New
New
Year 10
AQA

Zakah and its significance

I can explain the importance and use of zakah and khums as charitable taxes within Islam.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

Zakah and its significance

I can explain the importance and use of zakah and khums as charitable taxes within Islam.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Zakah is one of the Five Pillars and Ten Obligatory Acts within Islam.
  2. Zakah is a compulsory charitable tax paid by Muslims of 2.5% of their wealth in a year.
  3. Zakah is used to support those in need in the Ummah and wider world.
  4. Khums is an additional tax paid by Shi'a Muslims of 20%.

Keywords

  • Giving alms - giving to those in need, e.g., money, food, time; this is a key practice in Islam

  • Khums - 'one fifth'; an additional 20% tax paid by Shi'a Muslims as alms

  • Zakah - 'to purify'; a charity tax where Muslims give 2.5% of their yearly wealth as alms

  • Ummah - 'community'; the worldwide community of Muslims who share a common religious identity

Common misconception

Zakah and khums are voluntary donations to charity.

Zakah is obligatory in Sunni Islam and both zakah and khums are obligatory in Shi'a Islam. Additional voluntary donations can be made to charity as well and is known as sadaqah.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Zakah and its significance, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Students can research some of the projects around the world that zakah money supports, as well as looking at zakah and khums calculations online to see how much of someone's wealth is given away through these obligatory percentages.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Muslims are required to pray times each day.
Correct Answer: five, 5
Q2.
Where are Muslims allowed to pray?
only at the mosque
only at home
Correct answer: anywhere clean
Q3.
Which of the following best describes the differences in prayers between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims?
Shi'a Muslims don't pray
Sunnis pray more times a day
Correct answer: there are small variations in how they pray
Q4.
What is the name of the special Friday congregational prayer?
Eid
Taraweeh
Correct answer: Jummah
Isha
Q5.
When are Sunni Muslims allowed to combine prayers?
never
only during Ramadan
Correct answer: when travelling or facing hardship

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Zakah is a compulsory that requires Muslims to give a percentage of their wealth to charity annually.
Correct Answer: tax, Tax
Q2.
What is the purpose of zakah in Islam?
to invest in business ventures
to fund religious pilgrimages
Correct answer: to support those in need
Q3.
What percentage of wealth do Muslims give as zakah?
Correct answer: 2.5%
5%
10%
Q4.
What is khums?
a 2.5% tax paid by all Muslims
a voluntary donation given during Ramadan
Correct answer: a 20% tax on unspent savings paid by Shi’a Muslims
Q5.
Which group is not typically supported by zakah?
travellers in need
orphans
Correct answer: mosque builders
Q6.
like Muslim Aid and Islamic Relief use zakah funds to provide help to people in need around the world.
Correct Answer: Charities, charities, Muslim charities