Studies Of 

Religion 1 Notes 
Preliminary 2019   
 
Syllabus key 
points summary  
 

Topic 1: The Nature of 

Religion  
 
GLOSSARY:  
 
Panatheisms:​ ​not identifying with any particular faith  
 
Ethics: ​The system of explicit,philosophical and/or religious reflection on 
moral beliefs and practices to clarify what is right and what is wrong, and what 
human beings should freely do or refrain from doing  
 
Immanent:​ ​An indwelling, constant reality of a divine being or spiritual forces 
as an intrinsic part of the world opposite of transcendent. 
( reality/present day)  
 
Transcendent:​ ​Ultimate reality that exists beyond our world and our 
experience ( supernatural )  
 
Monotheism​: ​the belief that there is only one God  
 
Polytheism​ : ​refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs through which a 
Christian individual, group or culture interprets the world and interacts with it  
 
Adherent:​ ​someone who believes in a particular faith  
 
● Religion as a world view that:  
1.1 : Acknowledges the supernatural dimension  
- All adherents believe in a transcendent factor within their 
religion.  
- Uses the idea of a supernatural dimension and/or beyond 
human existence to answer life’s biggest questions eg. what 
happens when we die  
- Perceived that factors in this supernatural dimensions have 
control over humanity’s destiny and choices  
 
Examples from each faith:  
 
Buddhism:  

The purpose of life is to end suffering and the cycle 

of rebirth and to achieve Enlightenment (nirvana). 

 
Islam:  
The angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and delivered a message 
from the one true God. 
 
Christianity:  
- Concept of salvation  
- Divinity of Jesus  
- Heaven and hell  
- Angels  
 
Judaism:  
The Hebrews are a chosen people, cared for by God 
(for example, the escape from Egypt). 

 
Hinduism:  
The importance of the Vedas ("Books of Knowledge"), 
a collection of sacred texts. 

 
1.2 : has a belief in a divine being or powers beyond the human 
and/or dwelling within the individuals  
 
- Every adherent in a faith have different perceptions and 
rules towards these figure/s that they look up to as having 
divine being or powers  
- For example: Buddhists have no God, they are a Godless 
religion 
  
Transcendent and Immanent:  
- Transcendent can be seen as ‘something beyond the ordinary’  
- Religion helps in some ways to map a course through life’s 
obstacles and the limitations of human existence 
 
- Some religions do not like to manipulate or depict these divine 
powers in any form of media. For example:  
 
Why do Islam and Judaism oppose the image of God? 
- To avoid idolatry  
- Do not want to depict this image of God  
- They consider him part of the supernatural world, thus does 
not want to create this image of him  
- They consider this to be a sin or offence to the faith 
 
As aherants of this faith, they believe this needs to be respected and 
that God is beyond comprehension with his divine powers. 
( supernatural ) 
 
 
● Characteristics of Religion  
2.1 : beliefs and believers  
 
- Beliefs and believers ( adherent ) sustain all religions.  
Eg. the central beliefs of Christianity - Jesus of Nazareth as 
the Son of God  
 
- However beliefs and believers may often create different 
interpretations of these beliefs and has resulted into disunity.  
 
​ .2: sacred texts and writings  
2
 - All religions have oral and/ or written sacred texts, writings , or 
other types of stories. For example, in Buddhism, these are the Pali 
Ganon. In Islam, it is the Quran. 
- Sacred texts and writing interconnect the faith, as well as gives 
essential direction for their customs.  
2.3 Ethics  
- Can be understood as the explicit, philosophical and/or religious 
reflection on moral beliefs within a tradition  
- The purpose is to clarify what is right and wrong within the belief  
- What the adherents should freely do or refrain from doing  
 
2.4 Rituals and Ceremonies  
- Systems of actions and beliefs that each have a beginning, a 
middle and an end.  
● 3.1 The contribution of religion  
 

Topic 2: Australian 
Aboriginal Beliefs and 
Spiritualities - The Dreaming  
 
● 4.1 The Nature of Dreaming  
Song line: is a way of telling a story about the land, survival, how 
to travel from one way to another  
- the dreaming is in the present, it is part of ongoing life.  
- aboriginal people see dreaming all around them, helps shapes 
their kinship and spirituality. It helps identify who they are. it is an 
ongoing living spirituality.  
- the dreaming is to do with everything about on going life : plants 
and life, relationships, mythology, art Where they've come from, 
how they live, where they're going, responsibilities on how kinship 
groups needs to be structured after they're dead  
Diversity:  
- there's not one language, there's not one song, not one sacred 
site within australia. All diverse.  
 
Origins of the universe -  
- Aboriginals have their own lands, languages and customs. 
 The broad contour of beliefs, values and attitudes remains 
and persists into modern Aboriginal spirituality .The 
primordial spirits travelled about and in the course of their 
adventures they encountered one another and negotiated 
the terms of existence.The spirits of ancestors gave cach 
living species its own law, or design of life. They taught 
humans all the thing that are important for survival, 
including how to hunt, how to make fire and utensils and 
how to perform ceremonies.  
 
