The Five Pillars of Islam (Sunni and Shi’a Islam) - Ways of Muslim living - Edexcel - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize (2024)

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The Five Pillars of Islam (Sunni and Shi’a Islam) - Ways of Muslim living - Edexcel - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize? ›

All Muslims follow the Five Pillars of Islam. For Sunni Muslims, the Five Pillars are the core duties of Islam. Shi'a Muslims follow the Five Pillars plus five additional duties, and together these are called the Ten Obligatory Acts.

All Muslims follow the Five Pillars of Islam. For Sunni Muslims, the Five Pillars are the core duties of Islam. Shi'a Muslims follow the Five Pillars plus five additional duties, and together these are called the Ten Obligatory Acts.

The Ten Obligatory Acts

They include salah, sawm, zakah, hajj and jihad (duties also for Sunni Muslims) but the final five are not part of the Sunni tradition – khums, encouraging good, discouraging wrong, showing love for God and people, disassociation with enemies of God.

The Five Pillars are Shahada (profession of faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage). Each Muslim is expected to fulfill each of these duties providing that they are physically able.

Muslims who believe that Abu Bakr should have been the Prophet's successor have come to be known as Sunni Muslims. Those who believe Ali should have been the Prophet's successor are now known as Shi'a Muslims. It was only later that these terms came into use.

Sunni Muslims believe that the Prophet did not explicitly declare a successor. Shia Muslims believe that the Prophet publicly designated his cousin and son-in-law, Hazrat Ali (peace be upon him), as the first in a line of hereditary Imams from the Prophet's family to lead the community after him.

The five pillars of Islam define the basic identity of Muslims - their faith, beliefs and practices - and bind together a worldwide community of believers into a fellowship of shared values and concerns.

Shi'a Muslims, also called 'the party of Ali', believe that Muhammad chose Ali as his successor rather than having a bloodline successor. After Ali's death, Shi'a Muslims were led by twelve imams, whom they believe were spiritual successors to the Prophet Muhammad rather than having any family connection to him.

Sunni Muslims believe that Allah predestines everything. Shi'a Muslims believe that Allah knows everything that will happen, but does not predetermine this.

Sunni Islam shares a belief with other denominations of the faith, such as the Shia and the Sufis. They all follow the Quran and believe it to be holy scripture and they all adhere to the Five Pillars of Islam, which are: There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.

What are the five pillars of Islam according to Sunni thought? ›

The five pillars of Islam are Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj.

The five pillars of Islam are Shahadah - a belief in one God, Salah - prayer, five times a day, Sawm- fasting in the month of Ramadan, Hajj - pilgrimage and Zakah- the giving of alms.

Explanation: Cheating on the 5 Pillars of Islam is impossible because each pillar is a fundamental belief or practice required of all Muslims. These pillars include: Shahada: The declaration of faith in Allah and Muhammad as his prophet.