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Judgement and the afterlife (Akhirah) – All Muslims believe that this life is a test. When they die, they will be judged by God and sent to either Paradise or Hell.Belief in predestination (Al-Qadr) - This means that everything in the universe is following a divine masterplan, which shows the importance of God's will. Muslims believe that Allah knows or decides everything that will happen: In all things the master-planning is God's (Qur'an 13:42). The Five Roots of Usul Ad-Din Tawhid - This is the belief that God is one, he is almighty and only he is worthy of worship: Say 'He is Allah, [who is] One. (Qur'an 112:1).Adl (divine justice) - Shi'a Muslims believe that Allah is always right and just. Sometimes Allah may act in ways that are beyond our understanding, but ultimately the world has been created to be fair and just. All Muslims believe there will be a Day of Judgement, when they will have to account for their faith and deeds.Nubuwwah (the prophets) - The prophets provide guidance from God and should be respected. This is especially so for Prophet Muhammad, as he was God's final prophet and communicated the Qur'an to human beings.Imamah (authority of theimams) - Shi'a Muslims believe that that leaders such as the imams are necessary to protect the religion and give people guidance on how to live correctly. The largest group in Shi'a Islam, sometimes known as Twelvers, believe that there were twelve imams after the death of Muhammad. Twelvers believe that the twelfth imam is still alive somewhere on Earth, and will one day make himself known and bring equality to all. Due to their close relationship with God, the twelve imams are highly respected. Ismai'ili Shi'a Muslims, sometimes known as Seveners, believe that the seventh imam was Isma'il. Isma'il was the son of one of the Twelve Imams. Seveners believe that each imam can choose his successor, as they believe the last hereditary imam was Isma'il. Mi'ad (Day of Resurrection) - Muslims will be resurrected and judged by God. Nature of Allah Muslims believe that Allah is: Transcendent - Allah is above and beyond anything that exists in the world. Fair and just - Allah judges everyone equally. Immanent - Allah is close to every human and within all things on Earth Risalah Risalah is the Arabic word for message. It refers to 'prophethood' and represents the various ways Allah communicates with humanity. Islam teaches that Allah wants to help people to live good lives, so he sends messages to guide them on how to do so. Many of these messages are found in the Qur'an. Muslims believe that messages from Allah are communicated through prophets. All of the prophets are considered to be equal: We make no distinction between any of them (Qur'an 2:136). Muslim Holy books Belief in the divine books is the third article of faith in the religion Islam. Therefore, to believe in earlier revelations and the Prophets that came before Muhammad (PBUH) are of utmost importance. The 4 Holy Books of Allah are Zabur (revealed to Dawud A.S), Tawrat (revealed to Musa a.s), Injeel (revealed to Isa a.s) and Holy Quran (revealed to Muhammad (PBUH). All these four books, though sent on different Prophets and nations, share basic values. They all focus on One God as the Supreme Power and guidance sent by God for common people to live their lives accordingly. These books also discuss the principle of heaven and hell. Malaikah Muslims believe that angels, or malaikah, were created before humans with the purpose of following the orders of Allah and communicating with humans. Muslims believe that angels, like all other creatures, were created by God. In Islamic belief, angels communicate messages from Allah to humanity. The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], 'We make no distinctions between any of His messengers.' And they say, 'We hear and obey. [We seek] your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination.' (Qur'an 2:285) Al Qadr Al-Qadr is the concept that Allah knows everything and has already decided everything that will happen. This is called predestination. Al-Qadr is linked to the six beliefs of Sunni Islam. This is because it shows that Allah is omniscient, meaning 'knowing everything', and omnipotent, meaning 'having unlimited power.' In the Hadith, Ali speaks of predestination. Although al-Qadr is a key belief within Sunni Islam it is also important within Shi'a Islam. This is because Shi'a Muslims believe that nothing can happen without the will of Allah. However, for both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims, al-Qadr does not mean that the choices people make are not free choices. Instead, it means that Allah knows what choices people are going to make before they are made. Akhirah The Day of Judgement and human accountability Akhirah is the term used Islam to describe the belief in everlasting after death. Muslims regard life on Earth as a test from Allah, to prepare them for eternal life. Importantly, though, Muslims believe that Allah will not test them beyond their limits. This encourages Muslims to take responsibility for their actions. Most Muslims believe that there will come a day when the whole universe will be destroyed. On this day, called the Day of Judgement or the Last Day, the dead will be resurrected for judgement by God. All people will receive God's reward or punishment according to their beliefs and actions. The good will be rewarded with eternal life in Paradise, or Jannah, while the bad will be punished by going to a