Islam: The Nature of Allah (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note
Exam code: C120
The oneness of Allah (Tawhid)
Islam as a monotheistic religion
Monotheism is central to the Muslim belief in Tawhid (the oneness of God)
Muslims reject polytheism in all of its forms because God should not be compared to anyone or anything
Shirk is seen as the worst sin for Muslims, so comparisons between Allah and anyone or anything else are seen as sinful
“Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that” (Qur’an 4:116)
Association with him refers to worshipping other Gods as well as or instead of Allah
The Qur’an is clear that worshipping idols (false Gods) is a sin for Muslims
“Believers fight for the cause of Allah, while disbelievers do battle for the cause of Allah” (Qur’an 4:76)
“Fight against them until idolatry is no more” (Qur’an 2:193)
“Idolatry is worse than carnage” (Qur’an 2:217)
Muslims reject the Christian belief in the Trinity, believing that Jesus could not have been the son of God since he could not have had God’s qualities
However, Jesus is still viewed as an important prophet within Muslim belief
Some Muslims also reject Hinduism as being polytheistic, even though Hindus believe in a single God in many forms
What is Tawhid?
Tawhid is the Muslim belief in the “oneness of God”
The word Allah comes from the Arabic al-Ilah, meaning “the God” (the only God)
Muslims believe that Allah is One God, indivisible and absolute; nothing comes close to him as the ultimate source of power and creation
“He is Allah, the One, Allah is eternal and absolute. None is born of Him, He is unborn. There is none like unto him” (Qur’an 112:1–4)
Muslims believe that everything belongs to Allah
Everything humans have is on loan from Allah
Humans only exist because Allah wills them to
Allah has 99 names or characteristics, such as al-Ahad (the one and only) and al-Wahid (the one), which make it clear that there is one true God
According to a Hadith, Muhammad (pbuh) said that Muslims should mention Tawhid first when telling non-Muslims about Islam
“Let the first thing to which you will invite them, be the Tauhid (Tawhid) of Allah” (Sahih al-Bukhari 93:469)
How does Tawhid affect Muslim belief and practice?
Muslims have total faith in Allah and are not swayed by other religions
Muslims physically display their belief in one true God by performing the posture of “sujood” (prostration) to one God while praying
What is the Shahada?
Shahada, the Muslim declaration of faith is one of the five pillars and involves saying that Allah is the only God
Shahada involves reciting the words:
“I bear witness that there is no deity but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God”
Shahada is usually said a few times each day. Muslims also:
Say it as the first words a baby hears after birth
Aim for it to be the last words they say before death
Shahada forms the foundation of the other four pillars
A non-Muslim can convert to Islam by expressing shahada with sincerity
Belief in one God
Belief in one true God can bring humility and modesty and prevent jealousy
Everything that happens to a Muslim is for a reason
Belief in one all-powerful God allows Muslims to accept their situations and any injustices they may face
Suffering is viewed as a test from Allah
This helps Muslims cope with suffering
The nature of Allah
What is the nature of Allah for Muslims?
Allah is the Arabic word for God
Allah is not a physical being, so it is not possible to visualise him
In Islam, it is forbidden to attempt to draw him
However, Muslim holy writings contain many beliefs about his nature
Over 100 characteristics or qualities of Allah are described in the Qur’an and Hadith
Muslims recite some of these characteristics during prayer
There are eight key characteristics that are essential to understanding Allah’s nature
Key characteristics of Allah
Tawhid (as outlined in more detail above)
Allah is unique and without any equal
To associate Allah with any partners, including “false gods”, is a sin
“We sent into every nation a messenger [saying], ‘Worship Allah and shun false gods’” (Qur’an Surah 16:36)
Immanence
This means closeness
Allah is close and involved with the world
“We created man – We know what his soul whispers to him: We are closer to him than his jugular vein” (Qur’an Surah 50:16)
Transcendence
Beyond human understanding
Allah is above and beyond his creation
It is difficult for Muslims to fully understand Allah
“Exalted be God, Lord of all the worlds” (Qur’an Surah 7:54)
Omnipotence
All-powerful
This is the idea that Allah is more powerful than anything else in existence
He has created the world and is in charge of everything
“He has power over all things” (Qur’an Surah 2:109)
Beneficence
This means kindness
Allah is caring and loves his creation
His kindness and generosity know no limits
“Your Lord’s bounty is not restricted” (Qur’an Surah 17:20)
Mercy
This is the idea that Allah forgives people for their wrongdoings rather than punishing them because he is beneficent in nature
“My mercy embraces all things” (Qur’an Surah 7:156)
Fairness and justice
This is called Adalat or divine justice in Shi’a Islam and is one of the five roots of Usul ad-Din
Allah is just and fair and will treat everyone and everything fairly
Allah judges Muslims fairly for how they have lived their lives
Muslims are expected to act fairly towards others too, as this teaching shows
“If you judge between people, do so with justice” (Qur’an Surah 4:58)
Why are the characteristics of Allah important to Muslims?
