Islam: Equality

What Islam: Equality covers

Islam: Equality is examined in Paper 3, Area of Study 3: Religion, Philosophy and Social Justice, if Islam is the religion studied for that area. It covers Muslim teaching on human rights, Muslim attitudes to equality, Muslim attitudes to religious freedom, Muslim attitudes to prejudice and discrimination, Muslim teaching on racial harmony, Muslim responses to racial discrimination and Malcolm X, Muslim attitudes to social justice and Muslim attitudes to wealth and poverty.

The 8 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Muslim teaching on human rightsSurah 5:8, the Universal Declaration and the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, individual rights, situation ethics, problems rights may raise for Muslims, and Humanist arguments.Open →
• Muslim attitudes to equalitySahih al-Bukhari 56:681 and why earlier nations were ruined, the causes and problems of inequality, congregational prayer, men and women in practice, zakah and other Islamic remedies, and Muslim charities.Open →
• Muslim attitudes to religious freedomSurah 2:256, Ayat al-Kursi, Surah 2:257 and 109:6, responses to a multi-faith society, the Muslim population of England and Wales, freedom to leave Islam, and Humanist arguments.Open →
• Muslim attitudes to prejudice and discriminationSurah 49:13, Islamophobia and British Muslim responses, why religious prejudice is a concern now, Surah 60:8 on other faiths, early Islam's protection of other religions, and situation ethics.Open →
• Muslim teaching on racial harmonyMuhammad's Final Sermon, when and where it was given and its teaching on shared origin, Bilal ibn Rabah, the ummah's diversity, work in Britain, utilitarian and situation ethics views, and multi-ethnic life.Open →
• Muslim responses to racial discrimination and Malcolm XSurah 49:13 on why peoples differ, the harms of racism, Nation of Islam teaching, Malcolm X's ministry and break with it, how Hajj changed him, the events of 1965, and the responses his life shows.Open →
• Muslim attitudes to social justiceSurah 7:155 to 157 and its use for social justice, unequal wealth and opportunity in the UK and the world, Muslim action, situation ethics, and why social justice matters in Islam.Open →
• Muslim attitudes to wealth and povertySurah 2:177, forbidden ways of gaining wealth, hoarding, Muhammad on giving, causes of poverty at home and abroad, sadaqah beside zakah, attitudes to poverty itself, and early examples of wealth used well.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Islam: Equality further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Sadaqah vs Zakah

  Sadaqah: voluntary charity given at any time, in any amount. Zakah: compulsory yearly giving of 2.5% of savings.

• Riba vs Waqf

  Riba: interest charged on loans, forbidden in Islam. Waqf: a charitable endowment funding schools, hospitals or wells.

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights vs Cairo Declaration

  Universal Declaration of Human Rights: the United Nations' 1948 statement of basic entitlements for all people. Cairo Declaration: a 1990 statement by Muslim-majority states making entitlements subject to shari'ah.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What are human rights, and how do Muslims view them?

   Model answer

   Human rights are the basic entitlements every person has, such as life, liberty and fair treatment. Muslims believe these rights come from Allah, who gave every human dignity.

2. 2

   What does Surah 5:8 teach about justice and rights?

   Model answer

   Surah 5:8 commands believers to stand firm for Allah as witnesses to justice. Hatred of a people must never stop Muslims acting justly towards them.

3. 3

   Why might Muslims support human rights?

   Model answer

   Surah 17:70 says Allah has honoured all the children of Adam. Human rights protect that Allah-given dignity for everyone.

4. 4

   What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and how do Muslims respond to it?

   Model answer

   The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations in 1948. Many Muslims support it, while some want rights framed within shari'ah.

5. 5

   What is the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam?

   Model answer

   The Cairo Declaration of 1990 set out human rights agreed by Muslim-majority states. The declaration makes all rights subject to shari'ah.

6. 6

   How do Muslims differ over individual human rights?

   Model answer

   Some Muslims fully accept individual rights such as freedom of speech and belief. Others argue that community values and Allah's law must limit individual freedom.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Islam: Equality revision questions

What does Islam: Equality cover in Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B?

8 subtopics: muslim teaching on human rights, muslim attitudes to equality, muslim attitudes to religious freedom, muslim attitudes to prejudice and discrimination, muslim teaching on racial harmony, muslim responses to racial discrimination and malcolm x, muslim attitudes to social justice and muslim attitudes to wealth and poverty. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Islam: Equality organised?

By the Edexcel 1RB0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.