Islam - Beliefs and Teachings

Question 1

Six articles of faith (Sunni Islam)

Answer 1

Tawhid, angels, holy books, prophethood, day of judgement, supremacy of Allah’s will/predestination

Question 2

Five roots of Usul ad-Din (Shi’a Islam)

Answer 2

Tawhid, the Imamate, justice (adalat) , prophethood, resurrection

Question 3

Oneness of Allah/Tawhid

Answer 3

“He is God the one, God the eternal; he begot no one nor was he begotten. No one is comparable to him” - Qur’an

Question 4

Allah is omnipotent

Answer 4

“He who is the all-knowing, the all-powerful, able to do anything” - Qur’an

Question 5

Allah is beneficient

Answer 5

“Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None upholds them except the most beneficient” - Qur’an

Question 6

Allah is merciful

Answer 6

“Allah forgives all sins. Indeed it is he who is the forgiving, the merciful” - Qur’an

Question 7

Allah is fair

Answer 7

“Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah” - Qur’an

Question 8

Allah is just

Answer 8

“Fear the day when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be treated unjustly” - Qur’an

Question 9

Allah is omniscient

Answer 9

“Behold, God is infinite, all-knowing… and when he wills a thing to be, he says unto it ‘Be’ and it is” - Qur’an

Question 10

Allah is transcendent

Answer 10

“No vision can grasp him… he is above all comprehension” - Qur’an

Question 11

Allah is immanent

Answer 11

“Allah is closer to you than your jugular vein” - Qur’an

Question 12

Day of judgement – those who have followed Allah will be rewarded

Answer 12

“Those who believe, do good deeds, keep up their prayer, and pay the prescribed alms will have their reward with their Lord” - Qur’an

Question 13

Heaven (Jannah)

Answer 13

“They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearl and their garments therein with silk” - Qur’an

Question 14

Hell (Jahannam)

Answer 14

“They will dwell amid scorching wind and scalding waters in the shadow of black smoke, neither cool nor refreshing” - Qur’an

Question 15

Role of angels

Answer 15

“Each person has angels before him and behind, watching over him by God’s command” - Qur’an

Question 16

Jibril

Answer 16

Archangel who revealed the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad

Question 17

Mika’il

Answer 17

Provides nourishment to people and is the archangel of mercy

Question 18

Predestination (Al-Qadr)

Answer 18

Allah knows everything that has happened and everything that will happen
But humans still have free will - this doesn’t necessarily mean that Allah DECIDES what will happen
However, some Muslims believe that Allah has already determined everything that will happen, so humans do not have the freedom to change their destiny (this contradicts judgement, as the existence of the day of judgement must mean humans had a choice on what to do in their lives)
“Only what God has decreed will happen to us” - Qur’an
“God does not change the conditions of a people unless they change what is in themselves” - Qur’an

Question 19

Day of Judgement

Answer 19

The day when it is decided whether you go to heaven or hell
When a person dies, their soul is taken by Azra’il, the Angel of Death
The angel Israfil sounds a trumpet to announce the end of the world and everyone is resurrected
God sends two angels to question the waiting soul. They ask: Who is your Lord? What was your life like? Who is your prophet?
Muslims believe the answers to these questions determine how the soul experiences Barzakh (purgatory but without soul cleansing)
If Book of Deeds placed in left hand, they go hell, right hand, heaven
People going to heaven safely cross the Sirat bridge to enter heaven

Question 20

Human responsibility for predestination

Answer 20

A Bedoian man doesn’t tie his camel as he thinks Allah will look after it.
Muhammad replies:
“First tie your camel, and then put your faith in Allah” - Hadith

Question 21

3 details about Prophet Adam (+ quotes)

Answer 21

First man and first prophet
“He first created man from clay” - Qur’an
“He taught Adam all the names” - Qur’an
Adam taught the angels, who then had to bow down to him out of respect of his knowledge, and he also taught his descendants how to be a good Muslim (e.g. prayers)

Question 22

3 details about Prophet Ibrahim (+ quote)

Answer 22

Willing to sacrifice his son for Allah (this is celebrated on Id-ul-Adha)
Destroyed idols - against paganism
“Who could be better in religion than those who direct themselves wholly to God, do good, and follow the religion of Abraham, who was true in faith? For God took Abraham as a friend” - Qur’an

Question 23

Details about Prophet Muhammad (+ quote)

Answer 23

He received the final revelation from God
The Qur’an was revealed to him
He is the seal of the prophets (the final prophet)
He recorded his life and teachings in the Hadith
“Muhammad is not the father of any one of you men; he is God’s Messenger and the seal of the prophets: and Allah has perfect knowledge of all things” - Qur’an

Question 24

Authority/infallibility of the Qur’an

Answer 24

“This is the scripture in which there is no doubt, containing guidance for those who are mindful of God” - Qur’an
“This is truly a glorious Qur’an [written] on a preserved tablet” - Qur’an

Question 25

Why do Sunni Muslims reject the importance of the Imamate?

Answer 25

Sunni Muslims believe that Muhammad handed leadership to Abu Bakr as the first Caliph, but Shi'a Muslims believe he handed leadership to his son-in-law Ali as the first Imam Shi'a Muslims believe the Imams are divinely appointed, whereas Sunni Muslims do not believe the Caliphs are divinely appointed

Question 26

What was the Night Journey?

Answer 26

Muhammad travelled to Jerusalem (the only city that believed in only one God at the time) via a winged horse, and congregated with the other prophets He then went to heaven and spoke with God, where he was told to pray 5 times a day

Question 27

2 influences of believing in the Imamate for Shi'a Muslims

Answer 27

They will follow the guidance of the Imams (especially when reading the Qur'an, as the Imams can perfectly interpret the Qur'an) They will be hopeful for the return of the 12th Imam (Muhammad al-Mahdi) on the day of judgement, as he will bring justice and equality to all

Question 28

What is the Night of Power and why is it significant?

Answer 28

The night when the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad by the archangel Jibril. (It is during the month of Ramadan) "The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months" - Qur'an A thousand months is similar in length to one human lifetime, so this quote means that the Night of Power is more significant than a Muslim's entire lifetime

Question 29

Supremacy of Allah's Will

Answer 29

Only what Allah says can happen will happen. "Misfortunes can only happen with God's permission" - Qur'an "Only what God has decreed will happen to us" - Qur'an