AQA GCSE Religious Studies: Islam Beliefs and Practices Revision Guide

Islam is one of the two religions most commonly studied on the AQA GCSE Religious Studies A specification. The AQA spec divides the study of Islam into two halves -- beliefs and practices -- and expects you to understand both Sunni and Shia perspectives throughout. Precise knowledge of key terms, teachings, and quotations makes the difference between a solid answer and an outstanding one.

This guide works through every major topic in the AQA specification for Islam. Use it as a revision framework: check your understanding against each section, note any gaps, and focus your remaining revision time where it is most needed.

Part One: Islamic Beliefs

Tawhid -- The Oneness of God

Tawhid is the most fundamental belief in Islam. It means the absolute oneness and unity of Allah -- one, eternal, all-powerful, and beyond human comprehension. Nothing should be worshipped alongside Him.

The Qur'an states: "Say, He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent" (Surah 112:1-4). This surah -- Surah al-Ikhlas -- is the purest expression of Tawhid.

Shirk, the sin of associating anything with Allah, is the gravest sin in Islam and the direct opposite of Tawhid. This explains why Islamic art avoids depictions of Allah or the Prophet Muhammad. For the exam, be clear that Tawhid is not simply "believing in one God" -- it is the belief that Allah is utterly unique, indivisible, and the sole creator and sustainer of everything.

The Six Articles of Faith (Sunni Islam)

Sunni Muslims recognise six core articles of faith, drawn from the Hadith of Jibril:

1. Belief in Allah (Tawhid) -- the oneness of God.
2. Belief in angels (Mala'ikah) -- beings created from light who carry out Allah's commands.
3. Belief in the holy books (Kutub) -- the revealed scriptures sent to guide humanity.
4. Belief in the prophets (Risalah) -- the messengers sent by Allah throughout history.
5. Belief in the Day of Judgement (Akhirah) -- all people will be judged by Allah after death.
6. Belief in predestination (Al-Qadr) -- Allah knows and has decreed everything that will happen.

These six articles provide the structure for the entire beliefs section of the AQA specification.

The Five Roots of Usul ad-Din (Shia Islam)

Shia Muslims hold five foundational principles known as the Usul ad-Din (roots of religion):

1. Tawhid -- the oneness of God, shared with Sunni Islam.
2. Adalat (Divine Justice) -- Allah is always just and fair. Suffering in the world results from human free will, not from Allah.
3. Nubuwwah (Prophethood) -- the belief in prophets sent by Allah.
4. Imamah (Authority of the Imams) -- after Muhammad, leadership should have passed to divinely appointed Imams, beginning with Ali ibn Abi Talib. This is the key point of difference between Sunni and Shia Islam.
5. Mi'ad (The Day of Judgement) -- belief in resurrection and final judgement.

Imamah is the most important distinction to grasp -- it is the theological root of the Sunni-Shia divide.

Angels (Mala'ikah)

Angels are beings created by Allah from light. They have no free will and carry out Allah's commands without question. The two you must know are:

• Jibril (Gabriel) -- the angel of revelation who delivered the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad over approximately 23 years. Jibril is the greatest of all angels.
• Mika'il (Michael) -- the angel of mercy and sustenance, responsible for providing nourishment and controlling the natural world according to Allah's plan.

Other important angels include Israfil (who will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgement) and the Kiraman Katibin -- two recording angels assigned to every person who document their good and bad deeds.

Predestination and Free Will (Al-Qadr)

Al-Qadr is the belief that Allah has knowledge of everything that will happen. The Qur'an states: "No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being" (Surah 57:22).

The Sunni and Shia perspectives on free will differ:

• Sunni perspective: Allah has complete foreknowledge and has decreed all things, but humans still have a degree of choice. They do not know what has been decreed, so they must strive to make good choices and will be held accountable.
• Shia perspective: The emphasis on Adalat (divine justice) places greater weight on free will. If Allah is perfectly just, humans must have genuine freedom -- otherwise punishing them would be unjust.

