1. Muslim Beliefs

2. Introduction Six Articles of Islamic Faith
Belief in the heart
Profession by the tongue
Performance of the deeds
Caution / Similar words: Imam = leader vs. Iman = faith
Without the articles of faith, there is no context for the pillars of practice

3. To Believe in God (Allah)
Monotheism (tawhid = “divine unity”)
God is absolute, a single inseparable unity
One God  Same God for Jews, Christians, Muslims
Allah: not a proper name, but the Arabic word for “God”
“99 Names of God”: found throughout the Qur’an
God has “no associate or partner”
Muslims reject the Christian concept of “Trinity”
God cannot become human; humans cannot be God
Consider Jesus a great prophet, but not divine

4. To Believe in the Unseen
Angels
God’s messengers; reveal messages to Prophets
Ex: Angel Gabriel revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad
No free will; sole purpose is serving God
Accompany, guide, and protect people at all times
Spirits (Jinn)
Spiritual beings, with free will
Thus can be good or evil
Root of English word/concept: “genie”

5. To Believe in Prophethood
Prophets (nabi ) and Messengers (rasul )
Prophets speak God’s words to people orally.
Messengers record God’s words in book form.
So, not all prophets are messengers, but all messengers are also prophets.
Muslims believe in 1000’s of prophets
“Chain of Prophets”: Adam was first; Muhammad was last
Also incl. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, Jesus, etc.
All transmit same basic message throughout history
Certain prophets were sent to specific groups/nations

6. To Believe in Revelation
Holy Books
Revealed scriptures; messages from God
Different languages, different cultures, different eras
But same basic message, culminating in the Qur’an
Progressive Revelation
Books of Moses, Psalms of David, Gospels of Jesus
Ultimately the Qur’an, revealed thru Muhammad
NOTE: Most Muslims do not read the present HB or NT, believing ancient Jews & Christians altered the messages God had revealed through Moses, David, and Jesus

7. To Believe in the Day of Judgment
Resurrection of the Dead
At the end of time, all people will be raised
Everyone is held accountable for his/her own deeds
Judgment / Afterlife
Everyone is judged based on one’s life/actions on earth
If good deeds outweigh bad deeds:
Reward  eternal life with God in heaven/paradise/garden
If bad deeds outweigh good deeds:
Punishment  in everlasting fires of hell

8. To Believe in the Divine Decree
Human Nature / Free Will
Everyone has knowledge & ability to choose between right & wrong, and so is held responsible
Yet God has correct fore-knowledge of everyone’s path
Destiny / Fate / Predestination
God wrote down our destiny in the “Preserved Tablet”
God knows what our nature will cause us to do
A person’s actions are not caused by what God has written
But God is omniscient  God knows in advance

9. Review Six Articles of Faith (for Sunni Muslims) Allah/God
Angels & Spirits
Holy Books
Prophets
Day of Judgment
Destiny or Fate