Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a Islam

Question 1

What is the Arabic name for the Ten Obligatory Acts? (1)

Answer 1

Furu ad-Din

Question 2

Name and explain all ten acts. (10)

Answer 2

1. Salah - praying THREE times a day
2. Sawm - fasting during Ramadan and mourning the death of Ali for 3 days
3. Hajj - annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Shi’a shrines and graves, particularly the grave of Husayn
4. Zakat - annual charity payment of 2.5% of their wealth
5. Khums (wealth tax) - 20% of savings paid to Muslim scholars and community leaders for the welfare of the community
6. Jihad - duty to struggle against sin; Muslims must fight injustice to remove obstacles that may prevent them from being able to worship God
7. Amr-bil-Maroof - encouraging others to do good; Islam aims to create a peaceful society, so Muslims must encourage good for the sake of God.
8. Nahil Anril Munkar - discouraging the bad; Muslims have a duty to forbid evil and correct it.
   - “Whoever sees evil should change it” - Hadith
9. Tawalia - to love the friends of God; having love for God and Prophet Muahmmad, and the Ahl al-Bayt (12 Infallible Imams). Muslims should associate themselves with kind ppl
10. Tabarra - to hate evil-doers; Muslims believe they should hate those who are enemies of God but have not agreed on who exactly these are.

Question 3

What are the two types of jihad?

Answer 3

1. Greater jihad - the daily struggles to live as a Muslim
2. Lesser jihad - fighting the “Holy War” in defense of Islam.
   - “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you”

Question 4

What quote can we use for zakat?

Answer 4

“It [Paradise] awaits the righteous, who give to charity”