UNIT 8

8.1 Beliefs and Sources of Authority

OVERVIEW

• Glossary of Terms
• Introduction to Islam
• Tawhid
o The Nature of Allah
• Risalah
o Angels
• Akhirah – Belief in Life After Death
o Why Muslims Believe in Life After Death
o How the Belief in Life After Death Affects the Lives of Muslims
o Heaven, Hellfire, Accountability and its Importance in the Lives of
Muslims
• The Quran – Supreme Authority for Muslims
o How Muslims Show Respect for the Quran
o Revelation of the Quran & Divine Communication
o Compilation of the Quran
• Hadith
o Hadith Qudsi
• Sunnah
• Muhammad – Seal of the Prophets
• The Life of the Prophet Muhammad
o Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)’s Work in Makkah
o The Hijrah and its Importance
o The Work of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)’s in Medina
• The Shari’ah
o The Need for a Shari’ah
o The Sources of the Shari’ah
o The Five Types of Legal Decrees
• Shi’ah & Sunni; Differing Views of Authority
Glossary of Terms
Islam: The name of the religion followed by Muslims; to surrender to the will of
Allah; peace

Muslim: One who has submitted to the will of Allah and has accepted Islam

Allah: The Islamic name for Allah

Tawhid: Oneness and unity of Allah

Risalah: Prophethood;

Prophethood: Channel of communication with Allah

The Prophet: Title often used for Muhammad (pbuh), the last of the prophets

Akhirah: Everlasting life after death; the hereafter

Day of Judgement: The day when Allah will judge each individual’s deeds, good and bad,
and will reward or punish accordingly

Paradise: Place of perfect happiness; heaven

Hell: Separation from Allah; punishment

Quran: The Holy Book revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by Allah. Allah’s
final revelation to mankind

Revelation: The words of the Quran being sent to Prophet Muhammad; Allah
communicates to humans through this revelation

Compilation: A gathering together into one book of material from more than one
source

Surah: A division of the Quran. There are 114 in total

Recitation: A respectful reading of a passage or poem

Authority: Power to give orders to others and expect obedience

Hadith: Sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad and the Ahlul Bayt. It is a
major source of the Sunnah

Sunnah: The teachings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad and the Ahlul Bayt. It
is a major source of Islamic law

Muhammad: The last and greatest of the prophets of Allah. The name ‘Muhammad’
means ‘praised’

Hijrah: The emigration of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah in

622 CE; the Muslim calendar starts from this event
Madinah (Medina): Prophet Muhammad travelled to Madinah from Makkah in 622 CE. It is
regarded as the second holiest city in Islam and is the burial place of
Prophet Muhammad, Lady Fatima, Imam Hassan, Imam Zaynul Abideen,
Imam Muhammad Baqir and Imam Jaffer Sadiq

Shari’ah: Islamic law based directly upon the Quran and Sunnah

Sunni: Muslims who believe there was no divinely designated successor to the
Holy Prophet. They believe in the successorship of Abu Bakr, Umar,
Uthman and Imam Ali

Imam: In Shia Islam, the title of Imam Ali and the other Imams

Shia: Muslims who believe in the Imamate; divinely designated successorship

of Imam Ali directly after the Prophet

Points on glossary terms:

• Risalah: Literally this means ‘message’, and is also used to mean ‘Prophethood’

• Day of Judgement: The title ‘Day’ should not be taken to mean a time period where Allah
goes through a thought process after which He ‘decides’ the outcome. No personification
or human characteristic can be attributed to Allah. Rather, on that day, man will see the
manifestation and reality of what he has done as punishment, reward, heaven or hell.

• Hell: The punishment in hell is not necessarily eternal. There will be those, who after having
been punished, will then be permitted to leave the hellfire and enter paradise, continuing
their journey of attaining closeness to Allah. It has been narrated in Kanz al-Ummaal that
the holy Prophet said:
‫ﻮﻥ‬‫ﻤﻴ‬ ‫ﻨ‬‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﳉ‬
‫ ﺍ ﹶ‬:‫ﺔ‬‫ﳉﻨ‬
‫ﻫ ﹸﻞ ﺍ ﹶ‬ ‫ﻤّﻴﻬﹺﻢ ﺃ‬ ‫ﺴ‬
 ‫ﻴ‬‫ ﹶﻓ‬،‫ﺔ‬‫ﳉﻨ‬
‫ﺧﻠﹸﻮ ﹶﻥ ﺍ ﹶ‬ ‫ﺪ‬‫ﻗﻮﺍ ﻓﻴ‬‫ﺘﺮ‬‫ﻣﺎ ﺍﺣ‬‫ﻌﺪ‬‫ﻡ ﺑ‬ ‫ﻦ ﺍﻟﻨﺎ ﹺﺭ ﻗﹶﻮ‬‫ﺝ ﻣ‬
 ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﺨ‬‫ ﻳ‬:(‫ﺭﺳﻮﻝ ﺍﷲ )ﺹ‬

“A people will come out of the hell fire after having been burned, and will then enter paradise.
The people of paradise will name them: ‘the hellfire people’”.
Introduction: Islam

• The dawn of Islam marked the completion of the revelation of Allah’s religion

• The true religion was first revealed to Adam, the first man, and completed by
revelation to the Prophet Muhammad

• Islam is an Arabic term, which literally translates into English as “submission (to Allah)”.
Someone who has accepted Islam is known as a ‘Muslim’ (one who has submitted)

• The word ‘Islam’ is a linguistic derivative of the Arabic word salama ‫ س ل م‬meaning
‘peace’; if a person submits to the commands of Allah, he will find true inner peace

The Quran states:

‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﺕ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬
 ‫ﺎ‬‫ﺮ ﺑﹺﺂﻳ‬ ‫ﻳ ﹾﻜ ﹸﻔ‬ ‫ﻦ‬‫ﻭﻣ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﻨ‬‫ﻴ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻐﻴ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻌ ﹾﻠ‬ ‫ﻢ ﺍﹾﻟ‬ ‫ﻫ‬ ‫ﺎﺀ‬‫ﺎ ﺟ‬‫ﺪ ﻣ‬ ‫ﻌ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﻦ‬‫ﺏ ﹺﺇﻻﱠ ﻣ‬
 ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻜﺘ‬ ‫ﻮﹾﺍ ﺍﹾﻟ‬‫ﻭﺗ‬ ‫ﻦ ﹸﺃ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫ﻒ ﺍﻟﱠﺬ‬
 ‫ﺘ ﹶﻠ‬‫ﺧ‬ ‫ﺎ ﺍ‬‫ﻭﻣ‬ ‫ﻡ‬ ‫ﻼ‬
‫ﺳ ﹶ‬ ‫ﻪ ﺍ ِﻹ‬ ‫ﺪ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬ ‫ﻨ‬‫ﻦ ﻋ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫﴿ﹺﺇﻥﱠ ﺍﻟﺪ‬
﴾‫ﺏ‬
‫ﺎ ﹺ‬‫ﺤﺴ‬
 ‫ﻊ ﺍﹾﻟ‬ ‫ﺳﺮﹺﻳ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﹶﻓﹺﺈﻥﱠ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬

“Verily, the religion with Allah is Islam; and those who were given the book did not differ except
after knowledge had come to them, out of envy amongst themselves. And whoever defies Allah’s
signs then verily Allah is swift in reckoning.” Sura Ale Imran (3:19).

﴾‫ﻼ‬
‫ﻴ ﹰ‬‫ﺧﻠ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﺍﻫ‬‫ﺑﺮ‬‫ﻪ ﹺﺇ‬ ‫ﺨ ﹶﺬ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬
 ‫ﺍﺗ‬‫ﺣﻨﹺﻴﻔﹰﺎ ﻭ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﺍﻫ‬‫ﺑﺮ‬‫ﻣﻠﱠ ﹶﺔ ﹺﺇ‬ ‫ﻊ‬ ‫ﺒ‬‫ﻦ ﻭﺍﺗ‬ ‫ﺴ‬
ِ‫ﺤ‬
 ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻮ‬ ‫ﻫ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻪ ﷲ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﺟ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﺳ ﹶﻠ‬ ‫ﻦ ﹶﺃ‬ ‫ﻤ‬‫ﺎ ﻣ‬‫ﻳﻨ‬‫ﻦ ﺩ‬ ‫ﺴ‬
 ‫ﺣ‬ ‫ﻦ ﹶﺃ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ﴿

“And who is better in religion than he who submits himself entirely to Allah and is righteous,
following the creed of Ibrahim the upright one; and Allah took Ibrahim for a dedicated friend.”
Sura al-Nisa (4:125).
Belief in God
In this universe, from the smallest atom to the largest celestial body, in everything we see, we
are reminded of its perfect orderliness and exact regulation and it is also clear that all things
are in co-ordination with each other.

The earth in which we live, with respect to its size, its distance from the sun, the speed of its
orbital movement, etc., is so arranged that it is able to act as the support for life. If the
smallest change were to take place in its condition, losses of unimaginable dimensions would
occur.

The earth rotates on its axis at one thousand miles an hour; if it turned at one hundred miles an
hour, our days and nights would be ten times as long as now, and the hot sun would then burn
up our vegetation during each long day while in the long night any surviving sprout would
freeze.

A human body is like a building. It is composed of small building blocks called cells, each of
which is itself a living entity. In the structure of the cells most metals such as iron, copper and
calcium are used as are other elements like oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur.

Each one of these living cells works in perfect cooperation with the next, and all of them follow
the same aim. They are very quick to suffer, having low tolerance levels, and nourishment must
be correctly supplied for their needs.

The blood, with the help of the heart, performs this duty very well. The structure of the heart is
well-designed and has perfect dimensions, so that it can supply blood to the whole body
through the agency of the blood vessels and the capillaries.

Do we not see in the precise combination and quantity of the metals and elements from which
the cell is formed, and also the amazing structure of the heart and its way of working, a plan
of perfect and superior design? And if we see in the human body, a mysterious whole and at
the same time a design, are we exaggerating? Without doubt, no.

Therefore, we must confess that the world of existence firmly rests on the foundation of perfect
orderliness, and undoubtedly every orderliness and design is the creation and accomplishment
of a wise and powerful creator.
Tawhid
• Muslims believe that there is only one deity: Allah. They believe that Allah is one,
therefore Allah can have no plurals. Polytheism, therefore, is wrong and Christian
beliefs of the trinity and of Jesus being the son of Allah, would not be seen as
acceptable or in conformity with Islamic ideology.

• Allah has always existed and always will exist (“Al-Hayy”). He depends on no one but
Himself; He is both eternal and self-subsisting.
o The word ‘samad’ means self-subsisting which means that He relies on no-one to
exist but all creation needs Him to exist

The Qur’an says:

‫ﺪ‬ ‫ﺣ‬ ‫ﺍ ﹶﺃ‬‫ﻪ ﹸﻛ ﹸﻔﻮ‬ ‫ﻳﻜﹸﻦ ﻟﱠ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻭﹶﻟ‬ .‫ﺪ‬ ‫ﻮﹶﻟ‬‫ﻢ ﻳ‬ ‫ﻭﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﺪ‬ ‫ﻠ‬ ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ ﹶﻟ‬.‫ﺪ‬ ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﻪ ﺍﻟﺼ‬ ‫ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬.‫ﺪ‬ ‫ﺣ‬ ‫ﻪ ﹶﺃ‬ ‫ﻮ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬ ‫ﻫ‬ ‫ﹸﻗ ﹾﻞ‬

“Say: He is Allah the One and Only, Allah the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not nor is He begotten; and
there is none like unto Him.” (Sura 112)

• The belief in Allah’s oneness is called Tawhid and is the basis of all our beliefs about
Allah. It is also the first part of the shahadah:-
"‫ﻪ ﺇﻻﹼ ﺍﷲ‬ ‫ﺪ ﺃ ﹾﻥ ﻻ ﺇﻟ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﺷ‬ ‫"ﺃ‬
“I bear witness that there is no God but Allah.”

