Islamic Beliefs Flashcards
What are the ‘Six articles of faith’ in Sunni Islam?
1- Tawhid (Only one God)
‘‘There is no God but him, the Creator of all things’’ Q
Shahadah - ‘’ There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet’’
‘‘He is God the One, God the eternal’’ Q
2- Malaikah (The belief that Angels communicate the message of Allah to humans) ‘‘Each person has angels before him, watching over him by God’s command’ Q Links to free will and Angels
3- Risalah/Prophethood communication of divine messages through prophets in Islam.
4- The belief in Judgement day (humanity will be judged by Allah based on deeds on Earth)
5- The Qu’ran in the most important book and holds the highest authority - this article at the same time affirms that all the Holy Books are important.
'’This is the scripture in which there is no doubt’’ Q
6- The supremacy of Allah’s Will: Allah already knows what will happen on Earth, everything that will happen is predestined.
TR - MQJS
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What are the ‘Five roots of Usul ad-Din’ in Shi’a Islam?
1 - Tawhid **
2 - Nubuwwah he principle that God has appointed exemplary individuals, i.e. prophets and messengers to communicate His guidance to humanity.
3) Adalat; the Justice of God
4) Resurrection after death
5) The Imamate; the 12 Imams are the leaders of Islam and are irreproachable and infallible; good without error
**means also in 6 Articles of Faith
- the rest are differences.
What do muslims believe about the nature of Allah?
x3
- Tawhid; There is only one God - link to Shahadah
'’There is no God but him, the creator of all things’’ Q
Shahadah - ‘’ There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet’’ Q
‘‘He is God the One, God the eternal’’- Omnipotence ‘‘He created the first man from clay’’ Q
- Omnibenevolent
- Beneficient
- Merciful
- Just and fair; link to Adalat in Shia Islam
^^’’ Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.’’
^^’‘God wishes to lighten your burden’’
^^’‘Judgement was passed among them equitably’’ - Immanent (within man) ‘‘closer to you than your Jugular vein’’ Q
- Transcendent (outside the terrestrial sphere)
^^These characteristics allow Muslims to feel comforted + strive to be like Allah as they believe they are His creations.
What do muslims believe about the role of angels?
possible 12 marker
- Communicate the message of Allah to humans ‘‘Each person has angels before and behind him watching over him by God’s command’’ Q
- To worship Allah because He is kind and merciful ‘‘Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.’’ Q
- To watch over humans ‘‘Each person has angels before him and behind, watching over him by God’s command’’ Q
- Mika’il - reward the righteous ‘‘Those who believe will have their reward with the Lord’’
Q - Jibril - revealed the Quran to Muhammad who was illiterate, and guided him throughout his life - ‘‘It was in the the month of Ramadan that the Quran was revealed as guidance to mankind’’
Summary
- Worship Allah bc He is kind
- Reward good deeds eg Mikail
- Communicate Allah’s message to humanity eg Jibril
- To watch over humans
What do muslims believe about the nature of angels?
possible 12 marker ‘‘Angel’s have freewill’’
- Angels don’t have free will, they are constantly engaged in acts of worshipping of Allah. + Differing interpretations of the Quran
'’Each person has angel before him and behind watching over him by God’s command’’ - emphasis on ‘By God’s command’’
- Can only worship God because he is ‘Kind and Merciful’’
- Angels are kind ‘‘Each person has angel before him and behind watching over him by God’s command’’ Q eg Mikail rewards the righteous ‘‘Those who believe will have their reward with the Lord’’ Q
- Angels have free will
‘Judgement was passed among them equitably’’ and ‘‘Then we said to the Angels psotrate for Adam, then they postrated except for Iblis’’
Summary
- Angels have freewill (Iblis and Judgement)
- Angels don’t have freewill (worship Allah and watch over humans)
- Angels are kind (Watch over humans)
What do Muslims believe about predestination versus freewill (and its relationship with Judgement day)?
Link to Akhirah, and the supremacy of Allah’s will’
Predestination and human freedom and its relationship to the Day of Judgement.
