Islam : Beliefs and Teachings

Question 1

What are the six articles of faith in the Sunni tradition?

Answer 1

Tawhid, Angels, Books, Rasul, Akhirah and Al’Qadr.

Question 2

What is belief in these six articles called?

Answer 2

Iman.

Question 3

What does Usul ad-Din mean?

Answer 3

Five principles of the Shi’a tradition.

Question 4

How do the Shi’a core beliefs differ from this?

Answer 4

Sunni and Shi’a beliefs disagree over the leadership of the faith.

Question 5

What is Tawhid?

Answer 5

Tawhid is the belief in the Oneness of God

Question 6

List three Muslim beliefs about Allah.

Answer 6

infinite
omnipotent and omniscient
merciful and benevolent
transcendent and immanent
fair and just.

Question 7

Give three ways that belief in Tawhid will affect a believer

Answer 7

Believers will be humble, knowing that without Allah they could do nothing, they have no reason to be
boastful. It enables them to be content with their life, knowing that Allah is the provider. They do not fear
death as Allah is in control of that too.

Question 8

. Who was the first Caliph appointed after the death of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم?

Answer 8

Abu Bakr was the first Caliph appointed after the death of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Question 9

How many Caliphs were there before Ali?

Answer 9

There were three Caliphs before him.

Question 10

Why do Shi’a Muslims not recognise those appointed before Ali?

Answer 10

They do not acknowledge those before Ali as he was the first male convert to Islam and many believe he
should have been the first Caliph.

Question 11

What is the role of the Imamah?

Answer 11

The Imamah’s role is to preserve the religion of Islam.

Question 12

State what Shi’a Muslims believe about the twelfth Imam.

Answer 12

They believe that the twelfth Imam is in occultation, waiting to reappear at Allah’s appointed time. When he
appears he will come as a Messiah to bring justice, peace and co-existence at the end of the world.

Question 13

State the way in which Allah always acts.

Answer 13

Allah always acts with justice.

Question 14

What should humans use in order to act in the right way?

Answer 14

Humans should use their free will.

Question 15

Give one reason that Shi’a Muslims have for rejecting predestination.

Answer 15

They reject predestination as it goes against the belief that humans have free will.

Question 16

According to Sunni Muslims, what makes all that Allah does good?

Answer 16

Everything Allah does is right simply because he does it.

Question 17

What is risalah?

Answer 17

Risalah is prophethood. This is the means of communication between Allah and humans.

Question 18

Name three rasul.

Answer 18

Adam
Dawud
Isa
Musa
Ibrahim

Question 19

What are rasul chosen by Allah to do?

Answer 19

They are chosen to give guidance on how to follow Allah, so that people can be brought back to Allah.

Question 20

Why must prophets not be worshipped?

Answer 20

They must not be worshipped as they are human.

Question 21

List five prophets from Islam

Answer 21

Yusuf
Yahya
Lut
Nuh
Dawud
Ismail
Ishaq
Adam

Question 22

Which prophet was the khalifa?

Answer 22

Adam was the khalifa.

Question 23

Why was this role important?

Answer 23

Adam was Allah’s first creation and he acted for Allah on Earth.

Question 24

Which prophet built the Kaaba and why is this significant?

Answer 24

Adam first built the Kaaba. Ibrahim and Isma’il rebuilt the Kaaba. It was then rebuilt by Muhammad. It has become the centre of the Grand Mosque and all Muslims face in the
direction towards it as they pray five times a day.

Question 25

Who was the Zabur revealed to and what does it contain?

Answer 25

It was revealed to Dawud and it contains lessons of guidance for the Israelites.

Question 26

Who was the hanif and why is this important?

Answer 26

Ibrahim was a hanif. It is important as he is the father of monotheism, the first person to move to belief in Allah as the one true God.

Question 27

What is the role of Isa believed to be at the end times?

Answer 27

At the end times Isa will return on the Day of Judgement and bring together true Muslims. He will establish Islam, making war until all religions except Islam are destroyed.

Question 28

Why is Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم known as the seal of the prophets?

Answer 28

He is the last prophet sent by Allah.

