Islam: Revelation

Question 1

What are the 6 articles of faith?

Answer 1

Belief in:
1. Tawhid
2. Angels
3. Prophets
4. Holy Books
5. Judgement
6. Predestination.

Question 2

What is the importance of angels?

Answer 2

God communicates to humans through angels - they are his vice regents.
It is impossible for God to communicate directly with humans.

Question 3

What does Colin Turner say about angels?

Answer 3

“Angels are there not because God needs them, but because we need them.”

Question 4

What is the role of angels?

Answer 4

1. Give people strength in times of need
2. Protect individuals and record their deeds, carried out by ‘noble scribes’ or Al-Kiram Al-Katibun
3. Support believers during times of war
4. Accompany souls of people to the next life
5. Provide spiritual awareness

Question 5

What Qur’anic quote emphasises the importance of angels?

Answer 5

“Whoever is an enemy to Allah and his angels and apostles, to Jibril and Mikail Lo, Allah is an enemy to those who reject Faith.”

Question 6

How are angels sinless?

Answer 6

They do not have free will and so are without sin. They are not as holy as God and so can communicate with humans. Yet they are superior to humans because of their intermediary roles.

Question 7

Who is the angel Mikail?

Answer 7

Guards heaven and keeps the Devil out of heaven.

Question 8

Who is the angel Jibril?

Answer 8

The chief angel and gives God’s messages to the prophets.

Question 8

Who is the angel Israfil?

Answer 8

Responsible for the Day of Judgement and will sound the last Trumpet.

Question 9

Who is the angel Izrail?

Answer 9

Responsible for taking the last breath of humans when they die.

Question 10

What are characteristics of angels?

Answer 10

· Invisible and visible
· Hands and wings
· Do not possess any fixed material form
· Made of light

Question 11

What did the angel Jibril do?

Answer 11

• taught Muhammed how to pray
• Appeared to Muhammed in the form of a man
• descends during the Laylat-al Qadr
• Visited Muhammed every night in Ramadan to teach him the Qur’an

Question 11

Purposes of the prophets:

Answer 11

1. strengthen belief in tawhid
2. establish justice
3. Purify people
4. Provide proof of Allah’s existence through prayer and miracles
5. Act as moral examples and inspiration to other Muslims

Question 12

What are the role of prophets?

Answer 12

• To receive wahy (revelation) from ANGELS to communicate Allah’s will to humans

Question 13

What is the difference between Nabi and Rasul (if there is one)

Answer 13

• Rasul have been given new religious scripture and Shari’ah law
• Nabi bring the old religious law

Question 13

How many prophets are there in the Qur’an and hadith?

Answer 13

25 prophets - Qur’an
124,000 nabi and 315 rasul - Hadith

Question 13

Can prophets sin?

Answer 13

• Turner notes that there are differences amongst Muslims here. Some believe that prophets were infallible and could not sin. H
• If they could not commit major sins. This is because a sinless person is not a human.
• Moral excellence can only come about through free choice and ability to sin. If the prophets were true humans, then they had to be able to sin-otherwise they become angels

Question 14

The angel Jibril interactions with Muhammed?

Answer 14

Was very forceful with Muhammad and terrified him on the Night of Power-says Jibril pressed him hard. “Jibril used to meet him every night of Ramadan to teach him” the Qur’an.
He taught Muhammad how to pray “Don’t you know that Jibril came and offered the prayer….to demonstrate the prayers prescribed to you.
On the Night Journey, Jibril shows Muhammad heaven and gives him mystical experiences “…Jibril ascended, opened my chest and washed it with Zam Zam water….Then he took my hand and ascended with me to the nearest heaven”

Question 15

What is an example of a prophet who sinned?

Answer 15

Musa (Moses) killed a man out of anger

Question 16

Are some prophets more important than others?

Answer 16

All prophets brought the same message and so deserve equal respect.

However, the prophets who brought the scripture (Qur’an) are known as Rasul’s

Question 16

Was Muhammed more important than the other rasuls?

Answer 16

Yes:
- Only Muhammad received the message which was not then distorted
- Muhammad’s message was universal (prophets before him brought messages relative to the time)
- Muhammad was special because he showed all the qualities which the other prophets had

Question 17

What do the Hadith and Qur’an say about Muhammed’s importance?

Answer 17

Hadiths “Do not give me superiority over Moses”

Quran 2:285 “We make no distinction between any of his messengers”.