Living the Muslim Life

The Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi’a Islam

Shi’a Muslims follow a framework called the Ten Obligatory Acts (Furu ad-Din — “branches of religion”). Their nature is a list of compulsory duties covering worship, giving and moral responsibility; their history goes back to early Shi’a scholarship distinguishing core beliefs (Usul ad-Din) from core practices (Furu ad-Din); their purpose is to structure a believer’s whole life around submission to Allah. Surah 9:71–73 supports this framework, describing believers who “enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong” and are rewarded by Allah — the basis for the obligations of commanding good and forbidding evil.

There is diversity of practice among Shi’a Muslims today: Twelver, Ismaili and Zaidi communities emphasise different acts, and some communities give particular weight to Khums or to loyalty toward the Imams. Importance for Shi’a Muslims today lies in the fact that fulfilling these ten acts is understood as the practical expression of faith — without them, belief alone is considered incomplete.

Shahadah

The Shahadah is the declaration “there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” Its nature is both a statement of belief and a ritual act; its role is to mark entry into Islam and to be repeated throughout a Muslim’s life; its significance for both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims is that it affirms the two central truths of the faith — the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad. Surah 3:18 supports the Shahadah: “God bears witness that there is no god but Him, as do the angels and those who have knowledge” — affirming the oneness of Allah that Muslims declare, while Surah 3:17 praises those who are patient, truthful and obedient. Reciting the Shahadah is important because it is whispered into a newborn’s ear, repeated within the daily prayers, and ideally the last words spoken before death — making it central to Muslim practice from birth to death today.

Salah

Salah is compulsory prayer, performed by Sunni and Shi’a Muslims alike, though understood in slightly different ways. Its nature, history and purpose rest on obedience to Allah’s command; Surah 29:45 states that prayer “restrains outrageous and unacceptable behaviour,” and Surah 15:98–99 links glorifying Allah in prayer with certainty of faith. Salah is performed after wudu (ablution), facing the direction of Makkah, at five set times — Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha — using set movements (standing, bowing, prostration) and recitations from the Qur’an. It may be performed alone in the home or communally in the mosque; on Fridays, adult Sunni men are expected to attend Jummah prayer. Shi’a Muslims perform the same five prayers but often combine them into three prayer times during the day — a difference in understanding, not a rejection of the obligation itself.

Sawm and Laylat al-Qadr

Sawm is fasting during Ramadan, commanded in Surah 2:183–185: “fasting is prescribed for you… so that you may be mindful of God.” Its role and purpose are to build self-discipline, empathy for the poor, and closeness to Allah. Those who are ill, pregnant, travelling, elderly or menstruating are excused from fasting and may compensate later or give charity instead — the Qur’an does not demand what would cause genuine harm.

Within Ramadan falls Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power). Its nature and history mark the night the Qur’an was first revealed to Muhammad; its purpose is remembrance and intensified worship. It is important for Muslims today because the Qur’an describes it as better than a thousand months of ordinary worship, making prayer on this night especially valuable.

Zakah and Khums

Zakah means “purification.” Its nature, role, significance and purpose is to require Muslims whose savings exceed the nisab threshold to give 2.5% to those in need. Surah 9:58–60 names eight categories entitled to receive it, including the poor and travellers in need. Zakah is important for Muslims because it purifies wealth and reduces inequality in the ummah; Shi’a Muslims pay Zakah as one of the Ten Obligatory Acts and pay Khums in addition.

Khums is important for Shi’a Muslims as a distinct obligation — a fifth of surplus gains, based on Surah 8:36–42, paid to the Imam’s representatives rather than distributed as Zakah is. The benefit of receiving Zakah or Khums is that the poor and needy gain financial support, while givers gain spiritual purification and fulfil a religious duty.

Hajj

Hajj is the pilgrimage to Makkah. Its origins lie in the story of Ibrahim and Isma’il building the Ka’aba, described in Surah 2:124–130; its significance is reinforced in Surah 22:25–30, which describes the sacred sites and commands that Hajj be proclaimed to all people. Hajj is performed through rites including tawaf (walking around the Ka’aba seven times), walking between Safa and Marwa, and standing on the plain of Arafat. Hajj is important for Muslims because it fulfils a religious duty owed at least once in a lifetime by those who are physically and financially able. Benefits include a profound sense of equality — all pilgrims wear the same white ihram — and spiritual renewal; challenges include the physical demands of the journey, cost, and the scale of crowds.

Jihad

The origins and meaning of Jihad lie in the Arabic root for “struggle” or “striving,” not “holy war.” Its significance in Islam is understood through two divergent forms: greater jihad, the daily inner struggle against temptation and the lower self, and lesser jihad, an outward struggle permitted only under strict conditions. Classical scholarship generally regards greater jihad as the harder and more continuous struggle.

The conditions for declaring lesser jihad are set out in the Qur’an. Surah 2:190–194 commands: “fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress, for Allah does not love transgressors” — ruling out attacking those who have not attacked first and requiring that fighting stop once the enemy ceases hostilities. Surah 22:39 gives permission to fight only to “those who have been attacked.” Jihad, in both its forms, is important in the life of Muslims because it frames every daily effort towards goodness as an act of worship, while placing firm limits on any use of force.

Islamic Festivals

Festivals unite Muslims in shared remembrance. Id-ul-Adha commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, recounted in Surah 37:77–111: Ibrahim was commanded in a dream, informed his son, who submitted willingly, and Allah provided a ram as a substitute. Its activities include the sacrifice of an animal (qurbani) and sharing the meat with family, friends and the poor, taking place during the Hajj period.

Id-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan with communal prayer, obligatory charity so that all can celebrate, feasting and family visits. Its place within Shi’a Islam is the same core celebration as in Sunni practice — both traditions mark the end of the fast, though customs of commemoration can vary locally.

Id-ul-Ghadeer commemorates the event at Ghadir Khumm, when, according to Hadith and Shi’a interpretation, the Prophet Muhammad announced Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor. Shi’a Muslims interpret Surah 5:3 — “today I have perfected your religion for you” — as referring to this announcement, while Sunni Muslims read the same verse as marking the completion of the Hajj rather than a specific succession.