Muslim Beliefs Flashcards

Why did the Sunni and Shi’a Muslim split occur?

• Sunni Muslims accepted the authority of Abu Bakr, who was chosen as the first caliph after Muhammad's death

• Shi’a Muslims believed that only Muhammad's descendants, specifically Ali, had the right to lead.

Khalifah

A religious leader (caliph) representing Allah or a prophet

What is Hadith?

A collection of sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.

What are the six beliefs?

1. Belief in Allah: the most important belief for Muslims. Allah is the Supreme Being, creator of the universe. Without him, nothing would exist.

2. Belief in the angels of Allah: angels are heavenly beings created by Allah to perform various tasks, such as delivering his messages to people.

3. Belief in the books of Allah: Muslims believe that Allah’s messages are contained in the books of Allah, including the scrolls, Torah, Psalms, Gospel, and Qur’an.

4. Belief in the messengers of Allah: a messenger, or prophet, is a person chosen by Allah to teach and guide people to the right path.

5. Belief in the Day of judgement: the Qur’an teaches that eventually the entire universe will end. The dead will be resurrected and accounts will be taken of their deeds. Allah will judge whether people go to jannah (paradise) or jahannam (hell).

6. Belief in the decree of Allah: Muslims believe in al-Qadr (divine decree). Muslims believe that Allah has supreme power over the universe. He has also given humans free will, making us responsible for our own destiny. Allah will not interfere unless he wishes to.

How are the six beliefs understood and expressed in Muslim communities today?

Muslims believe the six beliefs should always be reflected in their actions and behaviour. 

• recognising Allah as the creator encourages Muslims to be thankful for the life they have been given, and to express gratitude through prayer.

• Muslims are taught about, and many named after, different prophets so that they can learn from their example.

• Belief in the Day of Judgement reminds Muslims about their limited time on earth and the inevitable meeting with Allah, and this influences their ethical and moral choices in daily life.

Why are the six Beliefs important for Muslims?

The six beliefs form the foundation of a Muslim's faith and practice, guiding their relationship with Allah and shaping their spiritual and ethical life. They influence how Muslims view the world and interact with others, emphasising accountability and gratitude. By following these beliefs, Sunni Muslims believe they are on the right paths and will earn the pleasure of Allah.

Who believes in the five roots of Usul ad-Din?

Shi’a Muslims

What are the five roots of Usal ad Din?

1. Tawhid: the belief in the oneness of Allah, that Allah is one, unique, and without any equals.

2. Nubuwwah: belief in prophethood

3. Adalat: the belief that Allah is just; divine justice. Shi’s Muslims believe it is important for them also to demonstrate fairness in everything they do.

4. Imamah: the belief in the leadership of the Imams, who are seen as spiritual and political successors to Prophet Muhammad.

5. Mi'ad: belief in the Day of Resurrection, emphasising accountability for one's actions in this life.

Difference between Twelver and Sevener Shi’a Muslims

The primary difference lies in the number of Imams they recognise; Twelver Shi’as believe in a line of twelve Imams, while Sevener Shi’as acknowledge only seven. This distinction significantly influences their beliefs and practices.

Why are the Five Roots of Usul ad Din important for different Shi’a communities?

• They serve as fundamental beliefs that guide the faith and practices of Shi’a Muslims, shaping their understanding of Allah, prophethood, leadership, and accountability.

• While all Shi’a Muslims believe they are obeying the commands of Allah, Prophet Muhammad, and the ahl al-bayt, some Shi’a communities, such as Twelvers and Seveners, follow different imams who have authority from Allah.

Ahl al-bayt meaning

People of the household of Prophet Muhammad

What are some of Allah’s characteristics?

• unique: “worship God and shun false gods”

• immanent and transcendent: Muslims believe that Allah is the creator of everything, and much of his creation is beyond human understanding.

• omnipotent

• beneficence: his kindness knows no limits: “your Lord’s bounty is not restricted”

• merciful

• Fairness and justice, Adalat in Shi’a Islam

Why are Allah’s characteristics important?

• While Muslims believe it is impossible to fully comprehend Allah, knowing some of his attributes helps them to understand something of his nature

• Understanding Allah’s nature enables Muslims to establish a close relationship with him through worship, which, according to the Qur’an, is the very reason why humans were created.

• Knowing about Allah can also help Muslims strive to reflect certain divine attributes. For instance, if Allah is beneficent, then they should aim to be the same and show this through their actions. That way, humans can become a reflection of some of Allah’s characteristics.

