What do Muslims believe about the nature of Allah?
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.
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What this dot point is asking
AQA wants you to explain the Muslim understanding of the nature of Allah, including Tawhid, omnipotence, beneficence, mercy, justice (Adalat in Shia Islam), and the ideas of immanence and transcendence. You should be able to define each quality, support it from the Qur'an, and explain how it shapes Muslim worship and life.
Tawhid: the oneness of Allah
Tawhid is expressed in the Shahadah, the declaration that "there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger", and in Surah 112 (al-Ikhlas): "Say, He is Allah, the One." It shapes the whole of Muslim life: worship is directed to Allah alone, idols and images of God are forbidden, and Muslims rely on Allah for everything. Because Tawhid is so central, the gravest error is shirk, treating anything (an idol, money, a person) as if it shared Allah's status.
The qualities of Allah
These qualities are held together rather than in tension. Allah's power is always exercised with mercy and justice; he forgives those who sincerely repent but will judge wrongdoing fairly on the Day of Judgement. For Shia Muslims, Adl (divine justice) is so important that it is one of the five roots of religion, and it underpins their stronger emphasis on human free will: a just God only holds people responsible for what they freely choose.
Transcendence and immanence
Allah is transcendent: above and beyond human understanding, not part of creation, and unlike anything else, "there is nothing comparable to him" (Qur'an 112:4). Allah is also immanent: present and active in the world and close to every person, "We are closer to him than his jugular vein" (Qur'an 50:16). Muslims hold both ideas together: Allah is utterly beyond us in nature yet intimately near in knowledge and care. This is why Muslims can both revere Allah as the majestic creator and turn to him personally in prayer (du'a) at any moment.
In the exam, link the attributes to practice. Belief in Allah's omnipotence and mercy shapes the five daily prayers and the constant phrase "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest), and the opening of the Qur'an names him "the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful". Belief in his justice underpins the Day of Judgement, where deeds are weighed fairly. The 99 names give Muslims a rich vocabulary to describe and praise Allah, and reciting them is itself an act of worship. A strong answer also notes the Sunni and Shia difference: by listing Adl (justice) as a separate root of religion, Shia Islam puts extra weight on God's fairness and on human free will, whereas Sunnis treat justice as one aspect of Allah's nature without making it a separate principle.
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 marksWhat is meant by Tawhid?Show worked answer →
A 2-mark AO1 definition question. Tawhid is the belief in the absolute oneness and unity of Allah: there is only one God, with no partners and no equals. One mark for oneness of God, the second for absolute or with no partners. Stating it as the most important Muslim belief shows wider knowledge but is not required for full marks at this tariff.
AQA 20204 marksExplain two qualities Muslims believe Allah has. Refer to scripture or another source of Islamic belief in your answer.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark AO1 question. Quality one, omnipotence: Allah is all powerful and the creator of everything, so nothing happens without his power. Quality two, mercy and beneficence: Allah is "the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful" (Qur'an 1:1, the Bismillah), forgiving those who repent. Markers reward two distinct, developed qualities plus a source. The 99 names of Allah are a useful source to cite.
AQA 202212 marks"Tawhid is the most important belief in Islam." 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: Tawhid is the first article of faith and the heart of the Shahadah, and to deny it (shirk) is the greatest sin, so all other beliefs depend on it. Arguments against: belief in prophethood (Risalah) or the Day of Judgement (Akhirah) could be argued equally vital, since without prophets there is no Qur'an and without judgement no accountability; some say all six articles are needed together. Use terms (Tawhid, shirk, Shahadah, Risalah, Akhirah). Reach a justified conclusion explaining why most Muslims still rank Tawhid first.
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.
- 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.
- 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)