Islam core beliefs

• Shirk


  Association; regarding anything as being equal or partner to Allah. When a person worships something other than God.
• How Muslims prepare to pray


  1. Respond to the adhan (call to prayer)

  2. Prepare with a sense of intent to pray

  3. Perform a ritual wash or ablution, known as wudu

  4. Wash parts of the body in a specific order

  5. Pray on a clean space using a prayer mat

  6. Pray facing the Ka'ba and identify the direction of Mecca or the qibla
• Hadith


  • Major source of Islamic law
  • Record the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad
  • The Prophet Muhammad was the seal of the prophets
  • Provides guidance on how to live as Muslims
  • Second most important sacred literature for Muslims after the Qur'an
• Muslims regard Hadith as an important source of religious teaching
• Muslims want to follow the example and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad recorded in Hadith
• 'All Muslims should fast during Ramadan.'
• [15]: 'Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)'
• Fasting


  One of the Five Pillars of Faith
• Fasting is out of date as a religious practice


  Has little relevance in a modern society
• Sawm or fasting


  An expression of faith
• Fasting is not required of the very young and very old, or the sick or pregnant women
• Fasting in an affluent and modern society


  Important because it allows Muslims to appreciate what they have
• Fasting is often misunderstood as some form of dieting
• Many Muslims in poor countries

  May be too under-nourished to fast
• Modern lifestyle


  May impact on the Ramadan fast e.g. working shifts or sitting examinations
• The Qura'n instructs Muslims to fast
• Muhammad fasted
• Halal


  Any action or thing which is permitted, often used in reference to foods which are permitted
• Qur'an revealed to Muhammad


  1. Angel Jibril appeared to Muhammad in the cave of Hira

  2. Jibril told Muhammad to recite

  3. Qur'an first revealed on the Night of Power in 610 CE

  4. Qur'an revealed over 23 years
• Qur'an 2:97-98: 'Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel -for he brings down the (revelation) to your heart by Allah's Will, a confirmation of what went before. And guidance and glad tidings for those who believe - Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and messengers, to Gabriel and Michael - Allah is an enemy to those who reject faith.'
• Submission to the will of Allah


  • Accepting Islam, which means 'submission'
  • Following the Five Pillars
  • Engaging with the spiritual struggle of the greater jihad
  • Engaging with the lesser jihad
  • Trying to follow Shariah in everyday life
  • Living as a devout Muslim with faith as the most important aspect of life
• 'Allah' is the Arabic word for God
• The Quran teaches Muslims to be humble towards Allah.
• Muslims believe that Allah has no partners or children, he is one (Tawhid)
• In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth.: 'Genesis 1:1'
• Genesis


  The first book of the Bible
• Genesis 1


  Describes the creation of the heavens and the earth
• Genesis 2


  Focuses on the creation of the first humans, Adam and Eve
• Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.: 'Genesis 2:7'
• Genesis 1


  • God is the only creator
  • God existed before he created the world
  • The world was well planned and is sustained by God
  • God blessed creation; all creation is holy
  • God created everything in Heaven and on Earth in six days
  • On the seventh day, God rested
• God created humans in his image


  This does not mean that humans physically have the same appearance as God, but that they have certain characteristics that they share with God, such as being loving
• This shows how important all humans are to God and explains their special relationship with him
• It is also a reminder to them that humans should try to behave like God, showing love and being forgiving
• So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.: 'Genesis 1:27'
• Dominion


  To rule over nature
• The idea that humans are in charge of the world on behalf of God
• Some Christians who have a literal interpretation of the Bible believe that this gives humans the right to use the world's natural resources for their own benefit
• Genesis 1:26-31: 'God creates humans and gives them the Earth to care for'
• Genesis 1.28: 'God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground''
• Giving humans dominion over the land and animals

  God is giving humanity the right to control and have power over all other living beings