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• Islam began in 610 A.D with the beginning of the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad via Angel Jibril
• The word Islam means submission to God
• There are two billion Muslims globally, around 1 in 4 people, and 4 million in the UK, around 6.5% of the population
• 90% of Muslims are Sunni and 10% are Shia
• In many countries where Islam is the official religion, Sharia law forms the basis of the legal system
• 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 guiding them to follow 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 include and 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
• Difference between Sunni and Shia beliefs

  Shia Muslims believe in the spiritual descendancy of Imams who are divinely appointed like monarchy, while Sunni Muslims believe Imams should be elected based on merit like royal family
• 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
• Tawheed


  The Oneness of God, the fundamental belief in Islam that underpins all other principles
• Quran states that God is One, He begot no one nor was He begotten, and no one is comparable to Him
• Quran states that God rewards good deeds and knows everything
• Quran states that God is with you wherever you are
• God's dualistic relationship with the world


  He is both imminent (involved with and close to the world) and transcendent (beyond and above the world)
• God's 99 Names


  One of which is "The Lord of Mercy, The Giver of Mercy"
• Quran states that only what God has decreed will happen, and believers should put their trust in God
• Quran states that all power belongs to God
• Quran reaffirms that there is no God but God
• Quran states that God is closer to you than your jugular vein
• Tawheed


  • The most fundamental belief in Islam, underpinning all other principles
  • Part of both the fixed articles and the five roots of Islam
  • The central belief contained in the Shahada, the first of the Five Pillars
• Omnipotence


  The belief that God is all-powerful, the Creator and Controller of everything
• Adalat


  The belief that God is just and fair, the Judge who will hold people accountable on the Day of Judgment
• God's mercy


  The belief that God is merciful, forgiving, and compassionate
• Knowing God's nature helps Muslims understand Him better, follow His way, and strengthen their relationship with Him
• Muslims believe life without God would be worse than death
• Transcendence


  The belief that God is above and beyond human understanding, outside of space and time
• Muslims believe they must put their faith in God's plan, even if they don't fully understand it
• Angels


  Spiritual beings created from light, who deliver messages from God to the prophets and watch over humans
• The Quran states that angels pray for God but have no free will, as they follow Divine commands
• The Quran states that each person has angels before and behind them, watching over them by God's commands
• Angel Jibreel (Gabriel)


  The angel who delivered the Quran to Muhammad, revealing it as the infallible word of God
• Angel Mika'eel (Michael)


  The angel believed to reward good deeds with eternal life, the angel of mercy and sustenance
• Angels are important because they are active Messengers between God and humanity, obeying God's commands
• The belief in angels influences Muslims to do good deeds, as they know their actions are being recorded for Judgment Day
• The belief in angels, particularly Jibreel delivering the Quran, reinforces the importance of the Quran as the infallible word of God for Muslims
• Angel of Mercy


  Rewards those who've lived a good life