What is the difference between the Five Pillars and the Ten Obligatory Acts?

The Five Pillars are the foundational practices for Sunni Muslims, while the Ten Obligatory Acts (Furu ad-Din) are the essential practices for Shi'a Muslims. The Shi'a list includes all the Sunni pillars but adds specific duties like Khums, Jihad, and spiritual allegiance (Tawalla/Tabarra).

How does the calculation of Khums differ from Zakah?

Zakah is a $2.5\%$ tax on specific assets like livestock and grain, whereas Khums is a $20\%$ tax on annual surplus income. Khums is unique to Shi'a practice and is calculated after all living expenses have been deducted from one's earnings.

What is the distinction between Tawalla and Tabarra?

Tawalla is the positive act of loving and following the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet's family), while Tabarra is the act of distancing oneself from the enemies of God and the Ahl al-Bayt. They represent the 'attraction' to righteousness and 'repulsion' from evil.

What is a common misconception regarding the meaning of Jihad in the Ten Obligatory Acts?

A common error is viewing Jihad solely as 'holy war' or external conflict. In Islamic teaching, the 'Greater Jihad' is the internal struggle against sin and ego, which is considered more important than the 'Lesser Jihad' of physical defense.

Why is it incorrect to say Khums is a tax on total income?

Khums is only applied to the *surplus* or savings remaining at the end of the year after all necessary household and personal expenses are paid. Taxing total income would be an incorrect application of the rule.

What error is made when Amr-bil-Ma'ruf is confused with Nahi Anil Munkar?

Amr-bil-Ma'ruf is the proactive encouragement of good deeds and virtue, while Nahi Anil Munkar is the reactive prohibition or speaking out against evil and injustice. They are two sides of the same social responsibility coin.

Define 'Furu ad-Din'.

Furu ad-Din translates to the 'Branches of Religion.' It refers to the Ten Obligatory Acts that constitute the practical application of Islamic faith for Shi'a Muslims.

What is 'Amr-bil-Ma'ruf'?

It is the obligatory act of 'enjoining what is good,' which means encouraging others to perform righteous deeds and uphold Islamic values within the community.

What is the rate of Khums and who is it paid to?

The rate is $20\%$ of surplus wealth. It is traditionally paid to a Marja' (a high-ranking religious scholar) who distributes it to the poor, orphans, and for the maintenance of Islamic institutions.

How does Salah in Shi'a practice differ from Sunni practice regarding timing?

While both pray five times a day, Shi'a Muslims are permitted to combine the noon and afternoon prayers, and the evening and night prayers, resulting in three distinct prayer times during the day.

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Shi'a Islam & the Ten Obligatory Acts

Summary

The Ten Obligatory Acts, known as Furu ad-Din, represent the essential practices and duties for Twelver Shi'a Muslims. While Sunni Islam focuses on the Five Pillars, Shi'a Islam expands these into ten specific requirements that govern worship, economic justice, social morality, and spiritual allegiance to the Prophet's family.

1. Definition & Core Concepts

The Ten Obligatory Acts (Furu ad-Din) are the practical applications of faith for Shi'a Muslims, derived from the Qur'an and the teachings of the Imams. They represent the 'branches' of religion that grow from the 'roots' of faith (Usul ad-Din).

Unlike the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam, which focus primarily on individual worship and charity, the Ten Obligatory Acts include broader social and political responsibilities such as promoting justice and maintaining spiritual loyalty to the Ahl al-Bayt (the family of the Prophet).

Adherence to these acts is considered a requirement for a complete religious life, ensuring that faith is not merely a private belief but a visible, active commitment to the community and to God's commands.

Diagram showing the Ten Obligatory Acts branching out from the central concept of Furu ad-Din.

2. The Acts of Worship & Pilgrimage

Salah (Prayer): Shi'a Muslims perform five daily prayers, though they often combine them into three sessions (Noon/Afternoon and Maghrib/Isha). This practice is based on the tradition of the Prophet and the Imams.
Sawm (Fasting): During the month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and sexual relations from dawn until sunset. It is a period of spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and empathy for the poor.
Hajj (Pilgrimage): Every Shi'a Muslim who is physically and financially able must perform the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once. This act symbolizes the unity of the Ummah and the equality of all believers before God.

3. Economic Obligations: Zakah and Khums

4. Social and Moral Duties

5. Spiritual Allegiance: Tawalla and Tabarra

6. Key Distinctions

7. Exam Strategy & Tips