Name: [Fill in]

GCSE: Islamic beliefs, teachings and practices

a) What is meant by ‘tawhid’. [2 marks]

Tawhid is the Muslim belief in the oneness of god

b) Describe the role of malaikah in Islam. [5 marks]

In islam Malaikah are tasked with bringing God’s laws and to give us purposes in our life as his immortal
messengers. Sunnie muslims believe that malaikah have no free will and they just do what Allah tells them
to. However shi’a muslims believe that they have limited free will. Overall in both branches of religion
malaikah are seen as obedient to God.

C) Explain how the Five Pillars support Islamic faith. [8 marks]

The five pillars are seen as the backbone of islamic faith. The first pillar os islam is the Shahadah and it
contains the main message of islam that “there is no God but God, and Muhammad is the prophet of God”.
The Shahadah is the first thing they play to a newborn baby and it is included in all five of the daily prayers.
In the Hadith is states that “whoever says: there is no God but God enters paradise” which would influence
a muslim into saying it as a declaration of faith because they would not want to suffer in hell.

d) ‘Muhammad was just an ordinary man’. [15 marks]

Discuss this statement showing you have considered more than one point of view.

Some Muslims may partially agree that “Muhammad was just an ordinary man” as he was not from any
grand background and his life was modest. Muhammad was from a poor family, an orphan, illiterate and
was treated badly for believing in Tawhid but he had a good reputation for being truthful and kind. Then
one night while he prayed he had a religious experience and the angel Jibril appeared and told him to
recite the words that appeared before him. Suddenly he wasn’t illiterate and was given the power to read
and ergo teach the message of Islam, that night was called Laylat-ul-Qadr which means the night of power.
This story may influence some Muslims into believing that Muhammad was just an ordinary man who was
chosen for his personality and nothing else.

However some Muslims may disagree with the statement that “Muhammad was just an ordinary man” and
that he was in fact someone special. In another part of the Qur’an it says that when Muhammad and his
uncle were travelling across the dessert to trade camels, they stopped at a Christian monastery and a
monk said Muhammad had the mark of the prophet. This story may influence some Muslims into believing
that Muhammad was not an ordinary man and he was destined to be a prophet from birth and not just
because of his good personality. In the Hadith it says that “God does not look at your forms and
possessions but he looks at your heart and your deeds” which strengthens the point that Muhammad was
chosen because of his heart and the things he did.

I think the most persuasive argument for a muslim would be that Muhammad was just an ordinary man.
Muslims agree that Muhammad came from humble beginnings like that of ordinary men and he worked
just like every other man at the time. I think the most persuasive argument for some Muslims would
believe he is just an ordinary man because it would make them aspire to be just like Muhammad since if he
was an ordinary man like everyone else and was chosen by god then they can be like him as well. In the
Hadith it says that “God does not look at your forms and possessions but he looks at your heart and your
deeds” which would influence Muslims to believe that if they have a good heart and do good things then
maybe they will be seen by God as well.