Revision Library

revisionlibrary.co.uk

GCSE · Islam

RS.IP4 Salah: The Role and Significance of Prayer

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used in Muslim teaching about Salah.

(a)State what is meant by salah.(1)

(b)State what is meant by wudu.(1)

(c)State what is meant by qiblah.(1)

(d)State what is meant by Jummah prayer.(1)

(e)Give one physical posture used during salah.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Give three of the five daily times of prayer.

(Total for Question 2 is 3 marks)

Explain two reasons why Muslims perform wudu before salah. Refer to the Qur'an in your answer.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting Sunni and Shi'a practices around salah. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

This question is about Salah and its significance today. It is the AQA-style 24-mark, five-part question: parts (a) to (d) are worth 12 marks; part (e) is the 12-mark evaluation.

(a)State what is meant by Jummah prayer.(1)

(b)Give two things a Muslim does to prepare for salah.(2)

(c)Explain two ways salah is significant for Muslims today. Refer to the Qur'an in your answer.(4)

(d)Explain two contrasting Muslim views on whether public or private prayer is more significant today. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.(5)

(e)Evaluate this statement: 'The five daily prayers are the most important of the Five Pillars for Muslims today.' In your answer you should: refer to Muslim teaching, refer to different points of view, reach a justified conclusion.(12)

(Total for Question 5 is 24 marks)

Explain two ways salah might affect the daily life of a Muslim believer.

(Total for Question 6 is 4 marks)

Give three physical actions or postures performed during salah.

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.IP4 Salah: The Role and Significance of Prayer

Question 1

(a) B1 the ritual prayer performed five times a day, one of the Five Pillars, oe
(a) Answer: The ritual prayer performed five times a day, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
(b) B1 ritual washing/purification carried out before prayer, oe
(b) Answer: Ritual washing carried out before prayer.
(c) B1 the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah, faced during prayer, oe
(c) Answer: The direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah, faced during prayer.
(d) B1 the Friday congregational prayer, performed at the mosque around midday, oe
(d) Answer: The Friday congregational prayer, performed at the mosque around midday.
(e) B1 e.g. standing (qiyam), bowing (ruku), prostration (sujud) or sitting (julus), oe
(e) Answer: E.g. prostration (sujud).

Question 2

B1 Fajr (dawn), oe
B1 Zuhr (midday), oe
B1 Asr (afternoon), oe (accept Maghrib (sunset), Isha (night))
Answer: Any three: Fajr; Zuhr; Asr; Maghrib; Isha.

Question 3

B1 point 1: it purifies the body, preparing a Muslim physically and spiritually to stand before Allah, oe
B1 development: Qur'an 5:6 sets out the specific parts of the body to be washed before prayer (the face, hands and arms, wiping the head, and the feet), showing wudu is a direct Qur'anic instruction, oe
B1 point 2: performing wudu carefully and mindfully is itself considered an act of worship, helping a Muslim focus their mind before prayer, oe
B1 development: the calm, deliberate routine of washing is used by many Muslims as a moment to leave behind everyday distractions before turning to Allah, oe
Answer: E.g. purifies the body for prayer (Qur'an 5:6); helps a Muslim focus their mind before worship.

Question 4

B1 belief/practice 1: Sunni Muslims typically pray the five daily prayers separately, each at its own distinct time, oe
B1 development: Qur'an 4:103 states that prayer 'has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times', supporting the practice of five separate prayer times, oe
B1 belief/practice 2: many Shi'a Muslims combine some of the five prayers into three prayer periods (e.g. Zuhr with Asr, and Maghrib with Isha), a practice most Shi'a scholars consider permissible, oe
B1 development: this Shi'a practice is often explained as making the specified time-windows for combined prayers more practical within a working day, while still fulfilling the number and content of the five daily prayers, oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: Sunni Muslims pray five prayers separately (Qur'an 4:103) vs many Shi'a Muslims combining prayers into three periods.

