The Pillars of Islam and Articles of Faith — IGCSE Islamiyat (0493) questions by topic
Fasting, zakat, ritual purity, salat and the Hajj rites together with belief in prophets, angels and predestination make up this Islamiyat topic, drawn from 15 real questions set in 2023 to 2025 papers, all worth 14 marks.
Describe wants the factual steps or rites in order, while explain and evaluate on the same paper ask you to justify one chosen benefit rather than list several, and discuss expects both an individual and a communal angle to be covered fully rather than only one. Because reports repeatedly note answers that address only one side of a two-part benefit question, drafting a full response and marking it instantly is a quick way to check both halves have been developed.
What examiners look for
- A recurring criticism is dealing only with how the fast is kept or to whom zakat is paid, rather than the benefits of both Pillars, missing individual and communal-benefit marks.
- Examiners repeatedly note confusion between God's predestination and decree and either Tawhid or the Day of Judgment.
- Reports flag answers giving details of the conditions of prayer and types of ablution instead of the actual steps of salat that the question asked for.
- A recurring criticism is writing about the benefits of prayer in general without linking them to praying five times a day specifically, which loses credit.
- Strong answers choose a single benefit, such as forgiveness of sins or the equality brought about by Hajj, and justify why it matters rather than listing several.
May–June 2025, Paper 21
Write a detailed account of Muslim belief in predestination and decree.
Answer this question and get it marked →Write a detailed account of the Pillar of alms-giving (zakat) giving its benefits.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 21
Give an account of Muslim belief in prophets and divine books.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 22
Give an account of missed (qada) prayers and the importance of prayers for Muslims.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 21
Describe how Muslims observe the fast of Ramadan and how they should spend this month.
Answer this question and get it marked →Write an account of the three ways Muslims might achieve ritual purity before prayer (salat).
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 22
Describe the rites that are performed from the 8th to 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah during the annual pilgrimage (Hajj).
Answer this question and get it marked →Give an account of the First Article of Faith (tawhid), referring to the: Oneness of God's Lordship; Oneness of worship of God; Oneness of God's names and attributes.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 21
State the words of the Shahada and give an account of the Shahada's significance in Islam.
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the moral and spiritual benefits of fasting in Ramadan for Muslims and their society.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 22
What are the benefits of prayer (salat) to an individual and to the community?
Answer this question and get it marked →Write an account of the following two Articles of Faith: belief in prophets; belief in God's predestination and decree.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 21
Write about the benefits of fasting and almsgiving (zakat).
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 22
Give an account of the call to prayer (adhan) and the steps of the five prayers (salat).
Answer this question and get it marked →Write an account of Muslim belief in angels. Include examples of instances in which angels met with Abraham and Muhammad (pbuh).
Answer this question and get it marked →