Islam Beliefs Flashcards
what are the other holy books in islam
Torah
Qur’an
Pslams
Gospel
Scrolls of Abraham
who was the Torah revealed to
Moses ( Musa )
who was the Scrolls of Abraham revealed to
Ibrahim
who was the Psalms revealed to
David
who was the Gospels revealed to
Jesus ( Isa )
what do Muslims believe about Life After Death
- it happens in 3 stages:
Barzakh - After death, the state of waiting until the Day of Judgement is called Barzakh, which means “barrier” People are unable to come back across the barrier to right wrongdoings or to warn people. while they are waiting, God sends two angels to question them about their faith, depending on how they answer, they will either see the rewards that come to them or the punishments they will endure after the Day of judgements
The Day of Judgement - when Gods purpose for the universe has been fulfilled, the world will be destroyed and everyone who has ever lived will be raised from the dead ( resurrected ), everyone will be given their own “book of deed” which is a record of everything they did during their lives., if they are given the book with their right hand they will go to heaven, if they get given the book in the left hand they go to Hell
Heaven and Hell - People who have kept their faith in God and done good deeds will be rewarded with heaven . Heaven is described as a beautiful garden and is a state of eternal happiness in the presence of God, but if people have rejected God and done bad things, they will be punished with Hell- Hell is described as being a place of fire and torment
what is Akhirah
belief in life after death
what are the 6 articles of faith in sunni islam
- tawhid - oneness of God
- kutub - authority of holy books
- Malaikah - belief in angels
- risalah - prophethood
- Al - qadr - belief in predestination
-Akhirah - day of judgement and life after death
what is the importance and influence of the 6 articles
- to unite all sunni muslims - reunites the ummah
- to help sunni muslims understand their religion
- to support sunni muslims in how they should live their life
- to inspire sunni muslims to follow God’s rules and teachings with an wareness they will be judged and held to account
what are the 5 roots of USUL AD - DIN ( shia islam )
- Tawhid - oneness of God
- Adalat - Justice
- Nubuwwah - prophethood
- imamate- believe in the spiritual descendancy of imams ( they are divinely appointed by God= so imamas are have infallibility)
- MI’AD - day of judgement and ressurection
how do sunni muslims think imams should be elected
based on merit
what are the similarities between shia and sunni muslims
- both include and recognise the importance of tawhid
- both share the concepts of prophethood and life after death
- both impact on how followers of the denomination live their lives
- both unite and support followers of the denomination in faith
what are the differences in shia and sunni muslims
- Shia muslims believe in the ‘ imamate’ - the spiritual descendant of all imams = this reflects how shia muslims believed his cousin Ali was the rightful successor of Muhammad
- whereas sunni muslims believe Abu Bakr was the right person to succeed the prophet
what is a key quote to support tawhid - the oneness of God
say, “ he is God the One God the eternal. He begot no one, nor was He begotten. No one is comparable to him” - SURAH 112
OR
“ there is no God but Allah “ - surah 47
What is a key quote to emphasise God’s omniscience
” God rewards good deeds, and knows everything” - Surah 2
what is a quote to shows God’s immanence
” God is with you wherever you are” - Surah 57
- ” He is closer to you than your jugular vein” - surah 50 - shows how humans are dependent on Him for life
What is a quote that shows the 99 names of God and that He has a quality of mercifulness
” The lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy” - surah2
what is a quote from surah 9 that emphasises God’s omnipotence
” Only what God has decreed will happen to us. He is our master: let the believers put their trust in God” - Surah 9 - also shows the importance of trusting in God and God’s plan even if you may not understand it - example = ibrahim when he put his trust in God and was prepared to sacrifice his son because that was what was order to him from God
what is the quote from surah 2 that emphasises God’s omnipotence
” All power belongs to God” - surah 2
” God said ‘BE” and it is”
why may Tawhid be the most fundamental belief in Islam
- it underpins all other key principles as it is part of the 6 articles of faith in Sunni islam and the 5 roots of Usul ad- Din of Shia Islam - it is the central belief contained in the Shahadah - the first of the 5 pillars
what is the 5 pillars of islam
- shahadah
- salah - prayer
- Zakat - Alms/ charity
- Sawm - fasting
- Hajj - pilgrimage
what is the nature of God
- Tawhid - Oneness of God
- Omnipotence - all-powerful (creator and controller)
- Adalat - God is just and the judge
- Merciful - God is forgiving
how does knowing what God is like help muslims
- helps to understand Him better
- follow the way He wants them to live their lives
- strengthen their relationship with Him
what type of relationship does God have with the world
a dual relationship as He is both immanent and transcendent
describe God’s relationship with the world
immanence - God is close to and involved within the world, “closer than the jugular vein” and vital to human existence, He helps us, inspires us and gives our life purpose . Life without God is worse than death. Within the world He helps and guides .
