OxfordAQA International GCSE Islamiat: Islam — Beliefs and Teachings (9237)

Islam: Beliefs and Teachings is topic 3.1.1 of OxfordAQA International GCSE Islamiat 9237, examined in Paper 1 Section A (25 marks). It covers the oneness of Allah and the forms of shirk, the key beliefs of Islam, the names of Allah, angels and the Hadith of Jibril, predestination, life after death and death rituals, the prophets and holy books, and the leadership of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs. Section A has short and long answers and a 12-mark extended response based on a prescribed passage.

Syllabus coverage

OXFORDAQA INTERNATIONAL GCSE ISLAMIAT (9237), VERSION 1.1 — 3.1.1

• 3.1.1.1 Tawhid: the different types of Tawhid and Shirk, their meaning and importance
• 3.1.1.2 Key beliefs: Tawhid, Malaikah, Kutub, Risalah, Yaum al-Akhirah, Al-Qadr, and that all good and bad is from Allah
• 3.1.1.3 Belief in Allah: the 99 names, including Qudrah (omnipotence), Al-Khaliq, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim and Al-Alim
• 3.1.1.4 Angels: qualities, importance and role of Jibril (AS), Mika’il (AS), Israfil (AS), the Angel of Death and the Kiraman Katibin; the Hadith of Jibril and its teachings
• 3.1.1.5 Al-Qadr: meaning, importance and influence on Muslims
• 3.1.1.6 Life after death: death, Barzakh, resurrection, the Day of Judgement, Heaven and Hell; different Muslim death rituals and their importance
• 3.1.1.7 Prophethood and holy books: Adam, Ibrahim, Musa and Isa (AS); the Tawrat, Zabur, Injil and the Suhuf of Ibrahim (AS); Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) as the Seal of the Prophets
• 3.1.1.8 Early leadership: the leadership of Islam after the Prophet (pbuh) by the four Rightly Guided Caliphs

What are the types of Tawhid and Shirk?

Tawhid is belief in the absolute oneness of Allah. Scholars commonly describe three aspects:

Aspect	Meaning
Tawhid al-Rububiyyah	Allah alone is Lord: Creator, Sustainer and Controller of everything
Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah	Allah alone deserves worship, prayer and devotion
Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat	Allah’s names and attributes are unique and not shared with creation

Shirk is associating partners with Allah. Major shirk includes worshipping idols, other people or forces; it takes a person outside Islam. Minor shirk includes showing off in worship (riya’) to gain praise; it damages the reward of good deeds. The Qur’an warns that Allah does not forgive shirk if a person dies without repenting from it (4.48).

What are the key beliefs of Islam?

Muslims believe in Allah (Tawhid), angels (Malaikah), revealed books (Kutub), prophethood (Risalah), the Last Day (Yaum al-Akhirah) and Al-Qadr, including that all good and bad ultimately come from Allah’s decree. These beliefs are stated together in the Hadith of Jibril and in Qur’an 2.285. Together they give Muslims a purpose (to worship Allah), guidance (books and prophets), accountability (angels recording deeds and the Last Day) and trust (Al-Qadr).

What do the names of Allah teach?

Allah has “the most beautiful names” (Qur’an 7.180), traditionally counted as ninety-nine. Five are named in the specification:

• Qudrah, the All-Powerful: nothing is beyond His power, so Muslims rely on Him.
• Al-Khaliq, the Creator: He made everything from nothing; creation is a trust.
• Ar-Rahman, the Most Gracious: His mercy covers all creation.
• Ar-Rahim, the Most Merciful: His special mercy to believers, especially in the hereafter.
• Al-Alim, the All-Knowing: He knows everything, including hidden thoughts, so Muslims act sincerely.

Every sura but one opens with “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”, showing how central mercy is.

What are angels and what does the Hadith of Jibril teach?

Angels are created from light, do not disobey Allah and carry out His commands. Jibril (AS) brought revelation; Mika’il (AS) is responsible for rain and provision; Israfil (AS) will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgement; the Angel of Death takes souls; the Kiraman Katibin record good and bad deeds (Qur’an 82.10–12).

In the Hadith of Jibril, recorded by Muslim, Jibril (AS) came to the Prophet (pbuh) as a man in white clothes and asked about Islam (the five pillars), iman (belief in Allah, His angels, books, messengers, the Last Day and qadr) and ihsan (worshipping Allah as though you see Him, for though you do not see Him, He sees you), and then about the signs of the Hour. The Prophet then told his companions that it was Jibril who had come to teach them their religion. Its teachings are that faith has three levels, practice, belief and excellence, and that Muslims should seek knowledge respectfully.

What is Al-Qadr and how does it influence Muslims?

Al-Qadr means that Allah knows, has written, wills and creates everything that happens. Muslims also believe that people have free will and are responsible for their choices, which is why there is a Day of Judgement. The belief encourages patience in suffering, gratitude in good times, trust (tawakkul) and effort, since a person still plans and works while accepting the outcome from Allah.

What happens after death?

• Death: the Angel of Death takes the soul at its appointed time.
• Barzakh: the period between death and resurrection; the soul is questioned in the grave and experiences a foretaste of reward or punishment.
• Resurrection: when the trumpet is blown, all people are raised.
• Day of Judgement: each person receives a record of deeds and is judged justly.
• Heaven (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam): eternal reward for the righteous, punishment for the wicked, with Allah’s mercy able to forgive.

Death rituals: the body is washed (ghusl), wrapped in simple white cloth (kafan), and the funeral prayer (salat al-janazah) is offered, usually soon after death; the body is buried facing the qibla. Practices differ between communities, for example in mourning customs and in gatherings to pray for the deceased, and Sunni and Shi’a Muslims differ in some details of the funeral prayer. These rituals honour the dead, remind the living of their own death, and express equality, since everyone is buried simply.

What do the prophets and holy books teach?

• Adam (AS): first human and prophet; taught repentance after his mistake (2.37).
• Ibrahim (AS): rejected idols, rebuilt the Ka’ba with Isma’il, given the Suhuf; a model of submission.
• Musa (AS): led the Children of Israel from Pharaoh; received the Tawrat.
• Isa (AS): born miraculously to Maryam, performed miracles by Allah’s permission; received the Injil.
• Dawud (AS) received the Zabur.

Muslims believe these books carried Allah’s message but that the Qur’an is the final, preserved revelation. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is Khatam an-Nabiyyin, the Seal of the Prophets (33.40), so there will be no prophet after him.

How was the Muslim community led after the Prophet (pbuh)?

The four Rightly Guided Caliphs led the community: Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) (632–634), who kept the community united and had the Qur’an gathered; Hazrat Umar (RA) (634–644), who expanded and organised the state; Hazrat Uthman (RA) (644–656), who distributed standard copies of the Qur’an; and Hazrat Ali (RA) (656–661), known for knowledge and justice in a time of conflict. Shi’a Muslims believe Ali (RA) should have led immediately after the Prophet (pbuh) as the first Imam.

Frequently asked questions

What is ihsan? Worshipping Allah as though you see Him, knowing that He sees you; the highest level of faith described in the Hadith of Jibril.

What is Barzakh? The barrier or interval between death and the Day of Resurrection.

Why is shirk so serious? It denies Allah’s unique right to be worshipped, the foundation of Islam.

Related pages

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

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