• Muslims believe that as there is only one God, and only He could be the one that
created everything. He is the ultimate cause of all of creation.

• According to Muslim belief, Allah created the universe and humans in six eras. When
referring to these eras the Quran uses the word ‘days’. Many scholars would interpret
that one day for Allah is not the same as one day for humans and therefore this could
fit with the timescale of ‘evolution’. However, Muslims would only believe in the process
of evolution if it means a process over which Allah has the authority and it is designed
and created by Him. Muslims do not believe in evolution as put forth by modern
Darwinism, because everything was made directly by Allah for a particular purpose,
and nothing came into being accidentally.

Sura Al-Ikhlas
Muslims disagree with the idea that Allah has a son, or family. This is because the third verse in Sura
al-Ikhlas clarifies that Allah does not beget children nor was He Himself begotten.

Clear verses exist in the Quran, which denies that Allah has a son:

‫ﺡ‬
 ‫ﻭ‬‫ﻭﺭ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹺﺇﻟﹶﻰ‬‫ﻪ ﹶﺃﹾﻟﻘﹶﺎﻫ‬ ‫ﺘ‬‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﻠ‬ ‫ﻭ ﹶﻛ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻮ ﹸﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬‫ﺭﺳ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻦ‬ ‫ﺑ‬‫ﻰ ﺍ‬‫ﻴﺴ‬‫ﺢ ﻋ‬
 ‫ﻤﺴِﻴ‬ ‫ﺎ ﺍ ﹾﻟ‬‫ﻤ‬‫ ﺇﹺﻧ‬‫ﺤﻖ‬
 ‫ﻪ ﹺﺇﻻﱠ ﺍ ﹾﻟ‬ ‫ﻋﻠﹶﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬ ‫ﺗﻘﹸﻮﻟﹸﻮ ﹾﺍ‬ ‫ﻭ ﹶﻻ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻳﹺﻨ ﹸﻜ‬‫ﻲ ﺩ‬‫ﻐﻠﹸﻮﹾﺍ ﻓ‬ ‫ﺗ‬ ‫ﺏ ﹶﻻ‬
‫ﺎ ﹺ‬‫ﻜﺘ‬ ‫ﻫ ﹶﻞ ﺍﹾﻟ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹶﺃ‬‫﴿ﻳ‬
‫ﺽ‬
‫ﺭ ﹺ‬ ‫ﻲ ﺍ َﻷ‬‫ﺎ ﻓ‬‫ﻭﻣ‬ ‫ﺍﺕ‬‫ﺎﻭ‬‫ﻤ‬‫ﻲ ﺍﻟﺴ‬‫ﺎ ﻓ‬‫ﻪ ﻣ‬ ‫ﺪ ﻟﱠ‬ ‫ﻭﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻳﻜﹸﻮ ﹶﻥ ﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﻪ ﺃﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﻧ‬‫ﺎ‬‫ﺒﺤ‬ ‫ﺳ‬ ‫ﺪ‬ ‫ﺣ‬ ‫ﺍ‬‫ﻪ ﻭ‬ ‫ﻪ ﹺﺇﻟﹶـ‬ ‫ﺎ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬‫ﻤ‬‫ﻢ ﹺﺇﻧ‬ ‫ﺍ ﻟﱠ ﹸﻜ‬‫ﻴﺮ‬ ‫ﺧ‬ ‫ﻮﹾﺍ‬‫ﺘﻬ‬‫ﻼﹶﺛ ﹲﺔ ﺍﻧ‬
‫ﺗﻘﹸﻮﻟﹸﻮ ﹾﺍ ﹶﺛ ﹶ‬ ‫ﻭ ﹶﻻ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻠ‬ ‫ﺳ‬ ‫ﺭ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻮﹾﺍ ﺑﹺﺎﻟﻠﹼ‬‫ﻣﻨ‬ ‫ﻪ ﻓﹶﺂ‬ ‫ﻨ‬ ‫ﻣ‬
﴾‫ﻼ‬
‫ﻴ ﹰ‬‫ﻭﻛ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻭ ﹶﻛﻔﹶﻰ ﺑﹺﺎﻟﻠﹼ‬

“O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies)
against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Mariam is only a messenger of Allah
and His Word which He communicated to Mariam and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in
Allah and His messengers, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one Allah;
far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in
the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.” (4:171)

‫ﻰ‬‫ﻪ ﹶﺃﻧ‬ ‫ﻢ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﺗ ﹶﻠ‬‫ﺒ ﹸﻞ ﻗﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﻦ ﹶﻗ‬‫ﻭﹾﺍ ﻣ‬‫ﻦ ﹶﻛ ﹶﻔﺮ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫ﻮ ﹶﻝ ﺍﻟﱠﺬ‬ ‫ﻭ ﹶﻥ ﹶﻗ‬‫ﻫﺆ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻳﻀ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻫ ﹺﻬ‬ ‫ﺍ‬‫ﻢ ﹺﺑﹶﺄ ﹾﻓﻮ‬‫ﻮﹸﻟﻬ‬ ‫ﻚ ﹶﻗ‬
 ‫ﻟ‬‫ﻪ ﹶﺫ‬ ‫ﻦ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬ ‫ﺑ‬‫ﺢ ﺍ‬
 ‫ﻤﺴِﻴ‬ ‫ﻯ ﺍ ﹾﻟ‬‫ﺎﺭ‬‫ﺼ‬‫ﺖ ﺍﻟﻨ‬
 ‫ﻭﻗﹶﺎﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻦ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﺮ ﺍ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫ﺰ‬ ‫ﻋ‬ ‫ﺩ‬ ‫ﻮ‬‫ﻴﻬ‬‫ﺖ ﺍ ﹾﻟ‬
 ‫ﻭﻗﹶﺎﹶﻟ‬ ﴿
﴾‫ﺆ ﹶﻓﻜﹸﻮﻥﹶ‬ ‫ﻳ‬

“And the Jews say: Uzair is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of
Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved
before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away (from the truth)!” (9:30)

The Will of Allah

• As the one God who created everything without any partner or assistance, Allah
therefore has power over everything. The Quran mentions Allah as Omnipotent. Allah
is in control of the universe He made and has a plan for it. Muslims believe that nothing
happens without Allah’s will. However, this does not mean that we believe in pre-
destination and that we are already pre-programmed to behave in the way we do.
We do not believe that Allah has made us do things. We believe that Allah has given
us free-will and that we are free to choose our actions and behaviours. This can be
better understood by looking at the two types of wills of Allah:

o Takweeni: This is Allah’s general will. This will determines the natural laws
around us and the cause-and-effect nature of the world. For example, if
Hassan puts his hand into fire, his hand will burn. This is Allah’s will as He
created fire at a high temperature with the power to burn, and He created the
human hand that would become hurt due to the high temperature of the fire.
He did not however create the action of putting the hand into the fire. That was
the choice of Hassan, who chose to do that by using the free-will that Allah has
given him.

o Tashri’ee: This is Allah’s specific will. This is when Allah directly influences
events, particularly pertaining to His religious commandments. For example,
Allah willed for the angel Jibrail to reveal the Quran to Prophet Muhammad.
That was a direct order from Allah.

• Muslims understand that their power is limited and that the only true power is with
Allah. For this reason, when they intend to do something they say the words
‘InshaAllah’, meaning ‘If Allah wills’. They say this so that the action they want to
perform is linked with Allah and this is a way to remember Him and His power.

Mercy of Allah
• Allah is Merciful and Compassionate. He has not just left humans alone in the world to
get on with things. He has sent messengers prior to Prophet Muhammad, each with their
own respective holy books, as will be discussed in the chapters to follow. Muslims
believe that Allah is merciful and that He will forgive those people who made mistakes
but then sincerely repented for their errors. If Muslims feel they have done something
 wrong, they will pray to Allah for forgiveness and they must try never to repeat it
again.

• To seek true repentance is not as simple as merely asking for forgiveness. One should
not take sinning lightly in the hope of repentance. There are many instances where
sinners have died before they had the chance of repenting to Allah.

• It has been narrated from the life of Imam Ali that he explained that repentance has
six steps:

• First is regret over what you have done

• Second is to resolve not to do it ever again
• Third is to return to others their rights
• Fourth is that you fulfill every neglected duty to Allah
• Fifth is to practice physical self discipline such as fasting
• Sixth is to perform extra acts of worship for the soul to experience the pain of
obedience in the same way as it earlier tasted the pleasure of sins
• Imam Ali concludes by saying: When you have done these things then say
Astaghfirullah!

• Throughout their lives and also before they die all Muslims must try to repent for their
sins and ask Allah to forgive them, so that they will not be punished on the Day of
Judgement and so that they can attain closeness to Allah. The Quran and Prophet
Muhammad say that Muslims will be forgiven by Allah if they are truly sorry for what
they have done and are determined to do better in future.

Devotion to Allah
• Islam teaches that mere belief in Allah is not enough to be a good Muslim. Belief must
go together with practice. This is shown in the way Muslims live their lives. Islam teaches
that nothing shares in Allah’s importance. Therefoe they worship Him alone. In the lives
of Muslims Allah must always come first and is the most important part of their lives.

o This belief is displayed in Surah Al-‘Asr in which we are told that all humans
are at a loss except those who believe and do good‫ز‬

• The Quran says

‫ﺴ ﹴﺮ‬
 ‫ﺧ‬ ‫ﻲ‬‫ﺎ ﹶﻥ ﹶﻟﻔ‬‫ﻧﺴ‬‫ﺼ ﹺﺮ ﹺﺇﻥﱠ ﺍﹾﻟﹺﺈ‬
 ‫ﻌ‬ ‫ﺍﹾﻟ‬‫ﻭ‬
‫ﺒ ﹺﺮ‬ ‫ﺍ ﺑﹺﺎﻟﺼ‬‫ﺻﻮ‬
 ‫ﺍ‬‫ﺗﻮ‬‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﺤﻖ‬
 ‫ﺍ ﺑﹺﺎ ﹾﻟ‬‫ﺻﻮ‬
 ‫ﺍ‬‫ﺗﻮ‬‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﺕ‬
 ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻟﺤ‬‫ﺎ‬‫ﻤﻠﹸﻮﺍ ﺍﻟﺼ‬ ‫ﻋ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻮﺍ‬‫ﻣﻨ‬ ‫ﻦ ﺁ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫ﹺﺇﻟﱠﺎ ﺍﻟﱠﺬ‬
I swear by the time,
Most surely man is in loss,
Except those who believe and do good, and enjoin on each other truth, and enjoin on each other
patience. (103: 1 – 3)
The Nature of Allah
• In addition to the belief in the oneness of Allah, Muslims also believe that Allah is
unique in His being. Consequently, Allah cannot be drawn, illustrated or described in
pictures. Allah says in the Quran
‫ﲑ‬‫ﺒﺼ‬‫ﻊ ﺍﻟ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﻤ‬‫ﻮ ﺍﻟﺴ‬ ‫ﻫ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ،‫ﻲﺀ‬‫ﻪ ﺷ‬ ‫ﻠ‬ ‫ﻤ ﹾﺜ‬ ‫ﺲ ﹶﻛ‬
 ‫ﻟﹶﻴ‬...

“...there is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” (42:11)

• Part of the Islamic belief of Tawhid is that Allah is greater than anything and
everything. This is why Muslims always familiarise themselves with the phrase: ‫ﺮ‬‫ﺍﷲ ﺃﻛﺒ‬
meaning “Allah is the greatest”

• The Quran says:

‫ﻴ ﹲﻞ‬‫ﻭﻛ‬ ‫ﻲ ٍﺀ‬ ‫ﺷ‬ ‫ﻋﻠﹶﻰ ﹸﻛﻞﱢ‬ ‫ﻮ‬ ‫ﻫ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻩ‬ ‫ﻭ‬‫ﺒﺪ‬‫ﻋ‬ ‫ﻲ ٍﺀ ﻓﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﻖ ﹸﻛﻞﱢ ﺷ‬ ‫ﻟ‬‫ﺎ‬‫ﻮ ﺧ‬ ‫ﻫ‬ ‫ﻪ ﹺﺇﻻﱠ‬ ‫ﻢ ﻻ ﹺﺇﻟﹶـ‬ ‫ ﹸﻜ‬‫ﺭﺑ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻢ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬ ‫ﻟ ﹸﻜ‬‫ﹶﺫ‬

“That is Allah, your Lord; there is no Allah except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him;
and He is a watcher over all things.” (6:102).

