Download The Beliefs of Islam

The Beliefs
of Islam
The Four Rightly Guided
Caliphs
Sunni and Shi’a Islam
Tawhid
The One God
A Belief in Angels
The Books of Allah
Rusul
Akhira
Predestination
© Karen Devine 2008
The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs
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Muhammad’s death meant a successor had to be found to
keep Islam alive.
Successors to Muhammad were called caliphs and were
leaders of the Muslim world.
Abu Bakr was elected as Muhammad’s successor, followed by
Umar, thirdly Uthman and lastly was Muhammad’s cousin
Ali.
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Yet, the Umayya family claimed succession instead of Ali and
their armies met in battle. Ali was assassinated.
After Ali’s death the caliphate passed to Mu’awiya who
founded the Ummayad Sunni dynasty of caliphs.
Shi’a Muslims consider Ali to be the first Imam of Islam.
Sunni and Shi’a Muslims
Islam is essentially divided
into 2 key groups:
a) Sunni
b) Shi’a
 The reason for the division
dates back to the question
of succession to the
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caliphate.
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Sunni’s see that no one
could succeed Muhammad
and the Qur’an is the final
form of God’s revelation.
Therefore, the Caliph was a
guardian of the faith.
Sunni Muslims
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Sunni’s believe the first
Caliphs were chosen via
consensus because they
had led an outstanding
Muslim life. They were
the best qualified
Muslims.
Sunni’s developed
Shari’a Law which is
based on the
application of the
Qur’an.
Shi’a Muslims
The Shi’a’s are followers of Ali
and they believe it is the
caliph’s role to continue
Muhammad’s revelation.
 Shi’a’s see that all caliphs
should be blood relatives of
Muhammad.
 Yet, even though there is a
difference between Sunni’s
and Shi’a’s, Islam is essentially
a faith with a united belief
system.
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Tawhid
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The first article of faith of Islam is that Allah is the one God (Tawhid).
This belief is uttered daily in the Shahada “there is no God but Allah and
Muhammad is his prophet.”
The first duty of a Muslim is to declare faith in Allah.
The worshipping of idols is forbidden.
Muslims believe the only sin not to be forgiven by God is polytheism.
The One God
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a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
Allah:
is unchanging
will pass sentence at judgement day
is eternal
has 99 beautiful names
is omnipotent
declared that worshipping idols is banned
has a oneness that is a unifying force
is compassionate
is merciful
is given a historical location at Mecca.
was not created
is supreme
is the sustainer of the universe
A Belief in Angels
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Belief in angels is central to
Islam.
In Islam there is a belief that the
Qur’an was dictated to
Muhammad by the Angel
Gabriel.
Angels are said to be created
from light and are obedient
spirits to God.
There are said to be 4 great
angels: Jibrael,Mika’il, Israfil and
Izra’il.
Muslims also believe that each
person has 2 guardian angels
who record their good and bad
deeds.
The Books of Allah
The Qur’an is a focal point of the
Islamic faith.
 Muslims see that it is the word of
God revealed to Muhammad
through the Angel Gabriel over a 22
year period.
 The Qur’an contains:
a) teachings
b) stories of prophets
c) consequences of good and bad
behaviour.
d) Details of the afterlife
e) 114 chapters or suras.
 The Qur’an is recited and chanted
during prayers.
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Rusul
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The Qur’an states that God revealed
himself to 25 prophets who became
God’s messengers.
6 of these prophets received special
revelations. They are: Adam, Noah,
Abraham, Moses, Jesus and
Muhammad.
If the prophets deliver a holy book
they are known as Rusul.
Muhammad is the last great prophet
who brought Allah’s revelation to the
people.
Yet, Muslims see that the Hebrew
and Christian scriptures are also holy
books.
Akhira
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a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
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Muslims believe in an afterlife. Life on
earth is preparation for it.
On the day of reckoning:
Izrail will sound the trumpet
All people will be raised from the dead.
The books of the recording angels will be
opened.
Allah will weigh up all person’s good and
evil deeds
The good will go to heaven and the evil
will go to hell.
In Islam, God is described as
compassionate and merciful, not vengeful.
Muslims see that only those who believe in
the revelation of the prophet will go to
heaven.
Death begins a person’s eternal life.
Predestination
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a)
b)
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Muslims believe that nothing
happens unless it is the will of
God.
Islamic scholars identify the
mystery of faith as:
Humans are predestined to
enter heaven or hell (divine
control) yet,
Humans are also responsible
for the choices they make.
With free will comes
accountability to Allah.
If we choose evil, Allah will
impose an appropriate
punishment.
Question Time
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In what ways is
Islam different in
its belief structure
to Judaism and
Christianity?