Sources of wisdom and authority

The primary source is the Qur'an, believed by Muslims to be the literal, final word of God (Allah), revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

• The Sunnah (the Prophet's example) and the Hadith (reports of his sayings and actions) are the second source.
• From these, scholars develop Shariah (the path of law and guidance).
• Islam divides mainly into Sunni and Shia traditions, differing over the rightful succession to the Prophet.

Tawhid: the oneness of God

The heart of Islam is Tawhid — the absolute oneness and unity of God. God is one, eternal, transcendent, the creator of all, described through the "beautiful names" (e.g. the Merciful, the Compassionate).

To associate partners with God, or worship anything besides God, is shirk — regarded as the gravest sin. God is utterly beyond comparison, so images of God are forbidden.

Which concept?

Self, death and the afterlife

Islam teaches that each person has a soul and is accountable to God. After death comes resurrection and the Day of Judgement (part of Akhirah, belief in the afterlife).

Deeds are weighed, leading to Jannah (paradise) or Jahannam (hell). This accountability underpins the moral seriousness of the earthly life.

The Five Pillars and Six Beliefs

Sunni Islam is structured around the Five Pillars:

• Shahada — declaration of faith.
• Salah — prayer five times daily.
• Zakat — almsgiving.
• Sawm — fasting in Ramadan.
• Hajj — pilgrimage to Mecca.

Belief is framed by the Six Articles of Faith (God, angels, holy books, prophets, the Day of Judgement, and divine decree). The worldwide community is the ummah.

The Five Pillars

Good conduct and moral principles

Islamic ethics flows from submission to God's will (the word "Islam" itself means submission/peace) as revealed in Qur'an and Sunnah and applied through Shariah.

• Emphasis on justice, charity, honesty and care for the ummah.
• Jihad means "struggle": the greater jihad is the inner struggle to live righteously; the lesser jihad concerns outward struggle, hedged with strict conditions.

Science, gender, society, secularism

• Science: the medieval Islamic golden age advanced mathematics, medicine and astronomy; many Muslims see no conflict between the Qur'an and science.
• Society: the ideal of the ummah and Shariah shapes debates about law, finance and social justice.
• Gender: there is lively debate over the roles and rights of women and practices such as hijab.
• Secularism: Muslim communities engage varied secular and pluralist societies worldwide.

Greater jihad

Weighing it up

• How should the Qur'an be interpreted in changing contexts?
• How do Sunni and Shia understandings of authority differ, and why?
• How should tradition engage debates about gender and secular law?
• Is the relationship between Islam and modern science one of harmony, independence or tension?

Sort each idea by theme

Tap a claim, then drop it under the theme it belongs to.

Match the term

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The big ideas to hold together

You can now survey Islam across the Component 2 themes and evaluate its key debates. Press Finish to see your score.