Why do Muslims fast in Ramadan and give Zakah?
Sawm (fasting in Ramadan) and its purpose, and Zakah and khums (giving to charity) and their importance in Muslim life.
A focused answer on Sawm (fasting in Ramadan) and Zakah (almsgiving) for OCR GCSE Religious Studies (J625), covering how and why Muslims fast, the Night of Power, Zakah and khums, and the importance of charity, with sources of wisdom and authority.
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What this dot point is asking
OCR wants you to explain Sawm (fasting in Ramadan) and Zakah (almsgiving), the third and fourth pillars, plus the Shia khums: what Muslims do, and why. These pillars discipline the body and the wallet, turning faith into self-control and generosity. The topic feeds the evaluation question on whether fasting is the best way to grow closer to Allah, so you need the content, the purposes, and the sources.
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. Ramadan is therefore a month of both restraint and intense devotion.
Zakah: almsgiving
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.
Try this
Q1. What are suhur and iftar? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Suhur is the pre-dawn meal before the fast begins; iftar is the meal breaking the fast at sunset, often started with dates and water.
Q2. Explain the purpose of giving Zakah. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Zakah purifies the giver's remaining wealth and cleanses the heart of greed, supports the poor and reduces inequality, expressing the belief that wealth is a trust from Allah and an act of obedience and worship.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR J625 20183 marksDescribe what Muslims do during the fast of Ramadan.Show worked answer →
This is the 3-mark AO1 question, rewarding a developed description or several points. During Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims fast from dawn to sunset: no food, drink, smoking or sexual relations in daylight hours. They eat a pre-dawn meal (suhur) and break the fast at sunset (iftar), often with dates and water. They also focus on extra prayer, reading the Qur'an and giving to charity. Three accurate points, or one developed point, reach full marks.
OCR J625 20206 marksExplain why Zakah is important to Muslims. Refer to sources of wisdom and authority in your answer.Show worked answer →
This is the 6-mark extended AO1 question. Explain that Zakah, the third pillar, is the giving of a set portion (traditionally 2.5%) of surplus wealth to the poor and needy each year. Develop why it matters: it purifies the giver's remaining wealth and their heart from greed, supports the poor, reduces inequality, and is an act of obedience and worship. Anchor in sources: the Qur'an often pairs prayer and Zakah, "establish prayer and give Zakah" (for example Surah 2:43), and teaches that wealth is a trust from Allah. The top band rewards developed points with accurate sources.
OCR J625 202315 marks"Fasting in Ramadan is the best way for a Muslim to grow closer to Allah." Discuss this statement. In your answer you should: refer to religious teachings and sources of wisdom and authority; give reasoned arguments to support this statement; give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view; reach a justified conclusion.Show worked answer →
This is the 15-mark AO2 evaluation question. Argue both sides. Arguments for the statement: Sawm builds self-discipline, taqwa (God-consciousness) and empathy with the poor, and Ramadan, the month the Qur'an was first revealed, is a time of intense prayer and reflection, so fasting draws Muslims close to Allah. Arguments against: other pillars also bring closeness, daily Salah keeps the believer constantly aware of Allah, Hajj is a profound spiritual journey, and Zakah expresses love of neighbour; some argue closeness comes from sincere faith, not one practice. Use specialist terms (Sawm, Ramadan, taqwa, iftar). A justified conclusion weighs whether fasting is uniquely powerful or one of several routes to closeness with Allah.
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