AQA · GCSE · Religious Studies
Course version: 8062 · Version from Sept 2018
Common and divergent views within Islam in the way beliefs and teachings…
Full specification wording
Islam: Common and divergent views within Islam in the way beliefs and teachings are understood and expressed should be included throughout. Students may refer to a range of different Muslim perspectives in their answers, including those from Sunni and Shi’a Islam. They must study the specific differences identified below.
Islam encompasses shared foundational beliefs and divergent interpretations, primarily between Sunni and Shi'a traditions.
- Point 3 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Islam encompasses shared foundational beliefs and divergent interpretations, primarily between Sunni and Shi'a traditions. While all Muslims share common views on the oneness of Allah (Tawhid) and the prophethood of Muhammad, their expressions of faith diverge. Sunni Muslims follow the Six Articles of Faith and recognise the authority of the elected Caliphs. Conversely, Shi'a Muslims adhere to the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din and believe leadership remained within the Prophet's family through the Imamate.
What earns the marks
- Identify common beliefs shared by all Muslims, such as Tawhid and the finality of Muhammad's prophethood.
- Explain the divergent views on leadership after the Prophet, contrasting Sunni Caliphs with the Shi'a Imamate.
- Compare the foundational frameworks of the two traditions: the Six Articles of Faith (Sunni) and the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din (Shi'a).
- Analyse how these divergent theological views influence specific practices and expressions of faith in daily life.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming Sunni and Shi'a Muslims have completely different religions.
Put it right by emphasising their shared core beliefs like Tawhid.
Confusing the Six Articles of Faith with the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din.
Put it right: Ensure the Articles are attributed to Sunni Islam and the Roots to Shi'a Islam.
Ignoring divergent views in evaluation questions.
Put it right: Include both Sunni and Shi'a perspectives to access higher mark bands.
Exam tips
- Use phrases like 'While Sunni Muslims believe X, Shi'a Muslims focus on Y' to clearly demonstrate knowledge of divergent views.
- Always ground differences in their historical context, specifically the succession crisis following the death of Prophet Muhammad.
- Memorise at least two specific differences in practice or belief to use as evidence in 12-mark evaluation questions.
Try the lesson
The start of the Islam: Common and divergent views within Islam in the way beliefs and teachings are understood and expressed should be included throughout. Students may refer to a range of different Muslim perspectives in their answers, including those from Sunni and Shi’a Islam. They must study the specific differences identified below. lesson, made from teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which two major traditions within Islam are primarily studied to understand common and divergent Muslim perspectives?
Listen
Islam encompasses shared foundational beliefs and divergent interpretations, primarily between Sunni and Shi'a traditions. While all Muslims share common views on the oneness of Allah (Tawhid) and the prophethood of Muhammad, their expressions of faith diverge. Sunni Muslims follow the Six Articles of Faith and recognise the authority of the elected Caliphs. Conversely, Shi'a Muslims adhere to the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din and believe leadership remained within the Prophet's family through the Imamate. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify common beliefs shared by all Muslims, such as Tawhid and the finality of Muhammad's prophethood. Explain the divergent views on leadership after the Prophet, contrasting Sunni Caliphs with the Shi'a Imamate. Compare the foundational frameworks of the two traditions: the Six Articles of Faith (Sunni) and the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din (Shi'a). Analyse how these divergent theological views influence specific practices and expressions of faith in daily life. A common slip: Claiming Sunni and Shi'a Muslims have completely different religions. Instead, emphasising their shared core beliefs like Tawhid. Exam tip: Use phrases like 'While Sunni Muslims believe X, Shi'a Muslims focus on Y' to clearly demonstrate knowledge of divergent views.
See it
Key words
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Sunni and Shi'a Traditions
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Religious Authority
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Core Doctrines
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Diversity of Expression
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See every definition
- Sunni and Shi'a Traditions
- Two traditions within Islam whose expressions of faith diverge, with Sunni Muslims following the Six Articles of Faith and Shi'a Muslims adhering to the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din.
- Religious Authority
- Sunni Muslims recognise the authority of the elected Caliphs, while Shi'a Muslims believe leadership remained within the Prophet's family through the Imamate.
- Core Doctrines
- The Six Articles of Faith for Sunni Muslims and the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din for Shi'a Muslims are the foundational frameworks of the two traditions.
- Diversity of Expression
- Referring to a range of different Muslim perspectives, including Sunni and Shi'a, demonstrates a nuanced grasp of how Islamic teachings are understood and expressed.
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