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Summary AQA GCSE Religious Studies A - Islam Complete Notes
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- Religious education
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- GCSE
Grade 9 complete typed, in-depth notes covering all Islam topics (both Beliefs and Practices) for AQA Religious Studies A.
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Islam beliefsArticles of faith
Sunni Islam:
After Muhammed’s (the last prophet) death, most Muslims believed on the Qur’an and the Sunnah (Muhammed’s
actions and teachings) had the authority to guide the beliefs and behaviour of Muslims. They elected Abu Bakr to be
their leader (Caliph), who was to act on behalf of Muhammed and God to make sure people followed God’s laws.
The Caliphs did not make laws – they only enforced them once the community had considered the views of those
who studied the Qur’an and the Sunnah. This group of Muslims came to be called Sunni (followers of the Sunnah).
The six articles of faith are the main beliefs in Sunni Islam:
1. Tawhid – there is only one God.
2. Angels – they communicate the message of God to humans.
3. Authority of the holy books – the Qur’an (meaning recitation) is the most important writing and the highest
authority in Islam.
4. The prophets of God – Muhammed, whose name means ‘highly praised’, is the most important prophet of
God.
5. The Day of Judgement – all humanity will be judged by God and sent to heaven or hell.
6. The supremacy of God’s will – God already knows, and makes happen everything that occurs in the world
and in human lives.
Shi’a Islam:
Another group of Muslims believed that Muhammed had named his cousin Ali as his successor. Ali was one of the
earliest converts to Islam, and was married to Muhammed’s daughter. He and his supporters though that the true
leader (Imam) had to be a descendant of Muhammed, and each Imam would be identified by the last before he died.
Many Muslims ignored Ali’s claims to be leader, eventually leading to a split between Ali’s followers – the Shi’a – and
the Sunni Muslims. Today, the Shi’a have their own interpretation of Islamic laws and only accept sayings of
Muhammed passed down through Ali or his followers.
The five roots of ‘Usul ad-Din’ in Shi’a Islam are their key beliefs, which keep them firmly rooted in God – the source
of life:
1. Tawhid – God is one.
2. Prophethood – accepting Muhammed is the last prophet, and that God’s revelations through him are true.
3. The justice of God – God is just and wise, cannot do wrong, and holds humans accountable for their actions.
4. The Imamate – the twelve Imams are the leaders of Islam and guard the truth of religion without error.
5. Resurrection – after death, they will be resurrected to be judged by God.
Key differences and similarities:
Both Sunni and Shi’a Islam hold many elements in common belief, such as belief in God, the prophethood of
Muhammed, the guidance of the Qur’an, and following the Sunnah. 4442
Most of their differences are derived from differing interpretations of certain aspects of beliefs and laws (such as
who the next leader of Islam should be after Muhammed), and the emphasis they put on key beliefs, as shows in the
articles of faith and roots of ‘Usul ad-Din’.
Tawhid (the oneness of God)
One of the most important beliefs in both Shi’a and Sunni Islam is Tawhid – the belief that there is only one God,
making Islam a monotheistic religion.
The Arabic word for God, ‘Allah’, means ‘the one and only God’.
This belief is expressed in Surah 112 of the Qur’an:
, “Say ‘he is God the one, God the eternal. He begot no one nor was he begotten. No one is comparable to
Him.’”
Muslims must also report this belief daily in the Shahadah: ‘There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is his
prophet’.
The most important duty for a Muslim is to declare faith in one God – they believe he is an undivided entity, and no
one else or no other object has His attributes or qualities.
Muslims believe the only sin that God will not forgive is attributing God-like qualities to any other being or thing –
this is known as shirk.
There are no images or pictures of God in mosques, Muslim books, or homes because they believe God is so unique
there is nothing to compare Him to, so no one could possibly picture or describe Him.
Impacts of belief in tawhid:
Muslims must show their belief in the way they live their life, meaning they only worship God.
Muhammed is respected as a prophet, but cannot be worshipped – that would be shirk.
They cannot make anything in their life, including their family, money or jobs, more important than God.
The nature of Allah
Muslims believe God to be the greatest – so great he is beyond human understanding, and is greater than anything
humans could imagine. Every day Muslims say and hear ‘Allahu Akbar’, meaning ‘God is the greatest’.
