Islam – Religious beliefs, values and teachings: The Six Beliefs and key moral principles — Edexcel A-Level Religious Studies

The Six Beliefs of Islam (also known as the Articles of Faith) form the foundation of Sunni Muslim theology. They are: belief in Allah (Tawhid), His angels, His holy books, His prophets, the Day of Judgement, and divine predestination (Qadr). These beliefs are derived from the Qur'an and Hadith, and they shape a Muslim's worldview, ethics, and daily life. Understanding them is essential for grasping how Muslims understand God, revelation, human responsibility, and the afterlife.

Key moral principles in Islam are rooted in these beliefs. For example, Tawhid (the oneness of God) leads to the principle of submitting only to Allah, which influences moral decision-making. Belief in the Day of Judgement encourages accountability and justice. Predestination (Qadr) raises questions about free will and moral responsibility. These principles are not abstract; they directly affect how Muslims approach issues like charity, honesty, and social justice. This topic is central to the Edexcel A-Level course because it connects theology with ethics, showing how belief translates into action.

• →Tawhid: The absolute oneness of Allah – the most fundamental belief. It means Allah is unique, eternal, and worthy of worship alone. This shapes all other beliefs and moral duties.
• →Qadr (Predestination): The belief that Allah has decreed all things, but humans still have free will to choose their actions. This is a key area of debate among Islamic scholars.
• →Akhirah (Afterlife): Belief in the Day of Judgement, where individuals are judged based on their faith and deeds, leading to either Paradise (Jannah) or Hell (Jahannam). This motivates moral behaviour.
• →Prophethood (Risalah): Belief that Allah sent prophets (including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad) to guide humanity. Muhammad is the final prophet (Seal of the Prophets).
• →Angels (Mala'ikah): Created beings who carry out Allah's commands, e.g., Jibril (Gabriel) revealed the Qur'an, and Mika'il provides sustenance. Belief in angels reinforces the unseen reality.

• Understanding of the Six Beliefs and their interconnections
• Significance of Allah (Tawhid and Adalat) and the 99 Beautiful Names
• Role of angels, holy books, prophets, Day of Judgment, and predestination
• Key events in the life of Muhammad and his significance as the final messenger
• Authority and interpretation of the Qur'an and Hadith
• Application of Shari'ah law to moral principles (halal and haram)
• Differences in interpretation between Sunni and Shi'a Islam

• 💡Ensure you can explicitly link the Six Beliefs to the meaning and purpose of life for a Muslim
• 💡Use specific terminology such as Tawhid, Adalat, Halal, Haram, and Makruh accurately
• 💡Be prepared to compare and contrast Sunni and Shi'a views on authority and succession
• 💡Refer to the works of scholars like S H Nasr and W Chittick to support your arguments
• 💡Use the provided extracts from the Anthology to support your analysis in Section B
• 💡When discussing Qadr, always address the tension between divine predestination and human free will. Use Qur'anic verses (e.g., Surah Al-Insan 76:3) and scholarly views (e.g., Al-Ghazali) to show depth. Examiners reward nuanced understanding.
• 💡Link beliefs to moral principles explicitly. For example, explain how belief in the Day of Judgement leads to the moral principle of accountability, which in turn influences actions like charity (Zakat) and honesty in business.
• 💡Use specific terminology: 'Tawhid' not just 'oneness of God', 'Risalah' for prophethood, 'Akhirah' for afterlife. This demonstrates precise knowledge and impresses examiners.

• Failing to distinguish between Sunni and Shi'a interpretations of key beliefs
• Treating the Six Beliefs in isolation rather than as interconnected concepts
• Overlooking the significance of the 99 Beautiful Names in understanding the nature of Allah
• Confusing the authority of the Qur'an with that of the Hadith
• Generalizing Islamic practice without acknowledging the diversity of interpretation
• Misconception: The Six Beliefs are the same as the Five Pillars. Correction: The Six Beliefs are articles of faith (what to believe), while the Five Pillars are acts of worship (what to do). Both are essential, but they are distinct categories.
• Misconception: Qadr means Muslims believe in fatalism – that humans have no control. Correction: Most Sunni scholars affirm that Allah's foreknowledge does not negate human free will. Humans are responsible for their choices, even though Allah knows the outcome.
• Misconception: All Muslims believe exactly the same about the Six Beliefs. Correction: While Sunni Muslims generally agree on these six, Shi'a Islam has a different set (Usul al-Din) that includes justice ('Adl) and imamate. The Edexcel course focuses on Sunni beliefs.