​Sacred Sites -  
- The dreaming creation stories are described as the origin of 
important landscape features some of places where important 
events occured. These are known as sacred sites. They may be 
land, rock formations, parts of rivers or seas. They are used for 
different events, such as burial grounds, ceremonial meeting 
places, places of danger and significant places such as birthing 
caves. The custodians that have the knowledge on these sacred 
sites reveal little as possible. Sacred sites are used in ceremony 
and are connected by the Dreaming tracks. These are followed in 
Walkabout.  
 
- Dreaming tracks establish a relationship between one place and 
another. These are the trails of the lives and movements of the 
ancestral spirits. They connect sacred sites and are sometimes 
known as ‘ songlines’’. They can be depicted in sand paintings, 
paintings, engravings and body paintings. They contain the spirit 
children of the ancestral spirits who are yet to be born either as a 
natural species of animal or plant or as a human. Walkabout use 
to be seen whites as no more than idle wandering around the 
countryside. Nowadays it is more widely appreciated as a 
deliberate pilgrimage along ritual paths which link the Aboriginal 
sacred sites . Going on walkabout is thus a spiritual journey which 
renews and develops the soul by cultivating higher states of 
consciousness and higher experiences of reality.  
 
Diversity of the dreaming -  
 
- Aboriginal spirituality is based on a variety of beliefs. 
Essential to all tribes is the belief of an ancestral creative 
spirit who came out of a darkened world and by the process 
of his travels created the landscape, significant landforms 
 the people, animals and plants etc. Particular plants and 
animals, are associated with this spirit and are the totems 
for people in that area. They have a kinship with that spirit. 
This encompasses the ownership of the Dreaming tracks 
and Sacred sites associated with that creative spirit and 
those Dreamings. This kinship and responsibility gives 
spiritual and temporal identity to the Aboriginal people  

 
 
 
Symbolism and Art  

● Artwork could be about the dreaming, stories about the 

ancestors, spirits of the land. Also can be about song lines and 
survival.  
 ● It is significant as there was no written language, artwork is the 
physical record. It is the equivalent of a written language. eg 
carvings in trees.  
● It was the consist form of transmission in spiritual beliefs. Coveys 
rituals, stories and spiritual beliefs. eg where the kangaroos 
gather. Strengthen kinship ties. 
● Can depict sacred sites that only men and women are to have 
knowledge of.  
● Different artworks have different meanings. if this didn't 
exists, the transmission of the dreaming from one 
generation to the next, it would be really difficult to pass on 
the culture.  
 
4.2 Inextricable connection to dreaming, land and identity.  
   
● Inextricable - cannot separate.  
eg . you can't unscramble an egg, its intertwined. The same can be said about 
an aboriginal person with the dreaming and their identity.  
● They are one. “The land is alive with ancestral beings.” It is where they 
live.  
● The land was shaped by ancestral beings during the dreaming.  
● Certain landforms have meaning for aboriginal people. Eg. where 
they've been travelling, where they lived, where they were born. 
Totems  
● Another way the dreaming, land and identity are inextricably linked is 
through totems.  
● Aboriginal people identify with certain landforms or animals which are 
their totemic symbol. This is where ancestors reside, and where they 
lived before they were born and where they will return when they die 
● Custodianship of these totems is critical to an Aboriginal persons life.  
● The significance is custodianship, the responsibility to care for 
land, to care for animals.  
 
 

Topic 3 [core]: Christianity  

 
Outline the Social and cultural context of Christianity (1 Paragraph)  
In the proceeding 2000 years before Jesus was born, different cultures 
and empires had come in and invaded and taken people away for 
slavery. Occupation of land by the Greeks and taking control. At the 
time there was a distinct Jewish religion, he was born into a time where 
there have been a period of occupation and displacement by the 
Assyrians, Egyptians, babylonians, Greeks and Romans. Additionally, 
there was an Messianic expectation that a Messiah was going to come 
and fix this. However Jesus came and was revolutionary, he had 
preached the message of peace. Therefore, the cultural context was 
developed as the Jews had recognised him as the Messiah.  
1.1 Principal Beliefs:  
THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES ​- what is the 
“early church” 
 
● Jesus establishes a form of “ church” - a gathering of people.  
● The word ‘ekklesia’ used in Matthew means “ assembly, 
congregation, council” so the context wasn’t “ Church” like it is 
today  
● In Ephesians, written 50 years after Gospel, and early writers 
began to refer to Christian communities as a Church.  
● Jesus preached the gospel to all, knowing only some would 
adhere and spread the word. So audience wasn’t limited. His 
concept of ‘church’ wasn’t ours.  
● Communities developed in Antioch, Ephesus, Rome, Corinth ( think 
of “ paul's letters to..”  
● Women were also given key roles in the leadership of the early 
Church, eg, Phoebe ( given same status as Timothy), Chloe ( leader 
at Corinth ), Tabitha ( mourned after death), Mary Magdalene  
THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES​ - some early 
figures  
 
