RSB9Muslim Beliefs: the Six Beliefs, the Five Roots, Allah and the Prophets

Paper 2 studies Islam as a lived religion in Britain, where the main religious tradition is Christianity. Islam means submission to Allah; a Muslim is someone who submits to Allah.

• Census 2021, England and Wales: 6.5% of people (3,868,133) said they were Muslim, the second-largest religion after Christianity (46.2%). Scotland 2022: 2.2%.
• Britain also includes Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Buddhists and people with non-religious views such as Humanism and atheism (37.2% said ‘no religion’ in England and Wales).
• Muslims believe Islam was the faith of every prophet from Adam. The Prophet Muhammad was the final prophet, not the founder of Islam.
• Sunni Muslims are most Muslims worldwide (roughly 85–90%) and most British Muslims. They accept the first four caliphs (leaders): Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali.
• Shi’a Muslims believe Allah chose Ali, the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, and then Imams from the Prophet’s family, to lead the community.
• Twelvers are the largest Shi’a group: they follow twelve Imams. Seveners (Isma’ilis) follow Isma’il, son of the sixth Imam, as the seventh. Most British Shi’a Muslims are Twelvers, with Isma’ili communities too.
• All Muslims share the Qur’an, Tawhid, the Prophet Muhammad as final prophet and the duties of worship. Pearson asks you to know where Sunni and Shi’a beliefs differ.

Sunni and Shi’a Islam, and the two Shi’a groups the spec names

Sunni

Muslims who accept Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali as the first four leaders (caliphs) after the Prophet; most Muslims.

Shi’a

Muslims who believe leadership passed by Allah’s choice to Ali and Imams from the Prophet’s family.

Twelvers and Seveners

The two Shi’a groups the spec names: Twelvers follow twelve Imams; Seveners (Isma’ilis) follow Isma’il as the seventh Imam.

The Six Beliefs are the core beliefs (iman, faith) of Sunni Islam. Pearson calls them the Six Beliefs; AQA calls them the six articles of faith.

• History: the Qur’an names belief in Allah, his angels, scriptures, messengers and the Last Day together (Qur’an 4:136; 2:177). In the Hadith of Jibril, which opens the Book of Faith (Kitab al-iman) in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet lists iman as these five plus belief in Allah’s decree.
• Purpose: they set out what a person must believe to be a Muslim, give a shared identity to the ummah (worldwide community), and guide how Muslims live.
• Sunni and Shi’a: Shi’a Muslims also believe in angels, holy books and Allah’s decree, but they sum up their faith in the Five Roots, not the Six Beliefs.
• Importance: belief comes before practice. Many Muslims say the Five Pillars only make sense because of the beliefs behind them.

Six Beliefs

The core beliefs of Sunni Islam: Tawhid, angels, holy books, prophets, Akhirah and al-Qadr.

Iman

Faith: belief in the Six Beliefs.

Ummah

The worldwide community of Muslims.

‘Usul ad-Din means ‘the roots (foundations) of religion’. The Five Roots are the core beliefs of Shi’a Islam.

• Surah 112, the Qur’anic basis of Tawhid (Pickthall’s translation): ‘Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally Besought of all! He begetteth not nor was begotten. And there is none comparable unto Him.’
• Other Qur’anic bases: Allah wrongs no one ‘even of the weight of an ant’ (4:40) for ‘Adl; the Prophet is ‘the Seal of the Prophets’ (33:40) for Nubuwwah; Shi’a scholars point to Allah making Ibrahim a leader (imam), a promise that would not reach wrongdoers (2:124), for Imamah.
• History: the roots took shape as Shi’a scholars set out their beliefs after the disagreement about who should lead after the Prophet died in 632 CE. Shi’a Muslims believe the Prophet named Ali as his successor at Ghadir Khumm on the way back from his last Hajj.
• Purpose: they are the foundation on which practice is built (the ‘roots’ of a tree whose branches are the Ten Obligatory Acts). Many Shi’a scholars teach that each Muslim should hold the roots through their own understanding, not only because their family does.
• Importance: they keep Tawhid central, give confidence that Allah is fair, and keep Shi’a Muslims connected to guidance through the Imams.

Five Roots of ‘Usul ad-Din

The core beliefs of Shi’a Islam: Tawhid, ‘Adl, Nubuwwah, Imamah and Mi’ad.

Imamah

Belief in the Imams, leaders chosen by Allah from the Prophet’s family to succeed him.

Mi’ad

Belief in the Day of Judgement and the resurrection.

The spec asks how the Five Roots matter to different Shi’a communities, and how they compare with the Six Beliefs.

• Twelvers follow twelve Imams, from Ali to Muhammad al-Mahdi. They believe the twelfth Imam has been hidden by Allah since the 9th century CE (the occultation) and will return. Meanwhile many follow a senior scholar (a marja’) for guidance.
• For Twelvers, Imamah gives hope and guidance: the Imams’ sayings help explain the Qur’an, and Muslims mourn Imam Husayn each year at Ashura.
• Seveners (Isma’ilis) follow Isma’il, son of the sixth Imam, Ja’far al-Sadiq, as the seventh Imam. Many Isma’ilis today follow a living Imam, so Imamah for them means present guidance on how to live faith in the modern world.
• Similarities with the Six Beliefs: both lists put Tawhid first and include prophethood and life after death.
• Differences: only the Five Roots include ‘Adl and Imamah; only the Six Beliefs list angels, holy books and al-Qadr. Shi’a Muslims still believe in angels and books, and Sunni Muslims still call Allah al-‘Adl (the Just).

Beliefs (Six Beliefs, Five Roots) and practices (Five Pillars)

Occultation

Twelver belief that Allah has hidden the twelfth Imam, al-Mahdi, who will return before the Day of Judgement.

Five Pillars

The five duties of Islam: Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Sawm and Hajj. They are practices, not beliefs.

Tawhid is the oneness of Allah: Allah is one, unique and undivided. It is the first of the Six Beliefs and the first of the Five Roots.

• Tawhid is the first part of the Shahadah: there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
• Surah 16:35–36: people who worshipped idols claimed that if Allah had wanted, they would not have worshipped anything else. The Qur’an answers that Allah raised a messenger in every nation, saying ‘Serve Allah and shun false gods’ (16:36, Pickthall’s translation).
• So every prophet taught Tawhid, and people are responsible for choosing whether to follow the message.
• Shirk is associating partners with Allah: worshipping idols, believing Allah has a son, or putting money, fame or anything else in Allah’s place. Muslims see it as the greatest sin.
• Shown today: worship of Allah alone; no pictures or statues of Allah or prophets; mosques decorated with calligraphy and geometric patterns; the unity of the ummah under one God.

Tawhid

The oneness and uniqueness of Allah.

Shirk

Associating anything with Allah as a partner or equal; the opposite of Tawhid.

Muslims describe Allah as both transcendent (beyond the universe) and immanent (close to and involved in it). Most hold the two together.

• Transcendent: Allah is outside time, space and creation. ‘Naught is as His likeness’ (Qur’an 42:11, Pickthall’s translation), and no vision can take Allah in (6:103).
• So Allah is beyond full human understanding. Muslims know Allah through his names and revelation, and make no images of Allah.
• Immanent: ‘We are nearer to him than his jugular vein’ (Qur’an 50:16, Pickthall’s translation). Allah hears those who call (2:186) and knows every hidden thought.
• The Qur’an calls Allah ‘the Outward and the Inward’ (57:3), which many Muslims read as both ideas at once.
• Why they matter: transcendence leads to awe, humility and prostration in prayer; immanence leads to personal prayer (du’a) at any time and a sense that Allah is always present.
• Some Muslims, such as many Sufis, put special stress on closeness to Allah through remembrance (dhikr).

Immanence

Allah is close to humans and involved in the world.

Transcendence

Allah is beyond and outside the universe, time and human understanding.

Muslims learn what Allah is like from the Qur’an, especially the ‘most beautiful names’ (Qur’an 59:24), often counted as 99.

• Every surah except one (Surah 9) begins with the Bismillah: ‘In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful’ (1:1, Pickthall’s translation).
• The Qur’an says Allah ‘hath prescribed for Himself mercy’ (6:12), and his mercy ‘embraceth all things’ (7:156).
• Omnipotence links to al-Qadr: nothing happens unless Allah wills it.

Omnipotence

Allah is all-powerful.

Beneficence

Allah is all-loving and does good to his creation.

Mercy

Allah’s compassion and forgiveness for those who turn back to him.

Muslims believe Allah is fair and just: he treats everyone equally and as they deserve. In Shi’a Islam, divine justice is one of the Five Roots: ‘Adl, often called Adalat.

• Fairness: Allah ‘wrongeth not even of the weight of an ant’ and doubles good deeds (Qur’an 4:40, Pickthall’s translation).
• Justice: no soul carries another’s load (6:164), so each person is judged only on their own deeds.
• Adalat teaches that Allah is just by nature and never does wrong. It is a root of faith, not just one quality among many.
• Shi’a scholars draw out what follows: a just God would not force someone to sin and then punish them, so humans must have real free will and be responsible for their choices.
• It also means Allah is wise and acts for a purpose, and that the Day of Judgement will be completely fair.
• Sunni Muslims also believe Allah is just (al-‘Adl is one of the names of Allah), but justice is not a separate article in the Six Beliefs.
• Why Adalat matters: it gives Shi’a Muslims confidence that their choices count; it explains why suffering and judgement are fair; it inspires Muslims to act justly and oppose injustice, as Imam Husayn is remembered for doing at Karbala.

‘Adl / Adalat

Divine justice: in Shi’a Islam one of the Five Roots; Allah is just and never does wrong.

Fairness

Allah treats all people equally and as they deserve.

Risalah is belief that Allah sends prophets and messengers to guide people. In the Five Roots it is called Nubuwwah.

• Surah 2:136: Muslims believe in what was revealed to all the prophets, including Ibrahim, Isma’il, Musa and Isa, and say ‘We make no distinction between any of them’ (Pickthall’s translation).
• Prophets are human, not divine. Muslim tradition says there have been many thousands; 25 are named in the Qur’an. A rasul (messenger) also brought a book or law.
• Why it matters: without prophets humans would not know how Allah wants them to live; prophets are examples to follow; all of them taught the same message of Tawhid.
• Adam: the first human and first prophet. Allah made him khalifah (viceroy, steward) on earth (2:30) and taught him the names of all things (2:31). He disobeyed, repented and was forgiven (2:37). Lessons: humans are stewards of the earth; Allah forgives those who repent; there is no original sin.
• Ibrahim: he broke his people’s idols (21:57–58); Allah chose him as a friend (4:125); he was willing to sacrifice his son when commanded in a dream, and Allah ransomed the son (37:102–107). Lessons: reject shirk; obey Allah even when it is hard.
• Isma’il: son of Ibrahim and Hajar. Most Muslims believe he was the son Ibrahim was told to sacrifice, and that he accepted the command. With Ibrahim he raised the foundations of the Ka’aba (2:127). The Qur’an calls him ‘a keeper of his promise’ (19:54). Lessons: trust in Allah; keep promises. Muslims remember this family at Hajj and Id-ul-Adha.

The prophets named in the spec, and the revelations linked to them

Risalah

Prophethood: Allah’s way of communicating with humans through prophets and messengers.

Nubuwwah

Prophethood, as one of the Five Roots of Shi’a Islam.

Khalifah

A steward or viceroy: someone given responsibility for the earth on Allah’s behalf.

The spec names four more prophets. Learn one or two facts and one lesson for each.

• Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad brought Allah’s final and complete message, so no prophet will follow him.
• Sunni and Shi’a Muslims both follow his Sunnah. Shi’a Muslims also give a special place to his family (the Ahl al-Bayt) and the Imams descended from them.
• Muslims don’t worship the Prophet: worship belongs to Allah alone.

Seal of the Prophets

Title of the Prophet Muhammad (Qur’an 33:40): the last prophet, completing Allah’s message.

Sunnah

The example of the Prophet Muhammad: what he said, did and approved.