Islamic beliefs and teachings Flashcards
What is Tawhid?
Muslims believe that there is one God, Allah, and that this oneness is central to their spirituality.
“Say, ‘He is Allah (who is) one.’”
What is Risalah?
The belief that prophets are an important channel of communication between God and humans.
What are the 2 holy books?
Quran and the Tawrat
What is predestination
The idea that God Knows or determines everything that will happen in the universe.
Sunnis Muslims believe about predestination:
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.”
What is prophethood?
When God appoints someone a prophet to communicate his message to the people.
What is prophet?
Someone who speaks on behalf of God.
Shia Muslims believe about predestination:
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)
What does Transcendent?
God is beyond and outside life on earth and the universe.
What is Immanent?
God is present in and involved with life on earth and in the universe.
What are the difference between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims?
Shi’a believe that the next caliph should have been Ali after Muhammad died.
Sunni belief the next caliph should have been Abu Bakr.
What are the six articles of faith Sunni Muslims believe in?
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).
What are the 5 roots (articles) of faith that Shi’a Muslims believe in? Also known as Usul-ad-Din.
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)
What do all Muslims believe in?
- Allah
- The holy books
- prophets
- day of judgement/resurrection
Key Sunni beliefs:
- 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.
Key Shi’a beliefs:
- 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.
What are some of the characteristics of Allah?
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.
Quotes showing the characteristics of Allah:
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.”
How does Allah communicate with Muslims and why?
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).
Who are some of the first prophets?
The first was..
Adam (first man created in Allahs image. Ate forbidden fruit but Allah forgave him), Abraham, Ishmael, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad.
Fact file about Muhammad:
- 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.
What is the Qur’an and why is it important?
-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.
How is the Quran treated?
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.
Quotes about the holy books of Islam:
“We sent down the Torah in which was guidance and light.”
“…to David We gave the book (of Psalms).”
