Islam - Muslim Beliefs Flashcards

Question

Al-Wadud - The Loving One (omnibenevolent)

Answer 1

Allah cares for his creation on a personal level “your Lords bounty (love/kindness) is not restricted”

Answer 2

Muslims may use subhan (set of 99 prayer beads) when they pray to help them remember and recite the 99 names · If they can recite all 99, this shows their devotion to Allah “There are 99 names of Allah, he who commits them to memory will get to paradise” (hadith 35:6475)

Answer 3

Allah is in control of everything that happens · Allah has a plan for the world and the power to ensure it happens · Allah has the power to bring the world to an end on Judgement Day

Answer 4

If Allah is compassionate and merciful to sinners, Muslims should also be merciful and forgiving · How can Muslims ask Allah’s mercy on Judgement Day if they are not prepared to forgive? · If Allah is compassionate and merciful to sinners, Muslims should also be merciful and forgiving · How can Muslims ask Allah’s mercy on Judgement Day if they are not prepared to forgive?

Answer 5

Allah describes Himself as ‘The transcendent one’ implying that He is above and beyond His Creation. Allah is above the seventh heaven, distinct and independent from His creation. This can be seen in some of the 99 names “the Greatest”, “the Supreme One”, which show how far beyond human description God is.

Answer 6

It shows Allah is worthy of worship as he is greater than anything · It shows he is in control · It shows he is not restricted in anyway – by time, space or matter

Answer 7

Allah is also immanent, this means that he is close to every human “Allah is closer to you than your Jugular vein” (50:16) and acts in this world. This means he is personal to Muslims. Muslims will look to God for guidance and his mercy in their daily lives. It shows Muslims that Allah knows everything and nothing is hidden from him “Whithersoever ye turn, there is the presence of God” 2:115

Answer 8

It means Allah is within the universe he has created, so science and learning can comprehend Allah · Despite his greatness Allah can be contacted by humans · It means Allah is present in all religious activities, e.g. Salat, Sawm

Answer 9

showing them how to worship – teaching them that life is a test – providing an example of how to life a good life

Answer 10

They were chosen by Allah and received revelations from Allah/the Angel Jibril, which are recorded in the Islamic Holy Books · They were morally good men who faithfully pass on Allah’s message without altering it · The Qur’an says that each prophet brought Islam in its perfect form but humans either ignored it or distorted in, so Allah had to keep on sending a new prophet until Muhammad was given the Qur’an in a form that couldn’t be distorted · The single most important message of all prophets to their people was to worship God alone and none else and to follow His teachings "And your God is One God: there is no god but He..." (2:163) · They were ordinary people – this teaches Muslims that they should have nothing to do with religions that claim divine status for their leaders

Answer 11

First human First prophet Disobeyed God and asked God for forgiveness. Was sent to earth as a Khalifah (looks after world)

Answer 12

“He received forgiveness from his Lord”

Answer 13

He shows that Allah is forgiving if we ask for forgiveness with a true heart. He taught Muslims how to repent and ask for forgiveness

Answer 14

Rejected polytheism God asked Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail – he was about to do it when God stopped him.

Answer 15

“Ibrahim was true in faith and he bowed his will to Allah” 3:67

Answer 16

He teaches us the importance of obedience and of trusting Allah; demonstrates that Allah’s plans will overcome any triumph, test, or trial,

Answer 17

Was willing to be sacrificed by God. Helped rebuild the Ka’ba with Ibrahim as a place of pilgrimage.

Answer 18

“He was strictly true to what he promised” 19:54

Answer 19

He shows obedience and teaches Muslims to trust in God’s plan, he fulfil God’s commands and trials.

Answer 20

Helped free the Israelites from Egypt. He received the Tawrat (Torah)

Answer 21

“for he was specially chosen and he was a messenger” 19:51

Answer 22

He teaches Muslims to be obedient, to do what God commands and show submission

Answer 23

He defeated Goliath – a giant - against all the odds. He was a great king He was rigorous in prayer and fasting.

Answer 24

Allah made David a vicegerent (khalifah)

Answer 25

Allah made David a vicegerent (khalifah)

Answer 26

He teaches Muslims the importance of prayer and fasting. He also teaches the importance to care for the earth

Answer 27

Performed miracles. Was NOT the son of God though Mary was a virgin. Was NOT crucified according to the Qur’an and will return on the Day of Judgement.

Answer 28

“I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet”

Answer 29

Demonstrates God’s power as Allah performed miracles through him

Answer 30

He is the founder of Islam · He must be followed. Those who do will be rewarded, those who don’t will be punished · He was a perfect example to follow · He is the LAST Prophet of Islam, there will be no more · He us known as the “Seal of the Prophets” (33:40) – he acts like a seal to prove origin and soe the message hasn’t been altered · He received the final divine revelation from God over 23 years which became the Qur’an. Three times the angel Jibril ordered Muhammad to read out the words. Although he could not read or write – he miraculously recited the passages that made the Qur’an “speak these words aloud” (96:2) · He was a good and fair leader: he didn’t take money for himself; he made laws such as: forgive someone who does you wrong, , do not cheat, do not steal, do not be cruel to slaves or animals. When he conquered Mecca but was lenient and kind to his enemies · Before he died he said “I leave behind two things, the Qur’an and the example of my life. If you follow these you will not fail”.

Answer 31

The prophets teach that: · Allah loves humanity and want to communicate through people and holy books · Allah is omnipresent, watching over them · They are closely linked to the Six Beliefs and Five Roots of Usul ad Din, so for both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims, prophethood is understood to eb a source of how these beliefs were given to Muslims · Muslims try to follow the examples of prophets, especially the Prophet Muhammad, who is the perfect example · The prophets are shown respect as whenever Muslims say their name, their say “peace be upon him” or write “pbuh”

Answer 32

Angels are real created beings who will eventually die · They are supernatural beings beyond the physical world, who generally hidden from our senses · They are made from light and are servants of Allah. · Angels have no free will and MUST obey Allah. · They worship God alone, obey Him, and act only by His command · They possess great powers given to them by God. · They have no physical body but can appear in human form eg, when Jibril appeared to Mary as a man - “then we sent to her our angel and he appeared to her as a man in all respects” (19:17) · Shaytan was an angel that refused to bow down to Adam and was sent out of heaven

Answer 33

revealed messages from Allah to the Prophets. “he brings down the revelation to your heart by Allah’s will” (2:97) · told Ibrahim about the birth of Ishaq and Ismail and Maryam about the birth of Isa · revealed the Qur’an to Mohammad, whilst he was meditating in a cave on Mount Hira, near Makkah during the month of Ramadan in 601 CE. He continued to give these revelations over 23 years

Answer 34

guardian of heaven, protecting it from evil and the devil · giving rewards to people on earth, who are good · brings rain and thunder.

Answer 35

guardian of heaven, protecting it from evil and the devil · giving rewards to people on earth, who are good · brings rain and thunder.

Answer 36

will blow the trumpet twice to start the Day of Judgement · takes the soul of people at death and returns them to Allah “the angel of death will take your soils; then shall ye be brought back to your Lord” (Surah 32:11) · He can only act on Allah’s command as it is Allah who decided when a person will die

Answer 37

praising Allah in heaven · upholding God’s law in the physical world · recording the deeds of man, good and bad

Answer 38

Allah is transcendent but is able to communicate with humans through angels: · they help Muslims understand Allah better as they revealed truths about Allah · they communicate with humanity Allah’s commands · Jibril communicated the Qur’an to Muhammad – without him Muslims would not have God’s instruction on how to live and what to believe · Mika’l ensures that heaven is safe from evil · They ensure that on the Day of Judgement Allah will have all the facts when judging people on their lives – this reminds Muslims the importance of living as Allah wants so they are rewarded after death · Muhammad is believed to have told his followers that angels surround humans at all times

Answer 39

Scrolls given to prophet Ibrahim “We have already given the family of Abraham the Book and Wisdom” (Surah 4:54). However this became so distorted, al copies were lost

Answer 40

given to prophet Musa. Although Musa’s message became distorted, some parts remained in the Torah of the Old Testament, which is many traditions of Judaism (e.g. food laws) are very similar to Islam. “It was We who revealed the law to Moses, therein was guidance and light” (Surah 5:47)

Answer 41

given to prophet David “And to David we gave the Psalms” (Surah 4:163). Some has survived undistorted in the Psalms of the Old Testament. Before this We wrote in the Psalms, after the message given to Moses, “My servants shall inherit the earth” (Surah 21: 105 quoting Psalm 37:29). They are recognised by Muslim scholars but not as divine revelation.

Answer 42

given to prophet Jesus “We sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him. We sent him the gospel” (5:26). However, this is not the same as the four gospels of the New Testament. The Injil was given to Isa which he then preached to the Jewish people, whereas the gospels are human records of what people remember Jesus preaching.

Answer 43

Jesus was a the Son of God when really he was a prophet “Jesus Christ the Son of Mary was no more than an apostle of God” (Surah 4:117) · Jesus died on the cross, when he was taken to heaven · Christians removed parts that foretold the coming of Mohammad

Answer 44

All Muslims believe that they are important as a source of wisdom and authority and wisdom “We have sent you inspiration, as we sent it to Noah and the messengers after him” (51:36): – Allah is behind the messages they contain, so they are a form of revelation, showing what Allah is like – They show that Allah wants to interact with his creation, specifically humans – They show God has always ensured people knew what to believe and how to live

Answer 45

Most Muslims believe these books are no longer important because they have been distorted so they are not considered holy books. They prefer to simply recognise the Qur’an as a holy book, as this is believed to be the final and complete message from Allah, which has been unaltered · Other Muslims believe that because the Qur’an refers to these books as holy books, parts of them must still show what God revealed and can help them gain a better understanding of Allah and his purpose for the world. · If their teaching fits in with what the Qur’an says, then their teaching should be followed

Answer 46

Qur’an · The Qur’an was revealed to the prophet Mohammad over 23 years through the Angel Jibril · It is written in Arabic. Muslims, who do not speak Arabic, learn it, so that the meaning can be understood fully and doesn’t get changed through translation · It is divided into Surahs, which are made up of verses · Many Muslims learn the Qur’an by heart. As a mark of respect they are called hafiz.

Answer 47

Not allowing it to touch the ground. It is placed on a kursi (wooden stand) when read. · Washing before they read it to ensure they are clean · Covering it to protect it when it is not in use · Placing it at the highest point in the room to show it is above all over possessions. · While the Qur'an is recited aloud, Muslims should behave with reverence and refrain from speaking, eating or drinking, or making distracting noise.

Answer 48

“This is the book, in its guidance sure without doubt to those who fear Allah” (Surah 2;2)

Answer 49

It contains the God’s actual words to humanity · It was revealed to Muhammad in such a way that it cannot be distorted, so the Arabic Qur’an is “an earthly copy of the heavenly original”: – Muhammad had an excellent memory and was a moral man so he was the ideal person to receive Allah’s revelation – Muhammad’s checked that each written revelation was accurate – after Muhammad’s death Abu Bak’r choose the chief secretary to make an authorised version and all other versions were destroyed so all copies have same surahs, words and letters · It is God’s final word. There will never be another book from Allah · It tells humans all they need to know about God, religion and how to live

Answer 50

· Every in the Qur’an is true because Allah said it, therefore Muslims must follow everything it says · Nothing in the Qur’an can be altered as it is the eternal word of Allah · It tells Muslims what to believe: – Belief in the unity of Allah who is an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent is a fundamental teaching of the Qur’an – Belief in angels is shown by Jibr’il revealing the Qur’an to Muhammad – Belief in the Last Day and life after death are referred to throughout the Qur’an · The Qur’an sets out how Muslims should live through Salat, Sawm, Zakah, Hajj, not eating pork, not drinking alcohol or gambling

Answer 51

· The Sunnah contains the practise and examples of the Prophet Muhammad's life · The Hadith is reports of what the prophet Muhammad said

Answer 52

Predestination is the belief that Allah has the knowledge in advance of all that will happen and is in control of everything before it happens. “Say: ‘Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector’: and on Allah let the Believers put their trust.” · Sunni Muslims believe that Allah predestined good and bad before creating man. “Nor can a soul die except by Allah’s leave, the term being fixed as by writing” · Muslims believe belief in predestination doesn't stop human beings making free choices.

