New
New
Year 11
Edexcel B

The Six Beliefs of Sunni Islam

I can explain what the six beliefs of Sunni Islam are, their importance and the influence they may have on a Muslim.

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New
New
Year 11
Edexcel B

The Six Beliefs of Sunni Islam

I can explain what the six beliefs of Sunni Islam are, their importance and the influence they may have on a Muslim.

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The six articles of faith may also be called the six key beliefs.
  2. They are a foundation of belief for Sunni Muslims.
  3. They are based on Kitab al-iman
  4. They influence Muslims in different ways

Keywords

  • Angels - beings of light delivering God’s messages and watching over humans

  • Akhirah - beliefs about life after death in Islam

  • Risalah - belief in prophets as Allah’s messengers

  • Sunni Islam - a branch of Islam

  • Tawhid - belief in Allah’s oneness and unity

Common misconception

The six key beliefs are only believed by Sunni Muslims.

Most Muslims (both Sunni and Shia) hold beliefs about tawhid, prophecy, holy books, angels, the Day of Judgement and God's power, but they may not ascribe to them as the 'six articles of faith'.


To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: The Six Beliefs of Sunni Islam, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If students haven't learnt the different narratives around the Ali and Abu Bakr as successors to the Prophet Muhammad following his death before this lesson, teachers may want to cover this for context.
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Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who is considered the final prophet in Islam?
Abraham
Moses
Correct answer: Muhammad
Jesus
Q2.
What is the name of the holy book used in Islam?
the Torah
the Bible
Correct answer: the Qur'an
the Vedas
Q3.
Muslims worship at a ...
synagogue.
Correct answer: mosque.
church.
temple.
Q4.
The declaration of faith in Islam is known as the ...
Correct Answer: Shahada, shahada, Shahadah
Q5.
Muslims believe in one God, known as ...
Correct Answer: Allah, allah
Q6.
Muhammad was born in the city of ...
Correct Answer: Mecca, mecca, Makkah, makkah

6 Questions

Q1.
Shi’a Muslims believe that means that Allah is one, unique, and has no partners.
Correct Answer: tawhid
Q2.
What are the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din?
Five Pillars of Islam
Correct answer: the foundational beliefs of Shi’a Islam
the names of the first five imams
Q3.
What is the imamate in Shi’a Islam?
Correct answer: the belief that imams are divinely chosen leaders
the belief that all Muslims must pray five times a day
the belief that Muhammad was the last prophet
Q4.
What do Shi’a Muslims believe about the successorship of Ali?
What do Shi’a Muslims believe about the successorship of Ali?
that the Muslim community elected Ali as their leader
Correct answer: that Allah chose Ali, and the Prophet Muhammad announced it
Q5.
How does belief in resurrection (mi’ad) affect Shi’a Muslims?
It makes them focus only on this life.
Correct answer: It encourages them to do good deeds in preparation for the afterlife.
It makes them believe they have no control over their destiny.
Q6.
The belief in means that Allah is always just and fair, no matter what happens in the world.
Correct Answer: adalat