Transcendence- God is above and beyond human understanding, so it can be difficult to fully understand God. He is outside time and space and is eternal, limitless and omnipotent. Not affected by the world, He is greater than the world itself.
what are angels
spiritual beings created from elements of light - Muslims believe they give messages from God to the prophets and watch over humans . They praise God but have no freewill and so they watch over humanity
what does the Quran say about angels
” praise be to God, Creator of the heavens and earth, who made angels with two, three four pairs of wings” - surah 35
“If anyone is an enemy of God, His angels and His messengers of Jibril and Mika’ill, then God is certainly the enemy of such believers “ - Surah 2
- each person has angels before him and behind, watching over him by God’s command “ - Surah 13 - angels are important for the day of judgement too as they are watching over you and recording your deeds
who is angel Jibril
- angel who delivers messages ( including the Qur’an)
- it is through Jibril that God revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad and is believed that jibril also taught Muhammad how to pray
- Without Jibril the message of the Qur’an would not have been recieved = it influences muslims to take the teachings of the Qur’an seriously and believe that it is the infallible Word of God and os muslims should strive to follow the rules and practices of the book
who is Angel Mika’il
- angel who rewards good deeds with eternal life
- he is often understood to be the Angel of Mercy or sustenance, with the role of rewarding those who have led good lives.
- knows as a friend to humanity, and was one of the first to bow down to Adam
- Helped Muhammad at the battle of Badr in the fight for Makkah
- believed to bring rain and thunder to earth = important as water is needed for crops for humans to survive = emphasises the importance of the angels as they help support life
influence: Helps humans to understand/ feel reassured that there is an afterlife with God and so they will either be rewarded with paradise that will be offered to those who do good deeds in life so will motivate muslims to do good or be sent to hell and be punished
why are angels important in islam and what is the influence of belief in angels on muslims
- angels act as messengers between God and humans = true word of God
- They always complete God’s tasks - and obey Him as they have no freewill
- they watch over muslims and record all thoughts and actions for judgement day
- angels greet those in paradise and punish those in hell
- they are one of the 6 articles of faith for sunni muslims
- they help muslims understand how to live their lives/ good moral conduct
- an angel will blow the horn to signify the end of the world
- jibril was given the task of sharing the Qur’an from Allah to Muhammad - without Jibril muslims would not have been able to receive the inherent and infallible word from God
what is akhirah
life after death
what are some quotes used about hell
” lead him to burn in the blazing fire” - surah 69
what is a quote to describe heaven in the Qur’an
” For those who believe and do good deeds will have gardens of lasting bliss graced with flowing streams.. what a blessed reward.. what a pleasent resting place” - Surah 18
“Here is a picture of the garden promised to the pious: rivers of water forever pure, rivers of milk forever fresh… and they will find forgiveness from their lord” - Surah 47
what is a quote used to describe the day of judgement
” when the trumpet is sounded a single time.. on that day the Great Event will ome to pass.. on that Day you will be epxosed and none of your secrets will remain hidden” - surah 69 - ( it also emphasises God’s omniscience as well as encourages Muslims to avoid sin and follow the teachings if the Qur’an so that on the Day of Judgement where the secrets will be exposed you will be rewarded with eternal life in paradise
what do Muslims believe about the day of Judgement
- believe that God is omniscient and tht his judgement will always be right and fair.
- on the day of judgement the body will be resurrected and two angels will open the book that contains the record of what a person has done in their lifetime
- it their name is recorded on the right hand side of the book , they will be sent to heaven . if it on the left they will be sent to hell.
what do muslims believe about heaven
heaven / paradise ( Jannah ) is described in the Qur’an as a beautiful place where people enjoy various rewards. Many Muslims believe that life in heaven is not static but a continous journey towards higher levels of progress towards Allah
what do muslims believe about hell
hell is describe as a place of pain and suffering for people who did not live moral lives and chose to reject the prophets sent to them. Some muslims believe that hell is a physical place and that the graphic descriptions of hell are literally true .
