Islam: Beliefs and Teachings

What you'll learn

This revision guide covers the core beliefs and teachings of Islam as required by the OCR 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 fundamental beliefs shape Muslim life and practice. The content focuses on testable knowledge including the nature of Allah, prophethood, sacred texts, angels, predestination and life after death.

Key terms and definitions

Tawhid — the oneness and unity of Allah; the most fundamental belief in Islam that Allah is indivisible and has no partners

Prophethood (Risalah) — the belief that Allah communicates with humanity through prophets who convey His message

Qur'an — the holy book of Islam, believed to be the literal word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad through Angel Jibril

Hadith — collected sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad that provide guidance for Muslims alongside the Qur'an

Akhirah — life after death; the belief in resurrection, judgment and eternal existence in either paradise (Jannah) or hell (Jahannam)

Sunni — the largest denomination of Islam (approximately 85-90% of Muslims), following the Sunnah and elected leadership succession

Shi'a — the second-largest denomination of Islam (approximately 10-15% of Muslims), believing leadership should have remained with Muhammad's family line through Ali

Malaikah — angels; spiritual beings created from light who carry out Allah's will and have no free will

Core concepts

The nature of Allah and Tawhid

Tawhid is the absolute foundation of Islamic belief. Muslims believe Allah is:

• One and indivisible — there is no God but Allah (La ilaha illa Allah)
• Eternal — without beginning or end, always existing
• Omnipotent — all-powerful, creator and sustainer of everything
• Omniscient — all-knowing, aware of all thoughts and actions
• Transcendent — beyond and above creation, incomparable to anything
• Immanent — close to creation and involved in the world
• Merciful and compassionate — these qualities are emphasized at the start of every surah except one

The 99 Names of Allah (Asma ul-Husna) describe His attributes. Key names include:

• Al-Rahman (The Most Merciful)
• Al-Rahim (The Most Compassionate)
• Al-Malik (The King)
• Al-Quddus (The Holy)
• Al-Khaliq (The Creator)

Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is considered the greatest sin in Islam. This makes Islamic monotheism distinct from Christian Trinitarianism, which Muslims view as compromising Tawhid.

The concept of Adalat (divine justice) is particularly emphasized in Shi'a Islam as one of the five roots of Usul ad-Din. Muslims believe Allah is perfectly fair and will judge everyone justly on the Day of Judgment.

Prophethood and revelation

Muslims believe Allah has sent prophets throughout history to guide humanity. Key aspects include:

The role of prophets:

• To receive and communicate Allah's message
• To provide guidance and set moral examples
• To warn people about the consequences of disobedience
• To call people back to worshipping the one true God

Key prophets in Islam:

• Adam — the first human and prophet
• Ibrahim (Abraham) — exemplar of faith who rebuilt the Ka'bah
• Musa (Moses) — received the Tawrat (Torah)
• Dawud (David) — received the Zabur (Psalms)
• Isa (Jesus) — born of the virgin Maryam, performed miracles, received the Injil (Gospel)
• Muhammad — the "Seal of the Prophets," final messenger who received the Qur'an

Muslims believe Muhammad is the final prophet, making Islam the complete and final revelation. All prophets taught Tawhid, but their messages were corrupted over time until the Qur'an provided the final, preserved revelation.

Differences between Sunni and Shi'a on leadership:

After Muhammad's death in 632 CE, disagreement arose about succession:

• Sunni Muslims believe Abu Bakr (Muhammad's companion) was rightly chosen as the first caliph through community consensus
• Shi'a Muslims believe Ali (Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law) should have been the immediate successor as designated by Muhammad
• Shi'a Muslims believe in the concept of Imamate — divinely appointed leaders from Muhammad's family line who possess special spiritual authority

Holy books and the authority of the Qur'an

Muslims believe Allah revealed books to different prophets:

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

The Qur'an:

• Contains 114 chapters (surahs) revealed over 23 years
• Written in classical Arabic
• Muslims believe it is the exact word of Allah, unchanged since revelation
• Revealed through Angel Jibril (Gabriel) to Muhammad
• The first revelation occurred in the Cave of Hira during Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power)
• Provides guidance on belief, worship, law, morality and personal conduct

The Hadith:

The Hadith collections complement the Qur'an by recording Muhammad's words, actions and silent approvals. Major collections include:

• Sahih al-Bukhari
• Sahih Muslim

Hadith are classified by reliability, with "sahih" (authentic) being the most trustworthy. Together with the Qur'an, they form the basis of Shari'ah (Islamic law).

