Year 9 RE Knowledge Organiser: Muslim Beliefs Key Terms Definitions

Year 9 RE Knowledge Organiser: Muslim Beliefs Key Terms Definitions The six beliefs of Islam Sunni Muslims believe that these are the articles of faith, that a Muslim must believe, to be accepted as a Muslim: 1. Belief in Allah (Tawhid) 2. Belief in His angels (Risalah) 3. Belief in His holy books (Risalah) 4. Belief in His messengers (Risalah) 5. Belief in the Last Day (Akirah) 6. Belief in life after death (Akirah) Sources of Wisdom and Authority The first five beliefs are based on Qur anic verses such as Whoever disbelieveth in God and His angels and His Scriptures and His messengers and the Last Day, he verily wandered far stray. (4:136) It is righteousness to believe in God and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Messengers. (2:177) The man of faith. Each one believeth in God and His angels, His books and His apostles. (2:285) The full six beliefs are based on a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): A man came up to Muhammad and said: Prophet of Allah tell me what is Iman (faith)? Upon this the Holy Prophet replied, You must believe on Allah, his angels, his holy books, his Messengers, in the Last Day and life after death. (Kitab al-iman 1:4) Importance - very important to Sunni Muslims because: Tawhid shows that Muslims believe that there is one God who is creator, all-powerful and all-present who is the same God that Jews and Christians worship. Believing in angels shows that Muslims believe that God can communicate with humans using His special beings. Believing in the prophets of God shows Muslims believe that Islam is the first and final religion (Adam to Muhammad (pbuh)). Believing in the holy books shows that Muslims believe God sent books to show humans what to believe and how to live. Muslims believe the Qur an is the final and correct word of God. Believing in Akirah is important for Muslims because believing Allah will judge them on the Last Day effects how a Muslim lives their life heaven or hell are believed to be a result of this judgement. The six beliefs for Muslim communities today Most Sunni Muslims believe all people are created equal in the sight of Allah, which means that humanity should be respected and no one should be judged. There are no priests or holy people with special authority for Sunni Muslims. Sunni Muslims believe that they are born without sin. It is only after the age of puberty that Sunni Muslims believe that they can be held responsible for knowingly committing sins. Salvation in Islam comes from believing in the six beliefs and living the way set out by Islam. Sunni Muslims accept four of the five roots of Shi a Islam (1, 2, 3 & 5) Hadith Tawhid Risalah Akirah Shari ah Imamah/Imam imam Sayings of the Prohet Muhammad (pbuh) Belief in Allah s Unity Belief in Allah s angels, prophets and holy books Belief in the Last Day and life after death The holy law of Islam which covers all aspects of life Belief in the successors of Muhammad (pbuh) Prayer leader for Sunni Muslims The five roots in Shi a Islam (Usul ad-din) The bases of Shi a faith are: 1. Belief in the oneness of Allah (Tawhid) 2. Belief in Allah s justice (Adalat) 3. Belief in Allah s prophets from Adam to Muhammad (pbuh) (Nubuwwah) 4. Belief in the successors of Muhammad (imamah) 5. Belief in the Day of Judgement, with judgement being based on believing in the five roots and following the Shi a Shari ah (law) Sources of Wisdom and Authority Qur anic quote: Say, He is God, the One and Only, God the Eternal, the Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him. (Surah 112) Shi a Hadith quote: whoever knows not the Imam of his age dies the death of a heathen. Importance - very important to Shi a Muslims because: They are the basis for Shi a faith. They show what a person must believe in order to be consider a Muslim by Shi a Muslims. Based on Qur an and the teachings of the Twelve Imams. Shi a Muslims believe that if they are not believed and understood then they are not able to perform acts of worship necessary to live the Muslim life and ensure they go to heaven. The five roots for Shi a Muslim communities today There are different sects within Shi a Islam which interpret the five roots in different ways. In particular root 4 has different levels of importance for different Shi a sects Twelvers believe in 12 Imams and all five roots Ismaili Shi as believe in first 7 Imams (seveners) Nizari Khoja believe in a line of Imams continued from 7 th Imam Druze believe in reincarnation and different Imams Ahmadiyya accept the Sunni six beliefs and that their founder, Mirza Ahmad, received a special message

Year 9 RE Knowledge Organiser: Muslim Beliefs Key Terms Definitions The Nature of Allah There is no plural for Allah which highlights that Muslims believe in Allah s oneness (Tawhid). Muslims believe the characteristics of Allah are found in the Qur an (the direct word of Allah). The Qur an includes 99 names for Allah, these include: the creator; the Ever-providing; the Tremendous; the All-seeing; the Bestower; the Judge and the Allknowing. Many Muslims remind themselves of the 99 names of Allah using a rosary of 33 or 99 beads. Oneness (Tawid) This is the basis of Islam, as the first part of the Muslim creed (shahadah, the first pillar) states, I bear witness that there is no god, but God/Allah. Allah is believed to be the creator of everything since he is the only God. It also means that Allah must be allpowerful and in control of everything and that Allah must be present in the universe He has created. And verily, We have sent among every nation a Messenger proclaiming: Worship Allah Alone, and avoid all false deities. (Surah 16:36) Omnipotence Two of the 99 names of Allah are: the Absolute and the All-powerful and it is a fundamental belief that Allah has complete power. Islam means submission to God s will and Muslims are those who have submitted to Allah because he is so great (all-powerful). Allah s omnipotence also implies his omniscience as the All-knowing. Beneficence and mercy Every surah except Surah 9 begins with the bismillah: In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, This shows that Allah is good, king and loving to his creation. Muslims believe that Allah sent prophets to show humans how to live their lives in the best way so that they would go to heaven. The Qur an teaches that humans are not perfect and will be forgiven by Allah when they make mistakes by doing things like fasting in Ramadan and going on pilgrimage (Hajj). Justice Allah is described in the Qur an as the All-just. Justice means fairness and the maintenance of what is right. Muslims believe that Allah created the world in a just way. They believe that the universe works according to laws established by Allah and the way it operates is fair and just. Allah has designed the world to provide a fair life to people. Sharia ah law is also a means of justice to ensure that humans deal fairly and justly with each other. Also Muslims believe that at the end of the world Allah will judge everyone justly. The good will be rewarded and the evil punished. Transcendence Allah is totally beyond the material world and so beyond human experience as is shown in the names the Greatest, the Highest, the Glorious, the Supreme One, and the Magnificent. Immanence Allah is also immanent he is close to humans and can be contacted. We are nearer to man than his jugular vein. (Surah 50:16). Allah Arabic for God Why the characteristics of Allah are important for Muslims Tawhid There is only one God who created everything. If God created everything Muslims must try to preserve the oneness of the world he has created. The Muslim community must itself be one entity (ummah). There can only be one law for Muslims Allah s law (Shari ah). Muslims must only worhsip Allah. Omnipotence Allah is in complete control, a plan for the world and the power to make sure that plan happens. A part of this plan is for the Last Day. Benevolence If God is compassionate and forgiving then Muslims should act in the same way and forgive others. Justice The Qur an teaches that God is just and will reward the good and punish the bad so Muslims need to work for justice so that they are not punished on the Last Day. If Muslims want to be treated justly by Allah they must treat others fairly too. Muslims can do this by making sure that all people have equal rights and sharing the earth s resources (zakah). Transcendence This shows Muslims that Allah should be worshipped, that Allah is greater than anything else and that Allah is not restricted by anything. Immanence This shows that Allah is within the universe he has created and so science and learning can comprehend Allah. Allah can be contacted by humans. Allah is present for religious activities such as prayer (salah).

Year 9 RE Knowledge Organiser: Muslim Beliefs Key Terms Definitions Risalah (Prophets) The Nature of Prophets Muslims believe that Allah created humans to look after the earth (Allah s Khalifahs or vicegerents) and humans need prophets to know how to do this. Muslims do not believe that Islam began with Muhammad (pbuh); rather, it began with the creation of humans and so it is the original religion begun by Allah and his first prophet, Adam. In Islam, prophets are ordinary people (not divine) that were chosen to receive Allah s messages. Most Muslims believe that the prophets were sinless after they had been called by Allah to be his messenger, hence they are blessed when their name is mentioned ( peace be upon him pbuh or for Muhammad May Allah honour him and grant him peace saw). The Qur an says that each prophet was given Allah s word for their generation, so each prophet brought Islam to its perfect form. However, this message became distorted so Allah had to keep sending new prophets until Muhammad (pbuh). Muslims believe that Muhammad 9pbuh) was given the Qur an in a form that could never be distorted. Adam According to the Qur an Adam was the first man and was created to be Allah s vicegerent to look after the earth. Adam and his wife Hawwa lived in the garden but ate fruit that they had been told not to so were placed on earth to live. The couple realised they had done wrong so asked for Allah s forgiveness. Allah forgave them and as a sign of his thanks Adam built a House for Allah in Makkah called the Ka aba. Ibrahim (Abraham) Ibrahim was born into a polytheistic (worshipping many gods) family, he rejected polytheism and destroyed idols/statues of gods to show that this belief was wrong. Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian, but he was true in faith and bowed his will to God s, which is Islam. (surah 3:67). It is said that Allah saved Ibrahim from being burnt to death. Ibrahim and his wife did not have children but in their old age Allah granted them the gift of two sons Isma il and Ishaq. The Qur an says that Ibrahim had visions from Allah to sacrifice his son as a test, as the sacrifice was about to take place Allah stopped it and rewarded them for being obedient. Ibrahim and Isma il are also said to have restored the Ka aba after it was destroyed in the follds of Noah s time. Ibrahim was given the holy book of Sahifah (The Scrolls of Ibrahim), the first books mentioned in the Qur an. Muslims regard Ibrahim as a role model for how to live life. Abraham was indeed a model devoutly obedient to God, true in faith, and he joined not gods with God. (Surah 16:120) Isma il Eldest son of Ibrahim who helped to rebuild the Ka aba and establish it as a place of pilgrimage. Musa (Moses) Musa was born a Jew but raised by the Egyptian Pharaoh's wife and then led the Jews out of slavery. Musa was chosen to receive the holy book of Tawrat (Torah), but the people rejected or distorted the message. Dawud (David) Dawud was chosen to receive the holy book of Zabur (Psalms) because of the distortion of the Tawrat. Before this we wrote in the Psalms, after the message given to Moses: My servants the righteous shall inherit the earth. (Surah 21:105 and Psalm 37:29) Isa (Jesus) Isa had a virgin birth because his mother conceived him by the will of Allah. The Qur an records that Isa performed many miracles,such as healing the sick. According to the Qur an, the Jewish authorities wanted to have Isa executed and attempted to have him crucified, but Allah prevented this from happening. They said in boast, We killed Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, Hawwa Makkah Ka aba Vicegerent The first woman, Adam s wife (Eve) The city on Arabia where Muhammad (pbuh) was born The Shrine in Makkah which Muslims pray in the direction of. A person exercising delegated power on behalf of a sovereign or ruler. the Apostle of God ; but they killed him not crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them. (Surah). Muslims also believe that Allah took Isa to heaven from the cross so that Isa never died. Isa was given the holy book Injil (Gospel). However, the Qur an makes it plain that he was a prophet, an ordinary man, Not the Son of God. Christ the son of Mary was no more than an Apostle: many were the apostles that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They both had to eat their daily bread. (Surah 5:78) Muhammad (pbuh) Muslims believe that Muhammad (pbuh) was called by Allah to bring his final message to humanity. His message must be followed and those who follow his message will be rewarded, but those who reject it will be punished. His life was the perfect example for people to follow. The message of the prophets was distorted or forgotten so Allah sent Muhammad (pbuh) with a message that could not be distorted and a holy book (the Qur an) which could never be distorted. However, there are only four references to Muhammad s name in the Qur an plus one that refers to Ahmad which is assumed to refer to Muhammad:

Year 9 RE Knowledge Organiser: Muslim Beliefs Key Terms Definitions Risalah (Prophets) What the prophets teach Muslims Islam is the original religion as Allah taught Islam to his first prophet Adam through the prophets to the final prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Every prophet was given Allah s true message so their teachings should be followed. Prophets are ordinary people chosen to be messengers, they are not divine. The messages of the prophets are recorded in holy books which should be followed. In the past Allah s message has been distorted, The Qur an is Allah s true message and should not be distorted. Muhammad (pbuh) is the final and most important prophet. Good Muslims should follow the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) because his is the last example people have of how to live their lives. Muslim Holy Books The nature, history and purpose of Muslim holy books Muslims believe that God sent prophets with his message and the mo0st important of these were given the message in the form of God s holy book. There is some dispute about the exact nature of the holy books: Most Muslims believe that God made one holy book, the Qur an, which is his eternal word, and each holy book given to a prophet was simply a copy of that heavenly original. Unfortunately over time these holy books became distorted by humans. Sometimes God sent a prophet to correct these distortions, but on four occasions he sent a new copy of the holy book until finally he sent the Qur an to Muhammad (pbuh) in a form that could never be distorted. Some Muslims scholars believe that the earlier holy books were not the Qur an as they only contained certain parts of the Qur an. They contained God s message appropriate to the needs of the prophet s time. They believe that only Muhammad (pbuh) was given God s full eternal word in the undistortable Qur an. The purpose of holy books is so that Muslims know what to believe and how to live. The history of holy books begins with Adam. Muslims believe God gave the first holy book to Adam but that this message was distorted so God had to send other messengers. Ibrahim was given the Sahifa Ibrahim (the Scrolls of Abraham) But We have already given the family of Abraham the Book and Wisdom, and conferred upon them a great kingdom. (Qur an). However, Muslims believe that this too was distorted. Musa was given the Tawrat, although Muslims believe Musa s message was distorted, some parts remained in the Torah of the Old Testament, which is why many elements of Judaism (including the food laws) are still very similar to Islam. It was We who revealed the to Moses: therein was guidance and light. By its standards have been judged the Jews by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to God s will by the Rabbis and the Doctors of Law: for to them was entrusted the protection of God s Book. (Surah 5:47) Dawud was given the holy books Zabur, some of which, Muslims believe, have survived undistorted in the Psalms of the Old Testament. The Qur an has a direct quotation from the Psalms of the Old Testament in Surah 21:105 Before this We wrote in the Psalms, after the message given to Moses, My servants the righteous shall inherit the earth. which quotes Psalm 37:29 We have sent thee inspiration as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him And to David We gave the Psalms. (Surah 4:163) Injil Muslims believe the final prophet before Muhammad (pbuh) was Isa (Jesus), who was given the holy books Injil (Gospel). Muslims do not believe this is the same as the four Gospels of the New Testament, instead it is believed to be the book given to Isa by God which Isa preached to the Jews. Muslims do not believe Isa was the Son of God or was crucified; Muslims do believe that Isa predicted the coming of Muhammad (pbuh): Christ Jesus the son of Mary was no more than an Apostle of God, and His Word, which He bestoweth on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in God and His apostles. Say not Trinity : desist: it will be better for you: for God id One God. Glory be to Him far exalted is He above having a son. (Surah 4:171) Sunnah Caliph The example and way of life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Chief Muslim civil and religious ruler (Sunni). The Qur an Muslims believe that God decided that his word needed revealing in a new way because it had been distorted 5 times, disobeyed, ignored or unknown. Muslims believe that the Qur an was sent to a prophet that could not read or write so that it had to be recited and therefore preserved. Muslims believe that Muhammad (pbuh) was chosen for this role because, whilst he could not read or write, he was highly intelligent and had a good memory. Muhamad (pbuh) made sure his followers remembered sections of the revelations, although later he had secretaries who wrote down the revelations. They were later categorised into 114 surahs based on their being revealed at the same time or being on a common theme. History After Muhammad's (pbuh) death Abu Bak r made an authorised version of the Qur an. The third Caliph, Uthman (644-56CE) decided to make an official version based on Abu Bak r s authorised version. When this was completed all other written versions were destroyed. Muslims believe that the way the Qur an was revealed to Muhammad (pbuh) and then complied by the caliphs guarantees that the Arabic Qur an, as used by Muslims today, is the exact words of God revealed to Muhammad. In addition all old Qur ans and Arabic Qur ans today have the same surahs, words and letters. Divergent views about the importance of holy books Books before the Qur an show that God has always communicated with humans but these books are no longer important to some Muslims because they are believed to be distorted. Other Muslims believe that since the Qur an refers to these books they are still holy and should still be followed if they fit with the teachings of the Qur an. The importance of the Qur an for Muslims today Muslims believe that the Qur an used today is the exact Qur an that was revealed to Muhammad (pbuh), which is important because Muslims believe that everything in the Qur an is true because it is the word of God. Muslims must do everything in the Qur an if the want to please God. Nothing in the Qur an can be altered because it is the word of God. The Qur an tells Muslims to believe in one God who is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. It also teaches Muslims to believe in angels, messengers, holy books, the Last Day and life after death. The Qur an teaches Muslims to pray, visit the Mosque on a Friday, fast during Ramadan, celebrate festivals (Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha), pay religious tax to help the poor, go on pilgrimage to Makkah, not eat pork, drink alcohol, not take drugs, not gamble or male money from interest (financial).

Year 9 RE Knowledge Organiser: Muslim Beliefs Key Terms Definitions Malaikah (angels) Allah is so great that he does not communicate directly with humans. Angels act as go betweens between Allah and humans. Allah created them as immortal sinless creatures without freewill. It is because angels are sinless that they can communicate directly with Allah. The Qur an teaches that when Adam was created Allah order the angels to bow down to him because Adam had been able to name Allah s creations while the angels had not. Muslims believe that Iblis (Shaytan) was an angel who refused to bow down to Adam and so was sent out of heaven and set up his own kingdom of hell. The Qur an says that Iblis begged Allah to postpone his punishment for disobedience until the Last Day and this is why Iblis is able to tempt humans to go against Allah (Surah 7: 11-18). Muslims believe that angels have many roles: They praise Allah in heaven. They are guardians of the gates of hell. They record good and bad deeds of humans to present to Allah on the Last Day. Allah created angels from intellect without sensuality, the beasts from sensuality without intellect, and mankind from both intellect and sensuality. So when a person s intellect overcomes his sensuality, he is better than the angels; but when his overcomes his intellect, he is worse than the beasts. (Hadith recorded by Bukhari) Jibril (Gabriel) Jibril is the chief of the angels whose job is to deliver Allah s message to the prophets. Muslims believe that Jibril told the prophet Ibrahim about the birth of his sons; the prophet Zechariah about the birth of Yahya (John the Baptist), and Maryam (Mary) about the birth of Isa (Jesus). Jibril s most important role was to reveal the Qur an to Muhammad (pbuh). Mika il (Michael) Mika il is the second most important angel who is believed to be the guardian of heaven, protecting it from evil and the Devil. He also ensures that humans are nourished by sending rain to the earth. The Qur an mentions Mika il once: Whoever is an enemy of God or his angels or his apostles or Jobril or Mika il, verily God is an enemy of the unbelievers. (Surah 2:98) Izra il Izra il is the angel of death. The Qur an says that the angel of death takes the souls of people at death and returns it to Allah: The Angel of Death put in charge of you, will take your souls: then shall ye be brought back to your Lord. (Surah 32:11). However, Izra il only acts at Allah s command because it is Allah alone who decides when a person will die: Nor can a soul die except by God s leave. Surah 3:145). There are hadith which record that the prophets met Izra il during their lives and that Izra il watches over them dying. Why angels are important to Muslims Angels communicated the Qur an to Muhammad (pbuh), so without angels Muslims wouldn t know how to live their lives. Without angels there would be no prophets as Allah cannot communicate directly with humans, so without angels Muslims wouldn t have the teachings of the prophets. Muslims believe that angels will provide God with information on Judgement Day and that heaven is safe from evil. Malaikah Shaytan Predestination Decree Angels The devil The belief that everything that happens has already been decided. An official order from a high authority. Al-Qadr (Fate) Al-Qadr means fate or predestination and is taken to mean that everything in the universe is following a divine plan. The command of God is a decree determined. (Surah 33:38) and In all things the master-planning is God s. (Surah 13:42). There are many references in the Qur an to events in the lives of the prophets that do not make sense at the time but are later seen to be art of God s plan. As Yusuf (Joseph) says This is the fulfilment of my vision of old! God hath made it come true! He was indeed good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you out of the desert, even after Satan had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Verily my Lord understandeth best the mysteries of all He planneth to do. (Surah 12:100) Muslims believe that Allah has a plan for universe he has created, he has the power (omnipotence) to make it happen and the knowledge of what will happen (omniscience) to that everything will work out as Allah wants by his will. Many Muslims use the phrase insh Allah which means if Allah wills. Al-Qadr and the Day of Judgement Muslims believe that on the Last Day everyone will be judged for their actions, however, surely people can only be judged for actions they did of their own freewill? Can people have freewill if everything is predetermined? Many Shi a Muslims follow Mu tazilite theological views which say that Allah created humans with freewill and so humans are individually responsible if their actions lead to them disobeying God. Therefore, they can be judged on the Last Day. Most Sunni Muslims follow the teachings of the theologian al Ashari who said that Allah knows what people will do before they do it, since he as the attribute of foreknowledge. Allah knows what people will do, but they do it of their own freewill. The implications of belief in al-qadr for Muslims today God has a long term plan for everyone. Suffering is a part of Allah s plan, it should be accepted and will have an eventual good outcome. Muslims have freewill so have to take responsibility for their own actions. Muslims need to work out what God wants them to do so they can be sure that their choices are what God wants them to do.

