R.E - Islam

• It is believed that previous prophets were given holy books such as Scrolls of Ibrahim, Tawrat (Torah), Zabur (Psalms) and Injil (The Gospels), were misinterpret, corrupted and lost
• Allah needed to reaffirm his message through prophets
• Prophet Muhammad's message is the only revelation which was not corrupted, there was no need for a new prophet as his message was still intact
• Qur'an 20:16: 'And indeed We have created man, and We know whatever thought his inner self develops, and We are closer to him than (his) jugular vein.'
• Qur'an 112:1-4: 'He is Allah, the One and Only, Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, not is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him.'
• 99 Names of Allah


  • Names are used to highlight and understand the qualities of Allah, these names allow individuals to build a personal relationship with God
• Shirk


  This is when a person worships somethings else than God. There is only one God and there can be no pictures to represent him.
• Showing/drawing a picture of prophet Muhammad can be also be considered as sin of shirk
• Sunnis believed that after the death of Prophet Muhammad there was no clear successor left behind
• Shi'as believed that there was indication to a clear successor after the death of Prophet Muhammad
• Ali who was the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet was believed to be that chosen person
• Sunni 6 Articles of Faith


  • Belief in Judgement Day
  • Belief in Prophets
  • Belief in the Divine Books
  • Belief in Angels
  • Belief in Fate (Al-Qadr)
  • Belief in God
• Shi'a 5 Roots of Faith


  • Imams
  • Day of Resurrection
  • Prophethood
  • Tawhid (One God)
  • God's Justice
• Akhirah


  The Islamic term for the afterlife
• Al-Qadr


  'Destiny'; nothing takes place purely by chance. God knows and wills all future events
• Angels


  A spiritual being believed to act as in attendant, agent, or messenger of God
• Immanence


  Existing or operating within; inherent. God is always close by
• Risalah (prophethood)


  The term used of the messengers of Allah, beginning with Adam and ending with prophet Muhammad
• Tawhid


  'Oneness' in reference to God; the basic Muslim belief in the oneness of Allah
• Transcendence


  Beyond or above the range of normal or physical human experience. God is beyond all things, not limited by the rules of nature
• Halal


  Actions or things which are permitted within Islam, such as eating permitted food
• Haram


  Any actions or things which are forbidden within Islam, which as eating forbidden foods
• Jihad


  Means to 'strive'. There are two form of jihad. The greater jihad is the daily struggle and inner spiritual striving to live as a Muslim. The lesser jihad is a physical struggle or 'holy war' in defence of Islam
• Mosque (Masjid)


  A 'place of prostration' for Muslims; it is a communal place of worship for a Muslim community
• Shari'ah


  A way of life; Muslims believe God has set out a clear oath for how Muslims should live. Shari'ah law is the set of moral and religious rules that put the principles set out by the Qur'an and the Hadith into practice
• Ummah


  Means 'community'. Refers to the worldwide community of Muslims who share a common religious identity.
• Prophets bring guidance to humans from God, their guidance and wisdom does not come from within themselves but from God
• Qur'an 13:38: 'And We have already sent messengers....For every term is a decree.'
• The Qur'an teaches that every community has been given a prophet, bringing God's message in a book. The message bought down by Muhammed is the same message which all the prophets have had (worship the one true God, who will be the judge of all)
• Qur'an 6:48: 'And We send not the messenger except as bringer of good tidings and warners.'
• Muhammad was not rich, he could not read or write, but he was very devout. He would take himself to a cave in the desert and meditate for days seeking God
• Qur'an 42:13: 'God chooses Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turn back [to Him].'
• The Qur'an teaches that God has sent many prophets throughout history, but only 25 of them are mentioned by name
• Islam teaches that the messages which were previously sent have either been lost or are corrupted. So, there was a need for a final revelation. This is why Muhammad is known as the Seal of Prophets, as his revelation of the Qur'an was God's final and absolute word
• Qur'an 10:47: 'To every people was sent an apostle.'
• Devout


  having a deep religious feeling or commitment
• Ka'ba


  known as the House of God, the black covered, cube-shaped building at the centre of Islam's holiest mosque in Makkah (Mecca)
• Polytheism


  belief in many gods
• Prophet Adam was created as God's 'khalifah' (his representative on earth). It was his job to rule in the place of God. Tradition says that he built the first Ka'ba in Mecca
• Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was born into a family of polytheists, but he rejected these beliefs and chose to worship one God (monotheism), he became a Muslim (one who bows down to God)