Angels (Malaikah)

Belief in angels is one of the six articles of faith in Sunni Islam. Key points include:

Nature of angels:

• Created from light (nur)
• Have no free will — they only obey Allah
• Do not eat, sleep, or reproduce
• Can take different forms
• Invisible to humans normally

Key angels and their roles:

• Jibril (Gabriel) — brought revelations to prophets, especially the Qur'an to Muhammad
• Mika'il (Michael) — controls weather and provides sustenance to Earth
• Izra'il — the Angel of Death who takes souls at death
• Israfil — will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgment

Recording angels:

• Kiraman Katibin — two angels (one on each shoulder) who record every person's good and bad deeds for judgment

Angels reinforce key Islamic beliefs about Allah's power (He created them), His omniscience (they record deeds), and accountability (records will be used on Judgment Day).

Predestination and human freedom (Al-Qadr)

Al-Qadr refers to Allah's divine decree and predestination. This belief creates theological tension between Allah's omniscience and human free will.

Key beliefs:

• Allah has knowledge of all past, present and future events
• Allah has decreed everything that will happen
• Nothing occurs without Allah's permission
• Humans still have free will to make choices

Different interpretations:

Sunni view:

• Generally emphasize Allah's complete control
• Humans have limited free will within Allah's decree
• "Everything is written" — a common expression reflecting this belief

Shi'a view:

• Emphasize human free will more strongly
• Believe humans genuinely choose between good and evil
• Allah's knowledge doesn't remove human responsibility

Practical implications:

• Muslims find comfort in difficulties knowing Allah has a plan
• Encourages acceptance of hardship with patience (sabr)
• Does not remove personal responsibility for actions
• Believers will still be judged for their choices

Life after death (Akhirah)

Belief in Akhirah is fundamental to Islamic faith and significantly influences Muslim behavior.

The sequence of events after death:

1. Barzakh — the barrier/state between death and resurrection where souls await judgment
2. Resurrection — all will be raised bodily on the Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Din)
3. Judgment — Allah will judge everyone based on their deeds recorded by angels
4. The scales — good and bad deeds will be weighed
5. Eternal destination — paradise (Jannah) or hell (Jahannam)

Jannah (Paradise):

• Eternal reward for believers and those who did good
• Described with beautiful gardens, rivers, and perfect peace
• Physical and spiritual pleasures
• The greatest reward is being in Allah's presence

Jahannam (Hell):

• Punishment for disbelievers and evildoers
• Described with fire and suffering
• Some Muslims believe hell may not be eternal for sinful Muslims (only for disbelievers)
• Emphasizes Allah's justice

Impact on Muslim life:

• Encourages moral behavior and worship
• Provides accountability beyond earthly consequences
• Offers comfort that justice will ultimately prevail
• Motivates following Islamic teachings to achieve paradise

The belief in Akhirah is closely linked to Tawhid — only Allah has the power to resurrect and judge, reinforcing His supreme authority.

Worked examples

Example 1: 1-mark question

Question: State one attribute of Allah. [1 mark]

Answer: Merciful / All-powerful / Eternal / All-knowing (any one)

Examiner comment: Simply name one attribute. No explanation needed for 1 mark. Use proper terminology.

Example 2: 2-mark question

Question: Give two reasons why the Qur'an is important to Muslims. [2 marks]

Answer:

• It is the word of Allah [1 mark]
• It provides guidance on how to live [1 mark]

Examiner comment: Two distinct reasons required. Alternative valid answers include: it is the final revelation; it contains Allah's commands; it has been perfectly preserved; it is used in worship.

Example 3: 5-mark question

Question: Explain two ways in which belief in Akhirah influences Muslims today. [5 marks]

Model answer:

One way belief in Akhirah influences Muslims is by encouraging them to perform good deeds and avoid sin [1 mark]. This is because Muslims believe they will be judged by Allah on the Day of Judgment based on their actions, and their deeds will determine whether they enter Jannah or Jahannam [development: +1 mark]. For example, a Muslim might give regularly to charity (Zakah) knowing these good deeds will be weighed on the scales on Judgment Day [further development: +1 mark].

