AQA GCSE Religious Studies key terms

Freedom from error; in Twelver Shi’a belief, the Imams are protected by Allah from sin and error so that they can guide people correctly.

Free from error; in Shi’a belief, this describes the Imams’ authoritative religious guidance.

A ceremony in which a baby or young child is welcomed into the Christian community.

An Arabic expression meaning ‘if Allah wills’, used to acknowledge that the fulfilment of plans depends on Allah.

A person forced to leave their home who remains within their own country.

A substance, such as alcohol or a recreational drug, that can cloud awareness and impair judgement.

Hell: the place of punishment and suffering in the afterlife.

Paradise: the place of peace and happiness in the afterlife granted by Allah as a reward.

The angel who delivered Allah’s revelations of the Qur’an to Muhammad.

God's assessment of a person's life, determining their eternal destiny.

Fair and morally right; Christians believe that God judges perfectly and opposes injustice.

A morally legitimate reason for war, such as self-defence against aggression or protecting innocent people, rather than gaining wealth or territory.

Fairness: treating people rightly, respecting their rights and responding fairly to wrongdoing.

A reason or argument offered to show that an action is morally acceptable.

The belief that war can sometimes be morally justified, but only under strict conditions.

A set of moral principles used to judge whether going to war, and the way a war is fought, can be justified.

The sacred building in Makkah associated with Ibrahim and Isma’il, towards which Muslims face when praying.

Intentional action, whose motives and consequences shape a person's habits and experiences, including future rebirths in traditional Buddhist belief. Kamma is Pali; karma is Sanskrit.

Compassion: concern for suffering and the wish to relieve it.

Permitted under Jewish dietary laws, usually used to describe food.

The holy books revealed by Allah to guide humanity.

The final judgement of humanity by God, associated with Christ's return.

The requirement that war should be used only when peaceful ways of resolving the conflict have been exhausted or shown to be ineffective.

God's commands and moral teachings that guide how people should live, including the Ten Commandments and Jesus' teachings.

A source of commandments governing how people should live; in Judaism, God gives these commandments.

A recognised governing authority entitled to make decisions for the community, rather than a private individual or armed group.

The outward struggle in Islam, which can include armed defence under strict conditions; it does not permit the killing of innocent people.