The Five Roots of Usul ad-Din (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

Tawhid as one of the five roots

The five roots of Usul ad-Din

• Shi’a is the other major branch of Islam, aside from Sunni

• Shi’a Muslims believe in the six articles of faith 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 are the five roots of Usul ad-Din?

• The five roots of Usul ad-Din are five key principles of the faith that are sometimes called the “roots of religion”

• Every Shi’a Muslim must make themselves aware of these key principles or truths

The five roots of Shi’a Islam

Tawhid

• Tawhid is the belief in one God, Allah

• Muslims believe that Allah is the Supreme Being, creator of the universe

• Allah is One God, indivisible and absolute; nothing comes close to Him as the ultimate source of power and creation

• ​​Allah has 99 names or characteristics that make it clear that there is one true God; these include:

  • Al-Ahad (the one and only) 

  • All Wahid (the one)

• According to a Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that Muslims should mention Tawhid first when telling non-Muslims about Islam

• This means that:

  • Tawhid is the most important belief for Muslims

  • Islam is a monotheistic religion

• This is the same as the equivalent in the six articles of faith

‘Adl (divine justice)

‘Adl as one of the five roots of Usul ad-Din

• ‘Adl or Adalat means belief in divine justice

• This is the belief that Allah is fair and will treat everything and everyone justly

  • He will hold humans accountable for their actions

• Muslims need to be aware that there is good and evil in everything, but Allah commands them to do good

• Allah acts with a purpose that humans cannot understand

  • Sometimes justice can be hard to see, but Shi’a Muslims should try to understand as much as they can

• The first imam, Ali, stated in his will to his son:

Risalah (prophets) as one of the five roots

• Risalah is Arabic for “message” and refers to “prophethood” 

• Risalah is the belief that Allah chose special people to communicate his word to humanity and to teach and guide people along the right path

  • These people are known as prophets

• Prophets receive revelation from Allah through his angels

  • Muslims believe that Allah has chosen many prophets to bring the message of Islam to people

• There are 25 key prophets of Allah identified in the Qur’an, including Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus) and Muhammad (pbuh)

• Muslims believe that there were 124,000 prophets who developed the religion over time

• The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the last of the prophets, is known as “The Seal”

• This is the same as the equivalent in the six articles of faith

Imamah (authority of the imams)

Imamah as one of the five roots of Usul ad-Din

• Imamah is the belief in the God-given authority of the imams

  • This refers to the Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) successors

• Shi’a Muslims believe that Allah appointed certain imams or leaders to guide humanity with authority and wisdom

  • This group of people includes not only the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) but also his daughter Fatimah and a line of imams starting with Ali

• This group is known as the Ahl al-Bayt, or People of the Prophet’s House

  • The Ahl al-Bayt are believed to be pure and infallible (unable to make mistakes)

  • They are known as “lights” in some Shi’a writings, meaning that they were sent to show people the path out of darkness and sin and lead them towards Allah

• Most Shi’a Muslims believe there were 12 imams after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), known as Twelvers

  • Shi’a Muslims think that dedicating themselves to these 12 imams is essential to their faith

• Other Shi’a Muslims are known as Seveners because they believe there was a different line of imams, numbering seven in total

Mi'ad (Day of Resurrection)

Mi’ad as one of the five roots of Usul ad-Din

• Mi’ad is the belief in the Day of Judgement and Resurrection

• This is the belief that there will be a day of judgement and resurrection when all humans will be judged by Allah, who decides whether they go to heaven or hell based on their deeds

• Everyone must answer for themselves and accept the consequences of their thoughts and actions on earth

• Human life acts as a test for the eternal life that will come after it

• This is the same as the equivalent belief, Risalah, in the six articles of faith