Religious Studies

• Six articles of faith for Sunni Muslims

  • Oneness of God
  • Authority of holy books
  • Belief in angels
  • Belief in prophethood
  • Belief in predestination
  • Belief in the day of judgment and life after death
• Purpose of the six articles of faith for Sunni Muslims

  • They unite all Sunni Muslims by providing a clear guide to their beliefs
  • They help Sunni Muslims understand and explain their religion
  • They support Sunni Muslims in how they should live their lives by emphasizing the importance of following God's rules and teachings
• Five roots of faith for Shia Muslims

  • Tawheed (Oneness of God)
  • Justice
  • Prophethood
  • Imamate
  • Day of Judgment and Resurrection
• Similarities between Sunni and Shia beliefs

  • Both recognize the importance of Tawheed (Oneness of God)
  • Both share the concepts of prophethood and life after death
  • Both have a big influence on how followers live their lives
• Differences between Sunni and Shia beliefs

  Sunnis believe Imams should be elected based on merit, while Shias believe Imams are spiritual descendants of the Prophet and are divinely appointed
• Prophet Muhammad: 'The perfect man'
• The Sunni-Shia split began due to the question of who should succeed Prophet Muhammad
• Shia Muslims

  Believe that Muhammad's cousin Ali was his rightful successor based on spiritual descendancy from the family of the prophet
• Sunni Muslims

  Believe that Abu Bakr was the right person to succeed Muhammad based on his suitability as a close confidant of the prophet
• Shia Muslims' belief in spiritual descendancy

  Is like the British Monarchy where the position is inherited based on bloodline
• Sunni Muslims' belief in suitability

  Is like the UK Prime Minister who is elected based on merit
• Tawhid is the most fundamental belief of Islam and all other principles within the religion relate to it
• Tawhid

  The Oneness of God
• God

  • Omnipotent
  • Creator and controller of everything
  • Just
  • Merciful and forgiving
• God's relationship with the world

  • Imminent - closer to you than your jugular vein, actively involved
  • Transcendent - above and beyond human comprehension
• Angels

  • Spiritual beings created from light
  • Give messages from God to prophets
  • Watch over humans
  • Have no free will, only follow divine commands
• Angel Jibril delivered the Quran to Muhammad over 23 years
• Angel Jibril

  Delivers messages including the Quran
• Angel Mikhail

  Rewards good deeds with eternal life
• Angels record the thoughts and actions of humans to be judged on Judgement Day
• Angels greet those in paradise and punish those in hell
• Angels are one of the six articles of faith for Sunni Muslims
• Angel of Mercy

  Rewards those who've lived a good life
• Angels are one of the six articles of Faith by Sunni Muslims
• Angels help Muslims understand how to live life
• Angel Jibreel was given the task of sharing the Quran from God for Muhammad
• An angel will blow the horn to signify the end of the world
• Akhirah

  Life after death
• Day of Judgment

  1. Resurrection

  2. Judgment by God

  3. Sent to Heaven or Hell
• Heaven (Jannah)

  Paradise, a beautiful place where people enjoy various rewards
• Hell

  Place of pain and suffering, a punishment
• Quran: 'Garments of fire for those who disbelieve'
• Quran: 'Gardens of lasting Bliss for those who believe and do good deeds'
• On the Day of Judgment, the body will be resurrected and two angels will open the book that contains the record of what a person has done in their lifetime
• Belief in the Day of Judgment

  Influences Muslims to live a good, honest Islamic life and avoid sin
• Muslims believe God is omniscient and his judgment will be right and fair on the Day of Judgment
• Some Muslims believe hell is a physical place, while others consider the Quran's language to be symbolic
• Some Muslims believe God will ultimately forgive everybody, even if they go to hell
• Predestination (Divine Decree)

  Everything that happens has been decided by God
• Muslims believe humans have free will, despite predestination