Islam
Islam
Islam is a monotheistic religion. This means that Muslims, followers of Islam, believe in one God, Allah.
There are about 4 million Muslims in the UK, about 6% of the total population.
It is estimated that there are about 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide (2023). Roughly 1 in every 4 people is a Muslim. This makes Islam the second-biggest religion in the world.
Lesson 1
Introduction to Islam (lesson resources)
How did Islam begin?
Islam began in the 7th century CE in Makkah, in modern-day Saudi Arabia.
Islam is, like Judaism and Christianity, is a monotheistic religion. This means that Muslims believe in only one God.
Muslims believe that Allah (God) revealed the words of the Qur’an to Muhammed, who was 40 years old when he received his first revelation.
For Muslims, Muhammed was the last of many prophets. He received the final word of Allah, the Qur’an.
The shahadah is the key belief of Muslims:
There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.
The shahadah
Muhammad faced opposition in Makkah, so he and his early followers moved to Madinah. There, he built a strong community and eventually conquered Makkah, spreading Islam across Arabia.
Sunnis and Shiahs
There are two main groups in Islam.
- The majority of Muslims in the UK and worldwide are Sunni.
- A minority of Muslims are Shiah.
There are other groups too but we don’t study those at GCSE.
The term ‘Sunni‘ comes from the word ‘sunnah‘, the teachings and example of Muhammed. Sunnis follow the Qur’an and the sunnah.
Shiah Muslims believe that Ali, Muhammad’s cousin, was the rightful leader of Islam after Muhammed.
Like Sunnis, they follow the Qur’an and the sunnah. But they also follow the teachings of Ali and the Imams (leaders) after Ali, who were all related to him.
Tawhid
Muslims are monotheists. This means that they believe in one God, Allah.
There is no God except Allah.
Qur’an 3:18
This quote is saying that Allah is the only one who deserves our worship and devotion.
Tawhid is the core Islamic belief in the oneness of God.
There are three aspects of tawhid. Here’s a table with a couple of examples of each.
| Allah’s attributes | Allah’s actions | Worshiping only |
| Allah is transcendent | Allah created the universe | Allah is the only one worth of Worship |
| Allah is omnipotent | Allah can resurrect the dead | Do not worship any prophets or idols |
Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth… is able to give life to the dead.
Qur’an 46:33
This quote tells us that Allah is omnipotent (all-powerful). He can also resurrect the dead, which means bring the dead back to life.
Allah’s attributes
An attribute is a quality or characteristic. Here are the seven you must know, but there are many more.
| Attribute | Meaning |
| immanence | Allah is close to His creation |
| transcendence | Allah is beyond all limits and understanding |
| omnipotence | Allah is all-powerful |
| beneficence | Allah is all-loving and perfectly good |
| mercy | Allah is all-forgiving |
| fairness | Allah treats everyone equally |
| justice | God will judge everyone fairly |
99 Beautiful Names of Allah
The Qur’an contains 99 Beautiful Names for Allah. Each name describes one of Allah’s attributes.
| Al Hakam | Al Waahid | Al Ahad |
| The Judge | The Unique | The One |
Al Noor, The Light
Adalat
Shiah Muslims consider Adalat (justice) to be very important. It is one of their core beliefs.
Adalat means ‘Allah’s justice‘.
They believe that
- Allah is perfectly just
- Allah will judge everyone justly on the Day of Judgement (Yawm al-Din)
- Allah gave imams, the leaders of Islam after Muhammed, the knowledge and authority to make a just and equal society.
Indeed, Allah commands justice, and good conduct.
Quran 16:90
This quote means that Allah wants humans to be just and to treat others fairly, equally, and respectfully.
Adalat is one of the five roots of Shiah Islam. These are the five main beliefs of Shiah Muslims.
In contrast, Sunnis emphasise Al Qadr: Allah’s power over and control of all things, including the future.
Al Qadr is one of their six articles of faith: the six core beliefs of Sunnis. Adalat isn’t one of those.
Homework 2
Allah (lesson resources)
Explain the nature of Allah in Islam. (8 marks)
- Use key words e.g. tawhid
- Use quotes. e.g. ‘He is over all things competent’
- Show advanced subject knowledge e.g. the three aspects of tawhid, the 99 Beautiful Names
- If you can, write about relevant differences between Sunnis Muslims (who emphasise Al Qadr, God’s power) and Shiah Muslims (who emphasise Adalat, God’s justice).
Qur’an
Islam
Ten key words (Islam)
The key words you need to know for the 2 mark questions.
| greater jihad | mosque |
| halal (permitted) | risalah (prophethood) |
| haram (forbidden) | shariah (straight path) |
| jihad | tawhid |
| lesser jihad | ummah |
Meanings
Greater Jihad: The inner, personal struggle against one’s own shortcomings and vices. This spiritual striving for self-improvement and moral purification is considered the more challenging and important form of jihad.
Halal (permitted): Refers to anything that is lawful and permissible according to Islamic law. Halal encompasses a wide range of actions and things, from food and drink to financial transactions and social interactions.
Haram (forbidden): Denotes anything that is prohibited and unlawful according to Islamic law. Haram acts and substances are considered harmful or detrimental to individuals or society.
Jihad: Often misunderstood, jihad literally means ‘struggle’ or ‘striving’. It encompasses both the greater jihad (internal struggle) and, when necessary, the lesser jihad (physical defence).
Lesser jihad: Refers to the physical or military struggle in defence of the Muslim community (ummah) or faith. It is strictly regulated and permissible only under specific circumstances and just cause.
Mosque: A place of worship for Muslims. Mosques serve as community centres where Muslims gather for prayer, religious instruction, and social activities.
Risalah (prophethood): The Islamic belief that God has sent prophets, including Adam, Abraham, Jesus, and Muhammad, to guide humanity towards truth and righteousness. These prophets delivered divine messages and served as role models.
Shariah (straight path): The body of Islamic law derived from the Quran and the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad (Sunnah). Shariah provides guidance for Muslims in all aspects of life, from worship to personal conduct and social interactions.
Tawhid: The fundamental Islamic belief in the oneness and absolute uniqueness of God. Tawhid emphasizes that God is indivisible and has no partners or equals.
Ummah: The global community of Muslims, united by their shared faith and values. The ummah rises above national and ethnic boundaries, fostering a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood among Muslims worldwide.
Risalah
Why are prophets important?
We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us.
Qur’an 2:136
This quote is saying that Muslims believe in Allah and the messages He sent to them.
Adam
Ibrahim (Abraham)
Isa (Jesus)
We gave Moses the Book and sent after him successive messengers.
Qur’an 2:87
This quote tells us that Allah gave Moses a special book (the Torah) and sent other prophets after him to teach people about Allah.
Muhammed
The nature of prophet hood; why are prophets important?
Qur’an 2:136
➢ The importance of Adam as the first prophet
➢ Ibrahim as father of Isaac and Ishma’il and his significance for the
Muslim religion
➢ Isa as a prophet for Muslims: Qur’an 2:87
➢ Muhammad as the seal of the Prophets
Kutub