- some consider the Qur’an’s language about hell to be symbolic and intended to highlight the danger of not believing in Allah / commiting sin. Some believe God will ultimately fogive all
how does belief in Akhirah influence / impact Muslims today
- Influences Muslims to follow God’s rules and do good deeds so that they will be rewarded with eternal life in heaven
- Influences muslim
s to follow God’s rules and avoid committing sin so they will not be condemned to hell
- teaches muslims that they will be held accountable for their earthly actions; motivates muslims to try to be good in life
- influences muslims to have hope that justice will ultimately prevail and good will be rewards/ evil will be punished
- reassures muslims that death is not the end and that there will be a reward for leading a good / moral Muslim life on earth
what is predestination
- known as Al Qadr in islam - the ‘ divine decree’
- Allah already knows everything that will ever happen in the universe. is the Muslim belief that Allah has decided everything that will happen in the world and in people’s lives, however humans still have the free will to make their own choices
what does the Qur’an say about predestination
“Every person is free to choose how they act. at the same time, some things are predetermined and unchangeable. God knows the outcomes of free choices.”
what is a quote which emphasises predestination
” Nobody may die except with God’s permission, at a predestined time” - Surah 3 - suggests that even your death is predestined by God
” He has subjected the Sun and the moon each to pursue its course for an appointed time” - surah 13 - not only does predestinatino apply to humans but it applies to the world and its outer parts - everything is subject to God’s command
” Only what God has decreed will happen to us” - Surah 9
what is the impact and influence of belief in predestination for Muslims
- try to live in accordance with God’s will and plan for their life - following the Qur’an teachings and practising the 5 pillars
- it makes muslims more God conscious and they will try their best tio live good lives, in accordance with his will
- take comfort in the fact all good and bad comes from Allah; gives hope knowing the outcome of any action ( good or bad) happens only by the will of God
- May not fear death, because it is part of God’s plan: ‘No soul may die except with God’s permission at a predestined time’ (Surah 3:145)
-‘God says be, and it is’ (Surah 2:117)-suggests Allah has power over everything; humans are limited in their control, so accept His will Muslims believe they will be compensated for the hardships that they endure and as such this life is a test. Influenced to remain faithful.
what is risalah
communication between God and humanity
what are the ways in which God sent guidance
- books
- angels
-prophets
what are rasuls
prophets whose messages have been written down
why are prophets important
- channel of communication between God and humanity
- they have brought important messages form God ( “truths”)
- they have brought Holy books
- they show Muslims how to live their lives - helps Muslims be led on a path that God wants them to live and approach eg in the Sunnah ( which records Muhammad’s actions) Muslims are inspired to emulate their commitment to God
- they confirm the nature of God through their messages
- Source of wisdom and inspiration
what are some quotes which highlights the importance of Muhammad
“There is no God but God and Muhamad is His messenger “ - Shahadah
- Muhammad is described as the “ perfect man” - Surah 20
- Muhammad is described as “ an excellent model”- surah 33
what is the Hadith
contains the words and actions of Muhammad as recorded by his followers.
what happened on the night of power
Angel Jibril appeared to Muhammad whilst he was meditating in a cave on mount Hira. jibril commanded Muhammad to ‘recite’ . The qur’an - the infallible word of God-was then revealed to him over 23 years
who is muhammad
- founder of Islam - seal of prophets( the final prophet)
what is the importance of Muhammad
- God chose to reveal the Qur’an specifically to Muhammad = he was divinely chosen
- he is the founder of the Islamic religions
- He inaugurated Islamic practices and rituals
- He is the perfect example for Muslims to emulate
- He showed many qualities that would serve Muslims well in their lives today eg determination, patience , courage , humility
- rejected immortality , showed duty and community - creator of the first community
- his words made him a great teacher and he lived the life he preached
- he spoke with authority , directly from God and influences other to follow teachings of the Qur’an
- allowed religious freedom, rights for women as well as care for elderly and in need
who is Adam
- the first prophet ( and human) to be created
- the father of humankind, a prophet until his death
- he built the Ka’aba and taught the next life is eternal
- his task was to be a steward/ caretaker of the world - to be a khalifah = teaches muslims today that they should also look after and care for God’s creation
- he was given Hawaa, a woman, for company however they disobeyed God and failed the test from Iblis and were banishd to earth instead of living in Eden - they askd for forgivness and God was merciful
- He did wrong but repented and was forgiven - highlights God’s omnibenevolent and just nature
who is ibrahim
- He is the exemplar of faith
- he believed in one true God and rejected the idea of idol Gods/ statues. He preached this message but was rejected
- God sent miracle to save him when people tried to burn him for his monotheistic beliefs
- he is known as the “ father of monotheism”
“ God tested him bu asking him to sacrifice his son Ismail. Ibrahim was willing , so God was please and sent a ram for sacrifice instead - he is an examplar of faith - Surah 37) - ibrahim’s obediance to God and willingness to follow God’s commands made him an ‘ exemplar of faith’
what is Eid ul Adha
- festival of sacrifice
- signifies the end of Hajj
- remembers Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son when God asked him to.- reminds Muslims of the test of faith faced by Ibrahim and how they should apply and emulate this quality of faith and obedience in themselves.