● Simon became a leader. Jesus gave him the name “rock” which 
translated to “petros” ( Greek ) which is Peter.  
● Peter left Jerusalem to move to Antioch, then was leader in Roman 
Church  
● James became leader in Jerusalem ( later put to death 62 CE )  
● Saul ( later Paul ) undertook many missionary journeys and wrote 
extensively contributing heavily to New Testament  
 
PG 45 - THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES - 
stages in early Christian development  
● The development of Christianity was more complicated than it 
seemed  
● Jesus chose 12 from among his disciples. All acknowledge that 
Simon from Galilee was the leader of the group.  
 ● Peter however was forced to leave Jerusalem and moved his 
centre to Antioch, and is said to have gone to Rome and become 
the first Bishop  
● Due to this, James became the undisputed Christian leader in 
Jerusalem. However was put to death in 62 CE by a Jewish group 
attached to the Temple.  
● Therefore to summarise; There were two early Christian leaders - 
Peter, who was the leader of the 12, and James, whose group had 
its base in Jerusalem.  
● Another significant figure in this formative period was Saul. A 
roman citizen in modern day Turkey. He was well trained in Jewish 
learning and awaited the coming of the Messiah.  
● Saul was converted to Christianity and took a new name - Paul.  
PG 45-46 : THE STAGES IN EARLY CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT CAN 
BE IDENTIFIED IN FOUR MAJOR STAGES :  
 
- STAGE 1 : Jesus’ death and resurrection is announced to the 
Jews and others at Pentecost  
- STAGE 2: The Church leaders its first lesson about 
expansion. The first break - the gospel message is not tied 
to Jerusalem  
- STAGE 3: The Church learns about a second valuable lesson. 
Expansion and disagreement- you need not be a Jew to be 
Jesus’ disciples 
- STAGE 4: The Church expands through Paul’s missionary 
journeys.  
 
PG 46 : EARLY CHURCH COMMUNITIES AND FOLLOWERS  
- ‘assembly , congregation, council’ became the term used to 
express the concept of united Christian Church.  
 
  
PG 51 THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST  
 
● From early Christian belief, they had believed in the resurrection 
of the body; that he was divine, yet this raised questions about the 
nature of Jesus and the nature of God.  
● They asked in what sense was Jesus both truly divine and truly 
human.  
● They had begun to understand that he was human, although at 
the same time he was also mysteriously the divine Son of God.  
● The gospels affirm that Jesus not only rose from the dead but 
also was seen by many of his followers.  
● It gives every Christian hope that if they rely on Jesus and repent 
and turn themselves to God  
 ● At the council of nicea it was the understanding of jesus being 
divine and human was resolved- the questioning of people at the 
time about the divinity and nature of Jesus.  
 
PG 52 THE NATURE OF GOD AND THE TRINITY  
● God is One and the Creator of all things. 
● This same God is also known as three persons: Father or 
Creator of all, Jesus the son of God, and the Holy Spirit or 
Sanctifier. 
● This is known as ‘the mystery of the holy or Blessed Trinity’ 
● This is the central dogma and mystery of the Christian faith 
● When one person in the Trinity acts, so too do the other two 
persons. Each person is distinct but down to act in isolation 
from the others. 
● The trinity traditionally has been described in relation to three 
key functions: 
→ Creating ( bringing God’s new life to all creation) 
→ Sanctifying ( blessings and making holy all 
creation) 
→ Redeeming ( turning all creation from sin and 
darkness and more fully towards God) 
PG 52/53 REVELATION  
 
→ definition : revelation is the transmission of knowledge from the 
divine to the hyman that is ongoing throughout human history. 
Includes; biblical revelation as well as revelation that is evident 
throughout the whole human history.  
→ THE MAIN CHRISTIAN REVELATION  
Christians believe that revelation is not only God’s self-communication 
to human beings but it is also loving and utterly free invitation to join 
in friendship with God.  
→ THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENERAL AND SPECIAL REVELATION  
○
General revelation – knowledge of God through nature, philosophy, 
reasoning, human conscience, etc 
○ Special revelation – knowledge of God can be discovered through 
supernatural means, eg, miracles and Scriptures. Anything other 
than “man” 
PG 53 SALVATION  
 
