Islamiyat · May / June 2024 · Paper 22 · Question 5

Give an account of missed (qada) prayers and the importance of prayers for Muslims.

Mark according to the marking grid for AO1 – Knowledge, given on page 4.

Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.

In the first part candidates need to give an account of qada prayers. It could be said that missing one’s salat intentionally is a sin. However, if a fard prayer could not be offered at a prescribed time due to a valid reason, it is said to have been rendered qada or missed and needs to be offered later in the prescribed way. It is imperative to complete the missed fard prayer. Candidates can go on to write about when qada prayers should be said, what is the guidance if a person has missed more than one prayer as well as write about how prayers missed on account of travel should be completed. For the second part of the answer candidates need to give the importance of prayers for Muslims. Prayer is a command from God, one of the five Pillars and is performed to worship God. Prayer at specific times strengthens faith and dependence on God.

Prayer brings Muslims close to God and helps them remain aware of the importance of their faith in daily life and forget the stresses of work, family, and any other distractions. Muslims dissociate themselves from their worldly engagements for a while to stand before their Creator and be aware of the real purpose of life. It puts daily life within the perspective of the hereafter and the final Judgement.

In your opinion why is so much importance given to purification (wudu) before prayer (salat)?

Mark according to the marking grid for AO2 – Understanding, given on page 5.

Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.

Candidates could say that wudu is important because it is believed that it washes away the sins of the believer, the aim of a believer is to be cleared of all sins before they meet God on Judgment Day.

The ritual of wudu is both spiritually and physically important. It focuses the mind of the believer on God and prayer and allows them the time to disassociate themselves from whatever they were engaged in doing and to think about God and their prayers and supplication. This is important because it makes the prayer more meaningful. Wudu also cleanses the body of physical impurities which improves the hygiene of the believer.

Another reason it is important is because it is a direct instruction from God to be in a state of ritual purity before prayer. This shows obedience of the believer towards God’s command.