Islam: Beliefs and Teachings

What you'll learn

This revision guide covers all the core beliefs and teachings in Islam required for the AQA GCSE Religious Studies specification. You'll explore the six articles of faith in Sunni Islam and the five roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam, understanding how these beliefs shape Muslim life and practice. The content focuses on the nature of Allah, prophethood, holy books, angels and life after death.

Key terms and definitions

Tawhid — The oneness and unity of Allah; the fundamental belief that there is only one God who is indivisible and has no partners.

Prophethood (Risalah) — The means by which Allah communicates with humanity through chosen messengers who receive and convey divine revelation.

Akhirah — Life after death; the belief in resurrection, judgement and the afterlife in either Paradise (Jannah) or Hell (Jahannam).

Malaikah — Angels; spiritual beings created from light who obey Allah's commands and carry out specific roles.

Adalat — Divine justice; the Shi'a Muslim belief that Allah is perfectly fair and just in all His actions.

Imamate — The Shi'a Muslim belief in divinely appointed spiritual leaders (Imams) who guide the Muslim community after Prophet Muhammad.

Kutub — Holy books revealed by Allah to guide humanity, including the Qur'an, Torah, Psalms and Gospel.

Qadr — Predestination; the belief that Allah has divine knowledge of everything that will happen, though humans still have free will.

Core concepts

The nature of Allah and Tawhid

Tawhid is the most fundamental concept in Islam. Muslims believe Allah is one, unique and without equal. This belief shapes every aspect of Islamic practice and distinguishes Islam from other faiths.

The Qur'an describes Allah's nature through the 99 Names of Allah (Asma ul-Husna), which include:

• Al-Rahman (The Merciful) — Allah shows compassion to all creation
• Al-Rahim (The Compassionate) — Allah's particular mercy toward believers
• Al-Malik (The King) — Allah has sovereign power over everything
• Al-Quddus (The Holy) — Allah is pure and free from all defects
• Al-Adl (The Just) — Allah is perfectly fair, especially important in Shi'a theology

Key characteristics of Allah:

• Transcendent — Beyond and above creation; not limited by time, space or physical form
• Immanent — Close to creation and involved in the world; Muslims believe Allah is "closer to him than his jugular vein" (Qur'an 50:16)
• Omnipotent — All-powerful; able to do anything
• Omniscient — All-knowing; aware of everything past, present and future
• Beneficent — All-loving and caring toward creation

The importance of Tawhid means Muslims reject:

• Shirk (associating partners with Allah) — considered the greatest sin
• Anthropomorphism (describing Allah in human terms)
• The Christian concept of the Trinity

Sunni and Shi'a Islam: Six Articles of Faith and Five Roots

Muslims are divided into two main groups with slightly different emphasis on beliefs.

Sunni Islam — Six Articles of Faith (Iman):

1. Tawhid (oneness of Allah)
2. Malaikah (angels)
3. Kutub (holy books)
4. Risalah (prophethood)
5. Akhirah (life after death)
6. Al-Qadr (predestination)

Shi'a Islam — Five Roots of Usul ad-Din:

1. Tawhid (oneness of Allah)
2. Adalat (divine justice) — emphasised more strongly than in Sunni Islam
3. Nubuwwah (prophethood)
4. Imamate (divinely appointed leaders)
5. Mi'ad (resurrection and judgement)

The key difference is that Shi'a Muslims place special emphasis on Adalat and Imamate. They believe that after Prophet Muhammad's death, leadership should have passed to his cousin and son-in-law Ali, and then to his descendants (the Imams). Sunni Muslims believe leadership passed to the rightly guided Caliphs chosen by the community.

Prophethood and revelation

Muslims believe Allah reveals His will through prophets (messengers chosen to receive and communicate divine messages).

Key prophets in Islam:

• Adam — the first prophet and first human
• Ibrahim (Abraham) — a key prophet who rebuilt the Ka'aba in Makkah
• Musa (Moses) — received the Torah
• Dawud (David) — received the Psalms
• Isa (Jesus) — a highly respected prophet (not divine) who received the Gospel
• Muhammad — the "Seal of the Prophets," the final and greatest messenger

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

Muslims believe Muhammad received the Qur'an through the angel Jibril (Gabriel) over 23 years, beginning in 610 CE. His role as the final prophet means:

• No new prophets will come after him
• The Qur'an is the final, complete revelation
• His life (Sunnah) provides the perfect example for Muslims to follow

The Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) marks when Muhammad first received revelation. The Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj) describes Muhammad's miraculous journey to Jerusalem and ascension to heaven, where he met previous prophets and received the command for five daily prayers.