Hell of fire and torment, called Jahannam. Muslims believe they can enter Paradise by living according to the teachings of the Qur'an. Therefore, obeying the rules set by Allah is of ultimate importance for Muslims. Most Muslims believe that, as Allah is forgiving and merciful, he will pardon those who are truly sorry for their sins if they have done some good in their lives. However, many Muslims believe that some sins, such as shirk, are unforgivable Crime and Punishment topics Justice Muslims believe in justice and therefore believe that criminals should be treated justly and be given the chance to reform. One of the Five Pillars of Islam is zakah, which requires all Muslims to give away a percentage of their wealth to help the poor, to ensure a level of justice and equality. This principle should be applied to the treatment of criminals. However, some punishments are given in the Qur'an and Hadith that some Muslims believe are appropriate retaliation for those whose guilt is proven. Traditional Shari'ah Law, for example, suggests that those who steal should have a hand cut off, although such a penalty would only be justified for the most serious crimes and only after trial in a Shari'ah court. Crime Islamic law sets out how Muslims should behave in order to live the life that Allah intends them to live, in harmony with others and their environment. If a person breaks a law it is seen as going against the principles and rulings set by the Qur'an and Sunnah. Some countries have legal systems based on Shari'ah Law, eg Saudi Arabia and Iran. Most Muslims believe that if a person commits a crime they should be punished by law, but they will also have to answer to Allah on the Day of Judgement. Good, Evil and Suffering Islam teaches that a knowledge of right and wrong is intrinsic to human nature. Muslim teachings say that individuals should know, without having to be informed, which actions are evil and will contribute to the suffering of others, and which actions are good. This inner sense of right and wrong is called fitrah. Punishment Muslims believe that capital punishment is a most severe sentence but one that may be commanded by a court for crimes of suitable severity. While there may be more profound punishment at the hands of God, there is also room for an earthly punishment. Methods of execution in Islamic countries vary and can include beheading, firing squad, hanging and stoning. In some countries public executions are carried out to heighten the element of deterrence. Aims of Punishment people are punished for a purpose. Often the aims of a punishment overlap, eg the death penalty aims to protect the public from the individual who has committed a specific crime whilst deterring others from committing similar acts. There are six recognised aims of punishment: ● deterrence - punishment should put people off committing crime protection - punishment should protect society from the criminal and the criminal from themselves ● reformation - punishment should reform the criminal retribution - punishment should make the criminal pay for what they have done wrong reparation - punishment should compensate the victim(s) of a crime vindication - the punishment makes sure that the law is respected ● In the Qur'an 16:90, there is clear expectation of how Muslims should live. Muslims are expected to live good lives. They are required to live in a just way, look after family, and not commit any acts of immorality or bad conduct, which includes committing no crime. Forgiveness Islamic teachings about forgiveness are found in verses in the Qur'an, which strongly encourage Muslims to forgive wrongdoing. The term used to forgive people who have done wrong is 'to pardon', just as Allah will forgive people on the Day of Judgement for things which they have done. Muslims believe no person is perfect, and everyone is capable of wrongdoing and deserves forgiveness. Treatment of Criminals Many Muslims support severe punishments such as caning and capital punishment. They believe this type of punishment has a purpose, to deter crime from being committed in the future and allows a victim to receive full retribution. However, Muslims believe that criminals should be treated fairly whilst waiting for their trial, once they have been convicted and when they are punished as Everyone was created by Allah and therefore deserves respect. They have a right to a fair trial. A person should be considered to be innocent until they are proven guilty. - They should have fair representation as well as the right to put forward their account of events. Muslims should be merciful towards prisoners - 'They are those who ...feed the poor, the orphan and the captive for the love of Allah...' Surah 76:1-12 Islam teaches that justice is important both for the victim of a crime and the person accused of committing it. It must be proven that a person committed a crime before a punishment is set. Capital Punishment This verse teaches that although murder is considered a sin, it is acceptable to use capital punishment when required by law. Other reasons Muslims may accept the death penalty include: The Prophet Muhammad sentenced people to death for murder. Shari'ah law states that the punishment for murder, adultery and denying Islam is the death penalty. Muslim arguments against capital punishment Some Muslims may argue against capital punishment for the following reasons: Although capital punishment is allowed in the Qur'an they do not think it is compulsory.Shari'ah law states that the family of a murder victim can