Muslim beliefs

EDEXCEL RS GCSE ISLAM TOPIC 1

What are the six sunni beliefs of islam?

belief in:

-Allah

-angels

-holy books

-messengers

-last day

-life after death or al Qadr

Tawhid

oneness of god

why is tawhid important?

shows muslims believe god is the only important one, which means he must be all powerful and the creator of everything.

why is belief in Angels (Malaikah) important?

Shows that god can communicate with humans using his special beings

Quote on the 6 beliefs

‘The men of faith. Each one believeth in god and his angels, his books and his apostles.

Why are the holy books (kutubullah) important?

Demonstrates that god has sent his messages down to show humans what to believe and how to live.

significance of the six beliefs

-shows that all are created equal in the eyes of god and no one is superior to others

-there are no priests or holy men with special authority - no prophets after muhammad

-salvation in islam comes from belief in the 6 beliefs and living in the way set out by islam.

What are the 5 roots of usul ad-din?

-Tawhid-belief in the oneness of god

-Adalat/Adl-belief in allah’s justice

-Nubuwwah-belief in the prophets from adam to muhammad

-Imamah-descendants of muhammad and their special powers given by allah

-Qiyamat -day of judgement

why are the 5 roots important?

-are the basis of shi’a islam; the religion grows from the roots

-they are the 5 principles of faith - what must believe to be a muslim

-they come from the teachings of the qur’an and 12 imams - utmost importance

-unless shi’as understand the 5 roots they will not be able to perform the acts of worship to live a muslim life

-they must hold the 5 roots to ensure they go to heaven.

Oneness of allah significance

-must be the centre of everything and in control of everything

-muslims try to preserve the world he created

-muslims must only worship allah (to worship others is shirk)

omnipotence of allah significance

-allah has complete power and created the universe

-Muslims believe allah is in control of everything

-god will bring the world to and end and has the power to do so.

beneficence and mercy of allah significance

-allah is kind and loving to his creations, sent prophets into the world to show humans how to live

-qur’an teaches that allah’s mercy means he will forgive those who fail to live a perfect muslim life

-if god is merciful, humans should be too

-muslims can ask for mercy on the last day if they have shown mercy themselves

Justice (adalat) of allah significance

-allahs justice is shown in his holy law, shari’ah, and the way he deals with humans on the last day

-god is just and will reward the good and punish the bad

-muslims try to behave justly and work for equal rights

Transcendence of allah significance

-allah is beyond the material world so beyond human understanding

-allah worthy of human worship as greater than everything

-allah not restricted by space, time or matter and can communicate with humans wherever they are

Immanence of allah significance

-allah is close to humans and within the universe he created

-allah is present for all religious activities of a muslim

-allah can be contacted by humans despite his greatness

Prophets

ordinary human beings who were chosen to receive allah’s messages

prophet adam

-first prophet of islam

-allah placed adam and hawwa(Eva) on earth after they ate the forbidden fruit in the garden of eden

Ibrahim

-had a vision to sacrifice his son, but was only a test of faith from allah

-was given a ‘message for the nations’