Year 9 RE Knowledge Organiser: Muslim Beliefs Key Terms Definitions Akirah (life after death) Muslims believe that after death the body stays in the grave until the Last Day. According to the Qur an the world will be brought to an end on a day of God s choosing (the Last Day). Before that Isa will return, the angel Israfil will sound the trumpet and the dead will be raised. Everyone will stand before God on the plain of Arafat (near Makkah) to be judged by God and sent to either heaven of hell: They say, What when we are reduced to bones and dust should we really be raised up to be a new creation? Say, Nay be ye stones or iron, or created matter which in your minds is the hardest to be raised up, yet shall ye be raised up. (surah 17:49-51) That Day shall all men be sorted out. Then those who have believed and worked righteous deeds shall be made happy in a mead of delight. And those who have rejected faith and falsely denied Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter, such shall be brought to punishment. (Surah 30:14-16) Most Muslims believe that the judgement received on the Last Day will be based on a mixture of faith and action. The Qur an suggests that those who do evil deeds and those that reject faith will be sent to hell, leading many Muslims to believe that only good Muslims will pass the test of the final judgement. However, the verse Whoever does evil will be requited accordingly, nor will he find, besides God any protector or helper. (Surah 4:123) leads many Muslims to believe that God will help Muslims that have committed sins because God is believed to be the Merciful and the Compassionate. Some Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) will help followers that have sinned. Paradise All Muslims believe that heaven is paradise. The Qur an describes heaven as al Jannah (the Garden): Gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring. Angels shall enter from every gate (with the salutation): Peace be with you, that you preserved in patience! Now how excellent is the final home! (Surah 13:23-24) The Qur an also describes heaven as a place of delights: They will not hear therein ill speech or commission id sin. But only the saying of: Peace! Peace!.(Surah 56:25-26) Allah hath promised to Believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of Allah. That is the supreme felicity. (Surah 9:72) Hell Hell is Jahannam and is portrayed in the Qur an as a place of fire and torture. Most Muslims believe that people that go to hell stay there forever. However, some believe that bad Muslims will only stay for a short time as a punishment for sins that have been committed. This belief is based on Surah 15 which says that there are seven classes of hell and Surah 6 which says that people only stay in hell for as long as God wills. Some Muslims believe that this means that good followers of other religions will only stay in hell for a short time. Between death and the Last Day Some Muslims believe that the soul stays in the grave until the Last Day. Some Muslims believe that the afterlife is a spiritual place and that souls are judged immediately after death before going either to heaven or hell. This belief comes from Qur anic teachings which suggest that those that die on hajj (pilgrimage) or holy war go straight to heaven. There are also different beliefs about what happens between death and the body being raised. This time period is known as Barzakh. Some Muslims say that after death the soul is visited by the angel of death and questioned about faith. If these questions are answered with true faith then the soul is shown its place in heaven where it will wait until the body is raised on the Last Day. If the questions are answered incorrectly then a beating with clubs will take place until the Last Day. Others believe that after death the soul hovers over the body until the Last Day. Others say that the soul simply sleeps until the Last Day: One day He will gather them together: it will be as if they had tarried but an hour of a day: they will recognise each other. (Surah 10:45) Muslims insist on burial not cremation due to the importance of the body in the Last Day. Al-Jannah Jahannam Barzakh Heaven Hell The period between death and the Last Day Why life after death is important to Muslims The Qur an is the word of God and should be believed word for word. The Qur an teaches that there is life after death so these teachings should be believed. Muhammad (pbuh) taught that there was life after death. Muhammad (pbuh) is the perfect role model and his teachings should be believed. A belief in life after death is one of the 6 beliefs of Sunni Islam. Muslims believe that life is a test from God. Judgement and reward follow on from this belief. A belief in life after death gives life a meaning and purpose. How Muslim beliefs about life after death affect the lives of Muslims Muslims try to live a good life to go to paradise and avoid hell. Living a good Muslim life means following the Five Pillars of Islam so Muslims will pray five times a day, fast during Ramadan, pay zakah and go on hajj. Living a good Muslim life will also involve following the laws of Islam so Muslims will eat halal food, observe dress laws, not drink, gamble or be involved in lending or receiving