accept money as reparation rather than enforce the death penalty. They believe that only Allah has the right to take life, and therefore carrying out the death penalty is 'playing God' and committing the sin of shirk. Living the Muslim Life topics The Ten Obligatory Acts The Ten Obligatory Acts are followed by Shi'a Muslims. These combine four of the Five Pillars of Islam with jihad, which applies to all Muslims. The final five obligatory acts differentiate Shi'a religious practices from those of Sunni Muslims. Salah - committing to daily prayers.Sawm - fasting from just before dawn until sunset.Zakah - giving a proportion of your wealth to help the poor.Hajj - pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca).Jihad - the struggle to keep belief in Allah and follow his rules, to follow the Five Pillars of Islam successfully and to defend Islam. Khums - 20 per cent annual tax. This tax is paid on any profit earned Shi'a Muslims. The money is split between charities supporting Islamic education and anyone who is descended from Muhammad who is in need.Amr-bil-Maroof - encouraging people to do what is good: Enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong (Surah 9:71). Maruf is anything that has been approved in Shari'ah law. Nahil Anril Munkar - forbidding evil by discouraging people from doing what is wrong. Tawalia - showing love. This includes both love for God and love for those who follow him. Tabarra disassociation. Shi'a Muslims should not associate with God's enemies. Shahada The Shahadah is the Muslim declaration of faith and the first Pillar of Islam. It expresses the belief that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. This belief in one God is known as monotheism. In order to become a Muslim, a person simply has to declare the Shahadah in front of witnesses. This highlights the key importance of the Shahadah in Islam. Celebrations and Commemorations Festivals There are several important festivals in Islam that are celebrated throughout the year around the world. The word 'id' means festival, and the two most important festivals in the Islamic calendar are Id-ul-Adha and Id-ul-Fitr. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, which means that it follows the pattern of the moon. A lunar year has either 354 or 355 days, so this means that these festivals change date each year in the main calendar used in Britain (in which a year has 365 days). Id-ul-Adha Eid-ul-Adha is a commemoration of sacrifice. It marks the end of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah. The festival is a reminder of Allah's blessings and shows how important it is to obey Allah's will.During Hajj, Muslims remember the trials of the prophet Ibrahim when he was asked to make a great sacrifice for the sake of God. Ibrahim dreamed that Allah told him to sacrifice his son Isma'il: My son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you (Qur'an 37:102).Ibrahim explained his dream to Isma'il, who agreed the sacrifice had to be carried out. However, at the last minute, Allah told Ibrahim to sacrifice a ram instead. This was a test of Ibrahim's loyalty to Allah. On the first morning of Id-ul-Adha, Muslims around the world attend morning prayers at their local mosque. The service includes communal prayers and a sermon. The sermon teaches the importance of obeying Allah and talks about the lesson learnt by Ibrahim. Traditionally, Muslims remember Ibrahim's trials by themselves slaughtering an animal, such as a sheep, camel or goat. This is still practised in some Islamic countries, but in the UK meat is bought from halal butchers. The meat is then divided into three. A third is kept, a third is given to relatives or neighbours, and a third is given to the poor.As Id-ul-Adha is a special occasion, everyone wears new clothes. People spend time with family and friends, and presents and cards are exchanged. Women and young girls often decorate their hands with beautiful patterns using mehndi (henna). Delicious food is eaten and shared with others. Id-ul-Fitr This festival occurs at the end of Ramadan. It is a joyful festival. It is a day of thanksgiving to Allah and also celebrates the fact that Muslims have completed the fourth pillar of Islam (sawm.At Id-ul-Fitr, a special Zakah is collected. This is given to Muslims who are less well-off so that they can celebrate the festival as well. There is a service with prayers and a sermon. Family and friends meet and exchange gifts. Id-ul-Fitr is important for community togetherness, as often there are special celebrations (such as fun fairs) put on to enable members of other faiths to get involved. Peace and Conflict topics Peace The word Islam means peace and submission. Muslims greet each other by saying 'Salaam alaykum' meaning 'peace be upon you'. Like the majority of followers of other faiths, the majority of Muslims believe in seeking a just and peaceful world. The Qur'an teaches that Allah wants Muslims to control their aggression and approach others with peace. Peacemaking The transition from a state of war to a state of peace by a deliberate action of the parties involved. 1. All humans were created by Allah therefore everyone should be treated with respect so the world is harmonious. Allah dislikes anything that interrupts peace therefore Muslims are taught to be peacemakers and build a better society. 2. 'Be a community that calls for what is good, urges what is right and forbids what is wrong.' (Qur'an, Surah 3) 3. The Qur'an records that Allah commanded the Prophet to maintain positive relationships with followers of other faiths. 