Islam Beliefs

• Tawhid


  The Oneness and Unity of God. Islam is a monotheistic religion.
• "He is God the One, God the eternal. He begot no one nor was He begotten. No one is comparable to Him.": 'Qur'an 112'
• Shahadah

  "There is no God but Allah."
• Supremacy of God's will

  Supreme power or authority. Nothing takes place unless God allows it to happen. Whether it is good or bad, it is God's will, so He must have had a good reason for letting it happen.
• "Misfortunes can only happen with God's permission.": 'Qur'an 64'
• Similarities between Sunni and Shi'a Muslim beliefs

  • Tawhid
  • Belief in the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH)
  • Belief in the Qur'an
• Differences between Sunni and Shi'a Muslim beliefs

  • Shi'a - belief in the Imamate. Accepting the twelve Imams as the leaders of Islam who interpret the Qur'an without error.
• Barzakh


  The state of waiting after death, where you have a conscious existence in the grave
• What happens after death

  1. Questioning by two angels in the grave

  2. Judgement Day - everyone resurrected and judged based on their actions

  3. Good go to Heaven, bad to Hell
• Sirat Bridge


  The bridge that people must cross on Judgement Day
• Belief in life after death

  Motivates Muslims to live good lives, following Allah, so that they can go to Heaven
• Belief in life after death

  Satisfies the need for justice, because they know that eventually everyone will be held accountable
• Qualities of God revealed to humanity

  • Beneficent - all-loving, the source of all goodness
  • Merciful - shows compassion and forgiveness to humans
  • Fair - treats everyone fairly and impartially, without favour or discrimination
• Predestination

  The idea that God knows or determines everything that will happen in the universe
• "Only what God has decreed will happen to us.": 'Qur'an 9:51'
• Predestination and human freedom

  God knows everything that is going to happen, but this does not mean he decides it. People have free will and can make their own choices.
• Predestination and human freedom

  On the Day of Judgement, you will be either rewarded or punished, based on your actions. This emphasises the point that humans are responsible for their own actions.
• Qur'an

  The word of God, containing the foundation of every believer's faith and the most sacred text of Islam. It is infallible (without fault) and the original Qur'an is in Heaven.
• Other Holy books important in Islam

  • The Torah (Tawrat)
  • The Psalms (Zabur)
  • The Gospel (Injil)
• Prophethood

  When God makes someone a prophet to communicate his message to people
• Adam


  An important prophet who God gave understanding to, and who passed this knowledge on to the rest of the human race. God also revealed to him which foods Muslims can eat, how to repent and how to bury the dead.
• "He taught Adam the names of all things.": 'Qur'an 2:31'
• Ibrahim


  Destroyed the idols in the temple, demonstrating the importance of the belief in Tawhid (one God)
• Ibrahim


  • He is remembered in Id-Ul Adha, where Muslims remember that Ibrahim was prepared to obey Allah and sacrifice his son
  • He was loyal and devoted to Allah
  • He also rebuilt the Ka'aba and is remembered on the Hajj
• Muhammad


  He is God's messenger and the seal of the prophets
• Muhammad is the last prophet in Islam and received the final revelation of Islam from God
• Muhammad


  • He destroyed idols in the name of Allah
  • He won battles against the enemies of Islam
  • He introduced Muslim (Shariah) law
• Imamate


  • After the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) died, Ali became the first Imam in Shi'a Islam
  • Shi'a Muslims believe the Imamate were divinely appointed and can maintain and interpret the Qur'an without fault
  • The last of the imams, Muhammad al-Mahdi, is being kept alive by God and hidden somewhere on earth
  • He will return with Jesus to bring justice and equality
• Angels


  • Able to receive God's word directly and pass it on to the prophets
  • Guardian angels look after a person throughout their lives
  • Angels responsible for recording everything a person says or thinks in a 'book of deeds'
  • This book will be presented before God on the Day of Judgement
• Jibril


  • Revealed the message of the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
  • Brought spiritual nourishment, through God's words in the Qur'an
• Mika'il


  • Angel of mercy who will reward righteous people for the good they do in their lives
  • Given responsibility for sending rain, thunder and lightning to earth
• The six articles of faith in Sunni Islam


  • Authority of Holy Books
  • Angels
  • Tawhid (the oneness of God)
  • Prophets of God
  • Day of Judgement
  • Supremacy of God's Will
• The five roots of 'Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam


  • Prophethood
  • The justice of God
  • Resurrection
  • The Imamate
  • Tawhid