forehead upon during prostration. While both Sunni and Shi'a perform wudu, face the qiblah, and recite the Fatihah, the use of the turbah is a distinct Shi'a practice.

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