Islamic beliefs and teachings

Question 1

What is Tawhid?

Answer 1

Muslims believe that there is one God, Allah, and that this oneness is central to their spirituality.

“Say, ‘He is Allah (who is) one.’”

Question 2

What is Risalah?

Answer 2

The belief that prophets are an important channel of communication between God and humans.

Question 3

What are the 2 holy books?

Answer 3

Quran and the Tawrat

Question 4

What is predestination

Answer 4

The idea that God Knows or determines everything that will happen in the universe.

Question 5

Sunnis Muslims believe about predestination:

Answer 5

Allah knows everything that is going to happen. He is above normal laws of time so knows what humans will choose.
“Say never will be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us.”

Question 6

What is prophethood?

Answer 6

When God appoints someone a prophet to communicate his message to the people.

Question 7

What is prophet?

Answer 7

Someone who speaks on behalf of God.

Question 8

Shia Muslims believe about predestination:

Answer 8

Allah makes it impossible for humans to choose anything other than what he has determines. Once the human acts on the decision the can be judged on it.
“God does not change the conditioning of people unless they change what is in themselves. (Surah 9:51)

Question 9

What does Transcendent?

Answer 9

God is beyond and outside life on earth and the universe.

Question 10

What is Immanent?

Answer 10

God is present in and involved with life on earth and in the universe.

Question 11

What are the difference between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims?

Answer 11

Shi’a believe that the next caliph should have been Ali after Muhammad died.

Sunni belief the next caliph should have been Abu Bakr.

Question 12

What are the six articles of faith Sunni Muslims believe in?

Answer 12

1) belief Allah is the one and only God (Tawhid)
2) belief in Angels (Malaikah)
3) belief in the holy books
4) belief in Allahs prophets (Nubuwwah)
5) belief in the day of judgement
6) belief that Allah knows and decides everything that’s going to happen (predestination).

Question 13

What are the 5 roots (articles) of faith that Shi’a Muslims believe in? Also known as Usul-ad-Din.

Answer 13

1) belief Allah is the one and only God (Tawhid)
2) belief in divine justice (Adalat)
3) belief in prophethood (Nubuwwah)
4) belief in the authority of the imamas (Imamah)
5) belief in the day if resurrection (Ma’ad)

Question 14

What do all Muslims believe in?

Answer 14

• Allah
• The holy books
• prophets
• day of judgement/resurrection

Question 15

Key Sunni beliefs:

Answer 15

• no one after Muhammad recurved knowledge from Allah. Muslims should focus on Muhammad and his way of life more than Ali and his sons.
• Muslims should be guided by the consensus of the community.

Question 16

Key Shi’a beliefs:

Answer 16

• Ali was the first true caliph. Allah gave him knowledge to ensure his teachings and actions were right.
• they all share the common belief in a line of imams after Ali, which all had the same knowledge from Allah as Ali. They’re all dependents from Muhammad and are figureheads of the religion.

Question 17

What are some of the characteristics of Allah?

Answer 17

Merciful - shows mercy and compassion, kind and forgives sins.
Omnipotent- all powerful, created the universe and controls it.
Benevolent- all loving/all good. He can do no evil.
Just- he will judge people’s behaviour in a fair way.
Immanent- Allah is present and involved in the world
Transcendent- He is out of the world. He has no equal and can’t be thought of in human terms.

Question 18

Quotes showing the characteristics of Allah:

Answer 18

Described as “…the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful”
= merciful

“We have created man and know what his soul whispered to him, and We are closer to him that his Jugular vein.”

Question 19

How does Allah communicate with Muslims and why?

Answer 19

Allahs compassion means he can’t leave people to sin without helping them.
He sends messages about how to live good lives via angels, who pass the words onto human prophets (rasuls).

Question 20

Who are some of the first prophets?

Answer 20

The first was..
Adam (first man created in Allahs image. Ate forbidden fruit but Allah forgave him), Abraham, Ishmael, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad.

Question 21

Fact file about Muhammad:

Answer 21

• born 570 CE in Mecca.
• while meditating Allah sent the angel Jibril to him.
• Muhammad began preaching the message Jibril gave him to others.
• the early message said people should worship one God, Allah and people should be judged on their behaviour.
• eventually the message was written down as the Qur’an. Viewed as a revelation.
• Muhammad is seen as a role model.

Question 22

What is the Qur’an and why is it important?

Answer 22

-this is the most important holy book. They eloped it is the complete and accurate record of Allahs exact words to Muhammad.
“He revealed to his servant what he revealed. The heart did not lie about what it saw.” = describing Muhammad.
It tells them what they need to know and how to lead their moves to please him.

Question 23

How is the Quran treated?

Answer 23

Muslims…

1) keep their Qur’an wrapped up to keep it clean.
2) wash their hands before touching it.
3) keep it on a higher shelf than the other books.
4) place it on a special stand when they read it.

Question 24

Quotes about the holy books of Islam:

Answer 24

“We sent down the Torah in which was guidance and light.”

“…to David We gave the book (of Psalms).”

Question 25

What is the Torah/Tawrat?

Answer 25

The boo given to Musa/Moses. Main Jewish holy book. Also includes the 10 commandments, basic rules for a religious life.

Question 26

What is the Hadith?

Answer 26

Reports of Muhammad’s words and actions, recorded by his followers. They’re not in the Qur’an - they weren’t revealed by Allah.

However, some believe the its best to just refer to the Qur’an as the Hadith May be unreliable.

Question 27

What is the Sunnah?

Answer 27

The Sunnah sets out Muhammad’s way of life, as recorded in the Hadith.

Question 28

Quotes regarding Angels?

Answer 28

“They exalt (Him) night and day (and) do not slacken.”

“Gabriel…had brought the Qur’an down upon your heart…by permission of Allah.”

“Our messengers are with them recoding.” -referring to angles who record good and bad deeds.

Question 29

Who is Jibril?

Answer 29

Also known as Gabriel. He revealed Allahs worlds (Qur’an) to Muhammad. He also revealed messengers to other prophets so referred to as the angel of revelations.

Question 30

Who is Mik’ail?

Answer 30

also known as Michael. Asks people to forgive people’s sins. First Angel made by Allah.

Question 31

Who is Izrail?

Answer 31

Also known as Azreal. He is the angel of death. He takes souls from people’s bodies when they die.

Question 32

Who is Israfil?

Answer 32

Also known as Raphael. He will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgement.