Islam: beliefs and teachings — AQA GCSE Religious Studies revision

Tawhid and the nature of Allah

• Tawhid is the belief in the Oneness of Allah — the central idea in Islam that there is only one God, indivisible and without partners.
• Muslims believe Allah is immanent (present and active in the world) and also transcendent (beyond and independent of the physical universe).
• Allah is omnipotent (all-powerful), able to do anything consistent with His nature, shown through the creation of the universe.
• Allah is beneficent and merciful — shown by the phrase 'In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful' used before actions and prayers.
• Allah is also fair and just, rewarding good deeds and punishing wrongdoing, so believers try to act justly in this life to prepare for judgement.

Risalah and prophethood

• Risalah means prophethood — the belief that Allah sends messengers (prophets) to guide humanity and reveal His will.
• Key prophets include Adam (first man and prophet), Ibrahim (Abraham, model of submission to Allah), Ismail, Musa (Moses, given the Tawrat), Dawud (David, given the Zabur) and Isa (Jesus, given the Injil).
• Muhammad is regarded as the final and most important prophet, the 'Seal of the Prophets', who received the Qur'an.
• Prophets are seen as human role models sent to different peoples at different times, all teaching submission to the one God.

Key terms

Tawhid

The Oneness of Allah; belief that God is one and indivisible.

Risalah

The belief in prophethood — that Allah sends messengers to guide humanity.

Akhirah

Belief in life after death and the Day of Judgement.

Al-Qadr

Predestination; belief that Allah has decreed all that will happen.

Jannah

Paradise; the reward for righteous believers after judgement.

Jahannam

Hell; the punishment for those who reject Allah or do great wrong.

Common exam traps

• Confusing the Six Articles of Faith (Sunni) with the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din (Shi'a) — they are not the same list.
• Thinking Muslims worship Muhammad — Muslims worship only Allah and see Muhammad as the final prophet.
• Mixing up immanence (God present in the world) with transcendence (God beyond the world) — Muslims believe both apply to Allah.

Practice questions with answers

1. 1. What does Tawhid mean?

   • • The Oneness of Allah
   • • The Five Pillars
   • • Pilgrimage to Makkah
   • • The holy book of Islam

   Answer: The Oneness of Allah

   Tawhid is the core Islamic belief that God is one and indivisible.

2. 2. Give one reason Tawhid is important to Muslims.

   Answer: It shapes worship and daily life, e.g. Muslims direct worship only to Allah and reject any partners or equals to Him.

   Tawhid underpins Islamic identity and practice.

3. 3. Which term describes Allah being beyond and independent of the universe?

   • • Immanence
   • • Transcendence
   • • Omnipotence
   • • Beneficence

   Answer: Transcendence

   Transcendence means existing beyond and separate from the physical world.

4. 4. Which quality describes Allah as all-powerful?

   • • Omnipotence
   • • Immanence
   • • Justice
   • • Mercy

   Answer: Omnipotence

   Omnipotence means having unlimited power, shown in the creation of the universe.

5. 5. Explain what is meant by risalah.

   Answer: Risalah is the belief in prophethood — that Allah chooses messengers to reveal guidance to humanity.

   It is one of the core beliefs in Islam.

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