Islamiat / Ethics (or Comparative Religion)
The Islamiat / Ethics (or Comparative Religion) section tests foundational belief, worship, the Prophet’s life, Qur’anic and hadith teachings, and moral conduct. Muslim candidates normally attempt Islamiat; minority candidates attempt Ethics or Comparative Religion. Both routes reward precise terms and respectful, reasoned answers.
Core rules
- Five pillars: Shahadah (testimony), Salah (five daily prayers), Sawm (fasting in Ramadan), Zakat (obligatory alms), Hajj (pilgrimage).
- Articles of faith: belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment and divine decree.
- Seerah dates: born about 570 CE; first revelation at Cave Hira about 610 CE; Hijrah to Madinah in 622 CE; Farewell Sermon in 632 CE.
- Zakat: 2.5% on qualifying wealth held for a lunar year; Ushr on agricultural produce is different.
- Ethics: honesty, justice, patience, tolerance and care for neighbours; comparative religion questions expect accurate, respectful comparison, not polemic.
Worked example
Which act of worship is obligatory once in a lifetime for a Muslim who has the means and health to perform it? Hajj. Zakat is annual, Salah is daily, and Sawm is annual in Ramadan. Hajj becomes obligatory only when a person is adult, sane, physically able, has sufficient funds, and the route is safe - so the qualifier “has the means and health” is decisive.
Traps that cost marks
- Mixing the 2.5% Zakat rate with the 10% or 5% Ushr rate.
- Confusing the Hijrah year (622 CE) with the birth year (570 CE).
- Treating a Sunnah practice as a pillar, or a pillar as optional.
- In Ethics papers, giving only a religious ruling when the question asks for an ethical argument.