Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat: Articles of Faith and Pillars of Islam — Revision Notes (0493)

These notes condense Paper 2 Topic 4 of Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat 0493, The Articles of Faith and the Pillars of Islam. Use the checklists to recall each belief and practice, the key terms in Arabic, and at least two points of significance for each, which is what part (b) of a 14-mark question requires.

Syllabus coverage

0493 Paper 2, Topic 4 (2026–2027 syllabus): six Articles of Faith (Allah, angels, books, prophets, predestination, resurrection and the Last Day); jihad in its physical, mental and spiritual meanings; the Five Pillars (shahada, salat, zakat, sawm, hajj) with their performance and significance for individuals and communities.

Key terms

Term	Meaning
Tawhid	Oneness of Allah
Shirk	Associating partners with Allah
Malaika	Angels
Kutub	Revealed books
Risala	Prophethood
Al-qadr	Allah’s decree and predestination
Akhira	The life after death
Niyya	Intention
Wudu / ghusl	Partial / full ritual washing
Qibla	Direction of prayer, towards the Ka’ba
Rak’a	Unit of prayer
Qada	Making up a missed prayer or fast
Nisab	Minimum wealth on which zakat is due
Fidya	Compensation by feeding the poor for fasts that cannot be made up
Ihram	State of consecration and simple clothing for hajj
Miqat	Boundary point where pilgrims enter ihram

The six Articles: checklist

1. Allah: one, eternal, Creator, all-knowing, all-powerful, merciful; no partner or child. Significance: basis of all worship; rejects shirk.
2. Angels: made of light, obedient. Jibril (revelation), Mika’il (provision), Israfil (trumpet), Angel of Death, Kiraman Katibin (record deeds), Munkar and Nakir (questioning in the grave). Significance: deeds are recorded; encourages good conduct.
3. Books: Suhuf of Ibrahim, Tawrat (Musa), Zabur (Dawud), Injil (Isa), Qur’an (Muhammad, pbuh). Significance: Qur’an is final and preserved guidance.
4. Prophets: chosen, truthful, sinless in major matters; 25 named in the Qur’an; Muhammad (pbuh) the Seal (33.40). Significance: models to follow.
5. Al-qadr: Allah knows and wills all events; humans still choose and are responsible. Significance: patience, gratitude, trust in Allah.
6. Last Day: trumpet, resurrection, judgement, book of deeds, scales, sirat, paradise and hell. Significance: accountability; motivation to do good.

Jihad

• Greater jihad: inner struggle against wrong desires.
• Through speech, knowledge and wealth: teaching, speaking out, giving.
• Physical: defence under strict conditions; protect non-combatants, crops and places of worship.

The Five Pillars: checklist

Pillar	How it is performed	Significance
Shahada	Sincere declaration of tawhid and the Prophet’s messengership	Entry to Islam; said in prayer and at birth and death
Salat	Five times daily (Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha); niyya, wudu, clean place, facing qibla; rak’at; Jumu’a and Eid in congregation; qada for missed prayers; shortening for travellers	Remembrance; discipline; equality; keeps from wrongdoing (29.45)
Zakat	2.5 per cent of savings above nisab after a lunar year; set rates for crops and livestock; recipients in 9.60	Purifies wealth; reduces poverty and greed; social unity
Sawm	No food, drink or marital relations dawn to sunset in Ramadan; suhur and iftar; exemptions for the sick, travellers, pregnant or nursing women, menstruating women, the elderly and children	Self-control; empathy; gratitude; Laylat al-Qadr; Eid al-Fitr
Hajj	Once in a lifetime if able; ihram at miqat, tawaf, sa’y, Arafat (9th), Muzdalifa, stoning at Mina, sacrifice, hair cut, tawaf	Equality and unity; remembrance of Ibrahim’s family; forgiveness

Linking beliefs to practice

• Tawhid → shahada and salat: every prayer begins and ends with Allah alone.
• Angels recording deeds → honesty in zakat and fasting, even when no one else sees.
• Books → recitation of al-Fatiha in salat and reading the Qur’an in Ramadan.
• Prophets → hajj rites that remember Ibrahim, Hajar and Isma’il.
• Last Day → standing at Arafat, often compared with standing before Allah at judgement.

Worked example

Question: Explain the significance of congregational prayer for the Muslim community. [4]

Model answer: Praying together in rows shows equality, since rich and poor stand side by side behind one imam. It builds unity and brotherhood, especially at Jumu’a each week when the community also hears the khutba. Muslims learn about one another’s needs and can help those in difficulty. The Prophet (pbuh) taught that prayer in congregation is rewarded many times more than prayer alone, encouraging people to attend the mosque.

Common mistakes and exam traps

• Describing practice but not significance. Part (b) asks why it matters; give at least two reasons.
• Confusing angels’ roles. Israfil blows the trumpet; Jibril brings revelation.
• Equating jihad only with war. The syllabus asks for its range of meanings.
• Missing exemptions from fasting. Learn the full list and how missed fasts are made up.

How is this topic examined?

In Cambridge IGCSE 0493 Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes, 50 marks), the Articles of Faith and the Pillars of Islam is examined by the optional Questions 3 to 5, of which you answer two; each is worth 14 marks, 10 for part (a) and 4 for part (b). Each answer has a knowledge part and a shorter part asking for understanding or significance, so revise every point with a reason why it matters to Muslims, not just the facts.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the shahada called the foundation of the other pillars? Because every other act of worship is valid only if done with belief in one God and acceptance of the Prophet’s message.

What is Laylat al-Qadr? The Night of Power in the last ten nights of Ramadan, when the Qur’an was first revealed; worship on it is better than a thousand months (Sura 97).

Related pages

• Articles of Faith and Pillars of Islam study guide
• Paper 2 revision notes
• Paper 2 practice questions

Source: Cambridge International, Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat 0493 syllabus for examination in 2026 and 2027, Paper 2 Topic 4.