Tawhid
What is Tawhid?
The principle of the Oneness and uniqueness of God in Islam is known as tawhid. This term is linked to the Arabic words wahid (the number ‘one’) and ahad (‘the only one’, ‘unique’).
What is Nabuwwa?
Nabuwwa means Prophethood in Islam. It is the belief that Allah chooses Prophets to receive His revelation and guide people towards faith, righteousness, and living according to His guidance.
What is Imamat in the Shia tradition?
The principle of Imamat in the Shia tradition helds that after Prophet Muhammad, the Imams continue to provide spiritual guidance to the Muslim community. In the Shia Ismaili tradition, the Imam is the living, hereditary guide who helps the Jamat understand their faith and apply its teachings in changing times.
Share any 1 Quranic verse that embodies the principle of Tawhid?
Surah Ikhlas
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Say: ‘He is Allah, the One! Allah is Eternally Supreme [Sufficient in Himself], Neither giving birth [begetting] nor being born [begotten], and no one is equal to Him.’ (112:1–4)
According to the Quran, how many prophets were sent by God to guide humanity?
Name any five prohets sent by Allah
124000- One hundred and 24 thousand
Prophet Adam
Prophet Nuh
Prophet Isa
Prophet Musa
Prophet Ibrahim
Prophet Muhammad
What was the event of Ghadir-e-Khum and what important message did Prophet Muhammad share in that event?
It was the event in which Prophet Muhammad had proclaimed Hazrat Ali to be the Mawla of the believers:
"Of whomever I am the Mawla, Ali is his Mawla."
They believed that this proclamation was made at Allah’s command, and they interpreted the word mawla to mean ‘master’ or ‘lord’.
Share any 5 attributes of Allah and what are they important for any believer?
The Merciful
The Forgiving
The Judge
The Avenger
The Loving
These divine attributes remind believers of their relationship with God. They help to guide the actions of those who reflect on the Beautiful Names. As God is Merciful, believers seek His forgiveness, and also show mercy to people around them. As He is the Protector, they seek safety in Him, and strive to shield the vulnerable. As He is the Wise, they too endeavour to gain and share wisdom.
Bashir- the bearer of good tidings of God’s mercy.
Nadhir- the ‘warner’, to those who do not heed God’s commands.
Intercessor- the mediator between Allah and his believers
What is Hadith al-Thaqalayn (the hadith of the two weighty matters)? Why is it important for Shias?
In the Hadith al-Thaqalayn, the Prophet said:
"I am leaving among you two matters of great weight [al-thaqalayn], the Book of Allah and my kindred [itrati], the People of my House [ahl bayti], and these two shall never be separated until they return to me at the Pool [of Kawthar in Paradise on the Day of Judgement] …"
The Prophet emphasises the importance of the Qur’an and his Ahl al-Bayt as sources of guidance for the Muslim community.
What does the word 'al-Samad' in Surah Ikhlas mean?
Al-Samad means that:
The essence of Allah cannot be fully understood by His creation.
God is eternal – the One who has always been and always will be.
What is the difference between Nabi (Prophet) and Rasul (Messenger)?
Nabi (Prophet)- who conveys the message inspired in him by God.
Rasul (Messenger)- who is also inspired by God’s message, but in addition, he delivers a revealed book to his people which provides guidance to them. It also gives them the Law by which they are to live as a community. Prophet Muhammad is addressed in the Qur’an as both nabi and rasul
Share 5 important principles of Imamat in the Shia tradition.
Wilaya- Authority of the Imam
Walaya- Love and Devotion to the Imam
Ilm- Firmly rooted in knowledge
Ahl-al Bayt- People of the House
Nass- ‘to raise’ or ‘to elevate something so that it is visible to all’. In the Shia tradition, it was applied to the transfer of the Imamat from one Imam to the next.
Who was Al-Sijistani and what were his idea on God?
Al-Sijistani was a Ismaili Philosopher. Al-Sijistani’s ideas on God were a response to the wider debate in the 10th century among Muslim theologians and philosophers.
He viewed that God is completely different from His creation and cannot be compared to anything in the world.
What does intercession mean? What is the significance of intercession in the Shia Ismaili tradition?
Intercession is seeking help and prayers through the Prophet as an intermediary to Allah, asking for His mercy, guidance, and blessings.
In the Shia Ismaili tradition, the Imams, as successors to the Prophet Muhammad, have the spiritual authority to intercede on behalf of the believers. Through their guidance and intercession, they help the Jamat seek Allah’s mercy, blessings, and spiritual guidance.
What symbols were presented to the Hazir Imam during his Takht Nashini, and what do they represent?
The Qur’an- Divine Guidance
Sword- auhtority of the Imam to bring justice
Ring- Spiritual commitment
Canopy- Security to the community
Inkwell- Importance of intellect and knowledge in faith
Chain- Continuation of the Imamat