Islamic Beliefs

• Who did Sunni Muslims believe Muhammed's rightful successor was?


  Abu Bakr (Muhammed's close companion)
• Who did Shi'a Muslims believe Muhammed's rightful successor was?


  Ali (Muhammed's cousin and son-in-law)
• What is a Caliph?


  A religious leader that enforces laws.
• What is are Imams?


  The line of descendants of Muhammed who are believed to be exemplary humans.
• What do Sunni Muslims believe have the authority to guide Muslims?


  • The Qu'ran
  • The Sunnah (The traditions and practices of Prophet Muhammed)
• What are the Six Articles of Faith in Sunni Islam?


  Belief in:

  1. Tawhid (The oneness of Allah)
  2. Holy books (The Qu'ran is of the highest authority)
  3. Predestination (Allah has already decided everything that will happen in the world)
  4. Day of Judgement (On this day humanity will be judged by Allah)
  5. Prophets (Prophets spread the message of Allah but are to be respected, and not worshipped)
  6. Angels (Messengers between Allah and people)
• What are the Five Roots of 'Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam?


  Beliefs in:

  1. Tawhid (The oneness of Allah)
  2. Divine Justice (Allah is just and treats everyone as they deserve/holds us accountable)
  3. Prophethood (Prophets provide guidance from Allah)
  4. Authority of Immams (Accepting the 12 Immams as leaders of Islam)
  5. The Day of Judgement (After death humans will be judged by Allah)
• How many names of Allah are in the Qu'ran?


  99
• What are Muslim beliefs about the nature of Allah?

  Allah is:

  • Transcendent (Beyond all living things)
  • Omnipotent
  • Merciful
  • Just and fair
  • Immanent (Within all of his people)
  • Benevolent
  • Beneficent (Generous/good)
  • Adalat (Shi'a belief of equitable treatment for all)
• The 99 names of Allah help Muslims to:


  • Understand the nature of Allah
  • Feel Allah's presence
  • Inherit the attributes of Allah
• What are 2 examples of Allah's 99 names?


  • As-Sabur: The Patient One
  • Ar-Rahman: The All Merciful
• What is the reward of learning the 99 names of Allah?

  Heaven (Jannah)
• What is the belief in prophets known as?


  Risalah
• What are prophets in Islam?


  • The people Allah chose to bring the message of Islam to others
  • Method of communication between Allah and humans
  • Instructed by Allah on how to teach people about how they should live
  • Considered to be role models to people
• Who was Prophet Adam?


  • The first man, prophet and Muslim on earth
  • Created by Allah from dust
  • Father of the human race
  • Taught the names of all things by Allah
  • Was asked to teach the angels
  • Lived in the Garden of Eden with Eve (Hawa)
  • Was tempted by Iblis to disobey Allah, and therefore brought sin into the world
• Who is Iblis?


  • The Devil
  • Refused to bow down to Adam and was thrown out of paradise
  • Vowed to tempt humans into sin
• What significance does prophet Adam hold in Islam?


  Adam teaches Muslims about:

  • Stewardship (Adam and Eve (Hawa) being given dominance of Jannah emphasises the responsibility of humans to take care of the environment and all living creatures)
  • Dietary Guidance (Allah restricting Adam and Eve from eating from a particular tree reminds Muslims to eat and drink in moderation - avoiding things like pork and alcohol)
  • Burials (When Adam died he was wrapped and buried, forming the Islamic tradition to perform ritual washing (ghusl), wrap the body and offer prayers before burying the deceased)
• Who was Prophet Ibrahim?


  • Grew up around people who worshiped idols (statues)
  • Declared his faith to Allah
  • Destroyed all the idols in the temple at night to stop idol worship
  • Asked the people why they worship an idol that cannot speak, hear or live
  • The people wanted to burn Ibrahim alive
  • A miracle happened and Allah cooled the fire to protect Ibrahim
  • Because of this the people started to worship Allah
• What happened to prophet Ibrahim's son?

  • Waited 99 years to have his son (Ismael)
  • Had a dream about Allah telling him to sacrifice his son
  • Iblis tried to tempt Ibrahim into disobeying Allah but he stayed obedient
  • As he was about to sacrifice his son, Allah swapped him for a sheep
  • During Eid-ul-Adha, Muslims sacrifice an animal to remember Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah
• How does prophet Ibrahim link to Hajj?


  • Ibrahim and Ismael rebuilt the Ka'bah in Mecca and Angel Jibril taught them the rituals of Hajj
  • At Mina Muslims throw stones at the pillars in the same way Ibrahim threw stones at Iblis after he tried to tempt him into disobeying Allah
  • When Muslims run between the two hills and drink water from Zamzam they are reminded of the story of Ibrahim's wife Hagar, who ran between the hills in search for water before being rewarded with the well
  • Mecca is sometimes known as the city of Ibrahim
• What is the significance of Prophet Ibrahim in Islam?