Both traditions agree that Allah's knowledge is absolute. The tension between predestination and free will is a matter of ongoing theological reflection, and the exam may ask you to evaluate different viewpoints.

Life After Death (Akhirah)

Akhirah encompasses the entire sequence of events following death. This life is understood as a test, and the afterlife is where the results are revealed. The key elements are:

• Barzakh -- the intermediate state between death and the Day of Judgement.
• Yawm al-Din (The Day of Judgement) -- all people are resurrected and judged by Allah.
• The weighing of deeds -- good and bad deeds recorded by the Kiraman Katibin are weighed on a scale.
• Jannah (Paradise) -- eternal peace and closeness to Allah, described in the Qur'an as gardens with flowing rivers.
• Jahannam (Hell) -- punishment for those who rejected Allah's guidance.

The Qur'an states: "Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your full compensation on the Day of Resurrection" (Surah 3:185). Belief in Akhirah motivates Muslims to live righteously, give generously, and follow the Qur'an.

Prophethood (Risalah)

Risalah refers to the role of prophets -- messengers sent by Allah to guide humanity with the same core message: worship Allah alone and live righteously. The key prophets for AQA are:

• Ibrahim (Abraham) -- the father of monotheism, who demonstrated absolute obedience by his willingness to sacrifice his son. He is also believed to have built the Ka'bah in Makkah with his son Ismail.
• Isa (Jesus) -- a major prophet born to the Virgin Maryam. Muslims believe Isa performed miracles and received the Injil (Gospel), but do not believe he was the Son of God or was crucified. Islam teaches that Allah raised Isa to heaven.
• Muhammad -- the final prophet and the Seal of the Prophets (Khatam an-Nabiyyin). He received the Qur'an through Jibril. No further prophets will come after Muhammad, giving the Qur'an and the Sunnah supreme authority.

The Holy Books (Kutub)

Islam teaches that Allah revealed scriptures to various prophets:

• The Qur'an -- revealed to Muhammad through Jibril. Believed to be the literal, perfectly preserved word of Allah. It supersedes all previous scriptures.
• The Tawrat (Torah) -- revealed to Musa (Moses). Muslims believe the original was a true revelation but has since been altered.
• The Zabur (Psalms) -- revealed to Dawud (David). Also believed to have been changed over time.
• The Injil (Gospel) -- revealed to Isa (Jesus). Muslims believe the current Gospels do not accurately reflect the original revelation.
• The Scrolls of Ibrahim (Sahifah) -- early revelations given to Ibrahim, believed to have been lost entirely.

The critical exam point is the Qur'an's unique status: only the Qur'an is believed to be perfectly preserved. This is why it holds the highest authority and why Muslims treat it with such reverence -- many memorise it entirely (a person who does so is called a Hafiz).

Part Two: Islamic Practices

The Five Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars are the core practices every Sunni Muslim is expected to observe.

1. Shahadah (Declaration of Faith) -- The declaration: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." Sincerely reciting the Shahadah is the act by which a person becomes a Muslim. It encapsulates both Tawhid and Risalah in a single statement.

2. Salah (Prayer) -- The obligation to pray five times daily: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night). Muslims perform wudu (ritual washing) beforehand and pray facing the Ka'bah in Makkah (the qiblah). Friday prayers (Jummah) at the mosque are particularly important.

3. Zakah (Charitable Giving) -- The obligation to give 2.5% of surplus wealth each year to those in need. It is a religious duty, not optional charity. The Qur'an states: "Establish prayer and give Zakah" (Surah 2:43). Zakah purifies the giver's wealth and reminds them that everything belongs to Allah. Voluntary charity beyond Zakah is called sadaqah.

4. Sawm (Fasting During Ramadan) -- During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs. The Qur'an states: "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous" (Surah 2:183). Exemptions exist for those who are ill, pregnant, travelling, or otherwise unable to fast safely.