• Mankind can only have some understanding of Allah through the attributes with which
He describes Himself. These are known as the 99 beautiful names of Allah, known by
the Quranic term “al-Asma al-Husna”. Some of the names indicate Allah’s majesty and
power, whilst others illustrate His love and mercy towards His creation.

• Of all His names, perhaps the most repeated are the names al-Rahman (Most Kind)
and al-Rahim (Most Merciful). These names remind Muslims that Allah is Merciful and
cares for them, provides their needs, helps them, and can forgive those who are
repentant. These are qualities that Muslims should also try to possess in their own lives
as well.

o The difference between al-Rahman and al-Rahim is that al-Rahman refers to

Allah’s mercy for all creation; al-Rahim is His specific mercy for believers on the
Day of Judgement

• Muslims recite the sentence ‘In the name of Allah, Most Kind, Most Merciful’ before
starting anything important. This provides them with blessing and with the continuous
reminder of Allah.

The Holy Prophet has said: ‘Any important action that begins without the mention of ‘Bismillah’
will remain unfinished (and unsuccessful).’
Risalah / Nubuwwah (Prophethood)
• Muslims believe that prophets are human beings appointed by Allah to give His message
to humans. Allah grants them the gift of being infallible but they remain human.

• Infallibility means being guarded and protected from committing mistakes, errors and sins.

• However this does not negate their free will. Infallibility does not mean that they are
forcefully restrained and are unable to sin, rather Allah’s guardianship and protection is
placed upon them through granting and teaching the Prophets a degree of understanding
of Allah, such that their love and understanding for Allah prevents them from His
disobedience. Furthermore, they are made aware of the spiritual consequences of
obedience and disobedience as they see the spiritual reality of those acts. Therefore they
would not even contemplate disobeying Allah for fear of displeasing Him. Together with
infallibility, their duties are much greater than other people’s and Allah has much higher
expectations of them.

• Infallibility for the prophets is necessary in order to inspire confidence in their teachings
and speech. If the purpose of the prophets is to exhort towards good and warn people
away from evil, then such a purpose would not be accomplished if the prophets were
prone to sin. Thus Allah asks in the Quran:

‫ﻮ ﹶﻥ‬‫ﺤ ﹸﻜﻤ‬
 ‫ﺗ‬ ‫ﻒ‬
 ‫ﻴ‬ ‫ﻢ ﹶﻛ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹶﻟ ﹸﻜ‬‫ﻯ ﹶﻓﻤ‬‫ﻬﺪ‬ ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻱ ﹺﺇﻻﱠ ﺃﹶﻥ‬
 ‫ﻳ ﹺﻬﺪ‬ ‫ﻦ ﻻﱠ‬‫ﻊ ﹶﺃﻣ‬ ‫ﺒ‬‫ﻳﺘ‬ ‫ ﺃﹶﻥ‬‫ﺣﻖ‬ ‫ ﹶﺃ‬‫ﺤﻖ‬
 ‫ﻱ ﹺﺇﻟﹶﻰ ﺍﹾﻟ‬‫ﻬﺪ‬ ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻦ‬‫ﹶﺃ ﹶﻓﻤ‬

“Is then he who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed, or he who himself does not go
aright unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you; how do you judge?” (10:35)

• Islam believes that all the Prophets, 124,000 in total, were sent by Allah with the message
of the true faith: Islam, and that Islam developed into a more complete religion over time,
and was ultimately perfected near the end of Prophet Muhammad’s life.

ْ‫َُا‬0‫ ِ َو‬#ِ

ُ ‫ر‬/  -ٍ .
َ ‫ َأ‬
َ ْ َ ‫ق‬
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ُ ‫ ِ( ِ َو ُر‬$ُ ‫ ِ َو ُآ‬$ِ %َ &ِ 'َ‫ ِ َو‬#ّ ِ 
َ َ   ‫ن ُآ‬
َ ُِ ُْ ْ ‫ ا
 ُ ُل َِ أُ ِ َل ِإ َ ْ ِ ِ
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ُ ِ5َ ْ ‫ ا‬3 َ ْ َ ‫ َر
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ُ َ1ْ 2
َ ‫َ َوَأ‬1ْ ِ
َ

“The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and (so do) the
believers; they all believe in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers; We make
no difference between any of His messengers; and they say: We hear and obey, our Lord! We
seek Your forgiveness, and to You is the eventual course.” (2:285)

• Prophet Adam was given the message of Islam and guidance as a mercy from Allah. He
showed humans how they should live appropriately on the earth as Allah’s supreme
creation and reach perfection. However, his message was lost or distorted by humans and
Allah sent subsequent prophets with the same message in accordance with their own time
periods.

• In total, Allah sent 124,000 messengers to various tribes, lands and communities. Whilst the
mission of some of them was confined to smaller populations, others had the duty of
guiding larger populations or even the whole of mankind.

• Between them, these messengers are divided into the categories of ‘rasool’ and ‘nabi’.
 o The rasool were those prophets to whom a divine scripture had been revealed, for
example Taurat, Zubur and Injil.
o Whilst the nabi had the duty of propagating the teachings of the previous rasool
and his divinely revealed book.
o The term ‘Risalah’ alludes to the concept of revelation of a divine message, whilst
the term ‘Nabuwwah’ indicates to a more general and encompassing office of
prophethood.

• Here is a mention of some Prophets and Messengers in the Quran:

o Prophet Ibrahim was a staunch monotheist, although his uncle and tribe were
polytheists. He believed in Allah. He was disgusted with the idols that his tribe
worshipped. In order to convince them of Tawhid he broke all the idols that his
tribe worshipped and blamed the act on one of the largest idols. The people
realised that the idol, unable to even move, could not have done this action. He
aimed to show his people that if an idol cannot even move then how could it grant
them their wishes and be worthy of worship? His people refused to believe in his
teachings and he was condemned to be burned to death for this. Allah prevented
the fire from harming him. Allah mentions His apostle Ibrahim:

﴾‫ﺎﹰ‬‫ﻧﹺﺒﻴ‬ ‫ﺪّﻳـﻘﹰﺎ‬ ‫ﺻ‬

 ‫ﻪ ﻛﺎ ﹶﻥ‬‫ ﺇﻧ‬،‫ﻴﻢ‬‫ﺮﺍﻫ‬‫ﺏ ﺇﺑ‬
‫ﺘﺎ ﹺ‬‫ﻲ ﺍﻟﻜ‬‫ﺍ ﹾﺫﻛﹸﺮ ﻓ‬‫﴿ﻭ‬

“And mention, in the book, Ibrahim. Indeed he was a truthful one, a prophet.” (19:41)

o Prophet Ismail: he was the son of Prophet Ibrahim and was sent to the Arabian
people and Arabian areas. Prophet Ibrahim was tested by Allah to sacrifice
Prophet Ismail; the devil tried to tempt him not to. Prophet Ibrahim stoned the devil
and obeyed Allah. Allah replaced Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice with a ram and
Prophet Ismail was saved. Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail rebuilt the Ka’aba
which had been damaged over time.

o Prophet Ishaq: he was also the son of Prophet Ibrahim and was sent to the Jewish
people and Jewish areas.

o Prophet Isa: was born of the Lady Maryam (Mary) through a miraculoys birth without
a father. He was not the son of Allah and was not crucified on the cross – instead
someone was crucified in his place, and he was taken directly to the skies by Allah.
Prophet Isa performed many miracles and will return again towards the end of the
world under the leadership of the 12th Imam (aj).
o The beautiful narrative about the birth of Prophet Isa from his pure mother
has been eloquently articulated in the 19th chapter of the holy Quran. The
following verses describe how an angel of Allah brought the news to Lady
Maryam (Mary):

‫ ﻗﺎ ﹶﻝ‬.‫ﺎ‬‫ﻐﻴ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﻙ‬ ‫ﻢ ﺃ‬ ‫ﻭﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﺸ‬

 ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﺴﻨﹺﻲ‬
‫ﺴ‬
 ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻭﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﻡ‬ ‫ﻲ ﻏﹸﻼ‬‫ﻳﻜﹸﻮ ﹸﻥ ﻟ‬ ‫ﻰ‬‫ﺖ ﺃﻧ‬
 ‫ ﻗﺎﹶﻟ‬.‫ﹰﺎ‬‫ﻛﻴ‬ ‫ﺯ‬ ‫ﻚ ﻏﹸﻼﻣﹰﺎ‬
 ‫ﺐ ﹶﻟ‬
 ‫ﻫ‬ ‫ﻚ ﻷ‬
 ّ‫ﺭﹺﺑ‬ ‫ﻦ‬‫ﻮ ﹲﻝ ﻣ‬‫ﻤﺎ ﺃﻧﺎ ﺭﺳ‬‫﴿ﻗﺎ ﹶﻝ ﺇﻧ‬
﴾‫ﺎﹰ‬‫ﻀﻴ‬
 ‫ﻣ ﹾﻘ‬ ‫ﺮﹰﺍ‬‫ﻛﺎ ﹶﻥ ﺃﻣ‬‫ ﻭ‬،‫ﺎ‬‫ﻣﻨ‬ ‫ﲪ ﹰﺔ‬
 ‫ﺭ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﺱ‬
‫ﺎ ﹺ‬‫ﻠﻨ‬‫ﻳ ﹰﺔ ﻟ‬‫ﻪ ﺁ‬ ‫ﻌ ﹶﻠ‬ ‫ﺠ‬
 ‫ﻨ‬‫ﻟ‬‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻦ‬ ّ‫ﻫﹺﻴ‬ ‫ﻠﻲ‬‫ﻮ ﻋ‬ ‫ﻫ‬ ‫ﻚ‬
 ‫ﺭﺑ‬ ‫ ﻗﺎ ﹶﻝ‬،‫ﻟﻚ‬‫ﻛﺬ‬

“He said: I am just a messenger from your Lord, that I may grant for you a pure boy.
She said: How would I have a boy whilst no man has touched me, nor have I been unchaste?!
He said: So it will be. Your Lord says ‘That is easy for Me. Thereby We would make him a sign
for the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter so decreed.’” (19:19-21)

• The Quran also mentions in the same chapter, how Prophet Isa miraculously proclaimed his
prophethood from the cradle shortly after his birth:

!‫ﹰﺎ‬‫ﻐﻴ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﻚ‬

 ‫ﺖ ﹸﺃﻣ‬
 ‫ﻧ‬‫ﻣﺎ ﻛﺎ‬‫ﻮ ٍﺀ ﻭ‬‫ﺃ ﺳ‬‫ﻣﺮ‬ ‫ﻙ ﺍ‬ ‫ﻮ‬‫ﻭ ﹶﻥ ﻣﺎ ﻛﺎ ﹶﻥ ﺃﺑ‬‫ﺖ ﻫﺎﺭ‬
 ‫ﺧ‬ ‫ ﻳﺎ ﹸﺃ‬.‫ﹰﺎ‬‫ﻴﺌﹰﺎ ﻓﹶﺮﻳ‬‫ﺖ ﺷ‬
 ‫ﻢ ﹶﻟﻘﹶﺪ ﺟﹺﺌ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫ﺮ‬‫ ﻗﺎﻟﹸﻮﺍ ﻳﺎ ﻣ‬.‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻤ ﹸﻠ‬ ‫ﺤ‬‫ﻬﺎ ﺗ‬‫ﻪ ﻗﹶﻮﻣ‬ ‫ﺖ ﹺﺑ‬
 ‫ﺗ‬‫﴿ﻓﹶﺄ‬
﴾‫ﺎﹰ‬‫ﻧﹺﺒﻴ‬ ‫ﻌ ﹶﻠﻨﹺﻲ‬ ‫ﺟ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﺏ‬
 ‫ﺘﺎ‬‫ﷲ ﺁﺗﺎﻧﹺﻲ ﺍﻟﻜ‬
ِ ‫ﺪ ﺍ‬ ‫ﺒ‬ ‫ﻋ‬ ‫ﺎﹰ؟ ﻗﺎ ﹶﻝ ﺇﹺﻧّﻲ‬‫ﺻﹺﺒﻴ‬
 ‫ﺪ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﻲ ﺍﻟـ‬‫ﻦ ﻛﺎﻥﹶ ﻓ‬‫ﻢ ﻣ‬ ّ‫ﻠ‬ ‫ﻧ ﹶﻜ‬ ‫ﻒ‬
 ‫ ﻗﺎﻟﹸﻮﺍ ﻛﹶﻴ‬،‫ﺕ ﺇﻟﹶﻴﻪ‬
 ‫ﺭ‬ ‫ﻓﹶﺄﺷﺎ‬

“So she brought him to her people carrying him.

They said: O Mary, you have indeed brought an unprecedented thing! O sister of Aaron, your
father was not an immoral man, nor was your mother unchaste!
She simply pointed to him.
They said: How should we speak with one who is a mere child in the cradle?
He said: I am indeed the servant of Allah. He has given me the book and made me an apostle.”
(19:27-30)

• The teachings of all of these prophets was either lost, forgotten or distorted, and the
true message had become what we know today as ‘Judaism’ or ‘Christianity’ or
‘Arabian Bedouin polytheism’. These religions and practices may have elements of the
truth that have remained but are not the absolute pure message that was originally
sent by Allah.

• Thus Allah decided to reveal to a prophet the final divine religion, in a way that would
not be distorted, and therefore no more prophets would be needed after him. This was
the Prophet Muhammad.

• The greatest miracle of Prophet Muhammad was receiving and conveying the message
of Allah, the Quran, which was the final word of Allah. This was Allah’s final word and
enabled Prophet Muhammad to restore the true divine religion that would be known as
Islam.

• Prophet Muhammad is known as the Best of Prophets and holds a higher status than all
previous prophets. He is the Seal of the Prophets and brought Allah’s final message.

• Muslims say ‘Peace Be upon him and his Progeny’ each time they mention the holy
Prophet’s name and apply special peace, blessings and prayers to Prophet
Muhammad and his progeny.

• The sending of peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad has been a practice that
has been emphasised and taught to people in narrations of the Ahlul Bayt. In reality it
is the adoption of a divine practice. Allah himself sends blessings upon Prophet
Muhammad and his family and commands Muslims to do the same. He says in the holy
Quran:

‫ﻴﻤﹰﺎ‬‫ﺴﻠ‬
 ‫ﺗ‬ ‫ﻮﺍ‬‫ﻠّﻤ‬ ‫ﺳ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻋﻠﹶﻴ‬ ‫ﺻﻠﱡﻮﺍ‬
 ‫ﻮﺍ‬‫ﻣﻨ‬ ‫ﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﺬﻳﻦ ﺁ‬‫ ﻳﺎ ﺃﻳ‬،‫ﺒﹺﻲ‬‫ﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻨ‬‫ﺼﻠﱡﻮ ﹶﻥ ﻋ‬
 ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﺘ‬‫ﺋ ﹶﻜ‬‫ﻼ‬‫ﻭﻣ‬ ‫ﺇﻥﹼ ﺍﷲ‬

“Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings upon the apostle. O you who believe, send blessings
upon him and salute him with utmost peace”. Sura al-Ahzab (33:56)
Angels
• There are various forms of communication between Allah and His chosen prophets. One
of the most common ways by which Allah revealed His message to the prophets was
via angels

• Angels are created by Allah out of light and are non-physical beings

• They do not have any propensity to commit sin or disobey Allah

• Allah has assigned angels to execute His commands within creation. Some particular
angels are also assigned to record the deeds of man, for which he will be accountable
on the day of Judgement. These angels have been mentioned in the Quran:

﴾‫ﻌﻠﹸﻮﻥ‬ ‫ﺗ ﹾﻔ‬ ‫ﻮ ﹶﻥ ﻣﺎ‬‫ﻌ ﹶﻠﻤ‬‫ ﻳ‬.‫ﺗﺒﹺﲔ‬‫ﺮﺍﻣﹰﺎ ﻛﺎ‬‫﴿ﻛ‬

“...Honourable, recording (your deeds); they are aware of what you do.” Sura al-Infitar (82:11)

• Allah uses angels to carry out His commands and also communicate with His messengers
and chosen people

• Some of the well-known angels:

o Angel Jibrail is the Arch Angel
o Angel Israfil is the angel that will blow the trumpet which will bring about the
Akhirah
o Angel Izrail is the Angel of Death
o Angel Mikail who is in charge of nourishment of our bodies and souls

• It should be noted that Shaytan was not an angel, he was always a Jinn but had
reached to such a level in his worship that he was able to reside and mingle with the
angels; at that time Shaytan was known by the name Azazil
Akhirah – Belief in Life after Death
• Islam does not regard death as the end. Rather, it is the beginning of a new stage of
life called the Akhirah. Islam regards the world as a preparation ground for the
Akhirah where we can perform actions that will either lead to our reward or
punishment in the Akhirah
• All Muslims believe in life after death because:
o They believe that life is a test from Allah and it only makes sense if there is life
after death in order to see the results
o It is what the Quran teaches and the Quran is the word of Allah
o Belief in life after death gives meaning and purpose to their lives. Allah
mentions in the Quran:
‫ﻮ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﻌ‬ ‫ﺟ‬ ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﺗ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹶﻻ‬‫ﻴﻨ‬ ‫ﺍﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ ﹸﻜ‬‫ ﺃﻧ‬‫ﺒﺜﹰﺎ ﻭ‬‫ﻋ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﺧ ﹶﻠﻘﹾﻨﹶﺎ ﹸﻛ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻤ‬‫ﻢ ﺃﻧ‬ ‫ﺘ‬‫ﺒ‬ ‫ﺴ‬
ِ‫ﺤ‬
 ‫ﹶﺍ ﹶﻓ‬
What! Did you then think that We had created you in vain and that you shall not be returned
to Us? (23:115)
• The evidence of religious experience and all the reasons there are for believing in
Allah makes it likely that there is life after death. This means that once the existence of
Allah is established it is logical to conclude that Allah has a plan, and that this world
was created for a reason in that plan, and so death cannot be the ultimate end of the
journey towards Allah

The Grave and Barzakh

• Muslims believe that even though the physical body may die, the soul lives on and is
aware of what is happening around it. It will have awareness of the burial and
funeral. It will be attached to the body for a period of time known as the stage of the
grave. After this it will enter into the period of Barzakh which is the stage in-between
the world and the Akhirah
• During the stage of the grave, Muslims believe they will be questioned and tested.
Their ability to answer the questions correctly depends upon how they lived their lives.
Good Muslims will be able to answer the questions and account for their deeds
properly and will experience rewards. This is because their souls will have properly
learned and believed in Islamic teachings and they will have performed good deeds.
Souls that are unable to answer properly and committed bad deeds that were not
forgiven will experience punishment
How the Beliefs of Muslims in Life after Death Affect
their Lives

• Muslims are never cremated, and they do not remove any of the contents of the body
at death. Muslims are obliged to avoid post-mortems if possible and many Muslims
have concerns about transplant surgery
• Many Muslims visit family graves at times of religious festivals
• Muslim beliefs about life after death and their response to evil as a test from Allah,
give their lives meaning and purpose. It may be why in surveys, Muslims suffer less
from depression and are less likely to commit suicide than atheists and agnostics1
• Muslims live their lives in constant awareness that all that they do is being noted and
that they will be judged on it on the Day of Judgement
• The teachings of the Quran and the Ahlul-Bayt about life after death and the
hereafter should prompt Muslims to act in such ways that would benefit us in the
hereafter. The Quran teaches:
﴾‫ﻘﻰ‬‫ﺃﺑ‬‫ﲑ ﻭ‬
 ‫ﺧ‬ ‫ﺮ ﹸﺓ‬ ‫ﺧ‬ ‫ ﻭﺍﻵ‬.‫ﻧﻴﺎ‬‫ﻭ ﹶﻥ ﺍﳊﻴﺎ ﹶﺓ ﺍﻟﺪ‬‫ﺛﺮ‬‫ﺆ‬‫ﺑ ﹾﻞ ﺗ‬﴿

“Nay, you prefer the life of this world. Whilst the hereafter is better and more lasting.” (87:16-
17)

• To believe that there shall be accountability for one’s actions after death is a
fundamental tenet of Islam. Prophet Muhammad has said:

"‫ﻞ‬‫ﻋﻤ‬ ‫ﻻ‬‫ﺏ ﻭ‬
‫ﺴﺎ ﹴ‬‫ﻲ ﺩﺍ ﹺﺭ ﺣ‬‫ﻢ ﻏﹶﺪﹰﺍ ﻓ‬‫ـﺘ‬‫ﺃﻧ‬‫ ﻭ‬،‫ﺴﺎﺏ‬‫ﻤ ﹴﻞ ﻭﻻ ﺣ‬ ‫ﻋ‬ ‫ﻲ ﺩﺍ ﹺﺭ‬‫ﻡ ﻓ‬ ‫ﻮ‬‫ﻜﹸﻢ ﺍﻟﻴ‬‫ "ﺇﻧ‬:(‫ﺭﺳﻮﻝ ﺍﷲ )ﺹ‬

“Indeed today you are in an abode of action and not accountability, and tomorrow you shall be
in an abode of accountability and not action.”2

• This belief should make Muslims feel more cautious in their actions. Imam Ali points out:
"‫ﻪ‬‫ﻴﺘ‬‫ﺼ‬
 ‫ﻌ‬‫ﺖ ﻣ‬
 ‫ﺓ ﹶﻗﻠﱠ‬ ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﺧ‬ ‫ﺮ ﺍﻵ‬ ‫ﺫ ﹾﻛ‬ ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﻦ ﺃ ﹾﻛﹶﺜ‬‫ "ﻣ‬:(‫ﺍﻹﻣﺎﻡ ﻋﻠﻲ )ﻉ‬

“Whoever remembers the hereafter more, their sins decrease.”

Heaven, Hellfire, Accountability and its Importance in

the lives of Muslims
• Muslims believe that when people die, their bodies should be buried. On the Day of
Judgement everyone will by physically resurrected and will gather for the final
judgement.

1
Victor W. Watton (2009), Religion and Life, Hodder Education, UK. Pg. 35
2
Bihar al-Anwaar, Vol.74, Pg. 117
 • The judgement will take place in the following way:

o Everyone’s actions in the world will be exposed and will be accounted for,
except for those people who have earned Allah’s mercy through their actions in
the world.
o The books of deeds will be read out
o Each person will be judged on the basis of how well they have conducted
themselves during their lives, and will be sent to rewarded or punished
accordingly

• The issue of accountability has been mentioned in the Quran on numerous occasions –
one of which is as follows:

﴾‫ﻤﻠﹸﻮ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﻌ‬ ‫ﺗ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﺘ‬‫ﺎ ﻛﹸﻨ‬‫ﻋﻤ‬ ‫ﺴﹶﺄﹸﻟﻦ‬

 ‫ﺘ‬‫ﻭﹶﻟ‬ ﴿

“…and most certainly you will be questioned as to what you did.” (16:93)

• Islam teaches us that there are two types of sins. One type is the sin committed against
Allah. For example, missing prayers is a sin against Allah. The second type of sin is the
sin committed against other people. For example, backbiting is a sin committed against
another person. Muslims believe that those who committed sins against Allah but then
repent properly of their sins before they die will be forgiven by Allah and will not be
punished for those sins. However, if a sin is committed against another person then the
forgiveness must be sought and granted by the victim of the sin.

