iGCSE Islamic Studies Edexcel

This subject is broken down into 29 topics in 6 modules:

  1. The Foundations of Islam 5 topics
  2. Beliefs and Practices 5 topics
  3. Islamic Sects and Schools of Thought 4 topics
  4. Islamic Ethics, Morality, and Values 5 topics
  5. The Islamic Empire and its Influence 5 topics
  6. Contemporary Issues and Challenges Facing Muslims 5 topics
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  • 6
    modules
  • 29
    topics
  • 10,983
    words of revision content
  • 1+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Islamic Studies

The Foundations of Islam

The life of the Prophet Muhammad

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The life of the Prophet Muhammad

Early Life

  • Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570CE to the Quraysh tribe.
  • His father Abdullah died before his birth and his mother Amina died when he was six, leaving him an orphan.
  • He was then brought up by his grandfather Abdul Muttalib and later his uncle Abu Talib.
  • He was known as Al-Amin, meaning 'the trustworthy', due to his ethical and moral character.

Revelation

  • Muhammad had his first revelation when he was around 40 years old. The angel Jibril delivered a message from Allah while Muhammad was meditating in the cave of Hira.
  • This marked the beginning of Muhammad's role as a prophet.
  • He later recorded these revelations in what is now known as the Quran.

Preaching in Mecca

  • Muhammad began to preach in Mecca, and initially his messages weren't well received due to their challenges to traditional Meccan beliefs.
  • His preaching emphasised monotheism, the rejection of idolatry, ethical and moral reform, egalitarianism and social justice.
  • He attracted a small following, with his wife Khadijah being his first follower.

Hijra

  • The threat of persecution forced Muhammad and his followers to flee to Medina in 622CE, an event known as the Hijra, marking the start of the Islamic calendar.
  • In Medina, Muhammad established a theocratic state based on the revelations and laws of Islam.

Consolidation of Power

  • Muhammad created the Constitution of Medina which established a multi-religious Islamic state, and provided a set of rights and duties for its citizens.
  • This period saw several battles including the significant Battle of Badr in 624 CE, where Muslims scored a surprising victory against the Meccans.

Return to Mecca

  • In 630 CE, Muhammad returned to Mecca with a large number of his followers. The city surrendered without a battle.
  • Upon returning, he destroyed the idols in the Kaaba, declaring it a place of Islamic monotheistic worship.
  • The remainder of his life was spent spreading the faith and establishing Islamic rule over the Arabian Peninsula.

Death

  • Muhammad died in 632 CE in Medina. His teachings, actions, and religious leadership are foundational to the beliefs and practices of Muslims worldwide.

Course material for Islamic Studies, module The Foundations of Islam, topic The life of the Prophet Muhammad

Islamic Studies

Islamic Ethics, Morality, and Values

The role of Prophets and Messengers in Islamic teaching

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The role of Prophets and Messengers in Islamic teaching

Role of Prophets and Messengers in Islamic Teaching

  • In Islam, Prophets, known as 'Nabi', and Messengers, termed as 'Rasul', play an exemplary role in providing moral and ethical guidance.

  • The Prophets are regarded as messengers of divine revelation. They were chosen by Allah to guide humankind and given a divine message to convey.

  • Prophets are seen as ideal role models for human behaviour. Their actions, words, and attitudes as described in the Hadith are therefore integral to shaping Islamic morality and ethics.

  • More than just purveyors of God's message, Prophets are thought to be examples of excellent moral character. Their lives provide practical guides for how to live a virtuous life.

  • Prophets do not only guide individual morality but also collective social behaviour. They presented laws and guidelines for building just and ethical societies.

  • Islam teaches that Prophets were sent to every nation throughout history. This reinforces the Islamic value of universalism, the idea that all people are equal before God.

Prophets and Islamic Moral Codes

  • Signs from Allah, shared through the Prophets, provide the basis for Halal (permissible) and Haram (non-permissible) codes in Islam, which guide Muslims' ethical and moral behaviour.

  • The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, referred to as Sunnah, form the second most important source of Islamic law (after the Quran) and provide guidance on moral and ethical conduct.

  • The Prophet Muhammad's life, known as Seerah, offers an example of the implementation of Islamic laws in personal and social life. Hence, he is deemed as the perfect model for behaviour for Muslims.

  • Prophets are highly esteemed in Islam for their trustworthiness, honesty and indomitable faith, which are virtues that Muslims are encouraged to emulate in their daily lives.

Remember, understanding the role of Prophets and Messengers helps to illuminate the source and nature of Islamic ethics, morality, and values, and frames the parameters for right and wrong in Islamic thought.

Course material for Islamic Studies, module Islamic Ethics, Morality, and Values, topic The role of Prophets and Messengers in Islamic teaching

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