what does Qur’an mean
recitations - because God spoke it to Muhammad who was illiterate
why is the Qur’an always read in Arabic
- this is to preserve God’s infallible words
- the Qur’an was revealed in Arabic - Muslims therefore believe it cannot be truly studied in other languages as its true meaning is only found in Arabic = emphasises the importance of Qur’an as it holds extreme historical importance
what are quotes describing the Qur’an and its importance
“Nor could this Qur’an have been devised
by anyone
other than
God. It
confirms what
was revealed
before it and
is an
explanation of
the Scripture” (Surah 10).
what is the authority of the Qur’an and its importance
- contains the true words of God and is direct revelation of God
- it has God’s authority and is without error
- unchanging and unchangeable
- cannot be criticised
- is seen as a miracle- Muhammad was illiterate yet the direct words from Allah were revealed to Muslims; it is greater than any book that man could produce
- It covers every aspect of life, influencing and guiding a person throughout their life
- it is the basis for Shari’ah law
- Laws of God are always superior to laws of man
how do Muslims use the Qur’an
- Daily worship - verses will be spoken
- in the Jummah service on a Friday
- in celebration, festivals and rites of passage
- As a source of Shari’ah law for Islamic matters
- As a source of wisdom, inspiration , guidance and support
- as a source of explanation and insight
- treated with great respect and reverence
what is the Torah ( tawrat )
- revelations given to Musa ( Moses) by God and now lost, no longer existing in original form
- talked about in the Qur’an as ‘ guidance and light”
- not considered direct word of God
what is the Suhuf
- scrolls of Ibrahim
prophet Ibrahim is called the ‘upright one’ = always faithful to God - it is believe he recieved revelations on the first day of Ramadan and they come in parable- like stories which covers issues of worship and reflection but on not in one single book
what is Gospel ( injil)
- the Gospels were the account of Jesus’ life and death written by his followers after his death
- muslims believe they contain many mistakes as they are not the direct word of God
what are the Psalms ( Zabur )
collections of prayers and poems by Dawid the Great King by God as a form of guidance, which Dawud recited as songs and poems
what is the authority and importance of the holy book for Muslims - show contrasting views as well
- the Qur’an refers to all these books so they must hold some significance and authority and truth
- Muhammed confirmed much of what is taught by these books ,giving them importance eg story of ibrahim which was found in Torah, Old Testament
- they are connected to a well - respected prophets ; giving them authority
- They give God’s guidance, even if not totally accountable
CONTRAST :
- some accounts are lost so no one knows what was initally said = hold less truth
- some have been changed so might take away some of their authority
- Qur’an has more authority than all of them together as it is the Word of God, unchanged
what is the importance of the Imams
- Shia Muslims believe that imams are exemplary individuals who are appointed by God and they obey all teachings and follow Shari’ah Law
what are imams in belief of Shia muslims
spiritual successors to Muhammad , chosen by God = they are chosen without sin and are infallible = they can interpret the teachings of the Qur’an without making any errors = THEY HAVE HIGH AUTHORITY = Muslims are influences to listen and respect the Imams while following their teachings as they were chosen by God
what is the alternate name for Shi’a muslims
party of Ali - as Shia muslims believe Ali was the rightful successor to Muhammad , as they were related
what are the twelvers
- branch of Shia’s islam whose followers believe there were 12 imams after the death of Muhammad
- they believe that the 12th imam has been kept alive by God and is hidden somewhere on Earth
- Shia Muslims believe that the 12th imam will one day make himself known and bring equality
why do Shia Muslims believe Imams are necessary
because people need guidance on how to live correctly. due to their close relationship with God, the twelve imams are high respected