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah) -- Every Muslim who is physically and financially able must undertake the pilgrimage at least once. Key rituals include wearing ihram (simple white garments symbolising equality), tawaf (circling the Ka'bah seven times), sa'y (walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa), standing at Arafat in prayer, and stoning the Jamarat (symbolising the rejection of temptation). Hajj represents the ummah (Muslim community) at its most unified.

The Ten Obligatory Acts (Shia Islam)

Shia Muslims observe ten obligatory acts, which encompass the Five Pillars and add further duties:

1. Salah -- prayer (Shia Muslims may combine some of the five daily prayers).
2. Sawm -- fasting during Ramadan.
3. Zakah -- charitable giving.
4. Khums -- an additional 20% tax on surplus income, unique to Shia Islam.
5. Hajj -- pilgrimage to Makkah.
6. Jihad -- striving in the way of Allah.
7. Amr bil Maruf -- encouraging good deeds.
8. Nahi anil Munkar -- discouraging evil.
9. Tawallah -- showing love for those who follow Allah and the Imams.
10. Tabarra -- dissociating from those who oppose Allah and the Imams.

For the exam, focus on the differences from Sunni practice -- particularly Khums, Tawallah, and Tabarra, which have no direct Sunni equivalents.

Jihad

Jihad means "struggle" or "striving." The AQA specification requires you to understand two forms:

• Greater Jihad (Jihad al-Akbar) -- the internal, spiritual struggle to live according to Allah's will. This includes resisting temptation, overcoming selfishness, and striving to be a better Muslim. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have called this the "greater jihad" after returning from battle.
• Lesser Jihad (Jihad al-Asghar) -- the external struggle to defend Islam. Military action is permitted only as a last resort, authorised by legitimate religious authority, fought in self-defence, and must not harm civilians. The Qur'an states: "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress" (Surah 2:190).

Greater jihad is considered more important by the majority of Muslim scholars. The key exam point is that Islam permits defensive action under strict conditions while emphasising that the real struggle is personal and spiritual.

Festivals and Commemorations

Eid ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) takes place during Dhul Hijjah, at the end of the Hajj period. It commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah. Muslims celebrate with prayers at the mosque and by sacrificing an animal -- the meat is divided between the family, friends, and the poor. It reinforces obedience, generosity, and care for the less fortunate.

Eid ul-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast) marks the end of Ramadan. Muslims attend special prayers, give Zakat ul-Fitr (a charitable donation so the poor can celebrate too), and share meals with family and friends. It is a joyful occasion marking spiritual renewal.

Ashura falls on the 10th of Muharram and holds different significance for Sunni and Shia Muslims:

• Sunni Muslims observe Ashura with fasting, commemorating the day Musa and the Israelites were saved from Pharaoh.
• Shia Muslims observe it as a solemn day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. Commemorations include processions and recitations of the Karbala narrative. For Shia Muslims, Ashura represents the struggle against injustice.

The contrasting observances of Ashura are an excellent example of Sunni-Shia differences that the exam may ask you to compare.

Exam Tips for Islam Questions

• Use precise terminology. Write "Tawhid" rather than "belief in one God," and "Risalah" rather than "the prophets." Arabic terms demonstrate deeper understanding.
• Distinguish between Sunni and Shia perspectives. The specification explicitly requires this, and many students lose marks by treating Islam as monolithic.
• Support points with Qur'anic quotations. Even a short, well-placed quotation lifts your answer significantly.
• Link beliefs to practices. Explain how Tawhid underpins the Shahadah, how Akhirah motivates charitable giving, or how Risalah explains reverence for the Qur'an. The strongest answers connect beliefs and practices into a coherent whole.

Prepare with LearningBro

If you are revising for AQA GCSE Religious Studies and want structured, specification-aligned practice, LearningBro can help. Work through the key beliefs and practices with exam-style questions designed to build your confidence and fill any gaps in your knowledge.

• AQA GCSE Religious Studies: Islam -- covers the full beliefs and practices content for the Islam component of the AQA specification.

Good luck with your revision.