Islam: Beliefs and Teachings

What you'll learn

This revision guide covers the fundamental beliefs and teachings of Islam as examined in the Pearson Edexcel International IGCSE Religious Studies specification. You will explore the Six Articles of Faith (Sunni) and Five Roots of Usul ad-Din (Shi'a), understanding how Muslims conceptualize God, prophets, scripture, and the afterlife. These notes prepare you to answer questions on theological concepts, their significance for Muslims, and how beliefs influence Muslim life.

Key terms and definitions

Tawhid — The absolute oneness and unity of Allah; the fundamental principle that Allah is indivisible and has no partners or equals.

Akhirah — The afterlife; belief in life after death, including resurrection, judgment, Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam).

Risalah — Prophethood; the means by which Allah communicates with humanity through chosen messengers.

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

Shirk — The sin of associating partners with Allah or worshipping anything other than Allah; considered the gravest sin in Islam.

Al-Qadr — Predestination or divine decree; Allah's knowledge and control over everything that happens in the universe.

Ummah — The worldwide community of Muslims, united by shared faith regardless of ethnic, cultural or national identity.

Imamate — The Shi'a belief in divinely appointed leaders (Imams) descended from Muhammad through Ali, who guide and interpret faith for the community.

Core concepts

The nature of Allah

Muslims believe Allah is the one and only God, transcendent and eternal. Tawhid forms the foundation of Islamic belief, expressed in the declaration "There is no god but Allah." This principle appears throughout the Qur'an and Shahadah (declaration of faith).

Key characteristics of Allah include:

• Omnipotence — Allah is all-powerful, creator and sustainer of the universe
• Omniscience — Allah knows everything past, present and future
• Immanence — Allah is closer to humans than their jugular vein (Qur'an 50:16)
• Transcendence — Allah is beyond human understanding and has no physical form
• Mercy and compassion — 99 Names of Allah (Asma'ul Husna) include Ar-Rahman (The Most Compassionate) and Ar-Rahim (The Most Merciful)
• Justice — Allah judges fairly and will hold all accountable

The concept of Shirk represents the opposite of Tawhid. Muslims must avoid associating partners with Allah in any form, whether through idol worship, believing Allah has offspring, or placing anything on the same level as Allah. This principle influences Muslim rejection of the Christian Trinity doctrine and emphasis on direct worship without intermediaries.

Angels (Malaikah)

Angels are created beings made from light who serve Allah without question. Unlike humans and jinn, angels have no free will and cannot disobey Allah. Understanding angels is essential as they feature in the Six Articles of Faith.

Key angels include:

Jibril (Gabriel) — The most important angel who revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad. Jibril brought messages to many prophets including Ibrahim and Musa.

Mika'il (Michael) — Responsible for providing nourishment to humans and distributing rain. He maintains the natural order.

Izra'il (Angel of Death) — Takes souls at the moment of death, distinguishing between believers and non-believers.

Israfil — Will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgment to signal resurrection.

Angels also record human deeds. Each person has two recording angels (Kiraman Katibin) — one recording good actions, one recording bad. These records determine judgment in the afterlife. Additionally, angels Munkar and Nakir question the dead in their graves about faith.

The existence of angels demonstrates Allah's power and organization of the universe. They act as intermediaries between the divine and human realms, though Muslims pray only to Allah directly.

Prophethood (Risalah)

Risalah refers to Allah's communication with humanity through prophets. Muslims believe Allah chose certain individuals throughout history to receive revelation and guide their communities to monotheism.

Key prophets in Islam include:

Adam — The first human and first prophet, created by Allah and placed in Paradise before descending to Earth.

Ibrahim (Abraham) — Demonstrated absolute faith by being willing to sacrifice his son Isma'il when commanded. Rebuilt the Ka'bah in Makkah with Isma'il.

Musa (Moses) — Received the Tawrat (Torah) and led the Israelites from slavery. Confronted Pharaoh with Allah's message.

Isa (Jesus) — A messenger who performed miracles but is not considered divine. Muslims reject the crucifixion narrative, believing Allah raised Isa to heaven.

Muhammad — The final prophet (Seal of the Prophets) who received the complete and perfected revelation in the Qur'an. Muslims follow his example (Sunnah) in daily life.

Muslims believe in 25 prophets mentioned by name in the Qur'an, though Islamic tradition recognizes 124,000 prophets were sent to different peoples throughout history. All prophets taught Tawhid; their messages were consistent but some revelations were corrupted over time, necessitating the final revelation through Muhammad.

The Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj) demonstrates Muhammad's special status. He traveled from Makkah to Jerusalem, then ascended through the heavens, meeting previous prophets and receiving the command for five daily prayers.

Holy books

Muslims believe Allah revealed scriptures to guide humanity. Four books are recognized:

Sahifah — Scrolls revealed to Ibrahim, now lost.

Tawrat (Torah) — Revealed to Musa for the Israelites. Muslims believe the original has been corrupted (tahrif).

Zabur (Psalms) — Revealed to Dawud (David), also subject to corruption.