• The Arabic term for heaven is al-jannah (the Garden). The Quran paints a wonderful
picture of heaven as a place of gardens, flowers, streams and rivers and a beautiful
life having earned the pleasure of Allah:

.‫ﲔ‬
 ‫ﻠ‬ ‫ﺘﻘﹶﺎﹺﺑ‬‫ﺮ ﹴﺭ ﻣ‬ ‫ﺳ‬ ‫ﻋﻠﹶﻰ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﺍﻧ‬‫ﺧﻮ‬ ‫ﻏﻞﱟ ﹺﺇ‬ ‫ﻦ‬ ‫ﻢ ﻣ‬‫ﻭ ﹺﺭﻫ‬‫ﺻﺪ‬
 ‫ﻲ‬‫ﺎ ﻓ‬‫ﺎ ﻣ‬‫ﻋﻨ‬ ‫ﺰ‬ ‫ﻧ‬‫ﻭ‬ .‫ﲔ‬
 ‫ﻣﹺﻨ‬ ‫ﻼ ﹴﻡ ﺁ‬
‫ﺴﹶ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹺﺑ‬‫ﺧﻠﹸﻮﻫ‬ ‫ﺩ‬ ‫ ﺍ‬.‫ﻥ‬ ‫ﻮ‬‫ﻋﻴ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﺕ‬
 ‫ﺎ‬‫ﺟﻨ‬ ‫ﻲ‬‫ﲔ ﻓ‬
 ‫ﻘ‬ ‫ﻤﺘ‬ ‫﴿ﹺﺇﻥﱠ ﺍﹾﻟ‬
﴾‫ﲔ‬
 ‫ﺮ ﹺﺟ‬ ‫ﺨ‬
 ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹺﺑ‬‫ﻨﻬ‬ ‫ﻢ ﻣ‬‫ﺎ ﻫ‬‫ﻭﻣ‬ ‫ﺐ‬
 ‫ﺼ‬
 ‫ﻧ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻴﻬ‬‫ﻢ ﻓ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﻤﺴ‬ ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﹶﻻ‬

“Surely those who guard (against evil) shall be in the midst of gardens and fountains: (They will
be told) Enter the gardens in peace, (being) secure. And We will root out whatever of rancour is
in their breasts-- (they shall be) as brethren, on raised couches, face to face. Toil shall not afflict
them in it, nor shall they be ever ejected from it.” (15:45-48)

• The Arabic term for hellfire is jahannam (the place of fire). The Quran paints a terrible
picture of hell as a place of fire and torment where the evil will have their skins burnt off
whilst they drink pus and boiling water:
‫ﻴ ﹴﻢ‬‫ﺣﻤ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻮ ﹴﻡ‬‫ﺳﻤ‬ ‫ﻲ‬‫ﻓ‬
‫ﻮ ﹴﻡ‬‫ﺤﻤ‬
 ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻦ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻇﻞﱟ‬ ‫ﻭ‬
‫ﻭﻟﹶﺎ ﹶﻛ ﹺﺮ ﹴﱘ‬ ‫ﺩ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹺﺭ‬‫ﻟﹶﺎ ﺑ‬

In hot wind and boiling water, and the shade of black smoke, neither cool nor honourable.
(56:42-44).
 ‫ﻪ ﻛﹶﺎ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﺏ ﹺﺇﻥﱠ ﺍﻟﻠﹼ‬
 ‫ﻌﺬﹶﺍ‬ ‫ﻴﺬﹸﻭﻗﹸﻮﹾﺍ ﺍﹾﻟ‬‫ﻟ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﺮﻫ‬ ‫ﻴ‬ ‫ﺍ ﹶﻏ‬‫ﺟﻠﹸﻮﺩ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻫ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﹾﻟﻨ‬‫ﺑﺪ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻫ‬ ‫ﺩ‬ ‫ﺟﻠﹸﻮ‬ ‫ﺖ‬
 ‫ﺠ‬
‫ﻀ‬ ‫ﻧ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﺍ ﹸﻛﻠﱠﻤ‬‫ﺎﺭ‬‫ﻢ ﻧ‬ ‫ﻴ ﹺﻬ‬‫ﺼﻠ‬
 ‫ﻧ‬ ‫ﻑ‬
 ‫ﻮ‬ ‫ﺳ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﺗﻨ‬‫ﺎ‬‫ﻭﹾﺍ ﺑﹺﺂﻳ‬‫ﻦ ﹶﻛ ﹶﻔﺮ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫﴿ﹺﺇﻥﱠ ﺍﻟﱠﺬ‬
﴾‫ﺎ‬‫ﻴﻤ‬‫ﺣﻜ‬ ‫ﺍ‬‫ﻋﺰﹺﻳﺰ‬

“(As for) those who disbelieved in Our communications, We shall make them enter fire; so often
as their skins are thoroughly burned, We will change them for other skins, that they may taste the
chastisement (repeatedly); surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.” (4:56)

• The belief in the afterlife and accountability reassures Muslims with regards to the
justice of Allah. It encourages people to do good, in the hope of heaven, as well as a
deterrent from practicing evil out of the fear of the hellfire. Shia Muslims regard that
Allah is completely just and fair. This means that he cannot abuse His power and send
a good person to hell and a bad person to heaven

• The burdens and toils of this world also become easier on Muslims, who look ahead to
be rewarded in an eternal life after death. Imam Ali has described the trials and
tribulations that we experience in the world as an opportunity to get closer to Allah as
we are tested. After all, if there is no test then being rewarded does not make sense

• Above all else the Ahlul Bayt have taught us that the most lofty and sublime target to
reach for is simply the pleasure of Allah. That is the highest stage of worship. Imam Ali
has said:

“(My Lord) I have not worshipped you out of fear of your hell-fire, nor out of greed for your
heaven; rather, I found you worthy of worship and therefore I worship you.”
The Quran – Supreme Authority for Muslims
• Islam’s holy book is the Quran. The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in two
different types of revelation. A gradual revelation took place where the Quran was
revealed bit-by-bit to Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. It was also
revealed in one full instalment during the Night of Qadr

• Listed below are some of the reasons, along with their supporting verses, as to why
Muslims hold the Quran in the position of supreme authority:

• It is the actual word of Allah that He revealed to the Prophet Muhammad:

﴾‫ﻼ‬
‫ﺗﱰﹺﻳ ﹰ‬ ‫ﻩ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﹾﻟﻨ‬‫ﻧﺰ‬‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﺚ‬
 ‫ﻣ ﹾﻜ‬ ‫ﻋﻠﹶﻰ‬ ‫ﺱ‬
‫ﺎ ﹺ‬‫ﻋﻠﹶﻰ ﺍﻟﻨ‬ ‫ﻩ‬ ‫ﺮﹶﺃ‬ ‫ﺘ ﹾﻘ‬‫ﻟ‬ ‫ﻩ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﺮ ﹾﻗﻨ‬ ‫ﺁﻧﹰﺎ ﹶﻓ‬‫ﻭ ﹸﻗﺮ‬ ﴿

“And it is a Quran which We (Allah) have divided in portions so that you may read it to the
people a little at a time, and We have revealed it gradually.” Sura Bani Israil (17:106)

• That the Quran contains guidance to attain ever-lasting bliss. Quran (3:138):

﴾‫ﲔ‬
 ‫ﻘ‬ ‫ﻤﺘ‬ ‫ﻋ ﹶﻈ ﹲﺔ ﻟﱢ ﹾﻠ‬ ‫ﻮ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻯ‬‫ﻫﺪ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﺱ‬
‫ﺎ ﹺ‬‫ﺎ ﹲﻥ ﻟﱢﻠﻨ‬‫ﺑﻴ‬ ‫ـﺬﹶﺍ‬‫﴿ﻫ‬

“This (i.e. the Quran) is a clear statement for men, and a guidance and an instruction to those who
guard (against evil).”

• The like of the Quran cannot be reproduced by any being, which further proves that it
is from Allah and a miracle:

﴾‫ﺍ‬‫ﺾ ﹶﻇ ﹺﻬﲑ‬
‫ﻌ ﹴ‬ ‫ﺒ‬‫ﻟ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﻀ‬
 ‫ﻌ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﻮ ﻛﹶﺎ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﻭﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻠ‬ ‫ﻤ ﹾﺜ‬ ‫ﻮ ﹶﻥ ﹺﺑ‬‫ﻳ ﹾﺄﺗ‬ ‫ﻥ ﹶﻻ‬ ‫ﺁ‬‫ـﺬﹶﺍ ﺍﹾﻟ ﹸﻘﺮ‬‫ﻤ ﹾﺜ ﹺﻞ ﻫ‬ ‫ﻮﹾﺍ ﹺﺑ‬‫ﻳ ﹾﺄﺗ‬ ‫ﻋﻠﹶﻰ ﺃﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﺠﻦ‬
‫ﺍﹾﻟ ﹺ‬‫ﺲ ﻭ‬
 ‫ﺖ ﺍﻹِﻧ‬
 ‫ﻌ‬ ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﺘ‬‫ﺟ‬ ‫ﺌ ﹺﻦ ﺍ‬‫﴿ﻗﹸﻞ ﻟﱠ‬

“Say: If all men and jinn should combine together to bring the like of this Quran, they could not
bring the like of it, even if they assisted one another.” Sura Bani Israil (17:88)

• The Qur’an is the last revelation of Allah and contains valuable guidance for all times,
it is protected from all sorts of corruption unlike the previous scriptures. (41:42):

﴾‫ﺪ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﺣﻤ‬ ‫ﻴ ﹴﻢ‬‫ﺣﻜ‬ ‫ﻦ‬ ‫ﺗﱰﹺﻳ ﹲﻞ ﻣ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻔ‬ ‫ﺧ ﹾﻠ‬ ‫ﻦ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻭﻟﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫ﺪ‬ ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻴ ﹺﻦ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﻦ‬‫ﻃ ﹸﻞ ﻣ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻪ ﺍﹾﻟﺒ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﻳ ﹾﺄﺗ‬ ‫﴿ﻟﹶﺎ‬

“Falsehood shall not come to it (i.e. the Quran) from before it nor from behind it; (it is) a
revelation from the Wise, the Praised One.” Sura Fussilat (41:42)

• Thus due to the points mentioned above, the Quran is the supreme authority for all
Muslims.
How Muslims Show Respect for the Quran
Muslims show they believe in, respect, and honour the Quran by:

• Reciting it regularly and especially in the month of Ramadhan, in social gatherings,

and in the mosques
• Making an effort to recite every word and phrase correctly
• Making an effort to read and study it in their own native languages in order to
understand its contents and take guidance from it at all times.
• Never touching it without first performing wudhu
• Usually wrapping it in a special covering
• Keeping it above all other books
• Never holding it below their waist
• Never eating, drinking or talking whilst reading it
• Carrying it on journeys and in war for blessings
• Trying to obey its teachings
• Protecting it from desecration and any form of disrespect

Revelation of the Quran; Divine Communication

• Muslims believe that Allah has spoken to His creation from the beginning of time. Not
only is He believed to have communicated to the Prophets Moses and Muhammad, but
also to prophets such as Noah, Abraham, Zechariah, and Jesus.

• The Quran describes three forms of communication of Allah with human beings:

﴾‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﺣﻜ‬ ‫ﻠﻲ‬ ‫ﻋ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﺎﺀ ﹺﺇﻧ‬‫ﻳﺸ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻪ ﻣ‬ ‫ﻲ ﹺﺑﹺﺈ ﹾﺫﹺﻧ‬ ‫ﺣ‬ ‫ﻮ‬‫ﻮﻟﹰﺎ ﹶﻓﻴ‬‫ﺭﺳ‬ ‫ﺳ ﹶﻞ‬ ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﺏ ﹶﺃ‬
‫ﺎ ﹴ‬‫ﺣﺠ‬ ‫ﺍﺀ‬‫ﻭﺭ‬ ‫ﻦ‬‫ﻭ ﻣ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹶﺃ‬‫ﺣﻴ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻪ ﹺﺇﻟﱠﺎ‬ ‫ﻪ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬ ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﻳ ﹶﻜﻠﱢ‬ ‫ﺸ ﹴﺮ ﺃﹶﻥ‬
 ‫ﺒ‬‫ﻟ‬ ‫ﺎ ﻛﹶﺎ ﹶﻥ‬‫ﻭﻣ‬ ﴿

“It is not (possible) for any mortal that Allah should speak to him except through revelation or
from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger to reveal by His command what He wills: He is
Exalted and Wise.” Sura al-Shura (42:51)

• The first form, through revelation, involves communication directly from Allah to the
recipient. In this case, the recipient understands this communication without hearing any
physical sound or having any contact with a messenger (that is, an angel).

