Islam Flashcards
Monotheism
Belief in only one god
Who is the Muslim god?
Allah
How does Allah communicate with humans?
Through angels, who pass His message on to the prophets
Predestination
God knows everything that will happen
Muhammad
Final prophet of Islam
Jesus was divine, Muhammad was just a
Normal human
Qur’an
Holy book and source of wisdom in Islam
What are the contents of the Qur’an believed to be?
The true Word of God given exactly as it was given to Muhammad
How is the Qur’an structured?
Made up of verses called ayahs
As well as the Qur’an, Muslims look to
Examples set by the prophet Mohammad in order to determine how to live their lives
Hadith
Record of prophet Muhammads sayings
Shari’a
Set of laws for Muslims to follow
Imam
Sunni religious leader
Mujtahid
Shi’a religious leader
Muslim belief - prayer
Required to pray 5 times a day
Muslim belief - fasting
Fasting during Ramadan helps muslims remember when God revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad
Makkah
The most holy place for Muslims where the Kaaba is located
Hajj
Pilgrimage to Makkah, muslims should do Hajj at least once in their life
Sunni and Shi’a
Main denominations of Islam
Why is there division between Sunnis and Shi’as?
Difference of beliefs on who should lead Muslims after Muhammad died
Who do Shi’as believe should have succeeded Muhammad as leader of the muslims?
Ali, first of 12 imams who led the faith
Who do Sunnis believe should have succeeded Muhammad as leader of the muslims?
Abu Bakr, Muhammads friend and father-in-law
What are the Muslim beliefs of Sunni’s?
Six Articles of Faith
Iman
Belief in the Six Articles of Faith
What are the Six Articles of Faith?
• Tawhid
• Malaikah
• Kutub
• Nubuwwah
• Akhirah
• Al-Qad’r
Tawhid
Belief in the oneness of God and the supremacy of Allah’s will
Mala’ikah
Belief in the angels of Allah
Kutub
Belief of the books of Allah
Nubuwwah
Belief of the messengers (prophets) of Allah
Akhirah
Belief in afterlife and Day of Judgement
Al-Qad’r
Belief that everything in the universe has been predestined by Allah
Quote to support Six Articles of Faith
‘Righteous is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Scriptures and the Prophets…’
Muslim beliefs of Shi’a
Usul ad -Din
Usul ad-Din
Principles of Faith (Shi’a)
What are the 5 roots of Usul ad-Din?
- Al-Tawhid
- Al-Adl
- Al-Nubuwwah
- Al-Imamah
- Al-Ma’ad
Al-Adl
belief in divine justice
Al-Imamah
belief in imams
Al-Ma’ad
belief in the Day of Resurrection
What do both Sunnis and Shi’as believe in?
oneness of Allah, prophethood and the Day of Judgement
Who is the imam in Sunni tradition?
Person who leads prayers in the mosque
Who are imams in Shi’a tradition?
Successors of Prophet Muhammed
What are Shi’a Imams believed to be?
Infalliable and inspired by Allah
What is the role of Shi’a imams?
To interpret Shari’ah law and to explain any issues arising from it
What happened to the first 11 imams?
martyred
Where is the 12th imam believed to be?
in occultation waiting to reappear at God’s appointed time
What do Shi’as believe the 12th imam is?
a living, breathing human who no one can meet but he can choose to meet certain people
What are the signs that will precede the reappearance of the 12th imam according to Shi’a muslims?
- Second coming of Jesus
- 12th imam to appear in Makkah at the Kaabah
Which denomination believes that there is an objective framework of right and wrong?
Shi’a
What do Shi’as believe will happen on the Day of Judgement?
Allah will judge those who used their free will and send the righteous to heaven and the wicked to hell
Why do Shi’as argue against Al-Qad’r?
According to them, humans have free will which is why Allah can judge them. It would be wrong for Allah to send humans to hell for something that Allah has determined himself
What are all the key beliefs of Allah that Tawhid encompasses?
- infinite
- omnipotent and omniscient
- merciful and benevolent
- transcendent and immanent
- fair and just
How is Allah infinite?
He is without beginning or end, he was not created and cannot be destroyed