Islam

Preliminary Course

Revision

Principal Beliefs

Students learn about:

The articles of faith explained in the Aqida as:• Tawhid • Angels• Books of Allah • Rusul• Akhira • Fate/predestination

Principal Beliefs

Students learn to:

• outline the implications of Tawhid for Muslim belief

• examine the role of the Books of Allah and prophecy in Islam

• outline the principal beliefs about Angels, life after death and fate/predestination

Articles of Faith

Tawhid• The belief in the oneness of Allah as expressed

in the Shahada • Shahada - There is no God but Allah and

Muhammad is his Prophet • How does this affect Muslims in their lives

and beliefs?

Angels• They are the instruments of Allah's will; His

messengers

Articles of Faith

Books of Allah • Revelation (Allah revealing information about himself)

through the prophets • Four main books are:

– Torah of Moses – Psalms of David – Gospels of Jesus – Qur'an (the final and most complete)

• The first three Books have been corrupted by human interpretation. The Qur'an is not translated and, so, cannot be effected by humans

Articles of Faith

Rusul• These are the prophets of Allah, 28 in total • Muhammad is the final prophet Akhira• Life after death - Everybody will be judged by Allah

according to their actions on earth. • Reward is Heaven, Punishment is Hell Fate/Predestination• Nothing will happen without the will and knowledge of

Allah • Everybody is given free will as a gift from Allah

Sacred Texts & Writings

Students learn to:

Identify the importance of:– the Qur’an – the Hadith

Examine extracts from the Qur’an and

Hadith which demonstrate the principal

beliefs of Islam

Qur’an

• Literally means "recitation" • Spoken to the Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel • Provides a guide to life and information about Allah and

his will • Its primary message is the supremecy of Allah • Divided into 114 chapters (sura) and about 6000 verses

(ayat) • It is written in Arabic and is not translated officially • It is used by Muslims in prayer and to help decide

shari'ah, guide the actions of adherents and provide a framework for Muslim ethics

Hadith & Sunna

• The traditional accounts of the sayings and deeds of Muhammad

• Sunna - the traditions of Muhammad

• The Sunna and Hadith are of secondary authority to the Qur'an but play a large role in Islamic life, as does the Qur'an

Core Ethical Teachings

Students learn to:Outline the principal ethical teachings withinIslam

Outline the process of Islamic jurisprudence

Describe the importance of ethical teachings in determining that which is:

• halal • haraam

Definitions

Jurisprudence• Jurisprudence is the system of laws applied in a

particular country

Shari'ah• Islamic law • Differs among different Muslim societies • Is enforced both politically and spiritually, among

communities and individuals • Is devised by a specific process (see below)

Process of Islamic Jurisprudence

1. Qur’an

2. Hadith & Sunna

3. Ijma’

4. Qiyas

Categories of behaviour in Shari'ah

Halal - things that are allowed, permitted or lawful, e.g. praying five times daily

1. Fard - obligatory activities, e.g. adhering to the Five Pillars (see below)

2. Mustahab - practices that are recommended but not compulsory, e.g. praying more than 5 times a day

3. Mubah - things that are neither liked nor disliked; actions left for the individual conscience to decide, e.g. contraception

4. Makrah - actions that are advised against but not forbidden, e.g. divorce

Haraam - unlawful or forbidden things, e.g. eating pork, drinking alcohol

Expression of Faith

Students learn about:

• the Five Pillars as the expression of the faith of Islam

Students learn to: outline each of the Five Pillars

Five Pillars of Faith

1 - Shahada

• Belief

• "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his Prophet"

• To utter this with complete conviction is enough to make a person a Muslim

Five Pillars of Faith

2 - Salat• Regular Prayer • This is ritual prayer at least 5 times a day

– Dawn – Midday – Mid-afternoon – Sunset – Before bed

• Expression of one's love and gratitude to Allah • Helps provide guidance and peace of mind • Preparation involves wudu (ritual washing) • Prayers are said while facing Mecca • Personal prayer (Dua) can be performed any time

Five Pillars of Faith

3 - Zakat

• Charity (almsgiving)

• Muhammad prescribed a minimum of 2.5% on money and posessions of those who had more than enough

• Given to help the faithful, e.g. widows, orphans and the poor

Five Pillars of Faith

4 - Sawm• Fasting • Occurs in the month of Ramadan (ninth monthof the

Muslim year) • Abstain fro eating, drinking, smoking and sexual

intercourse between sunrise and sunset • Done to help discipline Muslims spiritually, to remind

them of those without food and as a means of unity within the Umma (worldwide Islamic community)

• Children, elderly, ill and pregnant women do not fast

Five Pillars of Faith

5 - Hajj

• Pilgrimage to Mecca

• All Muslims must make at least one trip in their lifetimes

• If they are able to financially and are in good health

Practice Questions

• EthicsOutline the effect of the Islamic ethical

system on the lives of believers (5)• TawhidExplain the concept of Tawhid as a principal

belief of Islam (5)• MuhammadDiscuss how Muhammad is the model for

Muslim life (5)