Central belief - Oneness of God (‘The God’), there is only one God

=Tawhid

God cannot be divided (rejects Holy Trinity), God does not have children or equals, no one has any quality that God has

Shirk is the only sin God does not forgive (treating something else like it is God)

Shahadah: “There is only one God”

Supremacy of God’s Will - nothing happens unless God wills it

• “Inshallah” = “If God wills”

Islam = Submission (To God)

Sunni is derived from the word ‘Sunnah’, carries on Muhammad’s teachings

Shi’a believes Ali should take after Muhammad (Shi’a = “Party of Ali”)

Sunni vs Sunnah

• Diff interpretations

• Emphasis on which beliefs

• Who should’ve led Islam after Muhammad’s death

People thought Qur’an and Sunnah should guide them after Muhammad’s death

• in Sunni, Abu Bakr (the Caliph) became leader

• follows the Qur’an, does not make new laws or interpret teachings

Others believed Muhammad had successors chosen by Muhammad and God

• Imams

God is the greatest (“Allahu Akbar” means this and is said at prayer)

Allah has 99 names

THE Merciful - source of all mercy, for example

Angels are God’s messengers

• Pure and sinless

• made of light

• NO FREE WILL (humans > angels)

• brings messages to people

• Angels write what you say and do in book of deeds

Israfil blows trumpet on Day of Judgement

Jibril gave Muhammad Quran

Mikail rewards people for good deeds, shows mercy and brings rain

Predestination:

• Some sunni muslims think that humans dont have free will

• some think that God knows what humans will choose, but it is who chooses it

• Shi’a thinks that God knows everything that is going to happen, but doesn’t determine it

Day of judgement:

• Israfil blows trumpet

• World destroyed and transformed into new world (Akirah)

• The dead are resurrected

• God judges you— book of deed in right hand = heaven, left had = hell

• If you are truly sorry, God will forgive

Life and Death:

• Heaven (Jannah) = garden of happiness

• Hell (Jahannam) = fire and torture, can be seen literally or symbolically

• Influence muslims by making them want to do the right think, making them feel justice (e.g. those who have wronged them will surely go to hell)