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Year 10
AQA

The five roots of Usul ad-Din

I can explain the five roots of Usul ad-Din, their importance and how they link to other key beliefs in Islam.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

The five roots of Usul ad-Din

I can explain the five roots of Usul ad-Din, their importance and how they link to other key beliefs in Islam.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The five roots of Usul ad-Din are foundational beliefs for Shi'a Muslims.
  2. There is crossover between the five roots and the six articles of faith.
  3. Tawhid, prophets and the last day are common to Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.
  4. The five roots also include divine justice and the Imamate.

Keywords

  • Adalat - God’s fairness; one of the five roots of Usul ad-Din

  • Imamate - the authority of the Imams as chosen guides after the prophets, starting from Ali as a member of the Prophet’s household

  • Resurrection - when someone is raised again after death

  • Shi'a Islam - Muslims who believe in the successorship of Imam Ali and other Imams from the Prophet Muhammad's bloodline

  • Tawhid - belief in Allah’s oneness and unity

Common misconception

That Shia Muslims do not believe the beliefs held in the Six Articles of Faith.

The beliefs in the Six Articles of faith are believed by many Shia Muslims but they are not codified in the same way.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: The five roots of Usul ad-Din, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If students have not covered the different narratives about the succession of a leader for the Muslim community after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, then teachers are advised to cover this before this content is taught.
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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.
What does the article of faith about angels teach Muslims?
Angels are human beings chosen by Allah.
Correct answer: Angels are beings of light who serve Allah and deliver His messages.
Angels are spirits who guide only the prophets.
Angels are symbols of good deeds in the afterlife.
Q2.
What is the main holy book in Islam?
Torah
Bible
Correct answer: Qur'an
Psalms
Q3.
Which article of faith relates to Allah's complete control over the universe and events?
Tawhid
Akhirah
Correct answer: Predestination
Risalah
Q4.
Muslims believe that there is only one God, a belief called ...
Correct Answer: Tawhid, tawhid
Q5.
The belief in refers to life after death and the Day of Judgement.
Correct Answer: Akhirah, akhirah
Q6.
Prophets, such as Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus), are central to the belief called ...
Correct Answer: Risalah, risalah

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is one of the five roots of Usul ad-Din?
angels
predestination
Correct answer: adalat
Holy Books
Q2.
Why is "tawhid" considered one of the five roots of Usul ad-Din?
It emphasizes belief in the justice of God.
Correct answer: It highlights the oneness of Allah as central to Islam.
It refers to the leadership of Imams.
It represents belief in life after death.
Q3.
Which of the following statements best explains why "prophethood" is one of the five roots of Usul ad-Din?
It reminds Muslims that God is all-powerful and controls everything.
Correct answer: It teaches Muslims that messengers like Moses or Muhammad were sent by God.
It represents the idea that Allah is just and fair in all His decisions.
It ensures that Muslims only pray to Allah and no one else.
Q4.
The belief in life after death is known as the Day of ...
Correct Answer: Resurrection, resurrection
Q5.
Shi'a Muslims believe in the leadership and guidance of the , who are chosen from the Prophet’s household.
Correct Answer: Imams, imams
Q6.
The belief in Allah’s absolute fairness is called ...
Correct Answer: Adalat, adalat