interest. Muslims believe that resurrection means that nothing should be removed from the body after death. This means that funerals often take place within 48 hours. Due to this Muslims may try to avoid autopsies and some may be against transplant surgery. A belief in life after death gives life a purpose and meaning, this may be why in surveys Muslims suffer less depression and are less likely to commit suicide that atheists and agnostics. Muslim and Christian beliefs about life after death Similarities Life after death, Judgement, Heaven a place of paradise with God, Good people go to heaven, Makes sense of this life, Good is rewarded. Similarities to Catholic and Conservative Protestants Dead raised on Last Day, The world will end of the Last Day, Judgement, Belief in heaven and hell, Bad people and people with wrong beliefs will go to hell, However, Catholics believe in purgatory and Muslims and other Christians do not. Things Christians do not believe Dead should be buried quickly, Bodies cannot be cremated, Some believe in immortality of the Soul not Resurrection, Some do not believe in the Last day and believe that judgement happens straight after death instead, Some don t believe in hell because they believe everyone goes to heaven eventually.

RE Knowledge Organiser: Christianity Marriage and the family Key Terms Monogamy Definitions Marriage to only one person at a time The importance and purpose of marriage for Christians Jesus believed in monogamy and that marriage should be between one man and one woman The Christian Church follows Jesus in teaching that God created woman and man for each other and that marriage is a life long relationship Christian Church teach that God created marriage So that a couple can have a lifelong relationship of love and faithfulness So that a couple can have the support and comfort of each other and enjoy sex in a the way God intended for procreation of children So that children can be brought up in a Christian family As a way for the couple to show their love for each other and to gain God s grace to help them in their married life Marriage is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic and Orthodox churches, because of this, Catholic marriage involves not just the bride and groom and also God himself. Even though in Catholicism monks and nun are forbidden to marry, marriage is very important because: Marriage was created by God as the way of establishing and preserving society Marriage is the only acceptable way for Christians to have a sexual relationship a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh (mark 10:6-8).what God has joined together, let no man separate (Mark 10:9-10) Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery (mark 10:11) How Christians respond to non religious attitudes to marriage and cohabitation Three different responses from the Churches: Roman Catholic Church; condemn the non religious attitudes and insist Christians should refrain from having sex until that have a Christian marriage Liberal Protestants; accept couples living together before marriage, but expect couples to marry before starting a family. Will only accept sex to be between a couple committed to a long term relationship: recognising that for many, this is a step along the way to the fuller commitment of marriage (Something to celebrate, a report published by the CoE 1997) Most under 40 churchgoers respond by ignoring the Church's teaching. For example in the USA 2014 61% of Christians would have sex before marriage and 56% thought it appropriate to move in with someone after dating for six months. Lifelong relationship Procreation Sacraments Grace Cohabitation Spouse adultery Sacred bond The idea that marriage can only be ended by the death of a partner Making a new life An outward ceremony through which God s grace is given God s gift which gives strength to be good and holy Living together in a sexual relationship without being married Marriage/cohabitation partner A sexual act between a married person and someone who is not their marriage partner A joining together sanctified by God which cannot be broken Humanist and atheist attitudes to marriage Humanists believe sex and marriage are matters for the individual decisions. I tis up to individuals whether they live together without marrying or get married in a civil ceremony. However, humanists expect sexual relationships to be based on respect and trust. They believe the relationship should be exclusive and many believe marriage is a good thing when raising a family because it provides: A stable environment legally and financially More social acceptance of the relationship More stable home for the family A public ritual to declare and celebrate a couple s love It is now socially quite acceptable for couples to live together without being married; 5.9 million people were cohabiting in 2012; doubled that of 1996. 80% of 30 year olds say they have cohabited at some point in their lives *Marriage is still important to the non religious! In 2012, the number of marriages in England and Wales actually increased by 5.3%. In 2013 the Marriage Act came about which now allows same sex couples to marry in just the same way as a heterosexual couple, however it did not require religions to provide same sex ceremonies.

