The Ten Obligatory Acts (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)
Revision Note
Written by: Angela Yates
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
The History & Purpose of the Ten Obligatory Acts
What are the Ten Obligatory Acts?
Obligatory means something which must be done
The Ten Obligatory Acts are the most important duties of a Shi’a Muslim
They are based on the teachings of the Qur’an, the Hadith, and the work of Shi’a scholars
What is the History & Purpose of the Ten Obligatory Acts?
The Ten Obligatory Acts were given by the Twelvers or the Twelve Imams
These were the people who Shi’a Muslims believe were chosen by Allah to lead the faith after the death of the Prophet Muhammad
Ali Talib, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, was his successor and established the Ten Obligatory Acts as the important practices for all Shi’a Muslims
The Ten Obligatory Acts are important because they:
Guide the way all Shi’a Muslims practice their Muslim faith and live their lives
Show commitment to Islam by Shi’a Muslims in both words and actions
Bring followers closer to Allah
Unite all Shi’a Muslims as a community
Purify the heart
Ease the suffering of the poor
Help to establish a better and fairer society
Are a way for Shi’a Muslims to achieve a good afterlife after they die
‘God has promised the believers, both men and women, Gardens graced with flowing streams where they will remain’ (Qur’an, Surah 9:72)
Basis of the Ten Obligatory Acts in the Qur'an
The Ten Obligatory Acts & Their Basis in the Qur’an
Act number | Act Name | Description | Basis in the Qur’an |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Salah | Compulsory prayer five times a day | ‘Keep up regular prayer, for prayer is obligatory for the believers at prescribed times’(Surah 4:103) |
2 | Sawm | Fasting during daylight hours in Ramadan | ‘You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you … so that you may be mindful of God’ (Surah 2:183) |
3 | Hajj | Pilgrimage to Makkah once in their lifetime | ‘Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it’ (Surah 3:97) |
4 | Zakah | Donating wealth to charity | ‘Whatever you give in charity, in your desire for God’s approval, will earn multiple rewards’ (Surah 30:39) |
5 | Khums | Tax of 20 per cent to help the needy and causes chosen by Shi’a leaders | ‘Know that one fifth of your battle gain belongs to God and the Messenger, to close relatives and orphans, to the needy and travellers’ (Surah 8:41) |
6 | Jihad | Striving in the way of Allah | ‘You who believe, be mindful of God … Strive for His cause, so that you may prosper’ (Surah 5:35) |
7 | Amr bil ma’roof | Commandment encouraging good actions | ‘The believers, both men and women, support each other; they order what is right’ (Surah 9:71) |
8 | Nahi anil munkar | Commandment discouraging evil actions | ‘The believers, both men and women, support each other; they forbid what is wrong’ (Surah 9:71) |
9 | Tawalla | Expressing love towards what is good, following the examples of the prophets | ‘Say, “I ask no reward from you for this, only the affection due to kin”’ (Surah 42:23) |
10 | Tabarra | Staying away from evil, moving away from those who turn away from Allah | You who believe, do not take My enemies and yours as your allies’ (Surah 60:1) |
Divergent Understandings of the Ten Obligatory Acts
The Ten Obligatory Acts & Differences Between Shi’a & Sunni Muslims
The Ten Obligatory Acts are the duties all Shi’a Muslims must undertake to show their commitment to their faith
The phrase is only used by Shi’a Muslims because it was Shi’a scholars who formulated the acts
Sunni Muslims have the Five Pillars of Islam instead to refer to the duties they must perform for their faith
In reality, the duties are similar for Shi’a and Sunni Muslims
Four of the Five Pillars of Islam are included in the Ten Obligatory Acts (Salah, Sawm, Hajj, Zakah). Therefore these are important principles for all Muslims
Sunni Muslims will also practice many of the same principles listed in the other Obligatory Acts
One key difference is in the practice of Khums, as Sunni Muslims do not give 20 per cent of their savings as Shi’a Muslims do
Worked Example
Explain two reasons why the Ten Obligatory Acts are important to Shi’a Muslims
(4 marks)
Answer:
The Ten Obligatory Acts help Shi’a Muslims to get closer to Allah through actions such as praying, fasting, and giving money to charity (2 marks).
Another reason is that the Ten Obligatory Acts guide all Shi’a Muslims in how to practice their Muslim faith because they are all commanded by Allah and outlined in the Qur’an (2 marks)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The Ten Obligatory Acts are not as hard to learn as they might first appear
The first four, Salah, Sawm, Hajj, Zakah, are the same as four of the Five Pillars of Islam
Learn the next two, Khums and Jihad, separately
Learn the last four in two pairs, both of which encourage Muslims to move towards good and away from bad:
Amr bil ma’roof and Nahi anil munkar simply mean encouraging good and discouraging bad actions
Tawalla and Tabarra mean associating with good people and avoiding bad ones
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