• The above verse describes the second form of communication as being ‘from behind a
veil’, and refers to a scenario in which Allah speaks to someone directly using words,
but the sound comes from the direction of another object. One of the best examples of
this is the revelation to Prophet Musa (Moses) through the burning bush.

• Muslims believe that the third form, ‘through a messenger’, is the method by which
Prophet Muhammad would most often receive the Quran. This method involves a
messenger – believed to be the angel Jibrail – who brings the Word of Allah to a
Prophet.
 o The first revelation came when Prophet Muhammad was meditating in Cave
Hira and the Angel Jibrail ordered him to recite the first five verses of what is
now Surah 96 (the Blood Clot). The remaining 14 verses were revealed later.

• Muslims also believe that the entire Quran in its essence was revealed to the Prophet in
one night, a blessed night, in the month of Ramadhan. Observe these two verses;
(97:1) and (2:185):

﴾‫ﺪ ﹺﺭ‬ ‫ﺔ ﺍﹾﻟ ﹶﻘ‬ ‫ﻴ ﹶﻠ‬ ‫ﻲ ﹶﻟ‬‫ﻩ ﻓ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﺰﹾﻟﻨ‬ ‫ﺎ ﺃﹶﻧ‬‫﴿ﹺﺇﻧ‬

“Surely We revealed it (i.e. the Quran) on the grand night.”

﴾‫ﺁ ﹸﻥ‬‫ﻪ ﺍﹾﻟ ﹸﻘﺮ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﻱ ﺃﹸﻧ ﹺﺰ ﹶﻝ ﻓ‬

 ‫ﺬ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹶﻥ ﺍﻟﱠ‬‫ﻣﻀ‬ ‫ﺭ‬ ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﺷ‬ ﴿
“The month of Ramadhan is that in which the Quran was revealed…”

• If we place these two verses together we realise that the Quran was revealed all at
once in it’s essential form in one night, the night of Qadr and that this night is in the
month of Ramadhan.

• However, we also know that the Quran was revealed in small portions throughout the
Prophet’s mission spanning some 23 years.

• It was the practice of the Prophet to teach the Quran to others and have it recited
often. The recitation of the Quran is a very special and recommended act and this is
now a skill and art that people practice and try to perfect. In doing this they are
communicating Allah’s words. Muslims are encouraged to memorise as much of the
Quran as possible. People that achieve the memorisation of the whole Quran are
known as ‘Hafiz’.

The Authority of the Quran

• The Quran is the word of Allah and therefore has Allah’s authority. It is infallible and
contains no mistakes or errors. The meaning of the Quran has great depth and scholars
devote their entire lives to study in order to better understand its meanings. These are
called commentaries of the Quran. At times the commentators may disagree in their
opinions and this can lead to different ways of practicing Islam.

Compilation of the Quran

• Certain chosen companions of Prophet Muhammad were ordered to write down the
words of the Quran as soon as they were revealed and conveyed to them

• The Prophet had scribes who were assigned to do this

• Memorisation of the words is highly recommended

 • After the demise of the Prophet in Madinah, the written manuscripts of the Quran were
collected and compiled

• The 114 chapters in the Quran are not placed in chronological order of revelation and
differ in size, content and style

Hadith

• Hadith refers to the reports by the Prophet’s family and companions about the speech
and conduct of the Prophet, the Imams, and Lady Fatima

• These hadith were initially narrated informally, before being formally collected and
compiled

• Hadith are considered to be a vital part of Islamic tradition and authority

• A large number of the teachings in the Quran are expressed in general terms and
were only put into practice by early Muslims after they were given a practical
explanation by the Prophet and thereafter the Imams

• In the course of a lengthy reply to a question put to Imam Sadiq, he said the following,
which clearly expresses the significance of the practical explanations of the Prophet:

o “Tell them; the command for the ritual prayers was revealed to the Prophet, but
Allah did not designate the number of cycles for them (i.e. for the people),
whether they would be three or four, till the Prophet of Allah explained that. The
command for the alms-tax was revealed to the Prophet, but Allah did not specify
for them (i.e. for the people) that it was to be a dirham for every forty dirhams,
till the Prophet of Allah explained that for them. The ordinance for the annual
pilgrimage was revealed but Allah did not say “go round (the Ka’ba) seven times”
till it was the Prophet of Allah who clarified that for them…”3

• Muslims are also commanded by Allah in the Quran, to obey His messenger in that
they must take the Prophet’s advice and refrain from that which he has ordered
Muslims to stay away from. The following verse in the holy Quran is often used as a
proof by Muslim scholars to indicate the authoritative nature of the ‘Hadith’:

﴾...‫ﻮﺍ‬‫ﺘﻬ‬‫ﻧ‬‫ﻪ ﻓﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﻨ‬ ‫ﻋ‬ ‫ﺎﻛﹸﻢ‬ ‫ﻣﺎ‬‫ﻩ ﻭ‬ ‫ﺨﺬﹸﻭ‬

 ‫ﻮ ﹸﻝ ﹶﻓ‬‫ﺳ‬‫ﻣﺎ ﺁﺗﺎﻛﹸﻢ ﺍﻟﺮ‬‫ﻭ‬...﴿

“... and whatever the messenger has given you, take it; and whatever he has prohibited you from,
then you should desist...” Sura al-Hashr (59:7)

• Thus, the Prophet and the Ahlul Bayt are often referred to in Muslim tradition as the
‘speaking Quran’, and their Sunnah, or their ways of doing things, is regarded as a
practical commentary on the Quran. Adherence to the Sunnah constitutes the practical

3
Al-Kafi vol 1, pg 276. Cited in A Concise Treatise of Authentic Traditions About the Imamate of the Twelve
Imams.
 element of what it means to be a Muslim. A Muslim’s knowledge of the Sunnah comes
from the hadith

Hadith Qudsi
• Some of the sayings of the holy Prophet are known as Hadith Qudsi. These contain
words that were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad from Allah, but do not form part
of the Quran.

Sunnah
• Prophet Muhammad was the Seal of the Prophets, the final messenger, and therefore
the final example for Muslims to follow. Because of this, Muslims believe that if the
Quran is not explicit about what to do in a situation, the Sunnah (example/way of life)
of the Prophet as recorded in the hadith will tell Muslims what to do. Therefore, the
collections of hadith are very important. There are several collections, the most popular
being those of “Sahih Al-Bukhari” and “Sahih Muslim” for Sunni Muslims and the four
books of the Shia:

1. Al-Kafi, compiled by Muhammad ibn Ya’qub al-Kulayni

2. Man La Yahdharuhu al-Faqih, compiled by Muhammad ibn Babuya
3. Tahdhib al-Ahkam, compiled by Shaykh Muhammad Tusi
4. Al-Istibsar, compiled by Shaykh Muhammad Tusi

• Hadiths are accepted as genuine – meaning that they are authentically about what the
Prophet, Imams, or Lady Fatima did or said – after having been scrutinised against a
number of criteria

Firstly they are compared to the teachings of the Quran to see whether
or not they are in conformity and agreement with them.

Secondly, the chain of narrators is looked at to see if it consists of
reliable individuals who can be traced back to Prophet Muhammad.

• The Quran also addresses the importance of following the actions of the holy Prophet:

﴾...‫ﺔ‬‫ﺴﻨ‬
 ‫ﺣ‬ ‫ﻮ ﹲﺓ‬ ‫ﷲ ﺃﹸﺳ‬
ِ ‫ﻮ ﹺﻝ ﺍ‬‫ﺭﺳ‬ ‫﴿ﹶﻟﻘﹶﺪ ﻛﹶﺎ ﹶﻥ ﹶﻟﻜﹸﻢ ﰲ‬

“Indeed for you, in the messenger of Allah, is an excellent model...” Sura al-Ahzab (33:21)

• The Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad is considered to be the second most important

source for the derivation of Islamic law after the Quran. However, in the Shia school of
thought, this authority is also extended to the Sunnah of the Ahlul Bayt

• The ‘Sunnah’ comprises of three aspects:

o Spoken words (‫)َل‬
The words and verbal teachings would come under this category.
o Actions (ِ)
Those things which the holy Prophet and his progeny did would also act as
some indication as to what we should be doing in those same circumstances.
 o Tacit approval (
ِ َ)
This category would cover those things that occurred in the presence of the holy
Prophet or those from his progeny, and they did not disapprove or show their
disagreement to the deed in any way.

• There are differing opinions amongst Muslim scholars as to how much authority the hadith
and Sunnah hold in comparison to the Quran:
o Some Muslims put them on an equal platform in terms of authority. This is on the
basis that the Prophet did not err and therefore his teachings also coincide with
the wishes and instructions of Allah

However, others believe that although the Prophet was infallible, the chain of narrators
cannot always be relied upon
Prophet Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets
• Muslims believe that in a long line of prophets and messengers, the Prophet
Muhammad is the last prophet and messenger. Allah mentions in the holy Quran
(33:40):

﴾‫ﺎ‬‫ﻴﻤ‬‫ﻋﻠ‬ ‫ﻲ ٍﺀ‬ ‫ﺷ‬ ‫ﻪ ﹺﺑ ﹸﻜﻞﱢ‬ ‫ﻭﻛﹶﺎ ﹶﻥ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬ ‫ﲔ‬

 ‫ﹺﺒﻴ‬‫ﻢ ﺍﻟﻨ‬ ‫ﺗ‬‫ﺎ‬‫ﻭﺧ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻮ ﹶﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬‫ﺳ‬‫ﻦ ﺭ‬‫ﻭﹶﻟﻜ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻟ ﹸﻜ‬‫ﺎ‬‫ﺟ‬‫ﻦ ﺭ‬‫ﺪ ﻣ‬ ‫ﺣ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹶﺃ‬‫ﺪ ﹶﺃﺑ‬ ‫ﺤﻤ‬
 ‫ﻣ‬ ‫﴿ﻣﺎ ﻛﹶﺎ ﹶﻥ‬

“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Last
of the prophets; and Allah is cognizant of all things.” Surat al-Ahzab (33:40)

• If the Prophet Muhammad was the last of the prophets then this means that no more
prophets or messengers will come after him. The importance and significance of
Prophet Muhammad being the last Prophet as in the verse above is explained by
Imam Sadiq:

“…till Muhammad came and he brought the Quran and its laws and teachings. So the permitted
(Halal) of Muhammad is permitted until the day of judgement and his forbidden (haram) is
forbidden until the day of judgement.”

• This means that no new prophet or messenger will come, nor will a new book come nor
a new law; however, there is always room for new interpretations and understandings
of the Quran due to changes in time, place and increase in knowledge.
o In 'Uyun akhbar al-Rida, from the Imam al-Rida (A), it is quoted that Imam Ja'far
al-Sadiq (A) was asked about the secret of it that as the time passes and the more
it is read and recited, the Qur'an increases in its novelty and freshness day by day.
The Imam al-Sadiq (A) answered: Because the Qur'an is not for an exclusive age
or for an exclusive people.

