Islam belief and teachings

• 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 in Sunni Islam


  • 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


  • They unite all Sunni Muslims by giving a clear and concrete guide to Sunni 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 with awareness of being judged
• Five Roots of Faith in Shia Islam


  • Tawheed (Oneness of God)
  • Justice
  • Prophethood
  • Imamate
  • Day of Judgment and Resurrection
• Imamate


  Shia Muslims believe in the spiritual descendancy of Imams, who are divinely appointed and infallible, unlike Sunni Muslims who believe Imams should be elected based on merit
• Sunni Muslims believe the first caliph Abu Bakr was the rightful successor to Prophet Muhammad


  Shia Muslims believe Prophet Muhammad's cousin Ali was the rightful successor based on bloodline and spiritual descendancy
• The key difference between Sunni and Shia Islam is the belief in the Imamate - Shia Muslims believe Imams are divinely appointed and infallible, while Sunni Muslims believe Imams should be elected based on merit
• 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
• Shia Muslims' belief in spiritual descendancy


  Is like the British Monarchy where the position is inherited based on bloodline
• Sunni Muslims' belief in suitability to lead


  Is like the UK Prime Minister who is elected based on merit
• Taweed is the most fundamental belief of Islam and all other principles within the religion relate to it
• Taweed


  The Oneness of God
• Islam is a monotheistic religion
• Omnipotent


  God is all-powerful, the Creator and controller of everything
• Adala


  The belief that God is just and fair, the judge
• God's mercy


  God is forgiving, compassionate
• God's relationship with the world


  • God is both imminent (close, involved) and transcendent (above and beyond human comprehension)
• Angels


  Spiritual beings created from light, who give messages from God to the prophets and watch over humans
• Angels have no free will, they follow divine commands
• Angel Jibril


  Delivered the Quran to Muhammad, the infallible word of God
• Angel Mika'il


  Rewards good deeds with eternal life, the angel of mercy and sustenance
• Angels record the deeds of humans to be judged on the Day of Judgment
• Belief in angels incentivizes Muslims to do good deeds and live a moral life
• Angel of Mercy


  Rewards those who've lived a good life
• Angels greet those in paradise and punish those in hell
• Angels are one of the six articles of Faith by Sunni Muslims
• Angels help Muslims understand how to live life
• Angel Jibreel was given the task of sharing the Quran from God for Muhammad
• An angel will blow the horn to signify the end of the world
• Akhirah


  Life after death
• Day of Judgment


  1. Resurrection

  2. Judgment by God

  3. Sent to Heaven or Hell
• Heaven (Jannah)


  Paradise, a beautiful place where people enjoy various rewards
• Hell


  Place of pain and suffering, a punishment
• Quran: 'Garments of fire for those who disbelieve'
• Quran: 'Gardens of lasting Bliss for those who believe and do good deeds'