Islam

• Islam

  A monotheistic religion where Muslims believe there is only one God (Allah)
• Tawhid

  The belief in one, indivisible God
• Muslims believe in the supremacy of God's will: the idea that God's will is above all things
• Surah 112 from the Qur'an: 'He is God the One<|>God the eternal<|>He begot no one nor was He begotten<|>No one is comparable to Him'
• Belief in Tawhid

  • Worship only one God
  • Never make anything more important than God
  • Not use images or pictures of God
• Supremacy of God's will

  • God can make anything happen that he wants to happen
  • Nothing happens unless God allows it to happen
• Muslims try to live according to God's will in their everyday lives, accepting that God knows best
• Sunni Islam

  • The Sunni leader (Caliph) should be elected
  • Only the Qur'an and Sunnah have authority
  • Abu Bakr was the rightful leader after Muhammad
• Shi'a Islam


  • The Shi'a leader (Imam) should be a descendant of Muhammad
  • The Qur'an, Sunnah and Shi'a leader have authority
  • Ali was the rightful leader after Muhammad
• Six articles of faith in Sunni Islam

  • Tawhid
  • Angels
  • Holy books
  • Prophets
  • Day of Judgement
  • Supremacy of God's will
• Five roots of 'Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam

  • Tawhid
  • Prophethood
  • Justice of God
  • Imamate
  • Resurrection
• Sunni and Shi'a Muslims share beliefs in the same God, Qur'an, Sunnah, and importance of prophets
• Transcendent

  God created the universe, so is beyond and outside it
• Immanent


  God is present everywhere in the world and the universe
• Qualities of God

  • Beneficent
  • Omnipotent
  • Fair and just
  • Merciful
• God is transcendent

  God is also immanent
• Angels are spiritual beings who serve God and pass on his word to people through the prophets
• Jibril

  The angel of revelation, who revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad
• Mika'il

  The angel of mercy, who rewards good deeds and provides nourishment for the earth and human life
• Roles of angels

  • Messengers of God
  • Take care of people
  • Record people's deeds
  • Take people's souls to God
• Predestination

  The idea that God knows or determines everything that will happen in the universe
• Most Muslims believe that predestination means God knows everything that will happen, but people still have free will and can make their own choices
• Most Muslims believe they are responsible for their own actions, and will be rewarded or punished for them by God on the Day of Judgement
• Surah 9:51 from the Qur'an: 'Only what God has decreed will happen to us'
• Many Shi'a Muslims believe that God knows everything that is going to happen, but people have free will
• Predestination

  In Islam, the belief that God has already determined everything that will happen in the universe
• Beliefs about predestination in Islam

  • Some Sunni Muslims believe God has written down everything that will happen in a 'book of decrees' and people must act according to his will, but they still have some choice over how they behave
  • Many Shi'a Muslims believe God knows everything that will happen but people still have free will to make their own choices
• Qur'an 9:51: 'Only what God has decreed will happen to us'
• Qur'an 13:11: 'God does not change the condition of a people [for the worse] unless they change what is in themselves'
• Muslims who believe they have the free will to make their own choices also believe they will be judged by God for these choices on the Day of Judgement
• Even though God knows everything that will happen, people are still responsible for their actions, and will be rewarded or punished for them on the Day of Judgement
• Barzakh


  The state of waiting after death until the Day of Judgement
• Day of Judgement

  When God's purpose for the universe has been fulfilled, the world will be destroyed and everyone who has ever lived will be raised from the dead and judged by God
• Heaven (jannah)

  A beautiful garden, a state of eternal happiness in the presence of God, where people who have kept their faith in God and done good deeds will be rewarded
• Hell (jahannam)

  A place of fire and torment, where people who have rejected God and done bad things will be punished
• Belief in Akhirah (life after death) encourages Muslims to take responsibility for their actions, because they know God will hold them accountable and reward or punish them accordingly
• Belief in Akhirah helps to give hope to Muslims who suffer, as they know there is something better to look forward to, and helps them to accept unjust situations, because they know God will provide justice in the afterlife
• Prophethood

  When someone is made a prophet: a messenger of God's word
• Risalah


  Belief in the prophets and their importance as messengers of God
• Muslims believe Adam (the first human) was the first prophet