  • He is a great role model for Muslims as he showed obedience, kindness and compassion
  • He passed all of Allah's tests
  • Muhammed was one of his descendants
  • He was known as a hanif (someone who worshipped one God before Muhammed introduced Islam)
• Who was Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)

  • Known as the last and greatest prophet
• What three key events happened to Prophet Muhammed?


  • The Night of Power (Laylat Al Qadr): The night the Qu'ran was first revealed to prophet Muhammed
  • The Night Journey (Laylat Al Miraj): The night Muhammed ascended to heaven and spoke directly to Allah, who instructed him to pray 50 times a day before reducing it to 5
  • Conquering Mecca: Muhammed and 10,000 Muslim converts fled to Medina after being persecuted and conquered Mecca peacefully in the name of Allah
• What is the belief in the Imamate? 


  • After Muhammed died, he named Ali his successor and he became the first Imam
  • Ali was appointed by divine instruction, and therefore leadership should follow in the family line
  • The Twelver branch of Shi's Muslims believes that there have been 12 Imams in total
  • Muhammed Al-Mahdi was the last Imam and has been kept alive somewhere on earth and will return with Jesus to bring justice and equality
  • The Imams rule justly and are the only people who can interpret the Qu'ran without fault
• What are the Holy Books of Islam?


  • The Qu'ran: Revealed to Muhammed on the Night of Power
  • The Torah (Tawrat): Revealed to Moses (Musa)
  • The Psalms (Zabur): Revealed to David
  • The Gospel (Injil): Revealed to Jesus (Isa), believed to be lost
  • The Scrolls of Abraham/Ibrahim (Sahifah): Revealed to Ibrahim, have been lost and no longer exist
• What are the Arabic words for book(s)?


  • Kitab: Book
  • Kutub: Books
• How do Muslims respect the Qu'ran?


  • Not allowing it to touch the floor
  • Placing it on a book holder (kursi)
  • Washing (wudu) before reading
  • Not handling unless necessary
  • Not speaking, eating or drinking whilst reading
• What does the Qu'ran contain?

  • Mixture of historical accounts and advice on how to follow Allah
• What is the importance of the Qu'ran for Muslims?


  • It is the word of Allah
  • The foundation of a believer's faith
  • Most scared text of Islam
  • Infallible (reliable) source of authority
• What is the belief in angels called?


  Malaikah
• What are the Islamic beliefs about angels?

  • Angels are one of the six articles of faith for Sunni Muslims
  • They are apart of the unseen world
  • Created from light
  • They receive Allah's word and pass them to prophets
  • Are pure and sinless
  • Do not have free will or physical desires
  • Live to please and worship Allah
  • Have the power to take human form
• Who are the main angels in Islam?

  • Angel Jibril (Gabriel): Archangel and trusted messenger of Allah who relayed the Qu'ran to Muhammed and guided him throughout his life
  • Angel Mika'il: Archangel of mercy who rewards good deeds and warns that anyone who is an enemy of Allah's angels is also an enemy of Allah
  • Angel Israifil: Will blow a trumpet to announce the DOJ
• What do other angels do?

  • Record actions of humans in the book of deeds
  • Guardian angels look after us from birth to death
  • The angel of death and his helpers carry people's souls to Allah
  • Escort people to heaven and hell
• What are angels?


  The messengers between Allah and humans
• Who are Al-Kiraman and Al-Katbin?


  • The two angels that everyone has on their shoulders
  • One collects your good deeds (on the right shoulder)
  • One collects your bad deeds (on the left shoulder)
  • These are presented on the DOJ
• What is predestination (Al-Qadr)


  • The belief that Allah has already planned out your life for you
  • You cannot escape your fate
  • Everything happens as a result of Allah's will
  • Nothing is ever random or without reason
  • Allah oversees everything in life
  • Everything is a part of His plan
  • Allah has written everything that will happen in the universe in the 'book of decrees'
• What are two contrasting views to predestination?

  Free Will:

  • This is mainly believed by Shi'a Muslims
  • The belief that you have control over your life
  • Allah knows all but does not decide all - meaning we have choice
  • Allah is outside of time so he knows everything that has happened, is happening and will happen
  • Humans act freely and Allah only knows what they will do

  Determinism: Belief that all actions, events and situations result from other actions, events and situations
• What are the beliefs about universal laws?

  • Allah knows everything (omniscient)
  • He set up laws to govern the universe
  • These laws are predestined/unchangeable
• What is the Day of Judgement?

  • On this day, Allah will judge humans for their actions on earth
  • He will punish people for their bad choices, and reward people for their good choices
• Who originally built the Ka'bah?

  Prophet Adam originally built the Ka'bah but it was destroyed in floods