Cambridge O Level Islamiyat: Articles of Faith and Pillars of Islam, Subtopic 2.4 (2058)

The Articles of Faith and the Pillars of Islam is Paper 2 Topic 4 of Cambridge O Level Islamiyat 2058. It asks what Muslims believe (the six Articles of Faith), what jihad means in its full range, and how Muslims put belief into action through the Five Pillars. Essay questions usually have a descriptive part and a part asking about significance for individuals or communities, so this guide answers the questions you are most likely to face.

Syllabus coverage

2058 Paper 2, Topic 4 (2026–2027 syllabus)

• Six Articles of Faith: Allah; angels, their nature and duties; books, their contents and purpose; prophets, their character and function; predestination and decree; resurrection and the Last Day
• Jihad in its range of meanings: physical, mental and spiritual
• Five Pillars: shahada; salat, including preparation, performance, importance, Friday and festival prayers, times, place, private and delayed prayer; zakat; sawm, including exemptions; hajj and its observances
• Significance for individual Muslims and Muslim communities

Why is belief in one God the foundation of Islam?

Tawhid states that Allah is one, unique and without partner. He alone creates, sustains, knows and judges. Sura 112 sums it up: He neither begets nor is begotten and nothing is like Him. Because every act of worship is directed to Allah alone, tawhid gives meaning to the other Articles and to all five Pillars. Its opposite, shirk, is the one sin the Qur’an says Allah will not forgive if a person dies upon it without repenting (4.48).

What is the nature and work of angels?

Angels are created from light, do not eat or sleep, and obey Allah without free will. Jibril delivered revelation; Mika’il oversees provision and rain; Israfil will sound the trumpet; the Angel of Death takes souls; the Kiraman Katibin record deeds; Munkar and Nakir question the dead. Significance: Muslims know they are never unobserved, which encourages honesty and good conduct even in private.

What are the holy books, and why is the Qur’an different?

The Suhuf were given to Ibrahim, the Tawrat to Musa, the Zabur to Dawud, the Injil to Isa and the Qur’an to Muhammad (pbuh). All taught tawhid and right conduct. Muslims believe the Qur’an is the last revelation, preserved unchanged in its original Arabic and memorised by millions, so it is the final guide for life and law.

What makes a prophet, and why is Muhammad (pbuh) the last?

Prophets are human beings chosen by Allah, truthful, trustworthy and of excellent character, who conveyed His message and lived it as an example. Some, called messengers (rusul), brought a book or law. The Qur’an names twenty-five prophets. Muhammad (pbuh) is the Seal of the Prophets (33.40): his message is universal and complete, so no new prophet is needed.

How can predestination and free will both be true?

Al-qadr teaches that Allah knows everything before it happens, has recorded it, wills it and creates it. At the same time humans make real choices and are judged on them. Muslims hold both beliefs together. Significance: patience in hardship (“this was written”), humility in success, and continued effort, because the Prophet (pbuh) taught “tie your camel and trust in Allah”.

What are the main events of the Last Day?

The trumpet is blown and creation ends; all are resurrected; people gather for judgement; each receives a book of deeds; deeds are weighed; people cross the sirat; the righteous enter paradise and the wicked hell. Significance: accountability gives life purpose and encourages good deeds and repentance.

What does jihad really mean?

Jihad means striving. The greater jihad is the inner struggle to control desires and live rightly. Muslims also strive through speech, study, teaching and wealth. Physical jihad is permitted only for defence or to end oppression, under legitimate authority, and never against civilians, women, children, the elderly, crops or places of worship.

How and why do Muslims perform the Five Pillars?

Shahada: the declaration of faith in Allah and in Muhammad (pbuh) as His Messenger. It is the door to Islam, repeated in every prayer, and Muslims hope it will be their last words.

Salat: obligatory five times daily at set times from dawn to night. Preparation includes intention, wudu, clean body, clothing and place, and facing the qibla. Each prayer consists of rak’at with standing, recitation, bowing and prostration. Men are required to attend Friday Jumu’a prayer with its sermon; Eid prayers are held on the two festivals. Prayer can be offered anywhere clean; private du’a is encouraged at any time. Missed prayers are made up, and travellers may shorten some prayers. Significance: discipline, remembrance of Allah, equality and unity in congregation, and protection from indecency and wrongdoing (29.45).

Zakat: a yearly payment of 2.5 per cent on savings above the nisab, with other rates on crops and livestock, distributed to the eight categories in 9.60, such as the poor, the needy and debtors. Significance: purification of wealth, relief of poverty and social solidarity.

Sawm: fasting in Ramadan from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food, drink and marital relations and from bad words and deeds. The sick, travellers, the elderly, children, pregnant and nursing women and menstruating women are exempt, making up days later or paying fidya where they cannot. Significance: self-control, gratitude, empathy for the poor and increased worship, especially on Laylat al-Qadr.

Hajj: pilgrimage to Makka in Dhu al-Hijja, once in a lifetime for those physically and financially able. Pilgrims enter ihram at the miqat, perform tawaf and sa’y, stand at Arafat, spend the night at Muzdalifa, stone the jamarat at Mina, offer sacrifice, cut their hair and perform further tawaf. Significance: equality of all believers, remembrance of Ibrahim, Hajar and Isma’il, forgiveness of sins and preparation for meeting Allah.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between wudu and ghusl? Wudu washes parts of the body before prayer; ghusl is a full-body washing required in certain situations, such as after menstruation.

Why is zakat not called charity? It is an obligatory duty with fixed rules, while sadaqa is voluntary charity given at any time.

What is the significance of ihram? Its simple white garments remove signs of wealth and status, showing that all are equal before Allah.

Related pages

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

Source: Cambridge International, Cambridge O Level Islamiyat 2058 syllabus for examination in 2026 and 2027, Paper 2 Topic 4.