○ Agnus Dei – Lamb of God – Jesus  
was the ultimate sacrifice 
○ Christian Salvation: 
○ Deliverance from sin – shown through reconciliation 
 ○ Resurrection to afterlife – possible after death for those who are 
forgiven 
○ Healing through God – eg, miracle events like Lourdes water 
○ Salvation recognises the ​past ​forgiveness of sins, the ​present​ living 
as a saved person, and the ​future ​afterlife 
Salvation is the belief that human beings require deliverance by God 
from the power of sin and darkness. Yet it is also the process or way in 
which humans are saved or brought to fullness of life in God.  
SALVATION HAS THREE MAIN FEATURES :  
→ the initial fruits of salvation: may be experiences now in this present 
life. 
→ people cannot achieve salvation by themselves. It is only through 
grace of God that humans can attain salvation  
→ Jesus Christ is the central to salvation, for it is through his life, death, 
and resurrection that God has offered salvation to all humanity.  
Some believe that those who strive to do God's will as it is made known 
to them in conscience can be saved,even if they are not members of 
that particular Church. 
→ salvation is more concerned with the all-powerful and all-knowing 
love of God who is Mystery and beyond all human understanding. 
→ Christians believe that to experience God’s love is to experience the 
essence of salvation’s meaning and mystery.  
 
PRINCIPAL BELIEFS IN THE BIBLE  
Divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ  
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his 
glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of 
grace and truth. ​Jn 1:14 
Jesus was referred to as “the Word”, ie, Word of God, showing the divinity of 
Jesus. 
The passage also states that the “Word became flesh”, ie, Jesus becoming part 
human. He lived among humans, and people have witnessed his glory. 
Consequently, this reflects the Christian belief that Jesus was part human, 
part divine. 
 
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three eternal and equal entities 
that coexist, and are at work in the world, yet God is all these entities.  
 

Salvation  Jn 3:16  Whoever believes in God shall not perish and will 
16 ​For God  instead have eternal life,  
so loved  because God sacrificed His Son for his love of the 
the world  world. 
that he 
gave his 
one and 
only Son, 
that 
whoever 
believes in 
 him shall 
not perish 
but have 
eternal life. 
 
TEN COMMANDMENTS  
→ The commandments provide a moral structure in which Christians live their 
lives, as well as a guidance on how individuals share their lives with other 
people in society 

→ Even with the use of language like ‘thou shalt not’, we always as Christian 
adherents attempt to perceive that it is out of love, in order to encourage it 
with all interactions  

→ The first three commandments of the Decalogue refer to the worship of God, 
while the rest refer to obligations to one’s neighbour and society.  

→ The commandments should be viewed as life principles to be internalised by 

the human heart - not avoided because of perceived punishment and 
damnation by God.  

→ Overall, the ten commandments call Christians back to loving God alone 
and loving their neighbors as themselves.  

1. You shall not murder  

2. You shall not steal  
3. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour 

BEATITUDES  

fulfil the promise​ made to Abraham 

● They mostly speak of ​rewards​ for the aforementioned behaviours, 

with rewards including ​finding forgiveness​ (Blessed are they who 
mourn for they shall be comforted) and a promise of the ​heavenly 
kingdom​ (Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of 
heaven) 
● This comes into ​contrast ​with the attitude shown in the Old 
Testament, where the focus was placed mostly on the ​actions or 
behaviours we must not follow​. The Beatitudes, on the other hand, 
focuses on​ rewarding behaviour that should be followed​.  
  
 ➢ Matthew's gospel communicates the aspects of Happiness  
➢ In Luke’s version, Jesus blesses his listeners for conditions of real 
poverty, hunger and bleakness by promising them future rewards 
from God.  
 
JESUS’ COMMANDMENT OF LOVE  
 
 

 
 
● Moral compass ​- Christians adherents expected to 
reflect on ethical teachings when presented with a range 
of issues 
● Guidance for contemporary ​issues​ - useful for 
interpreting ethical issues such as sexual morality, 
bioethics, international economics, ecological concerns 
and the use of force in international conflicts. For 
Catholicism, helps inspire the Catechism of the Catholic 
Church 
● Role model ​- life and ministry of Jesus provides a model 
for life. This is reflected in the Christian ethos of caring 
for the needy and the vulnerable. 
It was ‘agape’ love - unconditional and inherent 
regardless of circumstance. This is the challenge for 
adherents 

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE  

→ THE BIBLE WAS INSPIRED BY GOD   

- Christians believe that the bible is inspired by God and thus 

carries the authority of God  
 - The bible provides a special connection between God and 
humans and provides human beings with deep spiritual insight 
into their religion 
- Some believe the inspiration of scripture amounts to God 
dictating a word for word account which was then passed down to 
Christian communities  
- The bible contains how we as humans are getting into heaven; 
Salvation is one of the principle beliefs describing how we as 
humans need to live a Christ life  

​ IBLE CONTAINS SALVATION HISTORY  

→B

- The bible depicts the hand of God intervening into 

human history, the bible contains salvation history from 
the origins of creation through the covenant  

