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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

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

      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.

      Teacher tip

      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.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

      Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

      Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), 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

      5 Questions

      Q1.
      Muslims are required to perform prayers every day.

      Correct Answer: five, 5, Five

      Q2.
      Which of the following best describes the importance of daily prayer in Islam?

      it replaces all other pillars
      it is optional but recommended
      Correct answer: it shows obedience and connection to Allah

      Q3.
      Where are Muslims allowed to pray?

      only outdoors
      Correct answer: anywhere clean
      only in mosques

      Q4.
      Which statement about prayer in Sunni and Shi’a Islam is true?

      Correct answer: there are slight differences in practice
      they have identical practices
      only Sunnis pray

      Q5.
      Friday congregational prayer held at the mosque is called prayers.

      Correct Answer: Jummah, jummah

      5 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of the following is true in both Sunni and Shi'a Islam?

      only zakah is obligatory
      only khums is obligatory
      Correct answer: zakah is obligatory in Sunni Islam; zakah and khums in Shi'a Islam

      Q2.
      Zakah is part of the Five Pillars of Islam and the Ten Acts in Shi’a Islam.

      Correct Answer: Obligatory, obligatory

      Q3.
      Why is zakah considered a form of worship?

      it involves prayer
      Correct answer: it shows obedience to God and helps others
      it is voluntary

      Q4.
      What percentage of income is given as khums?

      2.5%
      7.5%
      10%
      Correct answer: 20%

      Q5.
      In Islam, voluntary charity is known as , while zakah and khums are obligatory.

      Correct Answer: sadaqah, Sadaqah

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