Islam: Beliefs and Teachings | OCR GCSE Religious Studies (J625)
Islam: Beliefs and Teachings
- 134 questions
- 10 subtopics
- Group 1 papers
- Group 1 papers
Islam: Beliefs and Teachings is examined in Component Group 1, the Islam beliefs and teachings & practices paper (J625/02), if Islam is one of the two religions studied.
It covers the six articles of faith in Sunni Islam, the five roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam, the 99 names of Allah, Tawhid, shirk and Allah's attributes in action, Risalah and the prophets from Adam to Dawud, Isa, Muhammad and the twelve Shi'a Imams, the Kutub: Muslim holy books and the Qur'an, Malaikah: the angels in Islam, al-Qadr: predestination and human freedom in Islam and Akhirah: barzakh, judgement, Jannah and Jahannam.
Sample questions from Islam: Beliefs and Teachings
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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The six articles of faith in Sunni Islam
What does the article of belief in the prophets ask of a Sunni Muslim?
Show the answer
A Muslim accepts every prophet Allah sent, without favouring some and rejecting others. Muhammad is accepted as the last prophet. -
The five roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam
What is Al-Nubuwwah, and what does Surah 16:36 add?
Show the answer
Al-Nubuwwah is belief in prophethood, which ended with Muhammad. Surah 16:36 says Allah sent a messenger to every nation to call people away from false gods. -
The 99 names of Allah
What does it mean to call Allah merciful?
Show the answer
Allah is al-Rahman and al-Rahim, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful. Allah forgives those who repent and cares for all creation. -
Tawhid, shirk and Allah's attributes in action
What does Surah 53:19–25 teach?
Show the answer
Surah 53:19–25 rejects the goddesses al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat, worshipped in Makkah before Islam. The Qur'an calls them mere names with no authority from Allah. -
Risalah and the prophets from Adam to Dawud
Why was Adam made khalifa?
Show the answer
Allah gave Adam the ability to reason and make choices, which angels do not have. Adam was made khalifa, a steward who cares for the earth on Allah's behalf. -
Isa, Muhammad and the twelve Shi'a Imams
What does Surah 5:78 say about Dawud and Isa?
Show the answer
Surah 5:78 says disbelievers among the Children of Israel were cursed by the tongue of Dawud and Isa. The verse shows prophets condemning those who rejected Allah's message. -
The Kutub: Muslim holy books and the Qur'an
Why do Muslims believe the earlier books became distorted?
Show the answer
Muslims believe the original message was the same for every prophet, but later generations lost or altered it. The scriptures that survive are not seen as Allah's exact words. -
Malaikah: the angels in Islam
What is the role of Jibril?
Show the answer
Jibril is the chief angel, who brings Allah's messages to the messengers. Jibril revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad over 23 years.
The 10 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| The six articles of faith in Sunni Islam | Belief in Allah, angels, holy books and prophets, the Day of Judgement and predestination, Surah 4:136, the hadith that lists all six, and why justice and the Imamate are not separate articles. | 13 |
| The five roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam | Tawhid and Surah 6:103, Al-Adl and divine justice, prophethood and why prophets were sent, Al-Imamah and the Shi'a and Sunni readings of Surah 4:59, the Hadith al-Thaqalayn, and Al-Ma'ad. | 14 |
| The 99 names of Allah | Why the names matter and the promise to those who learn them, al-Ahad and Tawhid, mercy and al-Fatihah, omnipotence, benevolence and justice, and Surah 50:16 on Allah's closeness. | 13 |
| Tawhid, shirk and Allah's attributes in action | Shirk and how it relates to Tawhid, polytheism and Surah 53:19–25, Surah 112, the Trinity from a Muslim view, Allah as creator and judge, divine guidance, and debates over Allah's hand or face. | 13 |
| Risalah and the prophets from Adam to Dawud | Nabi and rasul, the creation of Adam and his role as khalifa, Ibrahim as hanif and the test of his devotion, Isma'il and the Kaaba, what Musa received, and Dawud and the Zabur. | 13 |
| Isa, Muhammad and the twelve Shi'a Imams | Why Isa was not divine and his role before Judgement, the seal of the prophets, Muhammad's background and qualities, Surahs 3:31, 3:144 and 46:9, and the infallible Imams and Sunni views of them. | 14 |
| The Kutub: Muslim holy books and the Qur'an | Islam as the original religion, the four earlier revealed books, how earlier scripture was distorted, the Injil in Surah 5:46, the first revelation in Surah 96, compiling the Qur'an, and reciting it in Arabic. | 13 |
| Malaikah: the angels in Islam | When angels were created and why they lack free will, Jibril, Izra'il, Mika'il and Israfil, Surahs 35:1 and 74:31, the recording angels and daily conduct, and differing Muslim views. | 14 |
| Al-Qadr: predestination and human freedom in Islam | The four parts of Sunni belief in al-Qadr, sifat and foreknowledge, Surah 33:38 and Surah 12:42, the book of deeds, the Mu'tazilites and al-Ash'ari, Shi'a views of freedom, and facing hardship. | 13 |
| Akhirah: barzakh, judgement, Jannah and Jahannam | Life as a test in Surah 2:155, accountability and stewardship, what happens in the grave, Surah 101, the Qur'an's paradise and hell, literal and metaphorical readings, and the contested status of martyrdom. | 14 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
OCR GCSE Religious Studies Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,800 questions with their answers.