→ ​MODEL FOR CHRISTIAN LIFE AND ACTION  

- The bible conveys an understanding of model of life and action; 

these actions are based on broad principles rather than specific 
teachings that outline what is required of a Christian  
- The bible is a source of unity for Christians as it provides a link to 
a communal religious heritage  
- Since the bible provides a model for action the fundamental 
source of ethical guidance is derived from the bible and in 
particular the New Testament  

→ DIFFERENT APPLICATION OF THE BIBLE ACROSS THE 

SPECTRUM OF CHRISTIANITY  

- While being critical and equal importance to all Christian 

denominations, is nevertheless used differently across the 
spectrum of denominations  
- The ​Catholic and Orthodox ​believe that the revelation of God 
comes through scripture in the light of tradition  
- In contrast, Protestants do not place the same emphasis on 
tradition as a means of illuminating the meaning of the sacred 
text  
- The teaching authority of the Church is seen as relevant, but they 
are more directly related to biblical teaching  
- Personal conscience and individual interpretation of the biblical 
 texts are more pronounced in Protestant Churches  
- The bible has a vital role in determining the rituals and practical 
dimensions of Christianity 
- The bible provides guidelines for ritual, prayer and worship, the 
latter being strongly based on scripture  

Question: Discuss how different Christian denominations approach and 

apply the Bible. 

There are varying approaches within the bible. The denominations that 
stem place a greater emphasis on the bible being the as a source of 
spiritual. Protestants the way you apply in rituals is a source of God's 
word, but protestant believe it's through scripture alone, the word of the 
bible and is up to the individual to apply it in their own lives  

PROTESTANTISM  

PRAYER  

→ done as a community with sacraments  

→ different denominations do it as apart of community, however 

different sacraments don't apply to all denominations  

→ jesus models that prayer is important in community, prayer is part of 

sacraments 

→Jesus models that prayer can be used as a way to ask for strength 
and guidance eg prayer of intercession, prayers of the faithful  

→  

Topic 4 ( core 2) : Islam  

ORIGIN 

SYLLABUS: • pre-Islamic Arabia as the cultural and historical 

context for the development of Islam  

PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA : ​Social conditions and religious 

practice -  

→ Islam developed in central Arabia  

- 7th century CE pre-Islamic Arabian society and 

religion reflected the tribal realities of Arabian 
Peninsula  
- The landscape was dotted with oasis towns and 
cities. Among the more prominent were Mecca, a 
centre of trade and commerce, and Yathrib ( 
Medina ) 
- Gods and Goddesses served as protectors of 
individual tribes and their spirits were associated 
with sacred objects - trees, stones, springs and 
wells.  
- In Mecca, there was a central shrine of the Gods, 
the Ka’ba, which housed 360 idols of tribal patron 
gods.  
- While these Gods were main objects of worship, 
beyond this tribal polytheism was a shared belief in 
Allah.  
- Allah ​was the supreme high god - the creator and 
sustainer of life.  
- The arabian tribal system value system or ethical 
code  
- At this time there were also three other flourishing 
religious traditions - Judaism, Christianity and 
Zoroastrianism.  
- Mecca and Medina were prospering and attracting 
many from nomadic to a more settled life.  
- The emergence of Mecca as a major commercial 
centre ushered in the beginnings of a ​new political, 
social and economic order  
- Women, poor and slaves had no rights is 
patriarchal society  
- There was no belief in the after life, they believed in 
“ God in the sky”  
- Kaaba ​ was originally built by Abraham and 
Ishamael but overtime became a centre of 
polytheism  
PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN MUHAMMAD’S LIFE  

SYLLABUS: - the prophet Muhammed  

→ MAIN PHASES  

- There is 3 distinct stages  

1. Early life as an ordinary person ( 571-610)  
2. Mission in Mecca as a religious minority (610-622)  
3. Independent community and polity in Medina ( 
622-632) 

PRIOR TO PROPHETHOOD  

→ prophet Muhammad was bron in 571. He was orphaned at a very 

young age  

→ In his youth, he gains a reputation for trustworthiness.  

→ At the age of 25, he marries a 40 year old widow - Khadijah  

→ mainly engaged in trade and had a reputation of helping the poor 

and needy  

→ in his late thirties, he becomes increasingly spiritual and withdraws 

himself to meditation and solitude on a mountain-top cave  

MECCAN PERIOD  

→ In 610, age of 40, he receives his first revelation  

→ Meccan establishment first ignore him; they ridicule him; and then 
they violently oppose him 

→ 619-622 were the hardest years for the Prophet and his followers  

- His wife and tribal protector die  

- The prophet is pelted out of the town Ta’if  
- Economic and social boycott applied to Muslims  

MIGRATION TO MEDINA  

→ In 621, six people from Medina become Muslime  

→ Islam rapidly spreads in Medina whose inhabitants invite the Prophet 

to the city as a peacemaker and leader.  