Question 5

(a) B1 the Friday congregational prayer performed at the mosque, oe
(a) Answer: The Friday congregational prayer performed at the mosque.
(b) B1 performs wudu, oe
(b) B1 faces the qiblah (or removes their shoes, or uses a prayer mat), oe
(b) Answer: E.g. performs wudu, and faces the qiblah.
(c) B1 point 1: it maintains a direct, structured relationship with Allah throughout each day, oe
(c) B1 development: Qur'an 29:45 teaches that prayer 'prohibits immorality and wrongdoing', showing that Muslims believe it has a moral, disciplining effect on behaviour, oe
(c) B1 point 2: praying together, especially at Jummah, strengthens a sense of community and equality among Muslims, oe
(c) B1 development: standing shoulder to shoulder regardless of wealth or status is seen by many Muslims as expressing the equality of all believers before Allah, oe
(c) Answer: E.g. maintains a direct relationship with Allah and shapes moral behaviour (Qur'an 29:45); Jummah prayer strengthens community and expresses equality.
(d) B1 belief 1: some Muslims emphasise praying together at the mosque, especially for Jummah, because of its role in building community and because prayer in congregation is widely taught to carry greater reward, oe
(d) B1 development: a hadith tradition recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Adhan) is widely cited as teaching that prayer performed in congregation is more rewarding than prayer performed alone, oe
(d) B1 belief 2: other Muslims emphasise that salah can be, and often must be, performed alone wherever a Muslim happens to be (at home, at work, or while travelling), since the five daily prayers are an individual obligation not limited to the mosque, oe
(d) B1 development: Qur'an 4:103 states that prayer is decreed on believers 'at specified times', supporting the view that timely individual prayer, wherever it is performed, fulfils the obligation, oe
(d) B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
(d) Answer: Contrast: congregational prayer valued for community and greater reward (hadith, Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Adhan) vs individual prayer valued as a flexible, always-available obligation (Qur'an 4:103).
(e) L4 (10-12): A well-argued, balanced answer that considers more than one point of view in a developed way, using accurate and detailed references to Muslim teaching and/or the Qur'an or hadith to support each point, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion.
(e) L3 (7-9): A clear and reasoned answer that considers more than one point of view, supported by relevant references to Muslim teaching and/or the Qur'an or hadith, though the justification of the conclusion may be less developed.
(e) L2 (4-6): A reasoned answer that considers at least one point of view, with some relevant supporting evidence, but with limited or no consideration of an alternative view.
(e) L1 (1-3): One or more relevant points are made, but with little or no supporting evidence and no reasoned conclusion.
(e) L0 (0): No relevant content.
(e) Indicative content:
- Agree: salah is performed five times every day, giving it a constant, structuring presence in a Muslim's life that no other pillar has.
- Agree: Qur'an 4:103 describes prayer as decreed upon believers at specified times, showing its central place in Muslim obligation.
- Agree: the hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari describing Islam as built on five pillars places salah immediately after the Shahadah, and it is repeated daily unlike any other pillar.
- Agree: prayer is a direct, repeated act of worship and remembrance of Allah, whereas Hajj is performed once in a lifetime and zakah and sawm are yearly.
- Disagree: the Shahadah is arguably more fundamental, since sincere belief in it is what makes salah, and every other pillar, meaningful in the first place.
- Disagree: zakah has an equally strong basis in the Qur'an and directly supports the wider community, addressing social justice in a way prayer alone does not.
- Disagree: Hajj, though performed once, is regarded by many Muslims as the peak expression of submission to Allah and physically unites the global ummah in one place.
- A balanced answer might conclude that the Five Pillars function as an interconnected whole, so ranking any single pillar as 'most important' oversimplifies how they work together in a Muslim's life.

Question 6

B1 point 1: praying five times daily creates a routine that structures the working day around remembrance of Allah, oe
B1 development: a Muslim may need to plan their day, e.g. at school or work, around finding time and space to pray, oe
B1 point 2: performing wudu and salah regularly builds self-discipline and mindfulness that a Muslim may carry into other areas of life, oe
B1 development: the repeated practice of pausing for prayer can encourage patience and reflection even outside of the prayer itself, oe
Answer: E.g. structures the working day around remembrance of Allah; builds self-discipline and mindfulness carried into daily life.

Question 7

B1 standing (qiyam), oe
B1 bowing (ruku), oe
B1 prostration (sujud), oe (accept sitting - julus)
Answer: Any three: standing (qiyam); bowing (ruku); prostration (sujud); sitting (julus).

Salah: The Role and Significance of Prayer - Worksheets, Questions and Revision