beliefs pt1

• six articles of faith

  1. Tawhid: there is only one god
  2. Belief in angels: only angels can bring the word of Allah to man e.g. jibril to Muhammed and Mary
  3. Belief that the Qur'an is the most important text in Islam
  4. Prophethood (risalah): muslims believe that muhammed received God's final revelation to mankind
  5. Belief that jugement day will come: the good will be sent to paradise and the wicked to hell
  6. Belief in the supremacy of Allah's will: every event is controlled by God. Belief in predestination is key
• iman means faith
• islamic belief about life after death is based on the qur'an, hadith and sunnah
• The Five Roots of Usul al-Din in Shi’a Islam

  1 - Tawhid: absolute oneness

  2 - Prophethood (Nubuwwah): accepting the truth of Muhammed's prophecies

  3 - belief in divine justice (adalat): Allah is just and can do no wrong, humans are accountable to God

  4 - the imamate (imamah): accepting doctrine of 12 official leaders (imams) who alone have the right to lead muslims after the death of Muhammed

  5 - Belief in the day of Judgement and resurrection: Mi'ad. all will be resurrected after death to be judged by Allah, the good will enter paradise, bad sent to hell
• Sunni and Shi'a Beliefs

  Key similarities

  • Both believe in the absolute unity of Allah.
  • Both believe that Muhammad is Allah’s prophet.
  • Both believe that a day will come where all are judged and the righteous go to heaven and the bad to hell.
• Key differences

  • Sunni Muslims believe that Muhammad alone was given knowledge from Allah, so Muslims must emulate the life of the Prophet (sunnah).
  • Shi’a Muslims believe that Allah gave knowledge to the first caliph, ‘Ali, and that this knowledge has been passed down from imam to imam.
  • There are many different branches of Shi’a Muslims. Each believe in a different line of succession of the imamate.
• Key differences

  • Sunni Muslims believe that Muhammad alone was given knowledge from Allah, so Muslims must emulate the life of the Prophet (sunnah).
  • Shi’a Muslims believe that Allah gave knowledge to the first caliph, ‘Ali, and that this knowledge has been passed down from imam to imam.
  • There are many different branches of Shi’a Muslims. Each believe in a different line of succession of the imamate.
• • Shi'a's are a smaller group than Sunnis.
  • Shi'a Muslims believe that the leader should be from Muhammad's family.
  • Ali, the fourth Sunni Caliph, is seen as the first Shi'i Imam and the only legitimate leader, appointed by Muhammad.
  • When Ali died in 661CE the imamate was passed down through succession.
  • The members of Ahl al-Bayt, the house of Muhammad, are Imams, who are believed to be infallible and have a political and religious responsibility.