→ the prophet leaves last in a epic escape from bounty hunters  

EARLY YEARS IN MEDINA  

→ the prophet established the first pluralistic constitution by defining 

Muslims, Jews and Polytheists in Medina as one Ummah   

The first mosque in Islamic history is built and the Friday prayer is 
conducted  

HIS ROLE  

• The example of Muhammad’s life, his faith, courage and 

leadership qualities provide excellent model for Muslim life  
• Surrender to Allah = Islam, Muhammad is seen as the perfect 
example by his total submission to Allah 
• All Muslims encouraged to follow his example in living Islam and 
perfecting their character 
• Chosen by Allah to convey the message of Islam- acclaimed 
prophet 
• Tradition- reveals his character and leadership qualities 
Hadith: book of his teachings 
Sunna: book of his actions 
• Orphaned​ at an early age- became a ‘child of everyone’, 
developed an affinity with those marginalised and alienated 
• Honesty & integrity as a ​trader- ​‘Al –Ameen’ 
• Loyal faithful ​husband & father 
• Man of prayer, spiritual searcher​- close to Allah before the 
revelations began 
• Following revelation, complete Faith, Trust in Allah, submitted fully 
to the will of Allah​-first Muslim ​and a ​fearless preacher and 
warrior ​for Allah and Islam 
• Strong leader & statesman- ​virtual head of Arabia – yet humble 
and simple 
• Arbitrator and judge, ​resolving disputes justly, fair wages, no 
corruption 
• Social, political reformer - c​ared for the poor, abolished slavery, 
infanticide, improved conditions for women 
• Known as the ​‘The Walking Qur’an’- ​embodiment of all the 
teachings of the Qur’an in human form 
• Arabian tribal society in transition 
• Mecca and Medina prospering and attracting many from 
nomadic to a more settled town life 
• Mecca emerging as a major commercial centre with consequent 
changes to social, political and economic order. 
• Some Changes were: new wealth , Quraysh tribe gaining in 
economic and political power, greater divisions between social 
classes and more inequality and disparity between rich and poor 
which led to stresses in traditional Arab tribal; values and way of 
life 
TIMELINE  
1. Born in 570 in Mecca 
2. Orphaned at age 5 or 6 (575) 
3. Went to live with Uncle age 8 (578) 
4. Became a trader in his teenage years 
5. Acquired a reputation as an honest person nicknamed “Al-Ameen” 
6. Khadijah hired him to lead her caravan (594) 
7. Khadijah proposed marriage to him 
8. Married at age 25 (595) 
9. Had 6 children – 2 boys & 4 girls 
10. Muhammad began meditating in a cave at Mount Hira 
11. The angel Gabriel (Jibril) appeared to him at age 40 (610) 
12. Khadijah took him to see her cousin Waraqa Ibn Mawfal who 
reassured them that this was all ok 
13. The Qur’an began to be written 
14. Makes his message public (613) 
15. New Muslims were persecuted in Mecca by the Quraysh because 
his teachings threatened their pagan way of life 
16. Khadijah dies (circa 620) and Muhammad’s uncle and protector 
dies.  
17. Muhammad ascends to heaven (circa 621) where he speaks to 
God, who gives him instructions to take back to the faithful on 
earth about the number of times to pray each day 
 18. Muhammad moves to Medina (622) (Hijira) where he becomes a 
well-respected community leader, establishes 1​st​ planned 
community of Islam 
19. There follows a long war when Muhammad’s army finally conquers 
Mecca (630) 
20. Muhammad spares the conquered army, re-dedicates the Ka’ba 
and Islam is finally accepted 
21. Muhammad dies on June 8, 632 aged 62, buried Mecca 
LEGACY OF A PROPHET  
❏ → worlds fastest growing faith  
❏ → region where Muhammed lived engaged in regular warfare and 
retribution  
❏ → Born 570 CE in Mecca ( Saudi Arabia)  
❏ → Tribe an essential social construct - needed for survival  
❏ → no central form of government  
❏ → born into powerful tribe, raised by uncle 
❏ → Qa’ba, site of pagan worship in Mecca, which was an important 
trading post  
❏ → met and engaged with Jewish and Christian people  
❏ → married 40 year old at 25 , had 4 daughters, 2 sons  
❏ → Nearing 40 he became more spiritual following 
concerns/interests with how the poor is his tribe were being 
treated. society was becoming too material  
❏ → meditated in the cave (not uncommon for him ) encounter with 
angel  
❏ → stared to recite new scripture → birth of Islam  

THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAM AFTER THE DEATH OF MUHAMMED  

SYLLABUS:  
the development of Islam under the Caliphs  
→ RIGHTLY GUIDED CALIPHS ( SUCCESSORS )  
The four leaders after the death of Muhammed  
→ ABU BAKR  
● Father in law of Muhammed after death of Khadija  
● Collated Islamic writings  
● Brought peace to tribal unrest  
● He was a close friend of the Prophet Muhammed  
→ OMAR  
● Father in law of another wife of Muhammed  
 ● Expanded Muslim rule to Syria, Egypt and modern Iraq ( persia )  
→ UTHMAN  
● Contributed to lslam with preaching through his philanthropy.  
● Son in law of the Prophet  
● Murdered → ongoing ramifications  
● From a prominent family in Mecca  
→ ALI  
● Closest relative to the prophet ( his cousin )  
● Married to Muhammad’s daughter  
● Moved Islam capital to Iraq 
● Challenged by Aisha → had a battle, Ali won  
● Lost a battle with another group, lead by nephew of Uthman. Ali is 
assassinated.  
 
