Islam Beliefs, Teachings and Practises

• Key beliefs and teachings to be covered

  • Nature of God
  • Angels
  • Risalah (Prophethood)
  • Holy Books
  • Akhirah (Life after Death)
• Tawhid


  The oneness of God, the most fundamental belief in Islam
• God in Islam


  • Omnipotent (all-powerful)
  • Just and will judge fairly
  • Merciful and forgiving
• Angels


  Spiritual beings created from light, who deliver messages from God to prophets and watch over humans
• Important angels


  • Jibril (Gabriel) - revealed the Quran to Muhammad
  • Mika'eel (Michael) - rewards good deeds with eternal life
• Angels


  • Have no free will, continuously praise God and fulfil His commands
  • Can appear in human form but have no gender
• Angels act as messengers between God and humanity, helping humans understand how to live moral lives
• Angels record thoughts and actions for Judgement Day, greet those in Paradise and punish those in Hell
• Risalah


  Communication between God and humanity through prophets
• Angel at the end of time


  Will blow the horn to signify the end of the world
• Angels


  • Act as messengers between God and humans
• Risalah


  Communication, specifically prophet-hood - the communication between God and humanity through prophets
• Prophets


  • 124,000 believed to exist, 25 named in the Quran
• Shahadah


  The words: "There is no god but God and Muhammad is his messenger"
• Muhammad


  The final prophet who gave the message of Islam, founded the Islamic religion, and ensured it was unchanged thereafter
• Muhammad


  • Illiterate, yet received the Quran through revelation from the angel Jibril, which emphasizes the truth of the message
• Muhammad's life


  Preached message in Mecca, rejected at first, escaped to Medina, became political and religious leader, set up first Muslim community, returned to Mecca victorious, set up the Kaaba for worship of Allah alone
• Adam


  First prophet and human, exemplar of stewardship as the first khalifa (caretaker) of the world
• Ibrahim (Abraham)


  Exemplar of faith, preached monotheism, was tested by God and willing to sacrifice his son, which is celebrated in the festival of sacrifice (Id Al Adha)
• Quran


  114 surahs, means "recitation", revealed to the illiterate Muhammad by the angel Gibral
• The Quran is always read in Arabic to preserve God's words in their purest form
• The Quran is a direct revelation from God, confirmed by earlier holy books, and is seen as infallible and unchangeable
• Quran


  • Contains the true words of God, is a miracle as it was revealed to an illiterate man, covers every aspect of life, explains ultimate questions, is the basis for Sharia law
• The Quran is a miracle because Muhammad was illiterate, it is greater than any book that a man could produce, especially somebody who is illiterate and cannot read or write
• Significance, authority, and importance of the Quran


  It covers every aspect of life, influencing and guiding a person throughout their life, it is the ultimate one-stop shop, it contains everything Muslims need to know, it demonstrates its importance and fundamental significance, it explains ultimate questions, it is a basis for Sharia law, the laws of God are always superior to the laws of man
• How Muslims use the Quran


  Used in daily worship, particularly on Fridays in the Jummah service, used in celebrations, festivals, and at rites of passage, it is a source of Sharia law for Islamic matters, it is a source of wisdom, inspiration, guidance, and support, it provides important answers and direction, it is treated with great respect and reverence
• Other holy books in Islam

  • The Torah (Tawrat), Scrolls of Ibrahim (Suhuf-i-Ibrahim), The Gospels (Injil), The Psalms (Zabur)
• Views on other holy books in Islam

  They are not considered the direct word of God, they contain fragments of the truth, they have been lost or changed over time, the Quran is considered more authoritative as it is the direct revelation from God
• The Quran refers to the other holy books and acknowledges their importance, but states they are not the complete and direct word of God like the Quran
• Sunni view of Imams

  Imams should be selected on merit, the best man for the job, based on piety and wisdom, leadership is by merit not by inheritance or family
• Shia view of Imams

  Imams are spiritual descendants of Muhammad, they have a clear connection to Muhammad's bloodline, they are sinless by nature and have infallible authority, they are chosen by God, not selected by people
• Importance of Imams in Shia Islam

  Imams are exemplary individuals appointed by God, they obey all teachings and follow Sharia law, they are best placed to interpret the Quran without error, they provide guidance on how to live correctly due to their close relationship with God
• There are 12 Imams in a branch of Shia Islam, the 12th Imam is believed to be hidden by God and will one day return to bring equality to all Shia Muslims
• Salah (prayer) is an important practice in Islam, with Shia Muslims praying 3 times a day and Sunni Muslims praying 5 times a day
• Quran 5:6: 'When you are about to pray, wash your faces and your hands and arms up to the elbows, wipe your heads, wash your feet up to the ankles, and if required, wash your whole body'
• The Quran emphasizes the importance of regular prayer throughout the day
• Quran 40:60: 'Call on me and I will answer you'
• Quran 62:10: 'Remember God often so that you may prosper'
• Frequency of prayer


  • Shia Muslims pray 3 times a day (17 sequences)
  • Sunni Muslims pray 5 times a day (17 sequences)
• Shia Muslims


  Make different positions for prayer, e.g. touching the head to a block of wood instead of the floor