The Life of Prophet Muhammad

• Prophet Muhammad was born in Makkah, in present-day Saudi Arabia, in

approximately the year 570 CE. His father died before he was born and his mother
passed away when the Prophet was at the tender age of six. Thus he was brought up
by his uncle Abu Talib, who was the head of one of the senior tribes in Makkah at the
time: the Banu Hashim

• The society of Makkah into which the Prophet was born was very disturbing. The clans
were not unified, and they fought amongst themselves; there were great inequalities
based on clan, family size, social class, wealth, and power. Trading was often
dishonest and the poor, needy, orphans, and widows were especially mistreated and
ignored. There was a practice of burying baby daughters alive and women were
abused

• The people of Makkah believed in a number of gods, and each god was represented
by a statue or idol that was worshipped. The Ka’bah housed many of the idols and
was the centre-point of Makkah
 • During his early life, Prophet Muhammad established himself as a trustworthy and
honest individual and such a reputation of his spread around the city. At the age of 25
he married Lady Khadija, arguably the wealthiest woman in Arabia at the time

Prophet Muhammad in Makkah

• In the month of Ramadhan in the year 610 CE, at the cave of Hira in Makkah, the
Archangel Jibrail appeared to the Prophet Muhammad and presented him with the
very first revelation – his open mission as a prophet had now begun.

• The first revelations he received were:

‫ﻖ‬ ‫ﺧ ﹶﻠ‬ ‫ﻱ‬‫ﻚ ﺍﻟﱠﺬ‬

 ‫ﺭﺑ‬ ‫ﺳ ﹺﻢ‬ ‫ﺮﹾﺃ ﺑﹺﺎ‬ ‫ﺍ ﹾﻗ‬ •
Read in the name of your Lord Who created.

‫ﻋ ﹶﻠ ﹴﻖ‬ ‫ﻦ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹶﻥ‬‫ﻧﺴ‬‫ﻖ ﺍﹾﻟﹺﺈ‬ ‫ﺧ ﹶﻠ‬ •

He created man from a clot.

‫ﻡ‬ ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﻚ ﺍﹾﻟﹶﺄ ﹾﻛ‬

 ‫ﺭﺑ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﺮﹾﺃ‬ ‫ﺍ ﹾﻗ‬ •
Read and your Lord is Most Honorable,

‫ﻢ ﺑﹺﺎﹾﻟ ﹶﻘ ﹶﻠ ﹺﻢ‬ ‫ﻋﻠﱠ‬ ‫ﻱ‬‫ﺍﻟﱠﺬ‬ •

Who taught (to write) with the pen

‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻌ ﹶﻠ‬ ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹶﻟ‬‫ﺎ ﹶﻥ ﻣ‬‫ﻧﺴ‬‫ﻢ ﺍﹾﻟﹺﺈ‬ ‫ﻋﻠﱠ‬ •

Taught man what he knew not.

• Prophet Muhammad received more revelations from Allah and converted some of his
family to the religion of Islam. They began regular prayers, and Prophet Muhammad
began to preach publicly in Makkah. He gained converts from among the young in the
wealthy clans, from among the downtrodden inhabitants of Makkah, and all sorts of
people from the other clans

• His early preaching included:

o the oneness of Allah

o the falsity of polytheism
o the resurrection of the body
o future judgement
o the need to live a good life with the rich helping the poor

• The heads of the wealthy clans and those in power viewed Prophet Muhammad as a
threat. Makkah was based on a polytheistic religion centred around the Ka’bah which
housed the idols; this gave the Makkans trade dominance as the Ka’bah attracted
many trade caravans and visitors. Not only did Prophet Muhammad threaten this due
to his rejection of the idols, but also his popularity threatened their role as leaders
 • The Makkans were also proud of the religion that they had been handed by their
forefathers and did not want to give this up

• They began to persecute Muslims, which meant Prophet Muhammad was no longer
able to preach openly as his life was in danger, and Islam could not be spread freely.
They called Muhammad insane and accused him of inventing the Quran himself. They
mocked and harassed the Prophet wherever they could. When this was unsuccessful
they attempted to bribe the Prophet with riches and power

• In the year 619 CE the holy Prophet’s uncle, Abu Talib, and his wife Khadija, both
passed away. This left him without his sources of moral support as well as protection.
This year was known as ‘the year of sorrow’ for Prophet Muhammad

The Hijrah and its Importance

• The Hijrah was the event of the migration of Prophet Muhammad and the Muslims from
Makkah to Madinah

• Madinah was formerly known as Yathrib. Prophet Muhammad went to preach at a

trade fair near Makkah and met with some people from Madinah. They converted to
Islam. The following year, they returned with more converts and eventually the people
of Madinah invited Prophet Muhammad to become their leader in Madinah

• Madinah was divided between Jews and Arabs, and between the two Arab tribes of
Aws and Khazraj. The personality of the Prophet, as well as being the Prophet of
Islam, also provided them with someone fair and impartial to bring them together and
to unite. Prophet Muhammad and the Makkan Muslims left Makkah in 622 CE and
went to live in Madinah. Many left family members in Makkah who were not Muslim

• The Hijrah was very important: it not only gave Prophet Muhammad a new opportunity
to spread Islam, but also made it possible to establish Islam as a communal religion
with a real state in which to practice the laws in. As a sign of its significance, the Islamic
calendar starts from this event and everything is dated from it

• The Hijrah shows us that the early Muslims believed:

o Obedience and loyalty must be only to Allah

o They were willing to sacrifice a lot for Islam

o Loyalty to Prophet Muhammad was more important than loyalty to their

families

o Islam is a complete way of life and this was not possible in Makkah
Prophet Muhammad in Madinah
• Prior to the Prophet’s arrival, the people of Madinah were already divided amongst
themselves. To add to this they were also about to host the new arrivals from the city
of Makkah: the holy Prophet and those who had migrated with him

• Prophet Muhammad established the concept of Islamic brotherhood over any other
affiliations

• He also established the first written constitution of Madinah, giving a treaty of rights
and duties for the Muslims as well as non-Muslims.

• Prophet Muhammad quickly established an ummah or community, which agreed to

certain laws. He slowly converted most of Madinah to Islam

‫ﻛﹶﺎ ﹶﺓ‬‫ﻮ ﹶﻥ ﺍﻟﺰ‬‫ﺆﺗ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻠﹶﺎ ﹶﺓ‬‫ﻮ ﹶﻥ ﺍﻟﺼ‬‫ﻴﻤ‬‫ﻳﻘ‬‫ﻭ‬ ‫ ﹶﻜ ﹺﺮ‬‫ﻤﻨ‬ ‫ﻋ ﹺﻦ ﺍﹾﻟ‬ ‫ﻮ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﻨ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻑ‬
 ‫ﻭ‬‫ﻌﺮ‬ ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﻭ ﹶﻥ ﺑﹺﺎﹾﻟ‬‫ﻣﺮ‬ ‫ﻳ ﹾﺄ‬ ‫ﺾ‬
‫ﻌ ﹴ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﺎ ُﺀ‬‫ﻟﻴ‬‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻢ ﹶﺃ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﻀ‬
 ‫ﻌ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﺕ‬
 ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻣﻨ‬ ‫ﺆ‬ ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﺍﹾﻟ‬‫ﻮ ﹶﻥ ﻭ‬‫ﻣﻨ‬ ‫ﺆ‬ ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﺍﹾﻟ‬‫ﻭ‬
‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﺣﻜ‬ ‫ﺰ‬ ‫ﻋﺰﹺﻳ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻪ ﹺﺇﻥﱠ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬ ‫ﻢ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﺣ‬ ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﺳ‬ ‫ﻚ‬
 ‫ﺌ‬ٰ‫ﻪ ﺃﹸﻭﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﻮﹶﻟ‬‫ﺭﺳ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻮ ﹶﻥ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬‫ﻴﻌ‬‫ﻳﻄ‬‫ﻭ‬

And (as for) the believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each
other; they enjoin good and forbid evil and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, and
obey Allah and His Messenger; (as for) these, Allah will show mercy to them; surely Allah
is Mighty, Wise. (9:71)

‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﺘ‬‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﻌ‬ ‫ﻢ ﹺﺑﹺﻨ‬ ‫ﺘ‬‫ﺤ‬

 ‫ﺒ‬‫ﺻ‬
 ‫ﻢ ﹶﻓﹶﺄ‬ ‫ﻦ ﹸﻗﻠﹸﻮﹺﺑ ﹸﻜ‬ ‫ﻴ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﻒ‬
 ‫ﺍ ًﺀ ﹶﻓﹶﺄﻟﱠ‬‫ﻋﺪ‬ ‫ﻢ ﹶﺃ‬ ‫ﺘ‬‫ﻨ‬ ‫ﻢ ﹺﺇ ﹾﺫ ﹸﻛ‬ ‫ﻴ ﹸﻜ‬ ‫ﻋ ﹶﻠ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﺖ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬
 ‫ﻌﻤ‬ ‫ﻭﺍ ﹺﻧ‬‫ﺍ ﹾﺫ ﹸﻛﺮ‬‫ﻗﹸﻮﺍ ۚ ﻭ‬‫ﺗ ﹶﻔﺮ‬ ‫ﻭﻟﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻴﻌ‬‫ﺟﻤ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﺒ ﹺﻞ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬ ‫ﺤ‬
 ‫ﻮﺍ ﹺﺑ‬‫ﺼﻤ‬
 ‫ﺘ‬‫ﻋ‬ ‫ﺍ‬‫ﻭ‬
‫ﻭ ﹶﻥ‬‫ﺘﺪ‬‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﺗ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻌﻠﱠ ﹸﻜ‬ ‫ﻪ ﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﺗ‬‫ﺎ‬‫ﻢ ﺁﻳ‬ ‫ﻪ ﹶﻟ ﹸﻜ‬ ‫ﻦ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﻳﺒ‬ ‫ﻚ‬
 ‫ﻟ‬ٰ‫ﺎ ۗ ﹶﻛ ﹶﺬ‬‫ﻨﻬ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻧ ﹶﻘ ﹶﺬ ﹸﻛ‬‫ﺎ ﹺﺭ ﹶﻓﹶﺄ‬‫ﻦ ﺍﻟﻨ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﺓ‬ ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﺣ ﹾﻔ‬ ‫ﺷﻔﹶﺎ‬ ٰ‫ ﹶﻠﻰ‬‫ﻢ ﻋ‬ ‫ﺘ‬‫ﻨ‬ ‫ﻭ ﹸﻛ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﺍﻧ‬‫ﺧﻮ‬ ‫ﹺﺇ‬

And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited, and remember the favor
of Allah on you when you were enemies, then He united your hearts so by His favor you became
brethren; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, then He saved you from it, thus does Allah
make clear to you His communications that you may follow the right way.(3:103)

• Makkah continued to threaten the Muslims. There was a military threat in which the
Muslims defended themselves. The main battles were Badr, Uhud, and the battle of the
Trench

• Prophet Muhammad then received a revelation to change the direction of prayer from
Jerusalem to Makkah and to go on pilgrimage (hajj) to Makkah. Prophet Muhammad
tried to make the first hajj in 628 CE, but was refused entry into Makkah. Rather than
fight, Prophet Muhammad made the Treaty of Hudaybiyya with the Makkans, which
allowed Muslims to:

o Make the first hajj in 629 CE without fighting

o A ten year peace treaty
o Receive people of Makkah into Madinah

• When the Makkans broke the treaty, Prophet Muhammad and the Muslims
approached Makkah in 630. He surrounded the city and gave everyone the chance to
 convert and made the conquest as peaceful as possible, in order to prevent further
trouble. Makkah surrendered and people began to convert to Islam in large numbers.