Answer 53

It makes the believer courageous and never afraid to say the truth. It urges them to perform Jihad and never fear an enemy because they know that the span of their lifetime is predestined · It makes people responsible for their actions as they want to please Allah in every word and action and be rewarded · This makes them lead a happy and calm life: – Because everything happens according to the knowledge and wisdom of Allah, when they face challenges, they are patient and – Similarly when they are successful, they thank Allah and don’t becomes proud or arrogant.

Answer 54

Allah has given humans free will, but that he still knows what will happen before it does as he is Al – Alim (the knower of all). · nothing happens except the will of Allah. Allah has ordained what will happen. · free will is important to help people learn and to freely submit to Allah. Allah has a path for them, and they can choose to go against this path · By giving humans free will, this means bad thing can happen to humans, but humans are responsible for their sin. They will pay for their sins of The Day of Judgement. · As humans don’t know how they are going to be judged "No soul knows what comfort is kept hidden for them, as a reward for their deeds" (32:17), they still have freewill

Answer 55

Some Shi’a Muslims reject the belief in predestination. They accept Allah is in control, but he may decide to change what happens. The Shia concept of Bada’ states that God has not set a definite course for humans. “Allah erases and confirms what He Wishes” (13.39)

Answer 56

Muslims believe in an afterlife that they call Akhirah. · The soul is taken by the Angel of Death Azrail to Al-Barzakh (a state of waiting) until the day of judgement. · The soul stays in Al-Barzakh till the day of judgement. · When that Day of Judgment (yawm ad-din) comes, the universe will be destroyed. It is also called the Day of Resurrection (yawm al-Qiyamah) and the Last Hour (as-sa’a) The Angel Israfil will blow a trumpet to announce the Day of Judgement · Muslims believe in resurrection of the body, when Allah will bring back to life all those who have died. · Everyone will be judged according to their actions on Earth towards both people and animals. “And to every soul will be paid in full (the fruit) of its deeds; and Allah knoweth best all that they do” (Surah 39:70)

Answer 57

will be set up on the Day of Judgment, good deeds will be rewarded 10 times over "Whoever has done an atom's weight of good shall see it" (99:7-8);

Answer 58

when the body is buried, two angels Munkir and Makir appear to the dead person. They ask four questions: Who is your God? What is your religion? Who is your prophet? What is your guide?. The believer will say: "Allah is my Lord, Islam is my religion, and Muhammad is my prophet." then the tomb will be filled with pleasurable things. If they answer incorrectly the angels bring torture on the unbelieving dead person.

Answer 59

in which ‘every small and great thing is recorded’ Qur’an 54:52. If the person’s good deeds outweigh the bad, then they will receive the book in their right hand and pass into Jannah. If it is placed into their left hand, they will be go to Jahannam

Answer 60

After judgement, people will pass over the narrow Bridge of As-Sirat. Those who have been blessed by God will successfully cross to Jannah on the other side. A Paradise, which Allah, prepared for the righteous. "No soul knows what comfort is kept hidden for them, as a reward for their deeds" (32:17). · Those lived faithful and moral lives, those who have been persecuted for their faith in God and those who have fought for God will be rewarded in Paradise - Jannah (Heaven). You shall enter gardens watered by running streams in which you shall abide forever… [the righteous] shall recline on jewelled couches.” (Surah 57:56) · Those who have died in battle pass directly into paradise.

Answer 61

Those who have not obeyed Allah’s will fail to pass over As-Sirat bridge and suffer in Janannam (Hell). · Only the most wicked and ruthless people will go to hell. ‘So I have warned you of a Fire which is blazing. None will [enter to] burn therein except the most wretched one. Who had denied and turned away.’ Qur’an 92:14–16 · It is the place of punishment that Allah has prepared for the disbelievers and the evildoers. But those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fi re. Poured upon their heads will be scalding water’ Qur’an 22:19 · As well as experiencing the physical torment, those condemned to hell will suffer because they are separated from God, without hope of return

Answer 62

Some Muslims today believe that for certain people hell may only be temporary experience. ‘So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with God.’ Qur’an 2:275 · Some Muslims find it hard to believe that a god of mercy would send people to an eternity of suffering. How can it be fair to give an infinite punishment for a finite sin?