What is the nature of prophethood for Muslims?

Muslims believe that Allah is a personal God who can be communicated with directly. They also believe that special individuals are chosen by Allah to teach humanity about the right way to live. These people are called Prophets.

Why is belief in prophethood important for Muslims?

• It is one of the six beliefs for Sunnis and the five roots of Usul ad Din for Shi’as.

• It represents how Allah communicated to people

• Allah has spoken to many prophets, and Muslims are required to follow their teachings.

• All the prophets demonstrated great qualities and set an example of how to live.

• It reminds Muslims of the common heritage they share with other faiths, particularly Judaism and Christianity.

What do the roles of prophets teach Muslims?

Muslims believe that the roles of prophets are highly significant as they live exemplary lives, setting good examples of individual, social, moral and spiritual conduct, and communicating the message of God to others. 

Examples of prominent prophets

• Adam

• Ibrahim

• Isma’il

• Musa

• Duwad

• Isa

• Muhammad

What do Muslims believe about Adam?

• believed to be the first prophet 

• the story of Adam teaches Muslims to follow Allah’s commands and not allow Satan to tempt them

What do Muslims believe about Ibrahim?

Ibrahim is considered by Muslims to be one of the greatest prophets.

• “he was thankful for the blessings of God who chose him and guided him to a straight path”

• he was an ‘example’ to others and ‘obedient’ to God

• the account of Ibrahim shows Muslims the high moral standards he reached and the importance of learning from his life and faith

• it was Ibrahim’s prayer for a prophet to be born in the future that Muslims believe was fulfilled by prophet Muhammad.

What do Muslims believe about Isma’il?

• Muslims believe that Ibrahim and Isma’il were chosen to rebuild the Ka’bah in Makkah.

• When Ibrahim had a dream from Allah to sacrifice Isma'il, both submitted to God's will, demonstrating their faith and obedience.

• Through this story, Muslims are taught to always trust and put Allah first, and be prepared to offer themselves for the service of faith.

What do Muslims believe about Musa (Moses)?

• Musa was the main founder of Judaism

• He was given the Al-Kitab (scripture) and the Al-Furqan (the ability to distinguish right and wrong)

For Muslims, Musa’s life is an example of how Allah rewards perseverance in the face of suffering, and how good will overcome evil.

What do Muslims believe about Dawud (David)?

• “David killed Goliath, and God gave him sovereignty and wisdom and taught him what He pleased."

• This account confirms for Muslims that Allah gives honour to his chosen ones, and they can be blessed with both worldly and spiritual honour.

• Prayers by Musa and Dawud have been preserved and are regularly recited by Muslims.

What do Muslims believe about Isa (Jesus)?

• one of the most honoured prophets

• performed many miracles, which are described in the Qur’an

• The Qur’an rejects the idea that Isa was divine and was killed on a cross; instead, it teaches that Allah saved him

• Muslims are taught about Isa being a prophet who honoured Tawhid. Muslims follow his example and worship Allah as one God.

What do Muslims believe about Muhammad?

Muhammad is the principal prophet sent by Allah. 

• Muslims believe that Muhammad was the only prophet to have been given a universal message that was meant for all times, and that the previous prophets prepared the way for Muhammad.

• He brought the last revealed scripture: the Qur’an

• Muslims offer prayers to him because of his honoured status: the Qur’an says “bless him too and give him greetings of peace”

• The Qur’an teaches Muslims that they have been given the final guidance for humanity and that by following the example of Muhammad they will please Allah.

What are the Muslims holy books and why are they important?

• Holy books revealed prior to the Qur’an are believed by Muslims to be earlier forms of revelation and therefore, are not considered a final authority. However, they are still highly respected by Muslims.

• a source of important moral guidance for Muslims

Qur’an, Sahifah (Scrolls), Torah, Psalms, Gospel

What are angels and who are the archangels?

• beings created by Allah to perform various tasks, particularly governing the universe and the laws of nature. 

• unlike humans, they have no free will, and can only obey the commands of Allah.

archangels: Jibril (revealed the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad), Mika’il, Izra’il: Angel of Death, takes souls to God for judgement

What is the significance of angels for Muslims today?

• 2nd most important article of faith for Sunni Muslims

• they help believers in their time of need

• The Qur’an says that each person has one angel on the right shoulder and one on the left shoulder. the one on the right takes not of good deeds & the left takes note of bad deeds, which will then be presented to Allah on the Day of Judgement. This shows the important role given to angels in helping Allah to decide what happens to every individual in the afterlife.