RE Knowledge Organiser: Christianity Marriage and the family Key Terms Definitions Sexual Relationships Christian teachings: Christianity teaches that sex is a gift from God to be enjoyed between one man and one woman who are married to each other. Christianity teaches that sex was given to humans by God for the joy, pleasure and bonding of a married couple and for the procreation of children Sex outside marriage Most Christians are opposed to any form of sexual relationship outside of marriage because: The Bible says that fornication is sinful and Christians should follow the teachings of the Bible The Catechism teaches that premarital sex is wrong and Catholics are encouraged to follow the teachings of the Church All Christians are against adultery because it breaks the wedding vows to be faithful to each other. It also goes against one of the Ten Commandments, which all Christians should follow Adultery is condemned by Jesus in the Gospels and all Christians follow His teachings Some Christians accept that some couples may live together before getting married and therefore have premarital sex. Liberal protestants in particular do not regard sex before marriage as sinful (as long as they are in a committed relationship), although they would expect couples to marry before starting a family Humanist and Atheist views Although humanist and atheists do not disagree with sex before marriage, premarital sex is acceptable only with certain limits: Sex must consensual rape in any form is seen as completely unacceptable Sex must be between two people of age;. Paedophilia is regarded as wrong regardless of religious teachings A sexual partner must ideally be single. Non religious people may find cheating on a partner offensive No payment should be involved in sex Sex should involve a degree of stability. High levels of promiscuity are frowned upon Sex ought to be safe; given the risk of disease and pregnancy; a barrier form of contraception must be used Most atheists would agree and have similar views, however they may not object to multiple sexual partners. Premarital Sex Homosexuality Extramarital Sex Promiscuity Faithfulness Fornication Consensual sex stonewall Sexual activity before marriage Sexual attraction to someone of the same sex Sex acts outside of marriage usually referred to as adultery Having sex with a number of partners without commitment Staying with your marriage partner and having sex only with them A word used in religion for both premarital sex and promiscuity With both parties freely agree to sexual activity A charity group which campaigns for equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people across Britain Homosexuality Various changes in the laws have made it easier to be openly homosexual and have made society more aware and accepting of homosexuality Medical research has shown that homosexuality is most likely to be caused by genetic and hormonal factors when a bay develops As society began to recognise homosexuality as acceptable, more institutions began to grant equal rights and status for homosexual couples Increased openness of gay celebrities has led to greater acceptance Organisations such as stonewall have changed many people s attitude and led to great equal rights

RE Knowledge Organiser: Christianity Marriage and the family Key Terms Definitions Christian Attitudes to same sex relationships Catholic Attitude: Most Catholics believe that being homosexual is not a sin but that homosexual sexual relationships are sinful. The Catholic Church asks homosexuals to live without sexual activity. The Church does not accept same sex marriage, but is less opposed to civil partnerships. However the Church also teaches that it is sinful to harass homosexuals or attack their behaviour. Catholics have this attitude because: The Bible condemns homosexual activity The tradition of the Church is that sexual activity should be creative and it is not possible for homosexual couples to have sex with creative purposes The catechism teaches that marriage is for a man and a woman to join as one and to raise a family The Church teaches that people can not help their sexual orientation but they can control their sexual behaviour, therefore discriminating against people for their sexual orientation is wrong The Bible teaches that everyone has human dignity because they are made in the image of God Christian Attitudes to same sex relationships Evangelical Protestants Attitude: Many Evangelical Protestant believe that homosexuality is a sin. They believe that there should be no homosexual Christians and some hold special prayer meeting to give homosexuals the power of the Spirit to change their sexual preference. Reasons being: They believe the Bible is the direct word of God the Bible condemns homosexuality in some passages of both the old and new testament They believe the salvation of Christ can remove all sins, including homosexuality They believe homosexuality is sinful because all Churches have taught it in the past, even though some now say it is acceptable *The Evangelical Alliance has recently made this statement: At the same time we utterly repudiate homophobia and call upon Churches to welcome those of homosexual orientation as they would welcome any other person Civil partnership Homophobia Legal ceremonies giving homosexual partners the same legal rights as husband and wife Hatred or fear of homosexuals Christian Attitudes to same sex relationships Liberal Protestant attitude Many Liberal Protestants have the attitude that lifelong homosexual relationships are acceptable and homosexuals are welcome into the Church. They are generally happy to provide blessings for civil partnerships but not same sex marriages, which they believe cannot be equated to Christian Marriage. Reasons being: They believe the teachings of the Bible need reinterpreting in the light of modern knowledge. They feel that the major Christian belief in love and acceptance means that homosexuals must be accepted Recent scientific research shows that homosexuality may be caused by biological factors and so is part of a person s nature. They believe Christians should be open and honest, and refusing rights to gay Christians encourages them to be dishonest and hypocritical about their nature and life. **However some Protestants, such as Quakers are happy to celebrate same sex marriages in their churches. They are happy for homosexuals to be ministers and priests. Humanist and Atheist attitudes to same sex Humanists, and the vast majority of atheists and non-religious people, see no problems with same sex sexual relationships. They regard people s sexuality as their own concern unless it interferes with other people s humans rights. This could be because all the Christian arguments against same sex relationships are based on religious reasons, so if people have no religion then the reasons for disapproving of homosexuality disappear Christian responses to the non religious attitudes The official response of the Roman Catholic Church and the conservative Protestant Churches has been to condemn the non-religious attitude and to insist that Christian homosexuals should refrain from having sex and the same sex marriages should not be legal. The official response of the more liberal Protestant Churches has been to welcome homosexuals into the Church and to allow gay clergy to become bishops. Quakers in Britain give homosexuals completely equal rights and celebrate gay marriages. (Some liberal Churches insist that gay clergy should refrain from sexual activities) Most Christians no longer agree with the offical teachings. In May 2015, Ireland, perhaps one of the most Catholic countries in Europe, held a referendum on whether to allow same sex marriages and it was approved by 62% of the voters. All research seems to show that most Christians are more in line with non religious attitudes when it comes to homosexuality

