Year 8 Religious Studies Assessment Revision

–Islam: Beliefs and Teachings

-Islam: Practices

My assessment is on __________________________________

TASK: read the information and answer the questions that follow.

Key Words
Teacher Feedback Opportunit

Tawhid: the oneness and unity of God

Monotheism: a religion that believes there is only one God
Supremacy: supreme power or authority; quality of God
Immanent: the idea that God is present in and involved with life on earth and in the
universe; a quality of God. This shows that God is within all things and close to his people.
Transcendent: the idea that God is beyond and outside life on earth and the universe; a
quality of God.
Omnipotent: almighty, having unlimited power; a quality of God
Omniscient: all knowing; a quality of God
Prophet: a person who proclaims the message of God

The Oneness of God

 Tawhid is one of the most important beliefs in both Sunni and Shi’a Islam
 Allah literally means ‘the God’, that is ‘the one and only God.’ This belief is expressed
in Surah 112.
 The belief is repeated daily in the Shahadah, the first pillar of Islam
 Muslims believe that Allah is an undivided entity; God is not made up of different
persons (like the Trinity in Christianity)
 Allah is unique, no one else has the qualities or attributes that Allah does and therefore
he can never be pictured by Muslims

The supremacy of God’s will

 As Allah is the one and only creator, nothing takes place unless God allows it. Good or
bad, Allah has allowed it to happen for a reason.
 Muslims should accept anything that happens as it is the will of God. What God wants
and expects for people is the most important thing.
 Muslims often add the words ‘God willing’ – inshallah – after a promise to do something
as they believe they are not in control of what happens.

Apply your knowledge

Once you are confident with what you have just read, have a go at answering these
questions:

1. What is Tawhid?

2. What is the supremacy of God’s will?

What is prophethood?
 Muslims believe that God has chosen prophets to bring his message to people.
 The belief in the reality and importance of prophets is called Risalah.
 Seal of the Prophets: Muhammad is known as the ‘seal of the prophets’ as he is the
final prophet of Allah. The message he received – the Qur’an – it’s the last, unchanging
prophecy brought to the world.
 Prophets provide a means of communication between God and humans and allow humans to
know how Allah wants them to live.
 Prophets are important role models to follow as they were good people who lived according
to God’s will.
 Adam was the first prophet and first man; Ibrahim was another important prophet who
was willing to sacrifice his son upon God’s command.
 Muhammad is the final prophet of Islam, who received the Qur’an from God (God’s final and
complete message).
 After Muhammad died, Muslims divided into two groups: Sunni and Shi’a. Sunni Muslims
believed that Abu Bakr should be the successor of Islam, whereas Shi’a Muslims believed
that Ali should succeed Muhammad as he was Muhammad’s cousin and son in law.
 The belief in the Imamate is the main way that Muslims in the Sunni and Shi’a
traditions differ: it is only accepted by Shi’as.
 Shi’a believe that, in addition to selecting the prophets, Allah also appointed guides
who could correctly interpret and explain Allah’s message.
 From Muhammad onwards, Shi’a believe that Imams were appointed to be the true
leaders of the Ummah (Muslim community) guiding people to the correct meaning of
the Qur’an.

Apply your knowledge

Once you are confident with what you have just read, have a go at answering
these questions and check your answers afterwards.
 1. What is a prophet?

2. Why is Adam important?

3. Why is Ibrahim important?

4. Why is Muhammad important?

5. Why are prophets role models for Muslims?

6. What are two differences between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims?

The Five Pillars and the Ten Obligitary Acts

Key Words
The Five Pillars: the five most important duties for all Muslims: to believe, to pray, to
give to charity, to fast, to go on pilgrimage
The Ten Obligatory Acts: the ten most important duties for Shi’a Muslims, which
include the Five Pillars
Shahadah: the Muslim declaration of faith
There are five key practices or duties for Muslims: shahadah, salah, zakah, sawm and
hajj. Both Sunni and Shi’a keep these, though Shi’a Muslims have them as part of the Ten
Obligatory Acts.
 THE FIVE PILLARS:
1. The Shahadah – declaration of faith
2. Salah – prayer

THE TEN OBLIGATORY ACTS:

1. Salah – prayer
2. Sawm – fasting
3. Zakah – charitable giving
4. Khums – a 20 per cent tax on
income once all expenses are
deducted. Half goes to charity
and half goes to Shi’a religious
leaders
5. Hajj – pilgrimage
6. Jihad – the struggle to
 Islam means to surrender or submit to God.
maintain the faith and defend
 The five pillars are mandatory to show
Islam.
Why is the Shahadah important? ‘submission to God’s will’ i.e. to a Muslim.
 The Shahadah expresses the basic belief in The beliefs7. Amr-bil-Maruf – encouraging
are described as pillars because
Islam. others to do what is good.
pillars support buildings. The building is Islam,
 Sincerely reciting this statement in front of 8. Nahi Anil Munkar –
without the pillars (or with only a few of them)
Muslim witnesses is the only requirement for discouraging people from doing
the faith becomes unstable falls down.
joining the Muslim community. It is recited many what is wrong.
times during a Muslim’s lifetime.
9. Tawallah – to be loving towards
 The words are whispered into the ears of a
Thethe words of the
friends Shahadah
of Allah, on
including
newborn baby, they form a section of the adhan
the Saudi Arabian flag
(call to prayer), heard five times every day, Muhammad and the Imams.
repeated each night before sleep and Muhammad 10. Tabarrah – disassociating from
suggested they should be the last words a person the enemies of Allah.
utters before death.

Apply your knowledge

Once you are confident with what you have just read, have a go at answering
these questions and check your answers afterwards:

1. Why are the 5 pillars important?

THE FIVE PILLARS:
1. The Shahadah –
declaration of faith
2. Why is the Shahadah important? 2. Salah – prayer
3. Zakah – charitable
giving
4. Sawm – fasting
‘The Qur’an is the only source of guidance a Muslim needs to live a good life.’ [12 marks]
TASK: use the space below to plan points for your answer. You need 2 agree paragraphs, 2
disagree paragraphs and 2 quotes.

‘This is the scripture in which there ‘There is no God but Allah and Muhammad
is no doubt’ Qur’an is his messenger’ Qur’an

Why does the

Why is the What other sources of
Qur’an provide
Qur’an guidance are there for
reliable guidance?
important? Muslims?

Agree Disagree

Make sure you write in PEEEL structure

Point—’some people will agree/disagree because…’
Explain—’this means…’
Evidence—’for example/the Bible says…’
Explain—’this means…’
Link—’therefore, some people will agree/disagree that the Shahadah is the most important pillar of Islam
because…’