Different Islamic Views on the Six Articles of Faith (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

Different Islamic views on the importance of the six articles of faith

• Although all Muslims believe in the six articles of faith, there are some differences in the interpretation of some of them, particularly:

  • Akhirah (life after death)

  • Mala’ikah (angels)

  • Qadar (predestination)

Akhirah

• Akhirah, or belief in life after death, is accepted by all Muslims

• However, some Muslims have different ideas on how to interpret the Qur’an’s teachings on what heaven and hell are like

• Heaven or Paradise (Jannah) is described in the Qur’an as a garden of bliss, with rivers flowing with non-intoxicating wine, milk or honey

• It is a timeless place, where everyone’s desires will be realised

• Hell is described in the Qur’an as a place of fire and pain

• Some Muslims accept these descriptions in the Qur’an as literal descriptions of what heaven and hell are like

• Other Muslims think that the nature of heaven and hell is completely beyond human understanding and that these are only hints or suggestions of their natures

• Others think that the descriptions are symbolic of the fact that a person will spend eternal life either in the presence or the total absence of Allah

Mala’ikah

• Because mala’ikah are mysterious figures, part of the unseen world, Muslims have differing beliefs about their nature

• Some Muslims believe that they are actual supernatural beings, created by Allah from light 

• Some believe in a metaphorical interpretation of their qualities

  • For example, the idea that angels have wings is a metaphor for being powerful

• Regardless of interpretation, all Muslims agree that angels:

  • Communicate Allah’s message to prophets (e.g. Jibril to Muhammad [pbuh])

  • Record people’s deeds for judgement (kiraman katibin)

  • Support believers and carry out Allah’s commands

Qadar

• There are differences in how Sunni Muslims and Shi’a Muslims regard Qadar

  • It is a matter of how they interpret free will

• For Sunni Muslims:

  • They think that Allah knows everything that is going to happen and so will know what choices humans will make about their behaviour before they make them 

    • Remember: Allah is outside of time and so is not governed by the rules of time

  • Humans choose their actions, but Allah makes sure it is impossible to choose anything other than what He has already decided for them

  • Some Sunni Muslims think that once someone has made a choice to act, the act becomes theirs, and so they can then be judged for it

• For Shi’a Muslims

  • There is more emphasis on free will

  • Shi’a Muslims believe that Allah has ultimate authority and control and the power to act in the world if he wants

  • However, people’s lives are determined by their own choices. This is the idea of Bada’, which states that Allah has not set a definite course for humans

  • Shi’a Muslims agree with Sunni Muslims that Allah already knows what will happen, as he is outside time

    • However, people choose for themselves what actions to take

• Many Muslims believe in a mixture of these two ideas

The six articles of faith and Muslim daily life

• Belief in each of the six articles of faith is important for Muslims today and affects their daily life

Importance of belief in Tawhid

• Although Muslims believe that it is impossible to fully comprehend Allah, understanding some of His characteristics can help them to understand him better

• Knowing that Allah is One God, the Supreme Being and the creator of the universe gives Muslims confidence that He exists and that He is the ultimate source of power and creation

• Muslims give thanks to Allah for creating the world and all life

  • This is shown through prayer, rituals and the way Muslims behave

• Muslims can be secure in knowing that Allah knows what is happening in the world, and so they try to live their lives in accordance with the Qur’an

• The idea that “He is able to do all things” ensures a Muslim’s submission to Him

  • This is displayed in the devotion shown to Allah

• The fact that everything happens for a reason gives Muslims strength during difficult times

Importance of belief in Risalah

• Risalah is a key element of belief in Islam

• All prophets were given the same important message and had the same role:

  • To act as intermediaries between Allah and humans by receiving and passing on Allah’s message to everyone in their community

  • To be a perfect example of how this message applies in practice by living their lives according to Allah’s will. Allah will rightly guide them in this role

  • To lead the community so that they, too, will live in accordance with this message

• For Muslims to know how to live the way Allah desires, it was necessary for instructions to be conveyed to people through the prophets

• When humans forgot, misunderstood or changed Allah’s message, he sent prophets to call people back to the right path

Importance of belief in Akhirah

• Muslims believe that Akhirah:

  • Shows that God is just (fair) and will make up for any hardships on earth with rewards in paradise

  • Shows that people who have done bad things will not get away with them

  • Gives hope for the future and makes it easier to deal with the difficult times in life

• It makes Muslims try hard to follow Allah’s rules, for example, by practising the five pillars and by avoiding harming other people

• Life after death makes sense of our short existence on earth and why we are here at all

Importance of belief in the Mala’ikah

• It is difficult for Muslims to understand the nature of angels fully

• However, angels are extremely significant in Islam because they are:

  • Allah’s creation, and so they help Muslims to understand Him better

  • Important because Allah has communicated with and revealed important truths to humanity through them

  • Significant for helping believers in their time of need (Surah 41:30–32)

  • Important in helping Allah decide what will happen to people in the afterlife

    • The Qur’an says that angels known as kiraman katibin (noble scribes) are present with people throughout their lives, one on each shoulder

    • The one on the right shoulder notes good deeds, and the one on the left shoulder notes bad deeds

    • These are then presented to Allah at the Day of Judgement (Surah 82:10–12)

    • This affects how Muslims live their lives

• Because malaikah have been given all these roles of importance by Allah, they must be respected by Muslims today

Importance of belief in Qadar

• Belief in Qadar helps Muslims make sense of the world around them

• If Allah knows everything and has control over everything that’s going to happen, it must mean that events happen for a reason

• Muslims may find the concept of Qadar comforting, especially if something bad happens, because they can trust that it is part of Allah’s plan for their lives

  • Because they believe that Allah is good and merciful, they are able to remain positive and hope that there will be a positive outcome in some way 

• Belief in Qadar affects a Muslim’s daily life because they:

  • Want to be rewarded for good deeds rather than punished for sin after death, so they try to live a good life in the way that Allah wants

  • Try to fulfil the duties that Allah gave

  • Try to help others because that is what the Qur’an and the example set by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) teach

  • Try to live in a constant state of awareness of their thoughts and actions, and make sure they are consciously living by Allah’s rules

Importance of belief in the kutub

• Belief in the kutub is of central importance to Muslims, as these texts contain Allah’s revealed messages

• They reveal important truths about the nature of Allah and prophecies about the future, and they provide guidance about how Allah wants people to live and behave

• Belief in the Qur’an as the final revelation of God is of particular importance

  • It is seen as a complete and accurate record of Allah’s exact words

  • Muslims believe it is meant for all times, all people and all places

  • This is because Muhammad (pbuh) was a universal messenger who was sent by Allah at a time when he decided the world was ready to receive his message.