4. The Prophet did not want to be seen as superior to the prophet Moses as he is a very important prophet which freed the Jews from slavery. This shows how the Prophet respected other religions. He stated 'do not give me superiority over Moses.' (Hadith) Conflict A serious disagreement between people regarding a particular matter. Conflict can be caused by a number of factors including: Politics & ideology - holding different views about what set of policies or ideas a country should follow e.g. Korean War: Communism vs Capitalism. Nationalism & ethnicity - believing one particular ethnic group/culture is superior to another e.g. Nazis in WWIIReligion - defending adherents of a particular faith from an attack or when religious beliefs clash e.g. Sunni & Shia fighting in Iraq. Economics - wanting resources that another country has e.g. oil Pacifism Pacifism usually means an opposition to war and violence. While peace is an important aspect of Islam, and Muslims are encouraged to strive for peace and peaceful solutions to all problems, most Muslims are not pacifists. This is because the teachings in the Qur'an and Hadith allow for wars to be fought if they can be justified. Peace and equalityIslam seeks peace and harmony within a community, the ummah and also between countries. Islam teaches that reconciliation is of great importance.Peace is central to Islam and the religion aims to achieve a world without attack, conflict or unjust rulers. A peaceful solution to any situation of conflict must be sought and if an enemy offers peace Muslims should accept it. The Qur'an reminds Muslims that Allah is always watching and taking account of their actions. This belief is clearly expressed in the following verse: Just War Theory What are the conditions for a just war (also known as jus ad bellum)... Just Cause: The reasons for fighting should be to uphold justice. Comparative justice: Those affected by injustices should expect a better future following the war. Legitimate authority: Only a recognized leader or head of state can sanction a war. Right intention: The motive to fight should be to re-establish peace and restore human rights. Probability of success: There should be a strong likelihood that the war will be won. Last resort: War should only take place if all efforts for peace have been tried and have failed. Proportionality: The amount of force used in war should be in proportion to the problem. 'Why should you not fight in God's cause and for those oppressed men, women and children who cry out.' (Qur'an, Surah 4) Holy War When Muhammad started preaching manybelieved in idols and many rejected his message of tawhid. The leaders of Makkah thought he was trouble and began to persecute him and the Muslims.Many of their rights were taken away, for 13 years they suffered during which time they did not retaliate. When Muhammad and his followers left andmoved to Medinah they were followed and they had to fight back as a last resort to prevent Islam being wiped out and to restore peace. Weapons of Mass Destruction a nuclear, biological, or chemical weapon able to cause widespread devastation and loss of life Arguments for nuclear weapons ● The possession of them has kept the major world powers from coming to war since 1955, out of fear of what might happen (mutually assured destruction). ● The knowledge of them cannot be removed. It is preferable for the major powers to have these bombs for deterrence than for an unstable dictator to use them in war. Arguments against nuclear weapons Their destructive power is immense and long lasting. Even countries that have nothing to do with the war will be badly affected. Some people estimate that a small nuclear war could wipe out human life on Earth. ● ● They are very costly to develop and maintain. The money could be spent on raising everybody's quality of life. There is no effective protection against them, nor can people control who has access to them. Issues Surrounding Conflict The Qur'an teaches that there should be no compulsion in religion and that Allah has made life sacred. It shows how the Prophet Muhammad and early Muslims were opposed to war and hated shedding human blood and only did so to resist further Oppression. Abu Bakr, the first khalifah stated in Muwatta of Imam Malik: 'Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit bearing trees. Do not destroy inhabited place. Do not slaughter sheep or camels except for food.' Non-religious views towards issues surrounding conflict... Some atheists and humanists blame religions such as Islam for violence and extremism. Let's look at the statistics: 94% of terrorist attacks carried out in the USA between 1980-200 have been by non-Muslims (US Department of Justice). Between 2009-2013, less than 2% of terrorist attacks in Europe were religiously motivated (ThinkProgress Organisation) Exam Question Format and Information: For the a question, you need to write in three full separate sentences. For the b question, you need to write two explained reasons. Point, Explain, Point, Explain. For the c question, you need to write two explained reasons with a Source of Wisdom and Authority. Point, Evidence, Explain, Point, Explain. For the d question, you need to write a paragraph agreeing with the statement, a paragraph disagreeing with the statement and a justified conclusion. In the paragraph, write a Point, back it up with Evidence, Explain the quote and point and then Analyse your argument either by strengthening or weakening it with other points.