RE Knowledge Organiser: Christianity Marriage and the family Key Terms Definitions Families Through out history there have been many different types of family; from small clans (large extended families) to families with polygamous parents, to families with monogamous parents. Families have developed as children can not survive on their own until adulthood. Polygamous Monogamous ONS Having more than one spouse at a time Having only one spouse at a time Office of National Statistics Families Nuclear Family Technically a nuclear family is one where a mother, father and children are living together as a unit. Most religious people view it as a married couple of opposite sex living together with their children. Fifty years ago, such a nuclear family was regarded as the normal family. However of the 7.9 million families with dependant children, in UK 2014, only 4.75 million were married couple families. Two million families consist of a single parent and dependant children and 1.17 million families are headed by cohabitating couples. (statistics from the ONS) Families Single Parent Families In the UK there were 1.9 million families consisting of single parent and dependant children. 25% of all families with dependant children are single parent families. The main cause of the large number of single parent families has been the significant number of divorces and the increasing number of family breakdown where couples are cohabiting. However, the divorce rate has reduced over the past few years. Overall 42% of families will end in divorce. Single parent families allow children to escape from the emotional stress that can be caused when parents are quarrelling. However, single parent families often have financial problems: 41% of children living in one parent families are living in poverty compared to only 23% of children from two parent families. Most lone parents are women, so many children in single parent families lack a paternal role. (statistics from the ONS) Families Blended Families A blended family is when two separate families are joined together when parents decided to marry or cohabit. The increase in divorce since 1969 has lead to an increase in remarriage - most people who have divorced before the age of 50 have remarried., resulting in many more blended families, also known as step families or reconstituted families. Families Same-sex Families The Civil Partnership Act of 2004 provided same sex couples with the same rights and treatment as opposite-sex couples who enter into a civil marriage. The Marriage Act (Same Sex couples) 2013 allowed same sex couples to marry in just the same way as heterosexual couples, but does not require religions to provide same sex marriage ceremonies. The Equality Act 2010 made discriminating against same sex couples illegal, so giving them equal adoption and fostering rights. In 2014 there were 21,000 families headed by a same sex couple. Of these 12,000 were in civil partnerships and 90000 were cohabiting. (statistics from the ONS) Families Extended Families An extended is one where three generations (Parents, children and grandparents) are living in the same house or one where parents, children, grandparents, aunts and uncles live in close proximity and have frequent contact with and reliance on each other. The families are often called multigenerational families. According to the 2011 census, only 1% of families with dependant children were multigenerational, but research indicates that many more live in close proximity and rely on grandparents and other family members for childcare. This increase since the 2011 census could be because of the squeeze on incomes and jobs, and the increased cost of housing and both child care and elderly care.

RE Knowledge Organiser: Christianity Marriage and the family Key Terms Definitions The purpose and importance of the family in Christianity All Christians believe that the family was created by God as the basic unit of society and as the only place in which children should be brought up. One of the main purposes of Christian marriage is to have children and bring them up in a secure and loving Christian environment so that they will come to love God and follow Jesus. Family is also important because: The family is a place where children are introduced to the faith through baptism/dedication and then through being taken to church for worship, Sunday school, festivals etc The family has the basic task of bringing children up safely and securely until they are mature enough to look after themselves. The family has a duty of instilling moral values into the children so that they become good responsible citizens. Children have a duty to look after their parents when their parents are too old or infirm to care for themselves. The Commandments tell Christians to honour their mother and father Christian teaching on divorce makes it clear that Christian parents should stay together and bring up their children together because the family is so important For many Christians, family is considered to be the most important part of society and with the family society would collapse. However, there is a tradition dating back to Jesus, which says that there are more important things than the family for Christians. Marriage is not compulsory for Christians and many Christians feel they can serve God best by remaining single, for example Roman Catholic priests, nuns and monks leave their families to serve God. Non Religious ideas about the family Most families in the UK are now non religious. All recent surveys show that at least 60% of people have little or no contact with religion. However, the family is very important to people regardless of religion. Falling in love and having children is a goal in life for most people. The purpose of family life is to bring up children in a safe and secure environment, pass on moral values and to provide emotional financial support. The importance of family life to non religious people can be seen in the same way that family members want to help in time of need, regardless of religious commitment. Non religious families also come together at times like Christmas just as much as religious families. Different Christian attitudes to the family The traditional Christian view of the family is that outlined above, but other Christians have different views: Some Christians believe that the purpose of the family is to provide love and security and to make sure that children are educated to think for themselves so that they can make their own minds about religion when they are old enough. These Christians believe it is not the role of the family to make Christians. Other Christians believe that while it is the duty of parents to provide love, security, education and a Christian upbringing. It is not the duty of the children to obey their parents. A Christian family should encourage children to develop their own ideas, which may lead to different ideas from their parents.