Islam: Practices, Ethics and Community
This domain covers the Five Pillars, Muslim community life and Islamic ethics.
The Pillars
- Shahada: 'There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his messenger.'
- Salah: five daily prayers - Fajr (2 rak'ahs), Zuhr (4), Asr (4), Maghrib (3), Isha (4) - after wudu, facing the qibla. Jumu'ah replaces Zuhr on Friday.
- Zakah: 2.5% of savings held for a lunar year above the nisab, for specified categories of the needy.
- Sawm: fasting dawn to sunset in Ramadan; exemptions include illness, travel and pregnancy; missed days are made up or fidyah paid.
- Hajj: once in a lifetime if able; rites include ihram, tawaf, sa'i, standing at Arafat, stoning at Mina, sacrifice and Eid al-Adha.
Ethics and community
Halal and haram, Islamic finance without riba (interest), marriage and family duties, the ummah, shura (consultation), justice and jihad (struggle, including self-discipline).
Worked example
A Muslim saves MWK 200,000 above the nisab for a year. Zakah = 200,000 × 0.025 = MWK 5,000. Show the rate and threshold, not just the answer.
Traps
- Treating zakah as voluntary charity to anyone.
- Mixing up rak'ah numbers or hajj rites.
- Reducing jihad to 'holy war'.