 
 
SUNNI AND SHI'A  
→ the two main groups of Islam. The Sunni group is about 90% of 
Muslims  
The Shi’a group makes up the 10%  
→ they are many political differences centred around who should be 
recognised as the leader of the Muslim community  
→ SHI’A  
● Believe that those who are are a leader ​must be a descendent ​of 
the Prophet Muhammed  
● Their position derives from the group of supporters of Ali, the 
fourth rightly guided caliphs  
→ SUNNI  
● The sunni group believe that the leader should be chosen from 
among all the descendents of the tribe of Muhammed, not 
necessarily from the family of Muhammed.  
● Tensions continue to exist between the Sunni and Shi’a groups 
today  
● Sunni are recognised by the Shi’a to be less than sincere in their 
devotion and too accustomed to the comforts of the world  
 
CHOSEN LEADER  
→ the Shi’i group claim that there have been 12 or 7 imams. The 
group claims that the last Imam vanished from history without 
dying and now acts as a hidden force, appearing to faithful 
Muslims in times of need.  
 
 THE EXPANSION OF MUSLIM WORLD  
 
❏ Within 120 years of Muhammad’s death, Islam had spread as 
far west as Spain in Europe and throughout North Africa  
❏ Muslims were challenging the Eastern parts of the Roman 
Empire ( Constantinople) and moves eastwards towards 
India  
❏ As Islam expanded, garrison towans (nearby major cities) 
were established in lieu of destroying the major cities 
themselves. In these smaller towns, places of worship were 
established (mosques)  
❏ In the expanding community, there was no centralised 
religious hierarchy. The caliph of the community had 
political and legal authority.  
❏ Sharia law (law based on the Prophet and sunna) was 
developed  
❏ Umma​ (international community of Muslims) was developed 
where fundamental principal beliefs united Muslims, despite 
theological differences.  

 
SUMMARY OF SUNNI AND SHI’A ISLAM  
 
→ the major divisions within the Islam community began after 
Muhammad’s death and the reasons for their appearance were largely 
POLITICAL  
​ laim to follow the ‘right path’ of Islam. This is based off the 
​ unni c
→ The S
Qur’an and the sunna of the Prophet  
● All direct revelation from Allah was complete with Muhammad’s 
death and is represented by the Qur’an  
→ The Shi'a believe that only a descendant of the Prophet can be 
invested as the leader ( imam)  
● Although the twelfth imam disappeared, divine guidance is still 
available through the descendants of Muhammed and qualified 
scholars. 
→ I​ mam's ​reveal the inner meaning of the Qur’an or could add to the 
understanding of the revelation of Allah  
→ the DIFFERENCE between the two major variants is not one of beliefs, 
but rather of the expression of those beliefs in the fields of theology law 
and religious organisation ( how islamic history is perceived)  
 
THE PRINCIPLE BELIEFS - ARTICLES OF FAITH  
 
SYLLABUS: ​Principal Beliefs 
• the articles of faith explained in the Aqida as: 
– Tawhid  
– Angels  
– Books of Allah 
– Rusul  
– Akhira 
– Fate/predestination  
 
TAWHID – THE ONENESS OF ALLAH 
• The belief in – and the declaration of – the oneness and unity of 
God. This is recited as part of the five daily prayers: “​He, Allah, is 
One. Allah is he on whom all depend . He begets not, nor is he 
begotten. And none is like him.” 

• Only Allah must be worshipped and no other being should be 

associated with Allah 
• ​ hirk​ – is the worst of all sins 
The sin of idolatry – s
• Allah is all knowing and all powerful and the creator of all things- 
transcendent 
• Yet Allah is also immanent- close to the heat of all, 
• Tawhid does not allow pride or arrogance, possessions to be 
regarded as anything than transitory, and sees all things as 
purposeful – Allah has allowed them to happen 
• As Allah is all knowing to act out of impure motives, or be 
hypocritical is wrong 
• Ignorance is wrong as to submit to Allah requires you know his 
ways.  
• Belief in tawhid creates meaning for Muslims  
ANGELS 
● They are created by God from light to serve and worship him – 
especially the Angel Gabriel (Jibril) 
● Two guardian angels are assigned to each person 
● Every thought and action will be recorded by these two angels (so 
that the life of a Muslim may be assessed after death) 
 