The names of God:
Muslims believe God revealed himself to people through the Qur’an and the holy books.
In the Qur’an and the Hadith (Muhammed’s sayings), there are 99 names of Allah, which can help Muslims
understand His nature. Each name describes a quality that God has revealed about himself.
Many Muslims memorise these names and recite them when praying – each one helps them feel God’s presence,
and understanding more about Him can help them feel closer to Him.
Some names show His power, might and authority, e.g. The Creator, The All-Seeing, and The One Unequalled.
Others show His love and care for humans, e.g. The Most Merciful and The Benevolent.
The seven key qualities of God:
Immanent – within all things and close to his people.
Transcendent – beyond all living things.
o God can be both immanent and transcendent since he is the creator of the universe, and therefore
not limited by its bounds, so He can also be within all things and compassionate towards humans.
o Humans cannot even begin to comprehend God for he is so complex, and so while we cannot
logically explain how He can be both immanent and transcendent, it is possible.
Omnipotent – all-powerful.
o God is the creator, sustainer and owner of all things, as well as being all-knowing, and aware of
everything including human thoughts and actions.
Benevolent – all-good and all-loving.
o God’s generosity is seen in his gift to humans of life on Earth.
Merciful – He understands Muslims’ suffering, cares for them, and forgives them if they are truly sorry for
any wrong they have done.
o This can be seen through his benevolence.
Fairness – God treats people fairly and impartially without favour or discrimination.
o In return, humans must treat each other in the same way.
o On the Day of Judgement, God will judge people in fairness.
Justice (Adalat – one of the five roots of ‘Usul ad-Din’ in Shi’a Islam) – God is just and fair in judging human
actions.
, o God is perfect, so he is just and therefore never acts unjustly towards his creations.
o God does not like people doing wrong, so will hold them to account.
o Humans have full responsibility for their actions and will be judged accordingly – good actions will be
rewarded while bad ones are punished.
Angels
Muslims believe that angels bring the word of God to the prophets or messengers of God. Belief in angels is one of
the six articles of faith for Sunni Muslims.
Angels are a part of the unseen world – they are supernatural beings, created from light by God.
Muslims believe that angels can receive God’s words directly from Him, and then pass them on to the prophets. They
can do this because they are pure and sinless – they have no free will, meaning they cannot do anything to displease
God and ceaselessly praise and worship Him.
For Muslims, angels are involved in the lives of humans from soon after conception right up until death.
Some angels are guardian angels who take care of people throughout their lives.
Others are responsible for recording all the thoughts and actions of people in a ‘book of deeds’ which will be
presented as evidence before God on the Day of Judgement.
One the Day of Judgement, Muslims believe the angel Israfil will blow a trumpet to announce it. The angel of death
and his helpers will take people’s souls to God, while other angels will escort people into paradise, and guard the
gates of hell.
Muslims also believe God has given the angels the power to take on human form when appearing to give a message
to people, for example angels appeared to Ibrahim (Abraham) and Maryam (Mary) as men.
Jibril (Gabriel):
An archangel (special angel with higher status than others) and a trusted messenger of God.
Relayed the Qur’an to Muhammed from God.
Believed he first appeared to Muhammed when the prophet was a child – in one story, Jibril and Mika’il
came to Muhammed during the night and purified his heart so he could receive God’s revelation later.
Returned to Muhammad when he was 40 and meditating at Mount Hira in a blaze of light, telling him what
God wanted him to do and inspired him with the revelations of the Qur’an.
God continued to guide Muhammed throughout his life, often communicating through Jibril.
Mika’il (Michael):
Also an archangel.
Believed to be the angel of mercy – God assigned him to reward righteous people for the good they do
during their lives.
Is responsible for sending rain, thunder and lightning to earth.
The Qur’an warns that anyone who is an enemy of God’s angels, Jibril and Mika’il, is also an enemy of God.
Muslims believe Jibril and Mika’il brought nourishment to humans:
Jibril – nourishment of God’s words in the Qur’an.
Mika’il – nourishment for the earth and human life through rain.
Predestination and freewill
Predestination:
Sunni Muslims believe that God has already determined everything that will happen in the universe, and he has
written it down in a ‘book of decrees’. God creates all things, including the actions of his creature, so they must act
according to his will. This is linked to the Sunni belief in the supremacy of God’s will:
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