Sawm (fasting in Ramadan) and Zakah (almsgiving), including khums and Sadaqah, what Muslims do and why these pillars matter.

What this dot point is asking

Eduqas wants you to explain Sawm (fasting in Ramadan) and Zakah (almsgiving), two of the Five Pillars, plus the Shia khums and voluntary Sadaqah: what Muslims do, and why. These pillars discipline the body and the wallet, turning faith into self-control and generosity. The topic feeds the 15-mark evaluation question on whether fasting is the best way to grow closer to Allah, so you need the content, the purposes, and the sources of wisdom and authority Eduqas rewards.

Sawm: fasting in Ramadan

Certain people are excused: the sick, the very young and old, travellers, pregnant or nursing women, and those for whom fasting would be harmful (they may make up the days later or feed the poor instead). The purposes of Sawm are rich: it builds self-discipline and willpower; it deepens taqwa (awareness of and devotion to Allah); it creates empathy with the hungry and poor; and it focuses the believer on prayer and the Qur'an, especially on the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr), when the first revelation came.

Zakah and charity

Zakah expresses the belief that wealth is a trust from Allah and that the rich have a duty to the poor. It reduces inequality, supports those in need, and binds the community together. It is obligatory charity, distinct from Sadaqah, which is voluntary giving done at any time out of generosity. Shia Muslims additionally pay khums, one-fifth of certain surplus income, supporting religious leaders and the needy. Giving to others links this pillar to the ethics theme of wealth and poverty.

Why discipline and generosity matter

Sawm and Zakah show that Islam is a whole way of life, not just belief or prayer. Fasting disciplines the body and the desires; Zakah disciplines the use of money. Both turn the believer outwards: the faster feels the hunger of the poor, and the giver shares their wealth with them. Together they cultivate taqwa and compassion, which is why the evaluation question, "is fasting the best way to grow closer to Allah?", invites comparison with the other pillars, each of which draws the Muslim to God in its own way.

Common and divergent views

The common view is that fasting in Ramadan and giving Zakah are obligatory pillars for all Muslims. The divergences are mainly in detail: Shia Muslims add khums to Zakah, and Muslims debate the best motive and the relative importance of fasting against the other pillars. There is broad agreement on who is excused from fasting (the sick, travellers, pregnant women). For the exam, present Sawm and Zakah as agreed duties and use khums and the comparison of pillars when evaluating.

Try this

Q1. What does the word Zakah mean, and how much is traditionally given? [a-style recall]

• Cue. Zakah means "purification"; Muslims traditionally give 2.5 per cent of their surplus wealth to the poor each year, which purifies the wealth they keep.

Q2. Explain two purposes of fasting in Ramadan. [b-style short explanation]

• Cue. Any two of: building self-discipline and willpower, deepening taqwa (devotion to Allah), creating empathy with the hungry and poor, and focusing the believer on prayer and the Qur'an (especially the Night of Power).