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Home , Iblis, Israfil, The Twelve Imams

Beliefs & Teachings: Sunni and Shi’a Islam Key beliefs about Sunni (majority) RISALAH: The Prophets • There is only ONE God (). The ‘oneness’ • See the elected Caliphs as the Prophethood of God is called in Ibrahim • ’s final and successors of Muhammad • Muslims call God Allah, which means ‘the one true • Allah appoints greatest prophet • Follow the 6 ‘articles of faith’: God’ particular people to • Created • One of Allah’s • Received the Tawhid, the Day of , • God cannot be divided and has never had a Son. spread his messages specially by most faithful revelation of the the Prophets, , the • In the Qur’an and the , Allah has 99 ‘names’. • These people receive Allah. servants Qur’an E.g the Merciful, the Just, the Almighty… supremacy of Allah’s will and revelation from Allah • Given dominion • Opposed idolatry • A great teacher • Allah is the same God that and the authority of the Qur’an. through his Angels • • A great role-model worship over the earth Risked his life to Shia Muslims (minority) • There are 25 key argue for • A military • Allah has revealed his will through his prophets by Allah • See the (descendants prophets of Allah • The first monotheism commander • Muslims share many of the beliefs that Jews and • Set up the first of Muhammad) as identified in the to communicate • A great role- Christians have about God E.g. He is the creator, Qur’an, including Muslim community Muhammad’s successors with Allah model eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, etc. Musa () and Isa in Makkah • Believe each must • Allah must never be pictured • • An ancestor of () The first Muslim • Must be respected choose his successor before • Allah is beyond understanding and nothing must ever Muhammad but not worshipped be compared to Allah. Comparing things to Allah is a he dies terrible • Follow the 5 ‘roots’ of Usul ad- • Din: Tawhid, Prophethood, All must ‘submit’ to the will of Allah (Islam AKHIRAH: Life after death The Day of means ‘submission’) HEAVEN AND Allah’s Justice (Adalat), Judgment ANGELS and the Imamate • When all humans will be • Described in different ways • Bring Allah’s revelations The Qur’an by different Muslims to his prophets judged by Allah based on • People go to heaven or hell • Created by Allah from how they have lived • The word of Allah given to for eternity after the Day of light • Judgement will lead to Muhammad through Jibril Predestination Judgement • Usually invisible but punishment (hell) or • Originally dictated in Arabic • • Allah is in total control of all events and knows Heaven described in the sometimes take human reward (heaven) • The original words have Qur’an as a garden everything that will happen form • Preceded by a state of never been altered • Hell described in the Qur’an • Because Allah is transcendent (beyond time and space), • Pure and sinless waiting in the grave called • Infallible: corrects all he is not limited by time or space as a place of fire and pain previous revelation from • • Do not have free-will BUT Faithful and righteous • While in the grave, people God Muslims will go to heaven • Have various roles • Allah does not decide what will happen are questioned by Angels • Divided into ‘Surahs • Non-Muslims and • Some are named E.g. • Humans have free-will and are responsible for their • People will be resurrected • Supplemented by the choices unrighteous Muslims will go Jibril, Mika’il, , before their judgement and the Sunnah • Humans will be judged by Allah based on their choices to hell Beliefs & Teachings: Islam The 6 Articles of Faith • Belief in Allah as the one and only God • Belief in angels The 5 Roots of Usul ad-Din • Belief in the holy books 1. Tawhid - the belief that God is one, almighty and unique. • Belief in the Prophets... 2. Divine justice (Adalat) - God will judge everyone on the Day of Judgement. e.g. Adam, Ibrahim (), Musa (Moses), Dawud 3. The prophets (nubuwwah) - who should be respected, especially Muhammad. (), Isa (Jesus). 4. Authority of the imams (imamate) - these twelve imams were chosen by God to lead Islam after Muhammad. Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final prophet. 5. (Al-Ma’ad) - Muslims will be resurrected and judged by God • Belief in the Day of Judgement... The day when the life of every human being will be assessed Significance to decide whether they go to heaven or hell. Shi’a Muslims believe that the prophets provide guidance on the past and the Qur’an. They agree that if there is • Belief in Predestination... only one God then Muslims should follow his rules. That Allah has the knowlege of all that will happen. Shi’a Muslims believe that Allah is always right and just and sometimes may act in ways that are beyond our Muslims believe that this doesn't stop human beings making understanding. Muslims believe they face judgement in the . Therefore, they need to follow the right path free choices. in their lives in order to pass any test that God sets for them. Significance They believe that leaders such as imams protect the religion and guide Muslims along the right path Knowing that there is only one God, Sunni Muslims believe that people should live following his rules. The holy books help with this as they give guidance on how Muslims can live their lives on the right path. The prophets are sent by God to teach humans how to The Imamate (Shi’a Islam) live as Allah wished and to teach how to obey his laws. A of Sunni Muslims believe that the angels record the deeds of Imamate is the Shi'a belief that all modern imams should be spiritual descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. humans on Earth, which encourages Muslims to do good if they Shi’a Muslims believe that imams protect the religion and help to guide Muslims along the right path. Today, Shi'a want to have a place in Paradise. Muslim communities are led by imams, who are seen as having been chosen by God. Shi’a Muslims believe that The belief in the Day of Judgement means believing that this life is a imams are exemplary individuals who obey all teachings and follow Shari’ah law. test and Allah determines everything, even human free will. The However, humans are still responsible and held accountable for The Twelvers is a branch of Shi’a Islam whose followers believe that there were twelve imams after the death of their actions. Muhammad. The 12th imam, however, has been kept alive by God and is hidden somewhere on Earth. Shi’a Muslims believe the 12th imam will one day make himself known and bring equality to all. Shi’a Muslims believe that the imams are necessary because people need guidance on how to live correctly. Due to their close relationship with God, the twelve imams are highly respected. The Five Pillars These are central to Muslims practices. Practices: Islam They have a big impact on the day to Greater : The Night of Power – linked to day life of a Muslim. This is the personal struggle of all Muslims to live according to the Sawm Muslims believe that the pillars support teachings of the faith. : This is an important festival that marks the main principles and beliefs of Islam, The Shahadah states the basis of faith putting God above everything the beginning of God’s revelation to Muhammad. The exact date this just as pillars are used to support a else Zakah requires them to care for others as a duty happened is not agreed on, but it is building. They can be seen as the key to Sawm requires discipline putting God above bodily needs for a believed to be one of the odd-number living a perfect Muslim life. month dates in the second half of . 1) Shahadah – declaration of faith means for 10 days leaving the material world behind and Many choose to stay awake devoting (passive)- ‘There is no God but Allah and concentrate on God’s will. themselves to prayer and reading the Muhammad is his prophet’. In Shi’a Islam How beliefs about Jihad influences Muslims today: Qur’an. This is meant to bring many they add: ‘And is the friend of God’. Most recognise the difference between Greater and Lesser and blessings including entrance to heaven. “The Night of Glory is better than a 2) – prayer 3) Zakah – charitable remember to focus on Greater as that will affect any issues over Lesser thousand months.” giving The Greater jihad means they must strive at all times to be a good 4) Sawm – fasting 5) Hajj - pilgrimage Muslim doing what God wants including following the Five Pillars

The Ten Obligatory Acts Festivals Shi’a Islam, there are ten duties called the Ten Obligatory Id-ul-Adha celebrates the occasion when Allah appeared to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son Isma'il as an Acts (also known as the Ancillaries of the Faith). They include all act of obedience to God. It is a public holiday in Muslim countries and Muslims all over the world, who can afford it, sacrifice a the Five Pillars except Shahadah (which is covered by some of the sheep (sometimes a goat) as a reminder of Ibrahim's obedience to Allah. In Britain, the animal has to be killed at a additional acts). They are: slaughterhouse. They share out the meat among family, friends and the poor, who each get a third share. The day usually Salah – prayer starts with Muslims going to the for prayers, dressed in their best clothes, and thanking Allah for all the blessings they Sawm – fasting have received. The Imam preaches about sacrifice and reminds them of what they are celebrating. It is also a time when they Zakah – charitable giving visit family and friends as well as offering presents. – a 20% tax on income once all expenses are deducted. Id-ul-Fitr - Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but thanking Allah for the help and strength that he gave them Half goes to charity and half goes to Shi’a religious leaders throughout the previous month to help them practise self-control. There are special services out of doors and in , Hajj – pilgrimage processions through the streets, and of course, a special celebratory meal - eaten during daytime, the first daytime meal Jihad – the struggle to maintain the faith and defend Islam. For Muslims will have had in a month. The sermon in the mosque reminds them of forgiving and forgetting any disputes, making many Muslims this means the struggle to live by their faith as well amends and to focus on helping the poor. Some may also visit the cemetery to remember deceased family members. as possible, for example by obeying the Five Pillars, contributing – Shi’a Muslims supported Ali when the Prophet Muhammad died. Ashura commemorates the battle of in to the community or doing voluntary work. which Husayn – Ali’s grandson and an imam of Shi’a Islam – was killed. Both Ali's and Hussein's deaths gave rise to the Shia cult Amr-bil-Maruf – encouraging people to do what is good of martyrdom and to their sense of betrayal and struggle against injustice and tyranny. It is marked with a voluntary day of fasting, Nahi Anil Munkar – discouraging people from doing what is commemorating the day left the Ark, and the day that Moses was saved from the Egyptians by God. For Shia Muslims, Ashura wrong is a solemn day of mourning the martyrdom of Hussein. Shia men and women dress in black parading through the streets slapping Tawallah – to be loving towards the friends of God, including their chests and chanting. Some Shia men seek to emulate the suffering of Hussein by flagellating themselves with chains or cutting Muhammad and the Imams their foreheads until blood streams from their bodies. Some Shia leaders and groups discourage the bloodletting, saying it creates a Tabarra – disassociating from the enemies of God backward and negative image of Shia Muslims. Such leaders encourage people to donate blood.