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GCSE · Islam

RS.IP2 Shahadah: The Declaration of Faith

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 40 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used in Muslim teaching about the Shahadah.

(a)State what is meant by Shahadah.(1)

(b)State what is meant by tawhid.(1)

(c)State what is meant by risalah.(1)

(d)Give one occasion when the Shahadah is recited.(1)

(e)Give the English translation of the first part of the Shahadah.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Explain two reasons why the Shahadah is important to Muslims. Refer to the Qur'an in your answer.

(Total for Question 2 is 4 marks)

Give three occasions in a Muslim's life when the Shahadah may be recited.

(Total for Question 3 is 3 marks)

Explain two contrasting Sunni and Shi'a understandings or practices of the Shahadah. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

Explain two ways belief in the Shahadah might affect the life of a Muslim believer.

(Total for Question 5 is 4 marks)

Explain the importance of the Shahadah for Muslims today.

(Total for Question 6 is 6 marks)

Give three things the Shahadah declares or expresses.

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

Explain two ways the Shahadah might affect a Muslim's relationship with the wider Muslim community (ummah).

(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.IP2 Shahadah: The Declaration of Faith

Question 1

(a) B1 the declaration of faith: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger, oe
(a) Answer: The declaration of faith: there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.
(b) B1 the oneness/unity of Allah, oe
(b) Answer: The oneness of Allah.
(c) B1 prophethood; belief that Muhammad is the final messenger of Allah, oe
(c) Answer: Prophethood: belief that Muhammad is the final messenger of Allah.
(d) B1 e.g. whispered into a newborn baby's ear, as part of the call to prayer (adhan), on converting to Islam, or before death, oe
(d) Answer: E.g. whispered into a newborn baby's ear.
(e) B1 'There is no god but Allah', oe
(e) Answer: 'There is no god but Allah.'

Question 2

B1 point 1: it is the foundation of Muslim faith, the first of the Five Pillars, and sincerely expressing it is what makes a person a Muslim, oe
B1 development: Qur'an 3:18 describes Allah himself, together with the angels and those of knowledge, bearing witness 'that there is no deity except Him', showing the central importance of tawhid to Islamic belief, oe
B1 point 2: reciting it regularly reminds Muslims of their core beliefs and commitment to Allah, oe
B1 development: it is recited within the call to prayer (adhan) multiple times a day, keeping tawhid and belief in Muhammad's prophethood at the centre of daily life, oe
Answer: E.g. it is the foundation of Muslim faith and the entry point into Islam (Qur'an 3:18, tawhid); regular recitation in the adhan keeps core beliefs central to daily life.

Question 3

B1 whispered into a newborn baby's ear, oe
B1 as part of the call to prayer (adhan/iqamah), oe
B1 when a person converts to Islam, oe (accept also: as part of Salah itself, or spoken to a dying person)
Answer: Any three: whispered to a newborn baby; in the call to prayer; on conversion to Islam; within Salah; to a dying person.

Question 4

B1 belief/practice 1: Sunni Muslims recite the Shahadah in its two-part form: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger, oe
B1 development: this two-part form is set out in the hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari describing Islam as built on five pillars, beginning with the Shahadah, oe
B1 belief/practice 2: many Shi'a Muslims, particularly within the call to prayer, add a third phrase, 'Aliyun waliyullah' ('Ali is the friend/guardian appointed by Allah'), reflecting the Shi'a belief in the leadership (imamate) of Ali and his descendants, oe
B1 development: this addition is not treated by all Shi'a scholars as an obligatory part of the Shahadah itself, but its inclusion in the adhan of many Shi'a mosques reflects the importance of belief in the imamate within Shi'a Islam, oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: Sunni two-part Shahadah (hadith of the five pillars, Sahih al-Bukhari) vs many Shi'a Muslims adding 'Aliyun waliyullah' in the adhan, reflecting belief in the imamate.

Question 5

B1 point 1: it commits a Muslim to worshipping Allah alone (tawhid), affecting how they view every part of life as connected to God, oe
B1 development: this can lead a Muslim to see everyday choices, not only formal acts of worship, as part of living out their submission to Allah, oe
B1 point 2: it commits a Muslim to following the example (Sunnah) and teaching of the Prophet Muhammad as recorded in hadith, oe
B1 development: this can shape how a Muslim tries to behave, e.g. in honesty, kindness and worship, by looking to the Prophet's recorded example, oe
Answer: E.g. commits a Muslim to worshipping Allah alone, shaping how they view daily life; commits them to following the Prophet's example as recorded in hadith.

Question 6

Level 3 (5-6): A detailed, well-organised answer that explains several reasons for the Shahadah's importance, supported by accurate reference to Islamic teaching and/or the Qur'an or hadith, with clear links made between the reasons given.
Level 2 (3-4): An answer that explains some reasons for the Shahadah's importance, with some relevant supporting detail, though links between points may be limited.
Level 1 (1-2): One or two isolated relevant points are made about the Shahadah, with little supporting detail or explanation.
Level 0 (0): No relevant content.
Indicative content:
- It is the first of the Five Pillars and the entry point into the Muslim faith; sincere recitation, with understanding and belief, is what makes a person a Muslim.
- It expresses tawhid, the oneness of Allah, which is the central belief of Islamic theology.
- It expresses risalah, belief in Muhammad as the final prophet, connecting Muslims to the guidance of the Qur'an and Sunnah.
- It is recited multiple times daily within the call to prayer and Salah, keeping core beliefs constantly present in a Muslim's life.
- It is recited at key life events (birth, conversion, death), showing its importance across a Muslim's whole life.
- It unites Sunni and Shi'a Muslims on the shared core of the declaration, even where its recitation later diverges, e.g. within the adhan.
- For many Muslims today, living in religiously diverse societies, sincerely holding to and living out the Shahadah is also an expression of Muslim identity.

Question 7

B1 that there is only one God (Allah), oe
B1 that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, oe
B1 that becoming, or being, a Muslim requires sincere belief in these two truths, oe
Answer: Any three: there is only one God; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; being a Muslim requires sincere belief in these truths.

Question 8

B1 point 1: because every Muslim shares the same declaration of faith, it creates a sense of common identity and belonging across the worldwide ummah, oe
B1 development: this can encourage Muslims to feel connected to and supportive of other Muslims they meet, even from very different countries or cultures, oe
B1 point 2: hearing another person recite the Shahadah sincerely, for example on conversion, is understood by Muslims as their acceptance into the Muslim community, oe
B1 development: this can lead existing Muslims to welcome and support a new convert as a full member of the ummah, oe
Answer: E.g. shared declaration creates a sense of common identity across the ummah; sincere recitation on conversion marks acceptance into the Muslim community.

Shahadah: The Declaration of Faith - Worksheets, Questions and Revision