Short CourseIslam Chapter 1
Specification Revision Guide - ONLY 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.7
,1.2 The five roots of ‘Usul ad-Din
What are the five roots of ‘Usul ad-Din?
These five roots are the centre of Shi’a Muslim faith. They are based on the teachings of the Qur’an, the
Hadith and the agreement of early Shi’a leaders and scholars. These teachings purpose are to help
Shi’a M focus on the most important aspects of their faith, they inform how they should act in daily life.
1. Tawhid - most essential belief
Tawhid is the belief in the oneness of Allah, this is that Allah is one, unique and without ANY equals.
SOWA: “He is God the One, God the eternal… No one is comparable to Him” Qur’an
2. Nubuwwah
Nubuwwah is the belief in prophethood and the messengers from Adam to Muhammad. The Quran
teaches that prophets have been sent to all nations to preach Tawhid:
SOWA: “We sent a messenger to every community”
3. ‘Adl
This is also known as Adalat, this is the belief that Allah is just, this means fair, and will bring Divine
Justice. Shi’a Muslims believe it is important for them to demonstrate fairness in everything they do. In
his will to his son, the first leader, imam, Ali, said:
SOWA: “be wary of your duty to Allah in wealth and poverty… towards both friend and foe” Tuhaf al-Uqul
4. Imamah
In Shi’a Islam, Imamah is a term for God-given leadership. They believe that authority has been given to
a partigula group of people, namely the Prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatimah and a line of other
imams starting with Ali. The group is known as the ahl al-bayt, or people of the Prophet’s house. These
people are believed to be perfect, pure and infallible, this means unable to make mistakes
SOWA: “people of the House, and to purify you thoroughly”
Sevener Shi’a Muslims have a separate system of leadership. They believe that Isma'il ibn Jafar was the
sixth imam, then they have a separate line of imams from Twelver Shi’a Muslims. In some Shi’a writings,
imams have been described as ‘lights’ sent by Allah
5. Mi’ad
The belief that there will be a Day of Judgement, and Resurrection - Allah will decide fate of everyone
SOWA: “His is the Judgement and to Him you shall be returned.”
This reminds Shi’a Muslims that they have come from Allah and will be presented before hima again,
where he will judge the nature of their lives.
Why are these principles important for different Shi’a communities?
These five roots represent the most important elements for the Shi’a Muslim faith. All Shi’a Muslims
belive that thet are objeying the commands of Allah, Prophet Muhammad and the ahl al-bayt. Some
Shi’a communities, such as the Twelvers and Seveners, follow different imams, leaders, who have
authority from Allah
, 1.3 Nature of Allah
How are the characteristics of Allah shown in the Quran?
Muslims believe that Allah has many characteristics and more than 100 characteristics of Allah appear in
the Quran and the Hadith.
How can Allah have so many characteristics and still be one being? Muslims believe that just as human
beings can be kind, fair and a friend, so can Allah - but even more so than us. Muslims believe humans
cannot fully understand his nature.
The characteristics of Allah
A. quality/keyword Meaning about A. Quote - from Qur’an
Oness ● A is unique - without any partner or family “Worship God and
● Worst sin in Islam (shirk) is to associate partners shun false Gods”
with A
○ Including ‘false Gods’
Omnipotence ● A creator of everything “He has power over
● Only authority in Universe all things”
● Do whatever he wills
Fairness & ● A treats people fairly from how they lived on earth “Judge between
Justice ● Allah is just people with justice”
Mercy ● Everything A does is an act of kindness “My mercy embraces
● Even punishment makes people + society better all things”
Beneficence ● A has no limits to his kindness + generosity “Your Lord’s bounty
● A loves/acts for the benefit of his creation is not restricted”
Immanence + ● A is creator of everything I = “we were never
transcendence ● He is immanent and transcendent far from them
● Much of the world is beyond human understanding T = “Exalted be God”
Immanent = acts in the world e.g. records events through angels
Transcendent = above + beyond this world e.g. control over creation
Mercy **
These verses in the Quran show the importance of Allah’s benevolent nature. Muslims believe that
everything Allah does is in an act of kindness, including punishment - this is believed to act like a
medicine to heal the infected part of the soul. Many Muslims believe that hell is not forever, so even
those who are punished will someday enter paradise once they have been purified of their sins.
Importance of these characteristics for Muslims
1. Arabic for God = Allah → impossible to visualize, not physical being → forbidden to draw
2. It is impossible to fully understand A, but knowing some of his characteristics help them
understand something of his nature
3. Enables M to establish close relationship with A through worship → according to the Qu’ran it
is the very reason why humans were created
4. M knowing these characteristics of A can help them reflect such qualities in their own lives.
a. Allah is beneficent, so M should also be loving
5. Each characteristic gives Ms understanding go what A is like
6. Helps establish a close relationship with him
Specification Revision Guide - ONLY 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.7
,1.2 The five roots of ‘Usul ad-Din
What are the five roots of ‘Usul ad-Din?
These five roots are the centre of Shi’a Muslim faith. They are based on the teachings of the Qur’an, the
Hadith and the agreement of early Shi’a leaders and scholars. These teachings purpose are to help
Shi’a M focus on the most important aspects of their faith, they inform how they should act in daily life.
1. Tawhid - most essential belief
Tawhid is the belief in the oneness of Allah, this is that Allah is one, unique and without ANY equals.
SOWA: “He is God the One, God the eternal… No one is comparable to Him” Qur’an
2. Nubuwwah
Nubuwwah is the belief in prophethood and the messengers from Adam to Muhammad. The Quran
teaches that prophets have been sent to all nations to preach Tawhid:
SOWA: “We sent a messenger to every community”
3. ‘Adl
This is also known as Adalat, this is the belief that Allah is just, this means fair, and will bring Divine
Justice. Shi’a Muslims believe it is important for them to demonstrate fairness in everything they do. In
his will to his son, the first leader, imam, Ali, said:
SOWA: “be wary of your duty to Allah in wealth and poverty… towards both friend and foe” Tuhaf al-Uqul
4. Imamah
In Shi’a Islam, Imamah is a term for God-given leadership. They believe that authority has been given to
a partigula group of people, namely the Prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatimah and a line of other
imams starting with Ali. The group is known as the ahl al-bayt, or people of the Prophet’s house. These
people are believed to be perfect, pure and infallible, this means unable to make mistakes
SOWA: “people of the House, and to purify you thoroughly”
Sevener Shi’a Muslims have a separate system of leadership. They believe that Isma'il ibn Jafar was the
sixth imam, then they have a separate line of imams from Twelver Shi’a Muslims. In some Shi’a writings,
imams have been described as ‘lights’ sent by Allah
5. Mi’ad
The belief that there will be a Day of Judgement, and Resurrection - Allah will decide fate of everyone
SOWA: “His is the Judgement and to Him you shall be returned.”
This reminds Shi’a Muslims that they have come from Allah and will be presented before hima again,
where he will judge the nature of their lives.
Why are these principles important for different Shi’a communities?
These five roots represent the most important elements for the Shi’a Muslim faith. All Shi’a Muslims
belive that thet are objeying the commands of Allah, Prophet Muhammad and the ahl al-bayt. Some
Shi’a communities, such as the Twelvers and Seveners, follow different imams, leaders, who have
authority from Allah
, 1.3 Nature of Allah
How are the characteristics of Allah shown in the Quran?
Muslims believe that Allah has many characteristics and more than 100 characteristics of Allah appear in
the Quran and the Hadith.
How can Allah have so many characteristics and still be one being? Muslims believe that just as human
beings can be kind, fair and a friend, so can Allah - but even more so than us. Muslims believe humans
cannot fully understand his nature.
The characteristics of Allah
A. quality/keyword Meaning about A. Quote - from Qur’an
Oness ● A is unique - without any partner or family “Worship God and
● Worst sin in Islam (shirk) is to associate partners shun false Gods”
with A
○ Including ‘false Gods’
Omnipotence ● A creator of everything “He has power over
● Only authority in Universe all things”
● Do whatever he wills
Fairness & ● A treats people fairly from how they lived on earth “Judge between
Justice ● Allah is just people with justice”
Mercy ● Everything A does is an act of kindness “My mercy embraces
● Even punishment makes people + society better all things”
Beneficence ● A has no limits to his kindness + generosity “Your Lord’s bounty
● A loves/acts for the benefit of his creation is not restricted”
Immanence + ● A is creator of everything I = “we were never
transcendence ● He is immanent and transcendent far from them
● Much of the world is beyond human understanding T = “Exalted be God”
Immanent = acts in the world e.g. records events through angels
Transcendent = above + beyond this world e.g. control over creation
Mercy **
These verses in the Quran show the importance of Allah’s benevolent nature. Muslims believe that
everything Allah does is in an act of kindness, including punishment - this is believed to act like a
medicine to heal the infected part of the soul. Many Muslims believe that hell is not forever, so even
those who are punished will someday enter paradise once they have been purified of their sins.
Importance of these characteristics for Muslims
1. Arabic for God = Allah → impossible to visualize, not physical being → forbidden to draw
2. It is impossible to fully understand A, but knowing some of his characteristics help them
understand something of his nature
3. Enables M to establish close relationship with A through worship → according to the Qu’ran it
is the very reason why humans were created
4. M knowing these characteristics of A can help them reflect such qualities in their own lives.
a. Allah is beneficent, so M should also be loving
5. Each characteristic gives Ms understanding go what A is like
6. Helps establish a close relationship with him