Injil (Gospel) — Revealed to Isa, distinct from the New Testament which Muslims consider a later human construction rather than Allah's original words.

Qur'an — The final, complete and perfect revelation given to Muhammad over 23 years. Muslims believe it supersedes previous scriptures and remains unchanged since revelation. The Qur'an is Allah's literal words in Arabic, providing guidance for all aspects of life.

The Qur'an contains 114 surahs (chapters) covering theology, law, morality, and stories of previous prophets. Muslims treat the Qur'an with utmost respect — performing wudu (ritual washing) before touching it, placing it on the highest shelf, and never placing anything on top of it.

Many Muslims memorize the entire Qur'an (becoming a Hafiz). Qur'anic recitation (tajweed) follows specific rules, as the beauty of the Arabic text is considered a miracle proving divine origin.

Life after death (Akhirah)

Belief in Akhirah fundamentally shapes Muslim behavior and ethics. Muslims believe earthly life is a test, with eternal consequences based on faith and actions.

The Islamic eschatological timeline:

Barzakh — The period between death and resurrection. The soul enters an intermediary state. Angels Munkar and Nakir question the deceased about their faith ("Who is your Lord?" "Who is your prophet?" "What is your religion?"). Righteous souls experience peace; wrongdoers experience punishment in the grave.

Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Din) — Allah will resurrect all humans in bodily form. The angel Israfil sounds the trumpet, causing universal destruction, then sounds it again to resurrect the dead.

Judgment — Each person stands before Allah. The Book of Deeds is opened, recording all actions performed by the Kiraman Katibin angels. Those receiving their book in the right hand enter Paradise; those receiving it in the left hand face Hell.

As-Sirat — A bridge over Hell that all must cross. The righteous cross safely to Paradise; wrongdoers fall into Jahannam.

Jannah (Paradise) — Described in physical terms: gardens with rivers, palatial homes, endless pleasures. More importantly, believers experience closeness to Allah. Different levels exist based on righteousness.

Jahannam (Hell) — A place of punishment with fire and torment, also with different levels based on sins committed. Some Muslims believe Hell is not eternal for believers who sinned, as Allah's mercy may eventually grant forgiveness.

The belief in Akhirah influences Muslim behavior by:

• Encouraging ethical conduct and charity
• Discouraging sin and wrongdoing
• Providing justice for earthly suffering
• Giving life ultimate meaning and purpose

Sunni and Shi'a differences in belief

While Sunni and Shi'a Muslims share fundamental beliefs, their systematic theologies differ:

Sunni: Six Articles of Faith (Iman)

1. Belief in Allah (Tawhid)
2. Belief in angels (Malaikah)
3. Belief in holy books
4. Belief in prophets (Risalah)
5. Belief in the Day of Judgment (Akhirah)
6. Belief in predestination (Al-Qadr)

Shi'a: Five Roots of Usul ad-Din

1. Tawhid (Oneness of Allah)
2. Adalah (Divine Justice) — emphasis on Allah's perfect justice
3. Nubuwwah (Prophethood)
4. Imamate — belief in twelve divinely appointed Imams beginning with Ali
5. Ma'ad (Resurrection and Judgment)

The key distinction is Imamate. Shi'a Muslims believe Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, should have succeeded Muhammad as leader. They recognize twelve Imams descended from Ali and Fatimah (Muhammad's daughter) as divinely guided interpreters of faith. The Twelfth Imam (Muhammad al-Mahdi) is believed to be in occultation (hidden) and will return before the Day of Judgment.

Shi'a emphasis on Adalah stresses that Allah's justice is absolute and humans have free will to choose actions, whereas Sunni emphasis on Al-Qadr gives greater weight to divine predestination.

Both traditions agree on core beliefs but differ in authority structures and some theological emphases.

Predestination (Al-Qadr)

Al-Qadr is the sixth article of Sunni faith, addressing Allah's knowledge and control of events. This concept creates theological tension between divine sovereignty and human free will.

Muslims believe:

• Allah knows everything that has happened and will happen
• Nothing occurs without Allah's permission
• The Angel Jibril wrote everything in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz) before creation
• Humans still have free will and responsibility for actions

This apparent paradox is addressed through understanding that Allah's knowledge of future choices does not eliminate human agency. Muslims are accountable for decisions made freely, even though Allah foreknows the outcomes.

Al-Qadr provides comfort during hardship — Muslims say "Insha'Allah" (if Allah wills) when discussing future plans, acknowledging ultimate divine control. The phrase "Alhamdulillah" (praise be to Allah) expresses acceptance of circumstances as part of Allah's plan.

Worked examples

Example 1: 4-mark question

Question: Explain two ways in which belief in Tawhid influences Muslims today.

Model answer:

One way belief in Tawhid influences Muslims is that they worship Allah alone without intermediaries. Muslims pray directly to Allah five times daily without requiring priests or saints to intercede, as this would compromise Allah's unity and uniqueness (2 marks).

Another way is that Muslims avoid shirk by refusing to worship idols or images. Mosques contain no statues or pictures of Allah or Muhammad, and Muslims reject the Christian concept of the Trinity because associating partners with Allah contradicts Tawhid (2 marks).

Examiner comment: This answer provides two distinct influences with development. Each point earns 1 mark for identification and 1 mark for explanation/development.

Example 2: 8-mark question

Question: Explain two Muslim beliefs about Akhirah (life after death). Refer to sacred writings or another source of Muslim belief and teaching in your answer.

Model answer:

Muslims believe in bodily resurrection on the Day of Judgment when Angel Israfil blows the trumpet. Every human who has ever lived will be raised from the dead and assembled before Allah for judgment. The Qur'an states "We shall gather them all together" (18:47), emphasizing that none can escape this reckoning. This belief influences Muslims to live righteously, knowing they will answer for all their actions. The physical nature of resurrection demonstrates Allah's power over life and death (4 marks).

Muslims also believe in eternal destinations of Jannah (Paradise) or Jahannam (Hell) based on faith and deeds. The Qur'an describes Paradise as containing "Gardens beneath which rivers flow" (9:72), where believers experience physical pleasures and spiritual closeness to Allah. Hell is described as having "chains and blazing fire" for wrongdoers. Each person receives their Book of Deeds — righteous believers receive it in their right hand and enter Paradise, while those who rejected Allah receive it in their left hand and face punishment. This belief motivates Muslims to perform good deeds and follow the Five Pillars (4 marks).

Examiner comment: This answer provides two detailed beliefs with development and references to the Qur'an. Each belief earns up to 4 marks for detailed explanation with reference to sources.

Example 3: 5-mark question

Question: Explain two differences between Sunni and Shi'a beliefs.

Model answer:

One difference is that Shi'a Muslims believe in Imamate as a core belief, holding that twelve divinely appointed Imams descended from Ali should lead the Muslim community and interpret faith. Sunni Muslims do not consider Imamate a fundamental belief and instead follow caliphs elected or appointed by consensus (3 marks).

Another difference is that Shi'a theology emphasizes Adalah (divine justice) as one of the Five Roots, stressing Allah's perfect justice and human free will. While Sunni Muslims also believe Allah is just, they emphasize Al-Qadr (predestination) more strongly as a core article of faith (2 marks).

Examiner comment: First difference fully explained for 3 marks; second difference stated with some development for 2 marks.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing Islamic and Christian terminology — Don't use "Bible" for Islamic scripture; the correct terms are Qur'an, Tawrat, Injil, and Zabur. Angels don't have "souls" in Islamic theology — they're created from light without free will.

• Treating Sunni and Shi'a beliefs as identical — Clearly distinguish when a belief is specifically Sunni (like Al-Qadr as a sixth article) or Shi'a (like Imamate). Don't claim all Muslims believe something when it's denomination-specific.

• Describing beliefs without explaining significance — Don't just state "Muslims believe in angels." Explain why this matters: angels demonstrate Allah's power, act as messengers, record deeds for judgment, showing the comprehensive nature of divine organization.

• Using vague language — Replace "Muslims think Allah is powerful" with precise terminology: "Muslims believe Allah is omnipotent, having created the universe from nothing and sustaining all existence."

• Forgetting to reference sources for 8-mark questions — The specification requires "reference to sacred writings or another source of Muslim belief." Include Qur'anic quotations (with surah numbers) or Hadith references where appropriate.

• Misunderstanding predestination — Don't claim Al-Qadr eliminates human responsibility. Muslims believe Allah's foreknowledge coexists with human free will; people are accountable for choices even though Allah knows outcomes.

Exam technique for "Islam: Beliefs and Teachings"

• Command word mastery: "Explain" requires detailed development (not just identification). For 4-mark questions, provide two points with development (2+2). For 8-mark questions, write two developed paragraphs with examples and references (4+4). "Outline" means brief description without extensive development.

• Structure 8-mark answers carefully: Write two substantial paragraphs, each explaining one belief or teaching in detail. Include specific examples, Qur'anic references, and explain significance for Muslim life. Aim for 4 marks per paragraph through depth rather than listing multiple undeveloped points.

• Use technical vocabulary accurately: Terms like Tawhid, Risalah, Akhirah, Malaikah demonstrate knowledge. Spelling matters less than understanding, but learn key terms properly to communicate effectively.

• Connect beliefs to practice: Show how theological beliefs influence Muslim behavior. For example, explain how belief in Akhirah encourages charity and ethical conduct, or how Tawhid shapes worship practices.

Quick revision summary

Islam's core beliefs center on Tawhid (Allah's absolute oneness). Sunni Muslims follow Six Articles of Faith: Allah, angels, holy books, prophets, Day of Judgment, and predestination. Shi'a Muslims structure belief around Five Roots, including Imamate and divine justice. Key prophets include Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, and Muhammad (the final messenger). Angels like Jibril revealed the Qur'an and record human deeds. Belief in Akhirah (afterlife) includes resurrection, judgment, Paradise and Hell. These beliefs fundamentally shape Muslim worship, ethics and understanding of life's purpose.