SACRED BOOKS - QUR’AN 
• Islam has two sacred texts – the Qur’an and the Hadith 
• The Qur’an is the (last) book revealed by his (last) Prophet 
Muhammad – that is, it is the direct word of God 
• The Qur’an contains all the essential teachings of Allah – the 
stories of the prophets and the consequences of good and evil 
deeds 
• Thus, it covers how to live your life and also provides all the 
answers to the important questions; e.g. who we are and why we 
are here. 
• It was told directly to Muhammad who committed it to memory.   
• It was finally written down by scribes exactly as it was received.   
• Hence it is the complete and reliable source of Revelation. 
• The Qur’an contains 114 sura – chapters – subdivided into 6000 
verses. 
• It is written in Arabic – which is the language of Allah 
• Many Muslims memorise and recite the Qur’an 
• When translated, it provides only an approximate interpretation 
of the original words of God – and therefore, when the true 
meanings are required, one must go the original Arabic. 
 
SACRED BOOKS – HADITH 
• The second of the Sacred Texts is the Hadith 
• This book records the traditions words and practices of 
Muhammad – i.e. The Sunnah. 
• It is these traditions and practices upon which Muslims model 
their lives 
• To most Muslims, there are 6 collections of Hadith which are all to 
be treated as true teachings of Muhammad 
• These were written during the first three centuries of Islam 
 
RUSUL – PROPHETS 
 • A prophet is a messenger from God 
• God speaks to us through the prophets 
• Islam believes that there were many prophets – 25 are named in 
the Qur’an including Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus – but that 
Muhammad was the last.   
• Yes – it believes that Jesus was a prophet – not God. 
  
DAY OF JUDGEMENT – YAWMUDDIN & LIFE AFTER DEATH – AKHIRA 
• Allah will determine whether a person will spend their afterlife in 
Jahannam (hell) or Jannah (heaven) 
• Every thought and action of a Muslim’s life on earth will be 
recorded – and revealed on the day of judgement  
• This record is kept by the two guardian angels who are assigned 
to each person so that– on the day of judgement –the person will 
then see themselves as they really are 
THE ROLE PROPHECY IN ISLAM- RUSSEL  
→ Muhammed is regarded as the last greatest messenger  
→ He is the seal of the prophets  
→ The Qur’an refers to twenty four messages  
→ Adam is considered one of the first messengers, rusul is used to 
describe a messenger who has been given a particular mission 
→ The term rusul is given to famous biblical figures  
→ The Quran gives special attention to the figures who were 
responsible for the handing down of significant books.  
→ The five prophets are considered the most important in Islam 
are:  
- Noah  
- Abraham  
- Moses  
- Jesus  
- Muhammad  

PREDESTINATION- FATE- “ Al-Qadr”  

❏ Allah is all knowing  
❏ Nothing happens by chance or randomly  
❏ Happens by design, Allah determines what will happen  
❏ Our destiny known to Allah, free will, our choice determines it  
❏ Allah respects this free will 
❏ Fate is not compatible with free will → rejected by Muslim belief   
❏ Person can be placed in any circumstance - the way they deal with 
it rather the situation matters 
 ❏ Muslims believe - futile to complain in all the things that happen 
according to the will of allah - nothing happens by chance  
❏ Inshallah- if god wills  
 
 
FREE WILL  
→ hadith - give account of themselves in four areas  
→ areas → free act according to their own choices  
And realise the reality of their responsibility  
→ Shia muslims do not have the same belief in predestination as 
Sunnah (incompatible with God’s justice) they believe people have 
some options presented before them, however its not endless - 
allah sets the boundaries in which an adherent behaves)  
→​ DAY OF JUDGEMENT​:  
- His body and how he used it  
- His life and how he spent it  
- His wealth and how he earned it  
- His knowledge and what he did with it ( HADITH)  
 
 
 
 
LIFE AFTER DEATH- AKHIRA  
 
❏ Human life on earth is a test and the outcome of this test 
determines the fate of the person for eternity  
❏ Life after death - ‘akhira’  
❏ Everything takes place in the will of Allah  
❏ Given free will to respond  
❏ The first part of life us mortal and temporary  
❏ The second part is the eternal life which follows death  
❏ The mortal human life is believed to be a test of character  
❏ Each person is responsible for their own actions  
❏ Every action, every thought is recorded and will be revealed at the 
time of judgement  
❏ Evil actions or intentions can be forgiven by asking Allah for 
forgiveness  
❏ The reward - paradise is described to be of oasis in the desert  
❏ Punishment - jahannam; fire and hot winds, of torture and 
torement; Iblis- satan  
❏ Human mind is not capable to comprehend life after death  
❏ Do not believe that descriptions are taken literally  
❏ QURAN- symbolic representations