Islam: Beliefs and Teachings — Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies

Islam: Beliefs and Teachings is a core component of the Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies syllabus, focusing on the foundational beliefs and practices of Islam. This topic explores the nature of Allah, the role of prophets, sacred texts like the Qur'an, and key teachings about life after death. Understanding these beliefs is essential for grasping how Muslims live their lives and make moral decisions.

This topic matters because Islam is one of the world's major religions, with over a billion followers worldwide. By studying Islamic beliefs, students gain insight into a faith that shapes the lives of many people in the UK and globally. It also helps develop critical thinking and empathy, as students compare Islamic teachings with other worldviews.

Within the wider subject of Religious Studies, Islam: Beliefs and Teachings provides a foundation for later topics on Islamic practices, ethics, and contemporary issues. It connects to themes such as the nature of God, revelation, and the purpose of human life, which are central to many religious traditions.

• →Tawhid: The absolute oneness of Allah, the most fundamental belief in Islam. It means Allah is unique, eternal, and has no partners or equals.
• →Risalah: The belief in prophethood, including key prophets like Adam, Ibrahim, Musa, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). Muslims believe Muhammad is the final prophet.
• →Kutub: The belief in holy books, including the Qur'an (final and unchanged), Torah, Psalms, and Gospel. The Qur'an is considered the direct word of Allah.
• →Akhirah: Belief in life after death, including resurrection, judgment, and the afterlife in Paradise or Hell. This belief influences moral behaviour.
• →Al-Qadr: The belief in predestination, that Allah has knowledge and control over all events, but humans still have free will to choose their actions.

• Understanding of the Six Beliefs of Sunni Islam and the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam.
• Knowledge of the nature of Allah (Tawhid, immanence, transcendence, omnipotence, beneficence, mercy, fairness, justice).
• Significance of Risalah and the roles of prophets (Adam, Ibrahim, Isma'il, Musa, Dawud, Isa, Muhammad).
• Understanding of Muslim holy books (Qur'an, Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, Sahifah).
• Knowledge of Malaikah (angels) and their roles (Jibril, Izra'il, Mika'il).
• Understanding of al-Qadr (predestination) and human freedom.
• Knowledge of Akhirah (afterlife, judgement, paradise, hell).
• Understanding of the Five Pillars (Shahadah, Salah, Sawm, Zakah, Hajj) and the Ten Obligatory Acts.
• Knowledge of Jihad (greater and lesser) and its conditions.
• Significance of festivals (Id-ul-Adha, Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Ghadeer, Ashura).
• Understanding of the Qur'an's revelation, compilation, and authority.
• Knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad as the 'Seal of the Prophets' and his role as a role model.
• Understanding of the split between Sunni and Shi'a Islam regarding the family of the Prophet and the Imamate.
• Knowledge of Shari'ah law (qiyas, ijma, role of qadis and 'ulema).
• Understanding of Muslim identity, modesty, halal/haram, and the mosque.
• Knowledge of Sufism, calligraphy, and the role of Muslim charities.

• 💡Use specialist terminology (e.g., Tawhid, Risalah, Akhirah, Shari'ah) to gain marks in SPaG.
• 💡Ensure you can compare and contrast beliefs and practices between Sunni and Shi'a traditions.
• 💡Reference specific Surahs or Hadith where required to support your explanations.
• 💡For 'Evaluate' questions, ensure you provide a balanced argument with a justified conclusion.
• 💡Focus on the significance of beliefs and practices to Muslims today.
• 💡Use specific Qur'anic quotes or references to support your points. For example, 'He is Allah, the One' (Surah 112) for Tawhid. This shows deeper knowledge.
• 💡Explain the significance of beliefs, not just describe them. For instance, explain how belief in Akhirah affects a Muslim's daily life and decisions.
• 💡Compare and contrast different Islamic perspectives where relevant, such as Sunni and Shi'a views on imamate or predestination, to access higher marks.

• Confusing Sunni and Shi'a beliefs or practices.
• Failing to distinguish between greater and lesser Jihad.
• Generalizing Islamic beliefs without acknowledging divergent perspectives.
• Misunderstanding the role of the Imam in Sunni versus Shi'a traditions.
• Ignoring the significance of the Qur'an as the primary source of authority.
• Misconception: Muslims worship Muhammad. Correction: Muslims worship only Allah; Muhammad is a prophet and messenger, not divine.
• Misconception: The Qur'an was written by Muhammad. Correction: Muslims believe the Qur'an is the literal word of Allah, revealed to Muhammad through the angel Jibril (Gabriel).
• Misconception: All Muslims believe in absolute predestination with no free will. Correction: While Muslims believe in Allah's foreknowledge (al-Qadr), most also affirm human responsibility and choice, as taught in the Qur'an.