Question 29

List some of Muhammad’s صلى الله عليه وسلم qualities that made him a good prophet.

Answer 29

trustworthy, truthful, honest, just and wise.

Question 30

What happened on the Night of Power?

Answer 30

An angel appeared to Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم in a cave while he was meditating and told him to recite. However, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was illiterate and could not read. Three times the angel told him to recite. On the third time Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم recited the words written on his heart. These were the first revealed verses of the Qur’an. The angel Jibra’il declared him the messenger of Allah.

Question 31

What effect did the Night of Power have on Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم?

Answer 31

Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم became a messenger for Allah and followed his will.

Question 32

What happened on the Night Journey?

Answer 32

An angel woke Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم from his sleep and took him to Jerusalem on a winged horse. His heart was removed and purified from doubt, idolatry and error, and he was filled with faith and wisdom. He went up through seven heavens and was shown paradise and hell. He met and spoke with prophets that had lived before him. It was on this journey that Musa and Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم talked and agreed that prayer should happen five times a day. Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was in Allah’s presence before he returned to Makkah.

Question 33

How do some Muslims understand the importance of the Night Journey?

Answer 33

Some Muslims think it was a spiritual journey, not a physical one.

Question 34

What does AH mean?

Answer 34

AH means ‘in the year of the Hijrah’. This is the time from which Islamic calendars date.

Question 35

What did Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم achieve during his time at Medinah?

Answer 35

He ruled Medinah and led the people to follow the will of Allah. All the idols at Makkah were destroyed and the city was reclaimed as a Muslim holy city.

Question 36

List three things Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم reminded Muslims about during his farewell speech.

Answer 36

to live in peace to respect one another’s rights to remain true to the Qur’an.

Question 37

What is unique about the Qur’an compared with all the other books in Islam?

Answer 37

Only unchanged book.

Question 38

What other sources of authority and wisdom are used within Islam?

Answer 38

Hadith, Sunnah

Question 39

What source might Shi’a Muslims refer to that Sunni Muslims may not?

Answer 39

The Hadith of Ali is a source for Shi’a Muslims.

Question 40

Name three angels.

Answer 40

Jibra’il, Malik-Al-Mawt, Israfil and Mika’il

Question 41

What are angels made from?

Answer 41

Nur

Question 42

How are the angels different to humans?

Answer 42

Angels, unlike humans, are not free beings.

Question 43

What did Allah create the angels to do?

Answer 43

They were created to carry out the will of Allah and to be completely obedient to him.

Question 44

How may a person’s behaviour be affected by the recording angels?

Answer 44

A person may be made more aware of their behaviour knowing that the good and bad are being recorded. They would want to do more good to please Allah and to receive a favorable judgement.

Question 45

Which group of Muslims taught that humans have no free will at all?

Answer 45

Jabrites

Question 46

What do the Mutazilites teach about predestination?

Answer 46

No predestination.

Question 47

Which Muslims today accept the Mutazilites’ teachings?

Answer 47

Shi’a accept the Mutazilites’ teachings.

Question 48

How do Sunni beliefs on al-Qadr differ from Shi’a beliefs?

Answer 48

Sunni beliefs are that 120 days after conception, a baby receives its soul in the womb. It is then recorded what sex it is, its lifetime earnings and whether it will enter paradise or hell. Shi’a Muslims believe that Allah may change anything he wants at any time he wills it.

Question 49

Who will be the first person to be judged?

Answer 49

Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم will be the first person to be judged.

Question 50

What leads to a good judgement?

Answer 50

Being good and obedient to Allah, living out a Muslim life will bring a good judgement.

Question 51

What is the impact of a bad judgement?

Answer 51

A bad judgement leads to a place of punishment and eternal suffering in Jahannan. It is a place of darkness and fear. For sinful believers it is a place of purification until Allah chooses to move them on to heaven.

Question 52

What is the period of time between death and the Day of Judgement called?

Answer 52

Barzakh

Question 53

State two ways these beliefs impact upon the lives of Muslims.

Answer 53

They will aim to lead obedient lives and not become obsessed with outside appearances or possessions. It may cause some Muslims to share their faith so that others convert to Islam and avoid bad judgement after death.