1. On the mini whiteboard what do you know about Islam?

2. What will you study about Islam during this term?
3. STUDY OF RELIGION: ISLAM
Religious beliefs, values and teachings
The interpretation and application of the Six Beliefs
2. Sources of wisdom and authority
The meaning and significance of the life and work of the Prophet Muhammad in its historical, political, religious and social context and assessment of his significance for Muslims today.
The key events in the life of Muhammad and his sayings as a basis for Muslim living
The interpretation and significance of the Qur’an
Practices that shape and express
religious identity
The central role of the five pillars of Islam.
The Ummah as an expression Islamic identity.
Analysing the importance of Islamic beliefs
Exploring the political, social and religious contexts of Muhammad’s life
Assessing the views that five pillars have significance for Islamic practices and identity.

3. What 3 things do you believe in? Why?

4. Basic Beliefs of Islam An introduction LO:
To gain the understanding of the way Muslims interpret their core (six) beliefs

5. 1.
Tawheed
3 main beliefs
3. Akhirah
2. Risalah

6. Beliefs 6 1 2. The Divine Allah Angels of Decree Allah
(Predestination) 1
Allah 2.
Angels of
Allah
Beliefs 3
Scriptures of
Allah 5
The day of
Resurrection 4
Messengers
of Allah

7. What are these beliefs based on?
Hadith;
“You must believe in Allah, His angels, His Holy Books, His Messengers, in the Last Day and life after death.”

8. Introduction Six Articles of Islamic Faith (for the Sunni majority)
In addition to Five Pillars of Islamic Practice
Together, make up Aqidah (“creed”)
Sunni/Shi’a beliefs differ:
Having Iman (“to fully observe one’s faith”)
Belief in the heart
Profession by the tongue
Performance of the deeds
Without the articles of faith, there is no context for the pillars of practice

9. 1. Belief in God (Allah) Monotheism (Tawhid = “divine unity”)
God is absolute, a single inseparable unity
One God  Same God for Jews, Christians, Muslims
Allah: the Arabic word for the personal name of “God”
“99 Names of God”: found throughout the Qur’an
God has “no associate or partner”
Muslims reject the Christian concept of “Trinity”
God cannot become human; humans cannot be God
Consider Jesus a great prophet, but not divine

10. 2. Belief in the Unseen Angels Spirits (Jinn)
God’s messengers; reveal messages to Prophets
Example: Angel Gabriel revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad
No free will; sole purpose is serving God
Accompany, guide, and protect people at all times
Spirits (Jinn)
Spiritual beings, with free will
Thus can be good or evil
Root of English word/concept: “genie”

11. 3. Belief in Prophet-hood
Prophets and Messengers
Prophets speak God’s words to people orally.
Messengers received God’s words in book form.
So, not all prophets are messengers, but all messengers are also prophets.
Muslims believe in about 124,000 prophets
“Chain of Prophets”: Adam was first; Muhammad was last
Also include; Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, Jesus, 25 names mentioned in the Qur’an
All transmit same basic message throughout history
Certain prophets were sent to specific groups/nations

12. 4. Belief in Revelations Holy Books Progressive Revelation
Revealed scriptures; messages from God
Different languages, different cultures, different eras
But same basic message, culminating in the Qur’an
Progressive Revelation
Books of Moses, Psalms of David, Gospels of Jesus
Ultimately the Qur’an, revealed through Prophet Muhammad
Muslims believe ancient Jews & Christians altered/distorted the messages, God had revealed through Moses, David, and Jesus

13. 5. Belief in the Day of Judgment
Resurrection of the Dead
At the end of time, all people will be raised
Everyone is held accountable for his/her own deeds
Judgment / Afterlife
Everyone is judged based on one’s life/actions on earth
If good deeds outweigh bad deeds:
Reward  eternal life with God in heaven/paradise/garden
If bad deeds outweigh good deeds:
Punishment  in everlasting fires of hell

14. 6. Belief in the Divine Decree
Human Nature / Free Will
Everyone has knowledge & ability to choose between right & wrong, and so is held responsible
Yet God has correct fore-knowledge of everyone’s path
Destiny / Fate / Predestination
God wrote down our destiny in the “Preserved Tablet”
God knows what our nature will cause us to do
A person’s actions are not caused by what God has written
But God is omniscient  God knows in advance

15. Review Six basic beliefs Variety of Beliefs Allah/God Angels & Spirits
Holy Books
Prophets
Day of Judgment
Predestination-Destiny or Fate
Variety of Beliefs
Most Muslims, especially Sunnis & Shi’ites, believe in all the above
Specific explanations may vary, even among Sunnis
Some similarities & differences for Shi’ites Muslims

16. Which of the six beliefs do you remember
Which of the six beliefs do you remember? Can you interpret these briefly?