Mini-Lesson

Developments in Religious Thought: Islam

Component 03 · Option — study ONE religion

This is the Component 03 option in Islam: an overview of Islamic religious thought — its sources of authority, its understanding of God and ultimate reality, the self and afterlife, its moral principles, and the challenges it faces.

Component 03 · optional route (Islam). For OCR H573 you study just ONE religion in depth for Component 03. Work through this lesson only if Islam is your chosen option; another student may study Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism or Hinduism instead.

Work through each screen, weigh the range of scholarly views, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Press Start when you are ready.

Sources of authority

Islamic thought rests on several sources of authority:

The Qur'an — believed to be the literal word of God (Allah), revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
The Sunnah and Hadith — the example and recorded sayings of the Prophet.
Scholarly consensus and reasoning develop Shari'ah, the path of Islamic law and living.

Quick check

The Qur'an

?How is the Qur'an understood within Islam?

Ultimate reality

The oneness of God (Tawhid)

The heart of Islamic belief is Tawhid — the absolute oneness and unity of God.

God is the one Creator, transcendent, and merciful and compassionate.
To associate any partner with God (shirk) is regarded as the gravest sin.
God oneness shapes all of life: worship, morality and the unity of the community.

Quick check

Tawhid

?What does the concept of Tawhid affirm?

Self and afterlife

The self and the afterlife

Islam teaches that each person has a soul and is accountable to God for their deeds.

There will be a Day of Judgement and resurrection.
Beliefs include Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam), reflecting God justice and mercy.
This gives moral life a serious purpose: actions have eternal significance.

Sort it

Belief or practice?

Tap an item, then whether it is mainly a belief or a practice.

💭 Belief

🕌 Practice

Moral principles

Moral principles and the Five Pillars

Muslim life is shaped by submission to God will and by the Five Pillars:

Shahada — the declaration of faith.
Salah — prayer (five times daily).
Zakat — giving to those in need.
Sawm — fasting during Ramadan.
Hajj — pilgrimage to Mecca.

Actions are guided by what is halal (permitted) and haram (forbidden) under Shari'ah.

Quick check

The Five Pillars

?Which of these is one of the Five Pillars of Islam?

Identity and challenges

Identity and modern challenges

Expression of identity: Muslims form a worldwide community, the ummah, expressed through prayer, the mosque and festivals such as Eid. There is diversity, notably between Sunni and Shia traditions.

Challenges to Islamic thought today:

Relating faith to secularism and to living as a minority in largely secular societies.
Engaging with science and with religious pluralism.
Internal debates over gender, tradition and reform, and distinguishing mainstream teaching from extremism.

Match it

Key terms

Tap a term, then its meaning.

Term

Means

Quick check

The ummah

?What does the term 'ummah' refer to?

Recap

The big ideas to take into the exam

Sources of authority: the Qur'an (word of God), the Sunnah and Hadith, and Shari'ah

Ultimate reality: Tawhid, the absolute oneness of God; shirk is the gravest sin

Self and afterlife: the soul is accountable; Day of Judgement, Paradise and Hell

Moral principles: submission to God; the Five Pillars; halal and haram

Identity and challenges: the ummah; Sunni and Shia; secularism, science, pluralism and reform

This is the Islam option for Component 03. Press Finish for your score.

🏆

Mini-lesson complete!

⭐⭐⭐

You have surveyed key developments in Islamic thought for Component 03. ☪️

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