Angels in Islam

Malaikah are created from light and have no free will — they exist only to serve and worship Allah. Unlike humans, angels cannot sin.

Main angels and their roles:

• Jibril — brings revelation to prophets, particularly the Qur'an to Muhammad
• Mika'il — responsible for providing nourishment to earth and controlling weather
• Izra'il — the Angel of Death who takes souls when people die
• Israfil — will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgement to signal resurrection

Recording angels:

• Two angels sit on each person's shoulders recording every action
• These records will be presented on the Day of Judgement
• The angel on the right records good deeds; the one on the left records sins

Belief in angels demonstrates Allah's power and organisation of the universe. It also reinforces moral accountability — Muslims believe their actions are constantly recorded.

Holy books

Muslims believe Allah has revealed guidance through Kutub (holy books):

• Sahifah — scrolls given to Ibrahim
• Tawrat (Torah) — revealed to Musa
• Zabur (Psalms) — revealed to Dawud
• Injil (Gospel) — revealed to Isa
• Qur'an — revealed to Muhammad

Muslims believe previous scriptures were either lost, corrupted or superseded. Only the Qur'an exists in its original, unchanged form.

The Qur'an:

• Written in Arabic
• Contains 114 chapters (surahs)
• Muslims believe it is the literal word of Allah
• It provides guidance for all aspects of life
• It must be treated with utmost respect (kept above other books, washed before touching)
• Hafiz — someone who has memorised the entire Qur'an

The Qur'an addresses theology, morality, law, worship and history. It is the primary source of authority in Islam, followed by the Hadith (recorded sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad).

Akhirah — Life after death

Muslims believe earthly life is a test, and everyone will face judgement leading to eternal reward or punishment.

The process of judgement:

1. Barzakh — the soul enters an intermediary state after death, awaiting resurrection
2. Day of Judgement (Yawm ad-Din) — Allah resurrects all humans to account for their actions
3. The scales — good and bad deeds are weighed
4. The bridge (As-Sirat) — a bridge over Hell that must be crossed; the righteous pass easily, sinners fall
5. Final destination — either Jannah (Paradise) or Jahannam (Hell)

Jannah (Paradise):

• A place of eternal bliss
• Described with gardens, rivers and luxury
• Believers reunite with loved ones
• The greatest reward is closeness to Allah

Jahannam (Hell):

• A place of eternal punishment for disbelievers and sinners
• Described with fire, torment and suffering
• Some Muslims believe Allah may show mercy and release some people eventually

Importance of belief in Akhirah:

• Provides purpose and meaning to life
• Encourages moral behaviour and accountability
• Offers comfort about death and justice
• Influences how Muslims live (following Allah's commands to secure Paradise)

Predestination and human freedom

Al-Qadr refers to Allah's divine will and knowledge of all events.

Key concepts:

• Allah knows everything that will happen
• Nothing occurs without Allah's permission
• However, humans have free will to make moral choices
• Humans are accountable for their decisions

This creates a tension: How can humans have free will if Allah already knows what they will do?

Muslim responses:

• Allah's knowledge doesn't force humans to act in certain ways
• Humans experience genuine choice in the moment
• This mystery is beyond complete human understanding
• Both divine sovereignty and human responsibility are true

Practical effects:

• Muslims accept difficult events as part of Allah's plan ("Insha'Allah" — if Allah wills)
• Yet they still work hard and make moral decisions
• Belief in predestination brings comfort and reduces anxiety
• Recognition that ultimate control belongs to Allah

Worked examples

Example 1 (1 mark): Which one of the following is a Shi'a Muslim belief? [1 mark] A. Belief in six articles of faith B. Belief in Imamate C. Belief in the Trinity D. Belief in reincarnation

Answer: B — Belief in Imamate

Examiner note: This tests knowledge of differences between Sunni and Shi'a Islam. Imamate is one of the Five Roots in Shi'a Islam but not emphasised in Sunni belief.

