Re Islam beliefs and teachings

• What are the 6 articles of faith in Sunni Islam?

  1. Tawhid - oneness of allah - follow his rules

  2. Angels - encourages good

  3. Holy books - guidance

  4. Prophets and messengers - teaches us about the faith

  5. Predestination - God determines everything

  6. Judgement day - life is a test
• What are the 5 roots of Usal ad-Din (shia)?

  1. Tawhid

  2. Adalat - God is always right and just

  3. prophethood - provide guidance

  4. imamate - protect religion and guide on right path

  5. Day of resurrection - judgement
• What do Muslims believe about tawhid?

  Muslims believe Tawhid is the fundamental belief that God is one and that there is only one God. 'He is Allah, who is one'

  Islam is a monotheistic religion - 'no one is comparable to him'

  saying allah is the only god is the first part of the shahadah, 'worship no god but allah
• What is the nature of God like in Islam?

  - merciful, 'compassionate and merciful' and is 'the entirely merciful' - kind and will forgive peoples sins

  - omnipotent, created the universe. Predestination 'he is able to do all things'

  - benevolent, can do no evil and cares for other

  - just, 'is allah not the best of judges?'

  - immanent, Allah is present and involved in the world.

  - transcendant, above everything, has no equal
• What is adalat and how does it influence Muslims?

  - God's justice

  - Therefore Muslims will treat people fairly as they know Allah will judge them on judgement day - 'is allah not the best of judges?'

  - Muslims will speak out against injustices and help people with hardships as they know Allah will ensure justice prevails

  - donate to charitable causes and make sure to forgive eachother
• What is thought of the nature of angels?


  - gender less

  - made of light

  - have wings

  - immortal

  - don't have free will (incapable of sin)
• What is the purpose of angels?

  - follow God's orders and communicate with humans, often via prophets

  - in heaven they praise him and guard his throne - 'they exalt him night and day and do not slacken
• How do angels influence Muslims?

  - to do good - some angels record good and bad deeds for judgement day, 'each person has angels before him and behind, watching over him by God's command'

  - not to stress and be comforted - Guardian angels protect people from danger and evil
• Why is angel Jibril important?

  - trusted messenger of Allah

  - revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad on the night of power

  - angel of revelation, also told Maryam(Mary) she was pregnant with Isa(Jesus)

  - 'Jibril brought down the 'Qur'an to your heart
• Why is angel Mika'il important?

  - rewards righteous people for good things they do

  - Asks allah to forgive people's sins

  - angel of mercy
• What do Sunni Muslims believe about predestination?

  Al-Qadr is the muslim belief that Allah has already decided everything that will happen to us, God's plan

  'only God has decreed will happen to us
• What do Shia Muslims believe about predestination?

  - They reject predestination, as they believe it contradicts Judgement day. It is not fair for Allah to punish or reward someone for something that he predestined them to do.

  - believe Allah has ultimate control (and knows what will happen) but that people's lives are down to their own free will

  - 'God does not change the conditions of a people for the worse unless they change what is in themselves
• What do Muslims believe about Judgement day?

  - they believe allah decides how people will spend their afterlife, based on their behaviour during their lives. It is then too late to beg for forgiveness

  - The dead will be resurrected and Allah will judge everyone, not just Muslims. Everyone will receive a record of their good and bad deeds, on which they will be judged.

  - 'We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]
• What do Muslims believe about life after death?

  - All Muslims believe in akhirah- life after death.

  - Muslims believe life in earth has a very important purpose. It is a test.

  - When Muslims die their souls are taken by the angel of death to await the day of judgement. This is called barzakh which means barrier.
• What do Muslims believe about heaven and hell?

  Heaven (Jannah) is the eternal paradise with Allah where there is no suffering. 'the righteous will have gardens in paradise'

  Hell (Jahannam) is a place of eternal suffering. 'fear the fire which has been prepared for those who reject faith
• What is prophethood (risalah)?


  - When God makes someone a prophet to communicate his message to people.

  - prophets are the connection between Allah and Humanity and were chosen to reveal his truth.

  - sends messages to people to how to live a good life

  - 'every community is sent a messenger
• What is the importance of prophet Adam?

  - He was the first human and the first prophet, 'I'm going to make a human out of clay'

  - Adam was forgiven for his sin's - taught Muslims to seek forgiveness due to 'the fall'

  - He was given the knowledge to pass on to the human race - teaches to always do right

  - believed to have built the first ka'aba
• What is the importance of prophet Ibrahim?

  - rejected the idea of many Gods - destroyed the idols - promoting Tawhid

  - Rebuilt the Ka'aba- remembered on Hajj

  - was willing to sacrifice his own son, Isma'il, had trust in Allah. 'your only son' - shows commitment and devotion

  - 'God took Ibrahim as a friend
• What is the importance of prophet Muhammad?

  - on the night of power, he received a revelation of the Qur'an to angel Jibril - revealed for 23 years - no Islam without. 'better than a thousand months'. 'he is God's messenger'

  - Created the Hadith which contains sayings and teachings o order to live a good life - see him as a role model

  - final prophet, 'seal of the prophets' - was a wise leader who settled disputes and performed several miracles
• What is important about the Qur'an?


  - most important as it is a complete and accurate record of Allah's exact words to Muhammad

  - tells Muslims what they need to know and how to lead their lives to please him , provides guidance. 'a guidance for those conscious of Allah'

  - 'this is the scripture of which there can be no doubt
• What is important about the Hadith?

  Muhammad's words and actions and provides guidance on how to live their lives
• What other holy books do Muslims recognise?

  The Torah

  The Gospel

  The Scrolls of Abraham

  The Psalms
• What do Shi'a Muslims believe about the Imamate?

  - The divine appointment of the 12 imams that descended from Muhammad

  - Shia Muslim communities are led by imams who obey all teachings and follow shariah law

  - Shia's believe that Muhammad named Ali as his successor and they add his name to the shahadah, 'and Ali is the friend of Allah'

  - believe that imams rule justly and are able to interpret the Qur'an and Shariah without error

  - 'Islam will prevail through 12 caliphs