beliefs Flashcards
Why is Tawhid the most fundamental belief in Islam?
It underpins all the other principles and all of them relate to it.
Part of the 6 articles of Sunni Islam and part of the 5 roots of Shi’a Islam
Central belief contained in the Shahadah, 1st of the 5 pillars
What does Adalat mean?
That God is Just and is the Judge
Why is important for Muslims to know the nature of God?
They can understand God better
Follow the way God wants them to live
Strengthen their relationship with him
What does it mean to say that God has a dual relationship with the world?
He is both immanent and transcendent
What are angles?
Spiritual beings created from elements of light. Their job is to give messages from God to the prophets and watch over humans
Do not have free will
What is the nature of Angels?
Pure and sinless
No free will
Able to take human form to give messages to people
Constantly praise and serve God
What is the roles of Angels?
Messengers of God
Take care of people
Record everything a person does in their own books of deeds
Takes people’s souls after they die
Who is Angel Jibril?
The angel of revelation
Revealed the Qur’an to Mohammad over 23 years
Why is Jibril important?
Without the message of the Qur’an would not have been revealed and Mohammad would not have recevied it
Who is Mika’il?
Angel of Mercy and sustenance
Rewards those who have led good lives
Brings nourishment and food to the earth through rain
Responsible for rain and thunder and lightning
Why is Mika’il important?
The teaching of Mika’il reassures Muslims that the reward of eternal life is possible
Helps Muslims lead a good life
What is Risalah?
communication between God and humanity
What are Rasuls?
prophets whose messages have been written down
What are the three types of Risalah?
Angels prophets and books
Why are rasuls important?
Muslims can read their teachings and guidance
What do Muslims believe about prophets?
prophethood is a gift from God to help humans understand message
When people have forgotten, misunderstood or changed God’s message God has sent a prophet, to call back people to the right path
Why are prophets important?
Channel of communication between God and humanity
Brought important messages ‘truths’ and books
Show Muslims how to lead their lives
Confirm nature of God through their messages
Source of wisdom and inspiration
Why is Mohammad important?
He is the founder of the Islamic religion
He inaugurated Islamic practices and rituals- praying 5 times and the 5 pillars
Perfect example for Muslims to emulate
Allowed religious freedom rights for women as well as caring for the elderly and the poor
Helps muslims who are also persecuted for their faith
How did Mohammad establish Islam as a monotheistic religion?
Following three decisive battles he returned to Makkah victorious and set up the Ka’aba for the worship of Allah alone
Why is Adam important?
Example of stewardship
The father of mankind
First human and prophet to be created
He built the Ka’aba
He was to be a Khalifah the caretaker of the earth
What does the story of Adam show about the nature of God?
When Adam disobeyed God he ask for forgiveness and Allah was merciful and forgave him- showing if your truly repentant God will forgive you
Teaches humans to look after the earth as it is a gift from God
He was given Hawaa a companion showing God is loving
Why is Ibrahim important?
He is an exemplar of faith
He refused to worship idols and destroyed all the idols in the temple in his town
He rebuilt the Ka’aba after the great flood, when muslims go to mecca they remember him and his steadfast faith
He was willing to sacrifice his son to God
Shows muslims to have good faith
What does the story of Ibrahim show about the nature of God?
It shows that God is merciful as he didn’t make Ibrihim sacrifice his son
He protected Ibrihim when he was thrown into the fire
Why is the Qur’an important?
Contains the true words of God and is the direct revaltion God
Has authority and is without error
Unchanging and unchangeable - cannot be critised ]
Is a miracle as Mohammad was illiterate
Word of God is above the word of men
Covers every aspect of God
When is the Qur’an used ?
Daily worship
In jummah prayer
In celebration festivals and rights of passage
Shariah law
What was the Torah?
Revealed to Musa
Described in the Qur’an as guidance and light
Not considered the direct word of God
Altered and changed
What is the Suhuf (scrolls of Ibrahim?)
Recieved by Ibrahim on the first day of Ramadan
Parable like stories
Covers issue on worship, reflection
What is Gospel?
Acount of Isa’s life written by his followers
May contain mistakes and are not the direct word of God
Some of it is still in the bible
What is the Psalms?
Collection of poems and prayers by Dawid the great king
Given by God as a form of guidance, recited through songs and prayers
Version is found in Psalms in the Bible
Why are the other holy books important?
The Qur’an refers to all these books
Mohammad learnt and taught from these books
Connected to well respected prophets that did the will of God
Give God’s guidance even if it’s not perfect
Why are the other holy books not as important?
Some are lost so no one knows what was actually said
Not the direct word of God and some have been
changed lowering their authority
If they were really important why were they not preserved?
Qur’an has more authority over them
What is an imam?
Leader of Shi’a Muslim
What is an Imamate?
The leadership of Imams
What do Shi’a Muslims believe about Imams
Imams are spiritual successors to Mohammad chosen by God
Why are imams important?
Inspired by God, without sin and infallible, meaning they can interpret teachings of the Qur’an without error
Exemplary individuals
Can give guidance to people
Part of the 5 roots
