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Lesson 4 of 15
  • AQA

The nature of Allah

I can explain what Muslims believe about the nature of Allah and some different Muslim perspectives on this.

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Lesson 4 of 15
New
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  • AQA

The nature of Allah

I can explain what Muslims believe about the nature of Allah and some different Muslim perspectives on this.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In Islam Allah is believed to be omnipotent, beneficent, merciful, fair and just. Surah 46:33 supports this.
  2. In Islam Allah is believed to be both transcendent and immanent.
  3. There are different perspectives within Islam on these different attributes of God.
  4. The justice of God, Adalat, is a key belief in Shia Islam.

Keywords

  • Adalat - the justice of Allah, from Al-Adl (The Just)

  • Beneficent - Allah as all loving, generous and kind; one of Allah’s 99 Names

  • Immanent - Allah is present and active in the world.

  • Omnipotent - Allah is all powerful.

  • Transcendenct - Allah is above, beyond, and independent of the world.

Common misconception

That Sunni Muslims do not believe in the justice of Allah (Adalat) because it is not mentioned in the six articles of faith.

Al Adl (the just) is one of the 99 names of Allah and is important to Sunni Muslims as well as Shia but it isn't in the six articles of faith and may be seen as part of a believe in Tawhid - the oneness of God.

Students can read lists of the other 99 names of Allah in order to learn more about Muslim beliefs about the nature of Allah.
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Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which group of Muslims have the 6 articles of faith?

Correct answer: Sunni
Sufi
Shia

Q2.
Which group of Muslims have the 5 roots of Usul A din?

Sunni
Sufi
Correct answer: Shia

Q3.
Which of the following is in the 6 articles of faith?

Correct answer: the belief that Allah is the one and only God
the belief that Allah chose imams to lead Islam after Muhammad
Correct answer: belief in angels

Q4.
Which one of the following is one of the 5 roots of Usul A din?

Correct answer: the belief that Allah chose imams to lead Islam after Muhammad
belief in angels
belief in the books of Allah

Q5.
Which of the following are in both the 6 articles of faith and the 5 roots of Usul A din?

Correct answer: the belief in prophets
the belief in angels
the belief in the imamate

Q6.
What is the correct definition of Tawhid?

to associate partners with Allah
Correct answer: the Oneness of Allah
to deny Allah - the unforgivable sin

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the correct definition.

Correct Answer:adalat,the justice of Allah, from Al-Adl (The Just)

the justice of Allah, from Al-Adl (The Just)

Correct Answer:beneficent,Allah as all loving, generous and kind; one of Allah’s 99 Names

Allah as all loving, generous and kind; one of Allah’s 99 Names

Correct Answer:immanent,Allah is present and active in the world.

Allah is present and active in the world.

Correct Answer:omnipotent,Allah is all powerful.

Allah is all powerful.

Correct Answer:transcendent,Allah is above, beyond, and independent of the world.

Allah is above, beyond, and independent of the world.

Q2.
Which statement is true?

Sunni Muslims do not believe in the justice of Allah (Adalat).
Correct answer: Al Adl (the just), one of the 99 names of Allah, is important to all Muslims.
God’s justice is more important to Shia Muslims than it is to Sunni Muslims.

Q3.
Which quote from the Qur’an shows God’s omnipotence?

Correct answer: Yes indeed; He is Capable of everything.
then established Himself on the Throne.
We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.

Q4.
Which quote from the Qur’an shows God’s immanence?

Yes indeed; He is Capable of everything.
then established Himself on the Throne.
Correct answer: We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.

Q5.
Which quote from the Qur’an shows God’s transcendence?

Yes indeed; He is Capable of everything.
Correct answer: then established Himself on the Throne.
We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.

Q6.
Which of the following is not an influence of a belief in Allah’s beneficence?

They will fast and give charity to practice being kind to others.
They will pray as they know Allah will help them.
Correct answer: They will feel guilty for not being as kind as Allah.

Lesson appears in

UnitReligious education / Islam: beliefs

AQAReligious education

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