Another way is that belief in Akhirah provides comfort during difficult times [1 mark]. Muslims believe this life is temporary and that true justice and reward will come in the afterlife, so they can accept suffering with patience (sabr) knowing Allah has a plan and will judge fairly [development: +1 mark].

Examiner comment: Each way needs to be clearly stated (1 mark) then developed with detail (1-2 additional marks). The best answers make specific reference to Islamic teachings and provide concrete examples. Total: 5 marks available.

Example 4: 15-mark evaluation question

Question: "The Qur'an is the only source of authority Muslims need."

Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.) [15 marks]

Model answer structure:

Arguments in favour (agreeing):

• The Qur'an is the direct word of Allah, therefore the ultimate authority
• It contains guidance on all essential matters of faith and practice
• It has been perfectly preserved, unlike other scriptures
• Muhammad said the Qur'an would be sufficient guidance

Arguments against (disagreeing):

• The Hadith are essential for understanding how to apply Qur'anic teachings
• Muhammad's example (Sunnah) clarifies ambiguous Qur'anic passages
• Scholars and Imams help interpret the Qur'an for modern contexts
• The Qur'an itself instructs Muslims to follow the Prophet's example
• Historical Islamic practice has always combined Qur'an and Hadith

Conclusion: State your own reasoned judgment, e.g., "While the Qur'an holds supreme authority as Allah's word, Muslims also need the Hadith to fully understand and implement its teachings in daily life."

Examiner comment: 15-mark questions assess AO2 (analysis and evaluation). You need: well-developed arguments for multiple viewpoints (up to 10 marks), use of religious knowledge (implicit in grading), and a supported conclusion (up to 5 marks). Aim for 3-4 developed points on each side plus justified conclusion.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing Sunni and Shi'a beliefs — remember the key difference lies in leadership succession; both share core beliefs in Tawhid, prophethood, and Akhirah, but Shi'a emphasize the Imamate and Adalat as roots of faith

• Saying Muslims "worship" Muhammad — Muslims respect and follow Muhammad as the final prophet, but worship is reserved for Allah alone; this is crucial to understanding Tawhid

• Treating Islam and Christianity as identical — while both are monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, Muslims reject the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus; recognize similarities but respect distinctive Islamic beliefs

• Using vague language like "Muslims believe..." without specificity — always explain what the belief means and why it matters; for example, instead of "Muslims believe in Akhirah," write "Muslims believe in Akhirah (life after death), including bodily resurrection and judgment by Allah, which influences them to perform good deeds"

• Forgetting to develop points in 4 and 5 mark questions — a statement alone earns minimal marks; always explain the belief, add detail, and ideally provide an example or quote

• Only presenting one viewpoint in evaluation questions — 15-mark questions require balanced consideration of different perspectives before reaching a justified conclusion; one-sided answers cannot access top marks

Exam technique for "Islam: Beliefs and Teachings"

• Command words matter: "State" requires a simple point (1 mark); "Explain" requires stating and developing points with detail (4-5 marks); "Discuss/Evaluate" requires weighing different arguments (15 marks)

• Use precise Islamic terminology — terms like Tawhid, Risalah, Malaikah, and Akhirah demonstrate knowledge and earn credit; always explain what they mean when first used in longer answers

• Structure 5-mark answers as two developed points — clearly signal "One way..." and "Another way..." or "Firstly..." and "Secondly..." to help examiners locate your two required explanations; each needs development beyond a basic statement

• In 15-mark questions, allocate time wisely — spend roughly 15 minutes; present 3-4 points supporting the statement, 3-4 points challenging it, then write a conclusion that states and justifies your view; both religious knowledge and reasoning are assessed

Quick revision summary

Islam's core beliefs center on Tawhid (Allah's oneness), prophethood (especially Muhammad as the final messenger), the Qur'an as Allah's preserved word, angels who serve Allah, Al-Qadr (divine decree), and Akhirah (life after death with resurrection and judgment). Sunni and Shi'a Muslims share these fundamentals but differ on leadership succession after Muhammad. These beliefs profoundly shape Muslim worship, morality and daily life, creating accountability to Allah and hope for eternal paradise (Jannah) while avoiding hell (Jahannam).