Islam beliefs, teachings and practices

• Muslim key words about Allah

  • eternal
  • merciful

  • benevolent
  • transcendent
  • omnipotent
  • omniscient
• shirk

  associating things with Allah
• Tawhid


  oneness of God
• Tawhid quote

  "There is no God but Allah"
• Risalah

  prophethood - channel of communication between Allah and humans
• job of prophets

  guide people to worship and obey God
• prophet examples

  1. Ibrahim - suhuf (scrolls)
  2. Musa - Tawrat (Torah)
  3. Dawud - Zabur (Psalms)
  4. Isa - Injil (Gospels)
  5. Muhammad - Qu'ran
• Sunni beliefs about Isa

  • he is Messiah
  • will return on Day of Judgement
  • unite true muslims
  • make war until Islam is only religion left
  • miraculous
• Muslim beliefs about Muhammad

  • role model
  • recited revelations
  • established Mecca as holy city
  • 'Seal of prophets'
• How did Sunni and Shi'a split

  division over who would succeed Muhammad led to sunni and shi'a
• Qur'an

  only holy book that hasn't been distorted over time - God's true words
• angels

  • Allah's first creation
  • made from light
  • carry out God's commands
  • no free will
  • free from sin
  • immortal
  • help humans
• Jibra'il

  • chief angel
  • brings revelation to prophets
  • appears in human form
  • true form = 600 wings covering the sky
• Mika'il

  • mentioned in Qur'an
  • guardian of Heaven
  • sends rain, thunder and lightning
• Isra'il

  • angel of death
  • takes our last breath
  • separates soul from body
  • sense of dread for non-believers
  • takes believers to paradise
• Israfil

  • angel of last judgement
  • blows trumpet on day of judgement
  • first blow destroys everything
  • second blow brings all dead to life
• Kiramin Katibin

  • shoulder angels
  • record all actions - determine how humans are held accountable on day of judgement
• Jinn

  • made from fire
• Shaitans

  • rebellious Jinn
  • lead men astray
  • teach men sorcery
  • oppose prophets
  • led by Iblis - refused to worship Adam upon God's command
• Al-Qad'r

  predestination - the belief that everything that will happen has been predetermined by God
• Al-Qad'r quote 


  "he created everything, then he ordained it very exactly"
• free will

  humans have free will but Allah knows what people will do
• God vs evil and suffering


  humans have a choice to obey Allah - those who obey will be rewarded on Day of Judgement
• Sifat

  foreknowledge - a quality of Allah
• Akhirah

  life after death (permanent)
• Dunya

  current life (temporary) - a preparation for the next life
• barzakh

  period of waiting in the grave before day of judgement
• Who do Sunni believe will return on Day of Judgement

  Isa
• Who do Shi'a believe will return on Day of Judgement

  12th hidden Imam
• buried not cremated


  belief they will be resurrected for Day of Judgement
• Al-Jannah

  • heaven
  • physical place
  • eternal
  • restored to youth
  • welcomed by angels
  • peace
  • enter via gates based on virtues
• Al-Jannah quote

  "Peace be upon you! You have done well! Enter here, to dwell there in"
• Jahannam

  • hell
  • physical place
  • eternal for unbelievers
  • purification for sinful believers
  • fire
  • inescapable
  • suffering and constant pain
  • dark and fearful
• Jahannam quote

  "To those who reject our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of Heaven... such is our reward for those in sin"
• 5 pillars of Islam

  1. Shahada - one god
  2. Salah - ritual prayer
  3. Zakat - 25% of wealth to charity
  4. Sawm - fasting for Ramadan
  5. Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca (if able)
• Obligatory acts for Shi'a

  • Khums - 20% of wealth
  • Jihad - struggle to live as God wants
  • Amr-bil-maroof - promote good actions
  • Nahi anil munkar - stopping evil
  • Tawalla - expressing love to good people
  • Tabarra - disassociation with evil
• Ghusl

  full wash done before prayer
• Wudu

  part wash before prayer
• Du'a

  private prayers to Allah - ask for help, forgiveness, or thanks
• prayer creates community


  preordained movement - sense of unity and equality