Although Muslims believe that it is impossible to fully comprehend Allah, understanding some of his characteristics can help them better understand him. Doing so will:
Help Muslims form a better relationship with him, as they know a little more about how he interacts with the world and the people he created
Help them worship him more fully, bringing them closer to him
Assist them in following the way he wants them to live their lives
Encourage them to strive to be better people as they follow the example he has set and aspire to reflect his characteristics in the way they live their lives
For example, knowing that Allah is beneficent should make Muslims strive to be caring and loving in their own lives, reflecting his qualities
Adalat in Shi’a Islam
Who are Shi’a Muslims?
The two main branches of Islam are Shi’a and Sunni
Shi’a Muslims believe in the six beliefs of Islam but also accept the five roots of Usul ad-Din, which are based on the teachings of the Qur’an, the Hadith and the agreement of early Shi’a scholars and leaders
What is Adalat, and why is it significant?
Adalat means justice and is one of the five roots of Usul ad-Din (the fundamental beliefs of Shi’a Islam)
It refers to the belief that Allah is perfectly just and fair in all things
Adalat is significant to Shi’a Muslims for many reasons
It tells Muslims about the nature of Allah
It shows that Allah is always fair, never unjust and will judge people according to their actions and intentions
It offers Shi’a Muslims moral guidance and encourages them to live justly and treat others with fairness and equality
Shi’a Muslims believe that Allah’s justice guarantees that good will be rewarded and evil punished on Judgement Day
Shi’a Muslims believe that injustice comes from human free will, not Allah’s actions
Imams are seen as appointed by Allah to uphold justice and guide Muslims to live righteously
This belief inspires Shi’a Muslims to stand against oppression and injustice in society, reflecting Allah’s attribute of justice
Revelation
What is Revelation within Islam?
Revelation is how Allah makes his will known to humans
Muslims believe that Allah is omnipotent (all-powerful) and can, therefore, reveal himself to them directly in a number of ways
Miracles are important in Islam, mainly as signs to prove the truthfulness of prophets
There are many examples of miracles recorded in the Qur’an, such as when the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was taken through the heavens to meet Allah
The Qur’an makes it clear to Muslims that Allah can perform miracles if he so chooses
The Qur’an emphasises the value of dreams and visions as special revelations
Some Muslims believe that their dreams can come directly from Allah as a teaching or message
They look to the Qur’an or the Hadith for interpretations of their dreams and visions
Some Muslims believe that Allah meets with them directly
This can be through worship or prayer
Muslims might feel the presence of Allah when they are reading the Qur’an, when praying or when a prayer is answered
What does Revelation tell Muslims about Allah?
Revelation reveals to Muslims a lot about Allah’s nature
This helps Muslims to have faith in times of trouble and reminds them that Allah has the power to intervene in their lives
Revelation teaches Muslims that Allah is merciful and compassionate
He reveals guidance so that humans know how to live good lives
Revelation shows Muslims that Allah is omniscient
It shows he has knowledge that humans could not know without him
Revelation demonstrates that Allah is just
He reveals rules so that humans can be judged fairly on the Day of Judgement
Revelation shows that although Allah is transcendent and beyond human understanding, he is able to communicate by revealing himself
Revelation highlights the belief in Tawhid because all revelations emphasise that Allah is the only God
Revelation also demonstrates that Allah is personal and involved and that he cares enough to guide humanity directly
Worked Example
Explain two ways that Allah’s nature influences the lives of Muslims
[5 marks]
Answer:
One way is the belief that Allah is omniscient (all-knowing). This means Muslims are aware that Allah knows their thoughts and actions, so they try to live righteous lives, avoiding sin and following the five pillars
Another way is the belief that Allah is merciful and compassionate. This encourages Muslims to seek forgiveness through prayer and repentance and to show mercy and kindness to others in daily life, reflecting Allah’s character
Examiner Tips and Tricks
There are certain things that you will need to know for this section
It is important to know the key attributes of Allah
Tawhid (oneness)
Omnipotent (all-powerful)
Omniscient (all-knowing)
Merciful and compassionate
Just (Adalat in Shi’a Islam)
Transcendent (beyond creation)
Immanent (close to believers)
It is also important to know how these attributes link to:
Revelation (the Qur’an, prophets, Shari’ah law)
Judgement Day (Allah as the just judge)
Muslim life (worship, moral behaviour, trust in Allah)
Try to avoid these common mistakes when answering questions
Don’t just list Allah’s attributes without explaining them
Avoid vague answers such as “Allah helps people”; try to be specific. For example, “Allah is merciful, so Muslims believe he forgives sins when they repent”
Don’t state that Adalat (justice) is a Sunni belief because it is specific to Shi’a Islam
Use Qur’an quotes if you can. For example, “Allah commands justice, the doing of good … ” (Surah 16:90). This links beliefs to Muslim practice (prayer, charity, moral living)
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