What do Muslims believe about prophets and holy books?
Risalah (prophethood), the roles of Adam, Ibrahim and Muhammad, and the holy books including the Qur'an, Tawrat, Zabur, Injil and the scrolls of Ibrahim.
A focused answer on prophethood and revelation for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering Risalah, key prophets and the holy books including the Qur'an.
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What this dot point is asking
AQA wants you to explain Risalah (prophethood), the roles of key prophets such as Adam, Ibrahim and Muhammad, and the holy books Muslims believe Allah revealed. You need to match each book to its prophet and explain why the Qur'an holds the supreme place.
Risalah and the prophets
Muslims believe there were many prophets, traditionally said to number 124,000, sent to every people. Key figures named in the AQA specification include Adam, the first man and the first prophet, who was taught by Allah; Ibrahim (Abraham), who showed total submission to Allah, was willing to sacrifice his son, and rebuilt the Kaaba in Makkah with his son Isma'il; and Muhammad, the final prophet who received the Qur'an over 23 years through the angel Jibril and is the model (Sunnah) Muslims try to imitate. Because Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets, Muslims believe no prophet will come after him.
The holy books
The earlier books are respected as genuine revelation, but Muslims believe they were altered or lost over time by human hands, which is why the Qur'an was sent to correct and complete them. The Qur'an, by contrast, is believed to have been perfectly preserved in its original Arabic since revelation, word for word.
Why the Qur'an is supreme
The Qur'an is treated with the greatest respect: it is recited in Arabic in the five daily prayers, kept on a high stand and handled only after ritual washing, memorised in full by those called Hafiz, and used as the first source of Islamic law and morality. Because it is held to be Allah's direct speech, its authority outranks all other sources, though Muslims also use the Hadith (reports of Muhammad's words and deeds) and the Sunnah (his example) to understand and apply it.
In the exam, connect Risalah to the wider beliefs. Prophethood is one of the six articles of faith (and Nubuwwah is one of the Shia five roots), and it links to belief in angels, since Jibril delivered the revelation, and to the holy books that the prophets brought. The pattern Muslims see is consistent: throughout history Allah sent prophets to call people back to the worship of one God (Tawhid), each warning against idolatry and injustice, until the message was completed and preserved in the Qur'an through Muhammad. A good answer can also explain why finality matters: because Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets, the Qur'an is the last word, so Muslims do not expect a new revelation and treat the Qur'an and Sunnah as sufficient guidance for all time.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 20182 marksWho is the final prophet in Islam?Show worked answer →
A 2-mark AO1 question. Muhammad is the final prophet, called the "Seal of the Prophets". One mark for Muhammad, the second for final or Seal of the Prophets. Do not call him the founder of Islam, since Muslims believe Islam is the original faith of all the prophets back to Adam.
AQA 20204 marksExplain two reasons why the Qur'an is important to Muslims. Refer to scripture or another source of Islamic belief in your answer.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark AO1 question. Reason one: the Qur'an is the final, complete and unchanged word of Allah, revealed to Muhammad through the angel Jibril, so it carries the highest authority. Reason two: it guides belief and daily life, covering worship, law and morality, and is recited in prayer and memorised by Hafiz. Markers reward two distinct, developed reasons plus a source. The belief that the Qur'an is preserved exactly, unlike earlier books, is a strong point.
AQA 202312 marks"The Qur'an is the only holy book Muslims need." Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should refer to Islamic teaching, give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, and reach a justified conclusion. [12 marks plus 3 SPaG]Show worked answer →
The AO2 evaluation, 5 bands plus 3 SPaG. Arguments for: the Qur'an is the final, complete and unchanged revelation, so it supersedes and corrects the earlier books, which Muslims believe were altered. Arguments against: Muslims also revere the earlier books (Tawrat, Zabur, Injil) as genuine revelation, and many rely on the Hadith and Sunnah to understand and apply the Qur'an, so it is not the only source of guidance. Use terms (Risalah, Qur'an, Tawrat, Injil, Hadith, Sunnah). Reach a justified conclusion weighing the supremacy of the Qur'an against the role of other revelation and the Sunnah.
Related dot points
- The six articles of faith in Sunni Islam and the five roots of religion (Usul ad-Din) in Shia Islam, and the place of Tawhid as the central belief.
A focused answer on the foundations of Islamic belief for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering the six articles of faith in Sunni Islam and the five roots in Shia Islam.
- The nature of Allah including Tawhid, omnipotence, beneficence, mercy, fairness and justice (Adalat in Shia Islam), and immanence and transcendence.
A focused answer on the Muslim understanding of Allah for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering Tawhid, omnipotence, beneficence, mercy, justice, immanence and transcendence.
- Malaikah (angels) and their roles, including Jibril and Mika'il, and al-Qadr (predestination) and human freedom and accountability.
A focused answer on angels and predestination in Islam for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering Malaikah, Jibril, Mika'il and al-Qadr.
- Akhirah (life after death), the Day of Judgement, resurrection, the importance of human responsibility and accountability, and Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam).
A focused answer on the Muslim afterlife for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering Akhirah, the Day of Judgement, resurrection, Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam).
Sources & how we know this
- AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) specification — AQA (2016)