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Example 2 (4 marks): Explain two ways in which belief in Tawhid influences Muslims today. [4 marks]

Model answer:

One way belief in Tawhid influences Muslims is in how they worship. Because Muslims believe there is only one God who has no partners, they direct all worship exclusively to Allah and avoid anything that might suggest shirk, such as praying to saints or using images in worship. This means mosques contain no pictures or statues. (2 marks)

Another way is that it influences their daily speech. Muslims regularly say phrases like "Bismillah" (in the name of Allah) before actions and "Alhamdulillah" (praise be to Allah) to acknowledge Allah's oneness and sovereignty over all aspects of life. This keeps them constantly aware of Allah's presence and authority. (2 marks)

Mark scheme guidance: Award 1 mark for each valid way identified, plus 1 mark for development/explanation (up to 4 marks total).

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Example 3 (5 marks): Explain two Muslim beliefs about angels. Refer to sacred writings or another source of Muslim belief and teaching in your answer. [5 marks]

Model answer:

Muslims believe angels are created from light and have no free will, existing only to serve Allah. One important angel is Jibril, who brought revelation to the prophets. The Qur'an describes how Jibril revealed the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad, beginning on the Night of Power. This shows angels act as intermediaries between Allah and humanity, delivering important messages. (3 marks)

Muslims also believe in recording angels who write down every person's actions. Two angels sit on each person's shoulders throughout their life, one recording good deeds and one recording sins. These records will be presented on the Day of Judgement when Allah decides each person's fate. This belief encourages Muslims to act morally since they know their actions are being recorded. (2 marks)

Mark scheme guidance: Award marks for two beliefs (1 mark each), development (1 mark each), and reference to sources (1 mark). Maximum 3 marks for one belief if well developed.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing Sunni and Shi'a beliefs — Remember that Shi'a Muslims emphasise Adalat (justice) and Imamate, while Sunni Muslims follow Six Articles of Faith. Don't mix up these frameworks.

• Treating Islam as monolithic — Islam has diversity. Where relevant, distinguish between Sunni and Shi'a perspectives or acknowledge that Muslims may interpret teachings differently.

• Using vague language about Allah — Avoid saying Allah is "like a king" or "like a father." Use precise theological terms: transcendent, immanent, omnipotent, omniscient. Don't anthropomorphise.

• Forgetting to include sources — In 5-mark questions, you must reference the Qur'an, Hadith or another teaching. Write "The Qur'an says..." or "Muslims believe... as taught in the Hadith."

• Weak development in 4 and 5-mark answers — Don't just list facts. Explain "why" or "how" beliefs influence Muslims. Show cause and effect: "Because Muslims believe X... they therefore Y..."

• Misunderstanding predestination — Don't say Muslims have no free will. Explain that Allah knows what will happen, but humans still make genuine choices and are accountable for them.

Exam technique for "Islam: Beliefs and Teachings"

• Command words matter: "Explain" requires reasons and development. "Evaluate" requires arguments from multiple perspectives plus a reasoned conclusion. "Which one of the following..." requires just a single letter answer.

• Mark allocation guides your answer length: 1-mark questions need one word or phrase. 4-mark questions need two explained points. 5-mark questions need two explained points plus a source reference. 12-mark questions need arguments, counterarguments and evaluation.

• Use PEEL structure for longer answers: Point (make a claim), Evidence (quote or reference), Explanation (develop the point), Link (connect to the question). This ensures you develop points rather than just listing information.

• Learn key quotations: Memorise 3-5 short Qur'an quotations for this topic. Examples: "He is Allah, the One" (112:1), "There is no god but He" (2:163), "closer to him than his jugular vein" (50:16). Even approximate references gain credit.

Quick revision summary

Islam is a monotheistic religion centred on Tawhid — belief in one God, Allah. Sunni Muslims follow Six Articles of Faith; Shi'a Muslims follow Five Roots of Usul ad-Din, emphasising justice and Imamate. Muslims believe Allah revealed guidance through prophets, with Muhammad as the final messenger receiving the Qur'an. Angels serve specific functions including delivering revelation and recording deeds. Belief in Akhirah (life after death) means Muslims will face judgement, leading to Paradise or Hell based on their faith and actions, though Allah ultimately has knowledge of all events.