OxfordAQA IGCSE Islamiyat: Islam — Beliefs and Teachings — Revision Notes

These notes condense topic 3.1.1 of OxfordAQA International GCSE Islamiat 9237, Islam: Beliefs and Teachings, examined in Paper 1 Section A. Learn the Arabic terms with their meanings, the key facts for each belief, and two or three points of importance for each, since 4- and 6-mark questions ask you to explain why beliefs matter to Muslims.

Syllabus coverage

9237 topic 3.1.1 (Version 1.1): 3.1.1.1 Tawhid and Shirk; 3.1.1.2 key beliefs; 3.1.1.3 names of Allah; 3.1.1.4 angels and the Hadith of Jibril; 3.1.1.5 Al-Qadr; 3.1.1.6 life after death and death rituals; 3.1.1.7 prophets and holy books, the Seal of Prophethood; 3.1.1.8 the four Rightly Guided Caliphs.

Key terms

Term	Meaning
Tawhid	Oneness of Allah
Shirk	Associating partners with Allah
Riya’	Showing off in worship (minor shirk)
Malaikah	Angels
Kutub	Revealed books
Risalah	Prophethood and the message
Yaum al-Akhirah	The Last Day
Al-Qadr	Divine decree and predestination
Tawakkul	Trust in Allah
Barzakh	Interval between death and resurrection
Ghusl / kafan / janazah	Washing / shroud / funeral prayer
Ihsan	Worshipping as if you see Allah
Khatam an-Nabiyyin	Seal of the Prophets

Tawhid and Shirk

• Rububiyyah: Allah alone is Lord and Creator.
• Uluhiyyah: Allah alone is worshipped.
• Asma wa Sifat: His names and attributes are unique.
• Major shirk: worshipping others; takes a person outside Islam.
• Minor shirk: riya’ (showing off); reduces reward.
• Reference: Sura 112; Qur’an 4.48.

Names of Allah (specified five)

Name	Meaning	Importance
Qudrah	All-Powerful	Reliance on Allah
Al-Khaliq	Creator	Care for creation; gratitude
Ar-Rahman	Most Gracious	Mercy to all creation
Ar-Rahim	Most Merciful	Hope of forgiveness
Al-Alim	All-Knowing	Sincerity; Allah knows hidden intentions

Angels

Angel	Role
Jibril (AS)	Brings revelation
Mika’il (AS)	Rain and provision
Israfil (AS)	Blows the trumpet
Angel of Death	Takes souls
Kiraman Katibin	Record deeds (82.10–12)

Hadith of Jibril: questions on Islam (five pillars), iman (six beliefs), ihsan, and the Hour; teaches the three levels of religion and good manners in seeking knowledge.

Al-Qadr

• Allah’s knowledge, writing, will and creation of all events.
• Human free will and accountability.
• Influence: patience, gratitude, tawakkul, continued effort.

Life after death

Death → Barzakh (questioning in the grave) → trumpet → resurrection → judgement with book of deeds → Jannah or Jahannam.

Death rituals: ghusl; kafan; salat al-janazah; prompt burial facing the qibla; simple graves; differing local and sectarian customs in mourning. Importance: honour the dead, remind the living of death and judgement, show equality.

Prophets and books

Prophet	Book or key teaching
Adam (AS)	First human; repentance and forgiveness
Ibrahim (AS)	Suhuf; rejection of idols; Ka’ba
Musa (AS)	Tawrat; freedom from Pharaoh
Dawud (AS)	Zabur
Isa (AS)	Injil; miracles by Allah’s permission
Muhammad (pbuh)	Qur’an; Seal of the Prophets (33.40)

Rightly Guided Caliphs

• Abu Bakr (RA), 632–634: unity after the Prophet’s death; Qur’an gathered.
• Umar (RA), 634–644: expansion; administration; justice.
• Uthman (RA), 644–656: standard copies of the Qur’an.
• Ali (RA), 656–661: knowledge and justice; civil conflict. Shi’a Muslims regard him as the first Imam.

Why the key beliefs matter: quick points

• Tawhid: gives life one purpose, worship of Allah, and rules out superstition.
• Angels: awareness that deeds are recorded encourages honesty.
• Books: the Qur’an is a complete guide for worship, law and conduct.
• Prophets: living examples to copy, above all the Sunnah of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh).
• Last Day: accountability motivates good deeds and repentance.
• Al-Qadr: brings peace of mind, patience and trust in Allah.

Worked example

Question: Explain two ways belief in angels affects how a Muslim lives. [4]

Model answer: Muslims believe the Kiraman Katibin record every deed, so they try to act well even when no one else can see, for example by being honest in exams [2]. Belief that Jibril (AS) brought the Qur’an from Allah gives Muslims confidence that it is true guidance, so they follow its teachings in daily life [2].

Common mistakes and exam traps

• Listing names of Allah without meaning or importance. Each needs both.
• Treating Al-Qadr as fate with no free will. Explain both sides.
• Forgetting differences in death rituals. The specification asks for different rituals.
• Using a prescribed passage only as decoration. In the 12-mark answer, explain what the passage teaches and how it supports your argument.

How is this topic examined?

Islam: Beliefs and teachings is examined in OxfordAQA 9237 Paper 1, Section A (25 marks). Each section has short questions worth 1, 2, 4 and 6 marks, building to an extended response worth 12 marks that is linked to a set passage. Learn the Arabic terms and their meanings for the short items, and for the 12-mark answer plan two or three developed points that quote or refer to the passage and reach a judgement. For beliefs, the strongest answers show how a belief shapes a Muslim’s actions, such as how belief in angels recording deeds encourages good conduct.

Frequently asked questions

How many key beliefs are listed? Six: Tawhid, angels, books, prophethood, the Last Day and Al-Qadr, with the belief that all good and bad is from Allah.

What does the Seal of the Prophets mean? Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is the final prophet, so his message completes and confirms all earlier revelations.

Related pages

• Islam: Beliefs and Teachings study guide
• Living the Muslim Life revision notes
• Living the Muslim Life practice questions

Source: OxfordAQA, International GCSE Islamiat (9237) specification, Version 1.1, topic 3.1.1.