The Five Pillars: Zakah & Sawm (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

Zakah: Charity

What is zakah?

• Zakah is the third of the five pillars of Islam, so it is a compulsory duty for Sunni Muslims

• Zakah is the practice of a Muslim giving a contribution of 2.5 per cent of their wealth to benefit the poor and needy

  • This amount is paid at the end of each lunar year

• Islam teaches that wealth is a gift from Allah that must be used responsibly

  • All Muslims who can afford it have a duty to share some of their earnings with those in need

• The recipients of zakah include those who are in poverty or debt, comfort for those who are travelling and ransom for prisoners of war

  • This is in accordance with the teachings of the Qur’an

• Zakah is managed in different ways

  • In Muslim countries, zakah is given to the state

  • In other countries, such as the UK, it is given to the mosque, which distributes it to those in need

  • Some zakah money is used by Islamic charities such as Muslim Aid or Islamic Relief in response to world emergencies and disasters

• Zakah is a confidential donation; the giver does not know who receives their money, and the recipient does not know who the donor is

• Zakah is only given by those who can afford to give

  • The minimum wealth requirement is known as nisab, which is based on how much wealth a person has once they have provided for their family’s basic needs

Why is zakah important for Muslims?

• Zakah is historically important

  • It has existed since the time of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and is mentioned in the Qur’an

• As one of the five pillars, it is a duty that Muslims must undertake

• It is a way to create a fairer and more united society that supports the ummah

• Zakah means “purification” in Arabic

  • Giving this contribution means a Muslim’s wealth is “purified”

  • The donation becomes a source of goodness for others, and what remains is blessed and purified

• Zakah can help free a person from greed and selfishness, allowing them to be more spiritual and less materialistic

• Muslims believe zakah is a form of worshipping Allah, and it is listed alongside prayer and obedience to Allah in the Qur’an as a way to receive mercy

• At the akhirah, Muslims will be judged on their actions, and Allah will reward these acts of kindness

• The consequences of not paying zakah are serious for those who can afford to but do not use their money wisely; the Qur’an says:

What is khums?

• Shi’a Muslims give zakah but also pay khums

• Khums means one-fifth; it is the practice of paying 20 per cent of your wealth to other causes, which is based on the Qur’an’s teachings

• It is one of the Ten Obligatory Acts

• At the time of Muhammad (pbuh), the 20 per cent would have been given to the imam, who would distribute it as he chose

• Traditionally, the money has gone to the needy, but it has also helped causes that advance the cause of Islam 

  • For example, khums may be used on Islamic schools and education, mosques and any religious cause

Why is khums important for Shi’a Muslims?

• As one of the Ten Obligatory Acts, khums is a duty for Shi’a Muslims 

  • Sunni Muslims recognise it as historically important but do not place the same emphasis on it

• It is important because it benefits the poor and suffering

• It is important because of the good it does in promoting Islam through education

• It honours Muhammad (pbuh) and the leaders of Shi’a Islam, who have always distributed the wealth wisely

The benefits of receiving zakah and khums

• Zakah and khums can be of immense value to the lives of people who receive them

• The money can help lift people out of poverty and improve their quality of life

• It also benefits people because they get better access to education when khums is used for educational projects

• It can help the ummah by ensuring that the message of Islam is promoted well

Fasting

What is sawm?

• Sawm is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam and one of the Ten Obligatory Acts for Shi’a Muslims

• Sawm is Arabic for fasting

• The main period of fasting is during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar

  • This is a lunar calendar and differs slightly from the solar calendar, so the date of Ramadan shifts slightly each year

  • The fasting starts at the sighting of the new moon and lasts until the festival of Eid al-Fitr

  • All Muslim adults in good health should observe fasts during this time

• The Qur’an teaches Muslims about sawm

• The month of Ramadan is significant because it was the month when the angel Jibril first visited the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and gave him the first revelation of the Qur’an

• During Ramadan, Muslims will not consume food or drink during daylight hours (between dawn and dusk)

  • Fasting means more than just refraining from food and drink; Muslims must also give up anything that is a distraction from remembering God

  • This includes smoking, having sex and even listening to music

  • At this time, Muslims take extra care to avoid evil thoughts and deeds

• Muslims will get up before dawn to eat breakfast (suhur) before their fast starts

• They will share a meal at the end (iftar) that starts with consuming dates, as the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did

The purpose and significance of sawm

• Sawm is important to Muslims because:

  • As one of the five pillars of Islam, it is compulsory for Muslims; thus, fasting symbolises commitment and obedience to Allah

  • It helps Muslims get closer to Allah and be grateful for all that he has provided

• Extra prayers, which are offered during the night, are believed to confer special blessings from Allah

• Sawm helps Muslims learn self-discipline

• It gives them an opportunity to reflect on their actions and try to lead a better life; in fact, the Hadith warns that there is no point in fasting if Muslims do not become better as a result

• Sawm increases Muslims’ sympathy for the poor, makes them more grateful for what they have and helps them realise the importance of charity

• Because this was the month in which the Qur’an was first revealed, it makes Muslims more aware of the Qur’an’s value and importance

• It brings Muslims closer together as a community (ummah) and strengthens their unity

• It is an experience that makes the believer purer, physically and spiritually

Who is excused from fasting?

• Certain groups of people are not expected to fast

• These include:

  • Young children

  • The elderly

  • Pregnant and breastfeeding women

  • Those who are sick

  • People who are travelling on long journeys

• If it would be harmful to fast, Muslims should not do it

• The Qur’an supports this, saying: