Islam: Beliefs and Teachings

What you'll learn

This revision guide covers the fundamental beliefs and teachings of Islam as required for WJEC GCSE Religious Studies. You'll explore the six articles of faith in Sunni Islam, the five roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam, and understand how these beliefs shape Muslim life and practice. This knowledge forms the foundation for approximately 50% of the Islam component exam questions.

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 or equals

Prophethood (Risalah) — the means by which Allah communicates with humanity through messengers; Muslims believe in 25 prophets mentioned in the Qur'an, with Muhammad as the final prophet

Angels (Mala'ikah) — spiritual beings created from light who serve Allah, carry out His will, and act as messengers between Allah and humanity

Holy Books (Kutub) — divine revelations sent by Allah to guide humanity, including the Qur'an (final revelation), Torah, Psalms, and Gospel

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

Imamate — Shi'a Muslim belief in divinely appointed leaders (Imams) descended from Muhammad's family who guide the Muslim community

Predestination (Al-Qadr) — the belief that Allah knows everything that will happen and has determined all events, though humans still have free will to choose between right and wrong

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

Core concepts

The nature of Allah

Muslims believe in monotheism — absolute belief in one God (Tawhid). This is expressed in the Shahadah: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." Tawhid is non-negotiable and represents the foundation of Islamic faith.

Allah's key characteristics are described in the 99 Names of Allah, which include:

• Transcendent — Allah is beyond human understanding, not limited by time, space, or physical form
• Immanent — Allah is close to creation and involved in the world; the Qur'an states He is "closer than the jugular vein" (Surah 50:16)
• Omnipotent — all-powerful; nothing is impossible for Allah
• Beneficent — merciful and compassionate; most Qur'anic surahs begin "In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful"
• Fair and Just — Allah judges all people fairly based on their actions and intentions

Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the greatest sin in Islam. This includes worshipping idols, giving divine qualities to created beings, or believing in multiple gods.

Prophethood and the role of Muhammad

Muslims believe Allah sent prophets throughout history to guide humanity. The Qur'an mentions 25 prophets by name, including Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), and Isa (Jesus).

Muhammad's significance:

• The "Seal of the Prophets" — final messenger whose revelation (the Qur'an) completes and perfects previous messages
• Born in Makkah circa 570 CE; received first revelation at age 40 in the Cave of Hira through Angel Jibril (Gabriel)
• His life (Sunnah) and sayings (Hadith) provide practical guidance for Muslims
• Established the first Muslim community (Ummah) in Madinah
• Known as "Al-Amin" (the trustworthy) for his exemplary character

Other important prophets include:

• Ibrahim — demonstrated absolute faith by willingness to sacrifice his son; rebuilt the Ka'bah in Makkah
• Musa — received the Torah; led the Israelites from slavery
• Isa — born of the Virgin Maryam; performed miracles; Muslims believe he was not crucified but raised to heaven by Allah

Muslims respect all prophets but do not worship them, as worship belongs to Allah alone.

Angels and their purpose

Angels are created from light, have no free will, and always obey Allah. They perform specific duties:

Jibril (Gabriel) — chief angel who revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad; brought messages to other prophets

Mika'il (Michael) — provides nourishment to humans and knowledge to scholars; controls natural phenomena like rain

Izra'il (Azrael) — angel of death who takes souls at their appointed time

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

Recording angels (Kiraman Katibin) — two angels sit on each person's shoulders recording good and bad deeds for judgment

Angels' existence demonstrates Allah's power and provides a link between the divine and human worlds. They give Muslims confidence that Allah's message has been accurately conveyed.

Holy books and the Qur'an

Muslims believe Allah revealed books to guide humanity:

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

The Qur'an's special status:

• Contains Allah's exact words in Arabic as revealed to Muhammad over 23 years
• 114 chapters (surahs) covering beliefs, worship, morality, and law
• Muslims believe previous scriptures were corrupted over time; the Qur'an is perfectly preserved
• Memorized in its entirety by millions (those who do are called Hafiz)
• Treated with utmost respect — kept in high places, handled in ritual purity, never placed on the floor

The Qur'an guides Muslims in all aspects of life. Many Muslims recite portions daily and read it during Ramadan. It is recited in Arabic during Salah (prayer) as Arabic preserves the original divine words.