• The Prophet carried out the full pilgrimage near the end of his holy life, during the
return from which, the final verses of the Quran were revealed. It was also at this
monumental stage at a place known as Ghadir al-Khum that the Prophet was
commanded by Allah to declare Imam Ali to be his rightful successor in authority and
leadership over the Muslims. Those verses are:

‫ﻱ‬‫ﻬﺪ‬ ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻪ ﻟﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﺱ ﹺﺇﻥﱠ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬

‫ﺎ ﹺ‬‫ﻦ ﺍﻟﻨ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻚ‬
 ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﺼ‬
 ‫ﻌ‬ ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪ‬‫ﻪ ﻭ‬ ‫ﺘ‬‫ﺎﹶﻟ‬‫ﺖ ﹺﺭﺳ‬
 ‫ﻐ‬ ‫ﺑﻠﱠ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻌ ﹾﻞ ﹶﻓﻤ‬ ‫ﺗ ﹾﻔ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻭﹺﺇﻥﹾ ﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﻚ‬
 ‫ﺭﺑ‬ ‫ﻦ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻚ‬
 ‫ﻴ‬ ‫ﻧ ﹺﺰ ﹶﻝ ﹺﺇﹶﻟ‬‫ﺎ ﹸﺃ‬‫ﺑﻠﱢ ﹾﻎ ﻣ‬ ‫ﻮ ﹸﻝ‬‫ﺳ‬‫ﺎ ﺍﻟﺮ‬‫ﻬ‬‫ﺎ ﹶﺃﻳ‬‫ﻳ‬
‫ﻦ‬ ‫ﻓﺮﹺﻳ‬ ‫ﻡ ﺍﹾﻟﻜﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﻮ‬ ‫ﺍﹾﻟ ﹶﻘ‬

O Messenger! deliver what bas been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it
not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people;
surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people. (5:67)

‫ﻟﹺﺈﹾﺛ ﹴﻢ‬ ‫ﻒ‬

 ‫ﺎﹺﻧ‬‫ﺘﺠ‬‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﻴ‬ ‫ﺔ ﹶﻏ‬ ‫ﺼ‬
 ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﺨ‬
 ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻲ‬‫ ﻓ‬‫ﺿ ﹸﻄﺮ‬
 ‫ﻤ ﹺﻦ ﺍ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹶﻓ‬‫ﻳﻨ‬‫ﻡ ﺩ‬ ‫ﺳﻠﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﻢ ﺍﹾﻟﹺﺈ‬ ‫ﺖ ﹶﻟ ﹸﻜ‬
 ‫ﻴ‬‫ﺭﺿ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻲ‬‫ﻤﺘ‬ ‫ﻌ‬ ‫ﻢ ﹺﻧ‬ ‫ﻴ ﹸﻜ‬ ‫ﻋ ﹶﻠ‬ ‫ﺖ‬
 ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﺗ‬‫ﻭﹶﺃ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻨ ﹸﻜ‬‫ﻳ‬‫ﻢ ﺩ‬ ‫ﺖ ﹶﻟ ﹸﻜ‬
 ‫ﻤ ﹾﻠ‬ ‫ﻡ ﹶﺃ ﹾﻛ‬ ‫ﻮ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﺍﹾﻟ‬
‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻴ‬‫ﺭﺣ‬ ‫ﺭ‬ ‫ﻪ ﹶﻏﻔﹸﻮ‬ ‫ﹶﻓﹺﺈﻥﱠ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬

“................This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favour on you and
chosen for you Islam as a religion; but whoever is compelled by hunger, not inclining willfully to
sin, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (5:3)

• By the time of his death in 632 CE, Prophet Muhammad had united many parts of
Arabia under the rule of Islam. The fundamental beliefs and the Shari’ah were in place
and the recorded revelations of the Quran had been gathered together. Muslims
believe that Prophet Muhammad had restored the message of Allah and made it
possible for it to become a world religion known as Islam
The Shari’ah
• The word ‘Shari’ah’ literally means ‘path to a watering hole’. In Islamic terminology it
means the Islamic legal system. It may also be translated as the Laws of Islam or
Islamic Laws

The Need for a Shari’ah

• Human beings are social creatures and like to live with and among other human
beings. Human beings are also interdependent by nature. Thus they like to live in
communities and societies where they can help each other mutually and thereby fulfil
their needs

• A society depends for its existence on laws and regulations. If there are no laws in a
society, it is overtaken by the law of the jungle: the struggle for existence and the
survival of the fittest. So the need for laws to regulate the lives of human beings is
beyond any doubt

• Islam teaches that because of the necessity of laws for a civilized society, Allah has
sent a series of messengers and prophets with divine laws for man's guidance from the
very first day of his creation. The last Messenger was Prophet Muhammad who
brought the final and the perfect set of laws, Islam, as a guide for mankind till the end
of time

• Divine laws are superior because:

o Allah is above class status, racial prejudice, and gender rivalry etc.
o Allah, as the Creator, fully knows humans as well as the world in which they live
o Allah fully known what is best for people to attain perfection and closeness to
Him
o Allah is perfect and every action of His is utter perfection

• The Shia legal school is known as ‘Ja’fari’. Shias believe the Ja’fari legal school has
been taught by Prophet Muhammad and the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt. The Sunnis have
four schools of law known as ‘Hanbali’, ‘Mailiki’, ‘Shafi’i’, and ‘Hanafi’.

• The Sunnis regard all of the above schools of law as legitimate to be followed. For
Shias however, the authority to make laws lies only with the Imams and for this reason
Shias accept only the Ja’fari school of law. In the absence of the 12th Imam (aj) the
authority to interpret laws lies with the representatives of the Imams: the mujtahids

• A Muslim is expected to follow the Shar’iah in word and spirit; it covers every aspect
of life

• Shari’ah law governs both man’s relationship with Allah and with his fellow human
being, for example:
o Man and Allah:

Salat

Sawm

Hajj
 o Man and Man:

Banking

Contracts

Family law

Inheritance

• Some Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan use Shari’ah law as the
basis of their criminal law

The Sources of the Shari’ah

• Shari’ah is based upon four sources, the Quran, the Sunnah, Ijma’ (consensus of the
scholars) and ‘Aql (rational proofs)

1) THE QURAN:

The foremost and the undisputable source of the Islamic shari’ah is the Quran, the final
revelation of Allah, the repository of divine guidance and divinely protected from
alteration and corruption

2) THE PROPHET AND AHLUL BAYT: THEIR TEACHINGS AND EXPLANATIONS (THE
SUNNAH):

The second most important source of the shari’ah is the Sunnah. Hadith refers to the reports
by the Prophet’s companions about the Prophet’s speech and conduct. These hadith were
initially narrated informally, before being collected and compiled by hadith scholars. The
Quran provides relatively few explicit instructions about how to live as a Muslim. A large
number of the Quran’s teachings are expressed in general terms and were only put into
practice by early Muslims after they were given a practical explanation by the Prophet
and the Imams.

The Quran itself clearly explained this relationship between the Prophet and itself in the
following verse:

﴾‫ﻭﻥ‬‫ﺘ ﹶﻔﻜﱠﺮ‬‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﻌﻠﱠ‬ ‫ﻭﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻴ ﹺﻬ‬ ‫ ﹶﻝ ﹺﺇﹶﻟ‬‫ﻧﺰ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﺱ ﻣ‬
‫ﺎ ﹺ‬‫ﻠﻨ‬‫ﻦ ﻟ‬ ‫ﺒﻴ‬‫ﺘ‬‫ﻟ‬ ‫ﺮ‬ ‫ﻚ ﺍﻟﺬﱢ ﹾﻛ‬
 ‫ﻴ‬ ‫ﺎ ﹺﺇﹶﻟ‬‫ﺰﹾﻟﻨ‬ ‫ﻭﺃﹶﻧ‬ ﴿

“And We have revealed to you (O Muhammad) the Reminder (the Quran) so you may clarify
to the people what has been revealed to them, and so that they may reflect.” (16:44)

Therefore the shari’ah is composed of Allah’s teachings as found in the Quran and the
Prophet’s teachings as found in his Sunnah, and the finality of the shari’ah is absolute. Observe
this verse (33:36):

‫ﺿﻞﱠ‬
 ‫ﺪ‬ ‫ﻪ ﹶﻓ ﹶﻘ‬ ‫ﻮﹶﻟ‬‫ﺭﺳ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﺺ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬
‫ﻌ ﹺ‬ ‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻦ‬‫ﻭﻣ‬ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻫ‬ ‫ﻣ ﹺﺮ‬ ‫ﻦ ﹶﺃ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ ﹸﺓ‬‫ﻴﺮ‬‫ﺨ‬
 ‫ﻢ ﺍﹾﻟ‬ ‫ﻬ‬ ‫ﻳﻜﹸﻮ ﹶﻥ ﹶﻟ‬ ‫ﺍ ﺃﹶﻥ‬‫ﻣﺮ‬ ‫ﻪ ﹶﺃ‬ ‫ﻮﹸﻟ‬‫ﺭﺳ‬ ‫ﻭ‬ ‫ﻪ‬ ‫ﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ‬‫ﺔ ﹺﺇﺫﹶﺍ ﹶﻗﻀ‬ ‫ﻨ‬‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﺆ‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻭﹶﻟﺎ‬ ‫ﻣ ﹴﻦ‬ ‫ﺆ‬ ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﻟ‬ ‫ﺎ ﻛﹶﺎ ﹶﻥ‬‫ﻭﻣ‬ ﴿
﴾‫ﺎ‬‫ﺒﹺﻴﻨ‬‫ﺿﻠﹶﺎﻟﹰﺎ ﻣ‬


“And it behoves not a believing man and a believing woman that they should have any choice in
their matter when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter; and whoever disobeys Allah
and His Messenger, he surely strays off a manifest straying.”
The Five Types of Legal Decrees
All Islamic injunctions fall within the five main categories of laws: Wajib, Mustahab, Ja’iz,
Makruh, and Haram:

1. Wajib: means obligatory, necessary, and incumbent. An act, which must be performed.
One will be punished for neglecting a wajib act, for example the daily prayers.
2. Mustahab: also known as sunnat, which means recommended, desirable, better. It refers
to the acts, which are recommended, but not wajib. If one neglects them there is no
punishment, however if one performs them, he will be rewarded.
3. Jaiz /Mubah means permitted, allowed, lawful. An act which is permitted and lawful;
there is neither reward for performing it nor any punishment for neglecting it, for
example drinking tea.
4. Makruh means reprehensible, disliked, discouraged. An act that is disliked by Islam but
not haram. If one does a Makruh act, he will not be punished; however, if he refrains
from it, then he will be rewarded
5. Haram means forbidden, prohibited. An act from which one must abstain. If someone
performs a haram act, he can be punished either by the Islamic court (in a Muslim
country) or in the hereafter or both.
Shi’ah & Sunni; Differing Views of Authority in
Leadership of the Ummah
• For Sunnis, a leader should be a good Muslim chosen by agreement among Muslims

• For Shias, the true leader is the infallible Imam. The Imam is a successor of Prophet
Muhammad and must be appointed as such by Allah either through the Prophet or by
the previous Imam. This is known as the doctrine of nass. Nass is a clear evidence that
one living Imam has endorsed the successorship of the next Imam. The Imam can commit
no sin and is an intermediary between man and Allah, just as Prophet Muhammad was,
except that the Imam does not receive any new divine book or text, nor does he
initiate a new Shari’ah. His task is to interpret the Quran and the shari’ah

• Shias agree that Prophet Muhammad was commanded by Allah to appoint Imam Ali
as the first Imam. Shias believe that Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman knew that Prophet
Muhammad had appointed Imam Ali as his successor but chose to deliberately ignore
this. Therefore, Shias only accept them as companions rather than caliphs

• Sunnis believe that the first four caliphs were rightly guided because the Muslim
community chose them. Sunnis often refer to an imam as simply the leader of prayer or
the mosque

• The Shias believe the Imams have authority granted to them by Allah. The Imam is the
one who explains what the Quran means and who determines what the law should be
based on the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah. There is a hadith which says,
'Whosoever knows not the Imam of his age dies the death of the age of ignorance.'

• For the Shias, especially able religious leaders who have gone through complex
training in a seminary (e.g. those in Qum and Najaf) become Mujtahids. New rulings on
contemporary issues can only be issued by qualified Mujtahids. These rulings are
based on the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet and the
teachings of the Imams. Shias believe that the 12th Imam, although in occultation,
guides the ummah in an indirect way

• Sunnis believe that authority lies in the Quran and hadith and their interpretation by
the Muslim scholars. They believe, as the Shias do, that Prophet Muhammad was the
Seal of the Prophets