Sunni Muslims believe in the supremacy of Gods’ will - God knows all that will happen, they believe in PREDESTINATION, due to the fact that He is the ‘‘Creator of all things’’ Q and transcends time,
'’You who believe obey the messenger’’ Q «<Must obey Allah, no freewill
'’Each person has angels before him and behind, watching over him by God’s command’’ Q«< No being has free will
Shia Muslims believe in predestination TO AN EXTENT - at the same time they also believe in freewill and don’t see predestination as a conflict with freewill - ALLAH HAS PLANNED BUT IT IS UP TO MUSLIMS TO FOLLOW THE PLAN
'’God does not change the condition of people unless they change what is in themselves’’- Q «< God doesn’t typically interfere.
'’He first created man from clay’’ - this man went and ate the apple meaning there must be free-will.
Muslims believe that depending on deeds on Earth individuals will be judged and sent to either Jannah or Jahannam.
'’They will dwell amid scorching wind and scalding water’’- Q
Always mention;
- Supremacy of God’s Will
- Judgement day
- Predestination
- Free will
- Transcendent + transcends time
- Shia (have free will to an extent)
- Sunni (no free will)
What do Muslims believe about
Akhirah (life after death)?
possible 12 marker, eg ‘‘there is life after death’’
Human responsibility and accountability, resurrection, heaven and hell.
- Humans have the responsibility to commit good deeds and obey Allah on earth to gain life after death, life in Jannah ‘‘You who believe, obey the Messenger’’ - Q and ‘‘You who believe will have their reward with the Lord’’
- Humans must be accountable of their actions on Earth, and angels help us do this ‘‘Each person has angels before him and behind watching over him by God’s command’’ - Q
- Jannah and Jahannam - Good go to Jannah and bad go to Jahannam; ‘‘They will dwell amid scorching wind and scalding water’’ - Q
CONTRAST
- Other Muslims believe there is no life after death and Akhirah is a ploy to keep muslims comforted.
'’Allah wishes to lighten your burden’’
‘‘Indeed Allah is, to the people Kind and Merciful’’
What do Muslims believe about Risalah (prophethood)? + The importance and role of?
Adam
Ibrahim
Muhammad
possible 12 marker
- Muhammad: Messenger of Allah and founder of Islam
- '’God’s messenger and the seal of all prophets’’ Q
- Was revealed the Quran to by Jibril from Allah, this demonstrates Allah’s omnipotency bc he was illiterate.
- Founder of Islam, without him Islam wouldn’t exist.
- Ibrahim; Ka’ba rebuilt and obedience
- Important because he rebuilt the Ka’aba, this demonstrates his devotion to Allah + also he nearly killed his son, which demonstrates devotion to Allah - teaches Muslims to also devote themselves to Allah.
‘‘Allah took Ibrahim as a friend’’ - Q stewardship - Remembered thru Id-ul-adha
- Adam; Father of human race
- Important because he is the first prophet ‘‘He first created man from clay’’ - Q , and demonstrates Allah’s omnipotence. He also is the father of the human race and passed down understanding of Allah to humanity.
What do Muslims believe about the importance of Holy books?
The holy books:
- Qur’an: revelation and authority
- the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel, the Scrolls of Abraham and their authority.
possible 12 marker
'’The Quaran is the most important book’’
- The Qu’ran; the infallible word of Allah and source of authority - ‘‘this is the Scripture in which there is no doubt’’; demonstrates Allah’s omnipotence bc Mhmd was illiterate.
**omnipotence ‘‘This is the scripture in which there is no doubt’’
**Infallible ‘'’you who believe obey the Messenger’
Guide It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qu’ran was revealed as guidance unto mankind.
- Tawrat; Given to Moses who delivered the Children of Israel out from Egypt; demonstrates Allah’s omnipotence “Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.” - Q
- Hadith; teachings and actions of Muhammad ‘‘This is my paths leading straight so follow it’’
- '’Those who believe will have their reward with the Lord’’
What do Muslims believe about the creation of the world?
- Allah created the world and made Adam and Haawa
‘‘He first created man from clay’’ - Q - This is a display of Allah’s omnipotency
- Allah is merciful because He forgave them; this teaches Muslims to be merciful
Who are Sunni vs Shi’a Muslims, + their fundamental difference.
Shia Muslims believe in the Imamate and successorship of Ali
Sunni Muslims believe in the successorship of Abu Bakr and those after him.