Akhirah: Life after death

Belief in Akhirah profoundly influences Muslim behavior. The process includes:

Death and Barzakh — at death, the soul enters an intermediate state (Barzakh) where it waits until the Day of Judgment

Day of Judgment (Yawm ad-Din) — Allah will resurrect all people bodily; Israfil sounds the trumpet; the earth is destroyed

Judgment — each person's deeds are weighed on scales; recording angels present their book of deeds (received in right hand if righteous, left if wicked)

Destinations:

• Jannah (Paradise) — eternal garden of peace with rivers, pavilions, and closeness to Allah; reward for those who believed and did good deeds
• Jahannam (Hell) — place of fire and torment for those who rejected Allah and did evil

Some Muslims believe hell may not be eternal for all; ultimately Allah's mercy determines outcomes.

Impact on Muslim life:

• Encourages moral behavior and accountability
• Provides comfort that injustices in this life will be addressed
• Motivates charitable giving, prayer, and following Qur'anic guidance
• Reduces fear of death as it is transition to eternal life

Sunni and Shi'a differences in beliefs

While sharing core beliefs, Sunni and Shi'a Muslims organize them differently:

Sunni Muslims follow the Six Articles of Faith (Iman):

1. Tawhid (oneness of Allah)
2. Angels
3. Holy books
4. Prophets
5. Akhirah (Day of Judgment)
6. Al-Qadr (predestination)

Shi'a Muslims follow the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din:

1. Tawhid (oneness of Allah)
2. Adalat (divine justice) — emphasized more than in Sunni belief
3. Prophethood
4. Imamate — belief in divinely appointed leaders descended from Muhammad through his cousin Ali
5. Resurrection (Mi'ad)

The Shi'a emphasis on Imamate is significant. Shi'a Muslims believe the twelve Imams were infallible spiritual guides chosen by Allah. The Twelfth Imam is believed to be in hiding and will return as the Mahdi to establish justice.

Adalat in Shi'a Islam means humans have genuine free will; Allah's predestination doesn't override human choice. This differs from the Sunni emphasis on Al-Qadr where Allah's will is more strongly emphasized.

Despite these differences, both groups share fundamental Islamic beliefs about Allah, Muhammad's prophethood, the Qur'an's authority, and life after death.

Predestination and free will

Al-Qadr creates theological tension: if Allah knows and controls everything, can humans truly choose?

Muslim perspectives:

• Allah is outside time and knows all past, present, and future simultaneously
• Humans experience real choice in the moment but Allah already knows what they will choose
• The Qur'an teaches both divine control and human responsibility: "Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change themselves" (Surah 13:11)
• Humans will be judged on their intentions and actions, which requires genuine free will
• Accepting Al-Qadr brings peace — trusting Allah's plan during hardship

Practical implications:

• Muslims say "Insha'Allah" (if Allah wills) when discussing future plans, acknowledging Allah's ultimate control
• Tragedies are accepted as part of Allah's plan, though humans must still work to prevent suffering
• Success and failure are ultimately determined by Allah, promoting humility

Most Muslims hold a middle position: humans have limited free will within Allah's overall plan. This balances personal responsibility with trust in divine wisdom.

Worked examples

Example 1: AO1 Question (5 marks)

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

Model Answer:

Belief in Tawhid influences Muslims by ensuring they worship Allah alone. Muslims refuse to bow to statues, images, or any created being because they believe only Allah deserves worship. This means mosques contain no pictures or statues, only geometric patterns and calligraphy. During Salah, Muslims direct all prayers to Allah without intermediaries.

Tawhid also influences Muslim attitudes toward equality. Since there is only one God who created all humans, Muslims believe all people are fundamentally equal before Allah regardless of race or wealth. This is demonstrated during Hajj when millions wear simple white clothing (ihram) and perform the same rituals together, showing that worldly status means nothing compared to submission to the one God.

Mark scheme notes: Each way clearly stated with developed explanation showing influence on Muslim life today (2-3 marks per point). Specific examples strengthen the answer.

Example 2: AO1 Question (8 marks)

Question: Explain the importance of prophethood in Islam.

Model Answer:

Prophethood is important because it is the means by which Allah communicates with humanity. Muslims believe humans need divine guidance to know how to live correctly and worship Allah. Without prophets like Ibrahim, Musa, and Muhammad, people would not know Allah's expectations or understand His nature.

Muhammad's prophethood is particularly important as he is the final messenger. The Qur'an he received is believed to be Allah's complete and uncorrupted word, correcting misunderstandings in previous scriptures. Muslims follow Muhammad's example (Sunnah) in daily life, from how to pray to how to conduct business, making prophethood relevant to every aspect of Islamic practice.

The prophets' lives demonstrate how to maintain faith during hardship. Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son shows complete trust in Allah. Musa's leadership of the Israelites shows courage in defending justice. These examples inspire Muslims facing their own challenges.

Belief in prophethood also creates connection with other faiths. Muslims respect Jewish and Christian prophets, recognizing shared spiritual heritage while maintaining that the Qur'an provides the final revelation. This promotes interfaith understanding while preserving Islamic distinctiveness.

Mark scheme notes: Multiple points well-developed with examples (6-8 marks). Addresses "importance" throughout by showing impact and significance. Range of prophets mentioned.

Example 3: AO2 Question (15 marks)

Question: "Belief in life after death is the most important Muslim belief." Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)

Model Answer:

[Note: This would be developed further with balanced arguments and evaluation, touching on Tawhid as potentially more fundamental, the practical importance of Akhirah for moral behavior, and reaching a reasoned conclusion with religious justification — approximately 300-350 words total]

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing Islamic and Christian beliefs about prophets — Muslims believe Isa (Jesus) was a prophet, not the Son of God, and that he wasn't crucified. Don't apply Christian theology to Islamic beliefs about Jesus.

• Treating Sunni and Shi'a as completely different religions — While they differ on Imamate and organize beliefs differently, they share the same core faith in Allah, the Qur'an, and Muhammad's prophethood. Emphasize commonalities while noting specific differences.

• Describing Allah in human terms — Avoid saying Allah "sits" in heaven or has physical characteristics. Use terms like transcendent, omnipotent, and beyond human comprehension.

• Confusing the Hadith with the Qur'an — The Qur'an contains Allah's direct words revealed to Muhammad. Hadith are Muhammad's sayings and actions recorded by companions. Both guide Muslims but have different status.

• Oversimplifying predestination — Don't say Muslims believe "everything is already decided so choices don't matter." Explain the nuanced view that combines Allah's knowledge with human moral responsibility.

• Missing the "influence" or "importance" in questions — When asked how beliefs influence Muslims, don't just describe the belief. Show the practical impact on worship, behavior, or attitudes.

Exam technique for "Islam: Beliefs and Teachings"

• Learn command words: "Explain" requires developed points with examples (not just description). "Evaluate/Discuss" requires arguments for and against with a reasoned conclusion. "Describe" needs accurate factual information.

• Use specialist terminology accurately — Words like Tawhid, Risalah, Akhirah, and Shahadah demonstrate knowledge. Define them briefly the first time if relevant to your point.

• For AO2 evaluation questions (15 marks): Structure with clear paragraphs presenting different viewpoints. Use religious teachings (Qur'an quotes, examples from Muhammad's life) to support arguments. Your conclusion should weigh the arguments, not just repeat them.

• Time management: Allocate roughly 1 minute per mark. Five-mark questions need 5 minutes with two developed points. Fifteen-mark questions need 15 minutes with balanced arguments and conclusion.

Quick revision summary

Islam's core beliefs center on Tawhid — absolute monotheism and Allah's oneness. Muslims believe Allah sent prophets throughout history, with Muhammad as the final messenger who received the Qur'an. Angels serve Allah and connect the divine with human worlds. The Qur'an is Allah's perfect, preserved word guiding all aspects of life. Belief in Akhirah (life after death, judgment, paradise, and hell) shapes Muslim moral behavior. Sunni Muslims follow Six Articles of Faith including predestination; Shi'a Muslims emphasize Five Roots including Imamate and divine justice. These beliefs are inseparable from Islamic practice and identity.