What is the nature of Al-Qadr (predestination)?

Muslims believe that Allah knows everything: he is omniscient. As the creator, Allah has put in place certain laws that govern the universe. Many of these laws are predetermined and unchangeable. For example, the genes that were passed down from their parents, and the social and economic status they were born into.

• knows everything because he created it

• established ‘laws’ of nature beyond human control: predetermined

• humans have freedom and can choose to do certain things

• nothing happens without Allah’s permission

• human intentions & actions e.g. prayer can impact Allah’s will

Why is belief in predestination important to Muslims?

• It affirms Allah’s omnipotence and his capacity to know everything that there is to know.

• The laws governing the universe are designed for the benefit of humanity.

• Allah’s knowledge of all things help Muslims to understand that everything happens for a reason and is part of Allah’s plan.

What does the Qur’an state about human freedom and al-Qadr?

The Qur’an states that every human being is free to choose between good and evil, but some things are predetermined and unchangeable. Muslims believe that people’s choices are either in conformity with, or against, God’s will.

example that shows how Allah could have taken away human freedom, but he chose not to.

Muslims believe that prophets will always succeed in conveying their message, regardless of how powerful their enemies may be, but even though the victory of prophets is promised, people still have the choice to follow or oppose them. 

How can God’s will be affected?

by human needs & behaviour: Muslims believe that prayers can move Allah’s grace and be granted, as long as they do not conflict with any of his laws.

How do al-Qadr and human freedom relate to the Day of Judgement?

Muslims believe that Allah will judge everyone fairly in the akhirah. They believe that humans are responsible for anything they do outside of certain things e.g. circumstances into which they were born and raised; people are free to make their own decisions, and so they should be responsible for their actions - good and bad, right and wrong. These will be judged in the afterlife.

What are the implications of belief in al-Qadr for Muslims today?

• Al-Qadr is one of the six beliefs of Sunni Muslims and also has importance for Shi’a Muslims, therefore no Muslim’s faith is complete without it

• Belief in al-Qadr means that Muslims trust Allah is in control of everything in the universe

• Al-Qadr has a close connection with the akhirah

• reminds Muslims of allah’s omniscience, so they must be prepared to answer for their deeds in the next life.

What do Shi’a Muslims believe about total predestination?

Shi’a Muslims reject total predestination. One of the Usul ad-Din in Shi’a Islam is Adalat. It is not fair for Allah to punish or reward someone for something he predestined them to do. Therefore, Shi’as believe that it is logically impossible to believe in total predestination and Day of Judgement at the same time because that is a contradiction. Shi'a’s believe that some things are predestined by Allah, such as lifespan, but Allah can change your destiny as a result of your good or bad actions.

What are Muslim teachings about life after death?

Muslims believe that our physical life will one day come to an end and that all humans will be raised again in the next life, called akhirah.

• Some consider this to be a physical resurrection, so Muslims are buried and not cremated, while others say that dead bodies are buried out of respect and it is just the soul that is given a new form in the akhirah.

• Muslims believe that the soul is eternal, and after death, Izra’il, the angel of death, takes the soul to the stage between death and time of judgement.

How are judgement, paradise and hell shown in the Qur’an?

• Judgement: Allah is omniscient, he is aware of everything a person has done, and so he can judge them fairly. The Qur’an says that on the day of judgement, ‘people will be separated’ - those who did good works and are worthy of jannah will be on one side, and those who disbelieved and are deserving of jahannam will be on the other.

• Paradise (jannah): a beautiful place and ‘a pleasant resting place’

• hell (jahannam): a place of pain and suffering ‘their lips will be twisted in pain’

However, many Muslims consider much of the Qur’an’s language to be symbolic, and the descriptions of paradise as a pleasant resting place and of hell as a fiery place of torture are only believed by some Muslims to be a literal truth. Most Muslims believe that the words used for jahannam, for instance, are intended to highlight the seriousness of not believing in Allah and to dissuade people from committing sins. 

How do Muslim teachings about life after death affect the life of a Muslims today?

• one of the six beliefs for Sunni Muslims

• one of the five roots of ‘Usul ad-Din for Shi’as

• belief in the akhirah affects how Muslims live and treat others, because they know they will be judged.

• the promise of paradise for good deeds offers hope for a better afterlife