6 Articles of Faith

6 ARTICLES OF FAITH

Iman (Faith) is generally outlined using the 6 Articles of Faith

1. Belief in One God

2. Belief in the Angels

3. Belief in the Prophets

4. Belief in Divine Books

5. Belief in the Day of Judgment

6. Belief in Decree of Allah or Fate

1. BELIEF IN ONE GOD

The central belief in Islam, and arguably the most important them of all, is that there is one God.

The belief in the oneness of God, that there is no god worthy of worship, except Allah.

Muslims refer to God as Allah.

Allah is God, the one and only Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

Muslims believe that God is the creator of all things, and that God is All-powerful and All-knowing. God has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

The word "Allah" in Arabic means "the god". In Arabic, the word Allah is derived from of a contraction/ abbreviation of 2 words:

1 - "Al" (also can be pronounced as El) which mean "The"

2 - "Elah" which means "god"

Islam did not invent or introduce the word Allah to the World:

_- The Arabic Bible that has been used by Arab Christians, for the past 2000 years since the time Jesus, refers to God as Allah._

_- The Hebrew Bible refers to God as Elohim which is similar to Allah used by Muslims._

_- The word that corresponds to Allah in Aramaic language (the mother tongue of Jesus), and used in the Aramaic Bible, is "Elaha"._

_- The word that corresponds to Allah in Syriac language, and used in the Syriac Bible, is "Alaha"._

God is described in the Quran as:

Say: He is Allah, the One and Unique (in His Names, Attributes and Powers). Allah, the Eternal, Absolute. He neither begot any nor was He begotten. And none is comparable to Him. [Quran-112]

He is God of all humankind, not of a special tribe, race, or group of people. He is the God of all races and colours, of believers and unbelievers alike.

God is Mighty and Supreme, yet is also very near to pious, thoughtful believers, answering their prayers and helping them.

2. BELIEF IN THE ANGELS

Belief in angels is fundamental to the faith of Islam.

The meaning for angel in

- Arabic is malak means "messenger", like its counterparts in

- Hebrew is malakh

- Greek is angelos

According to the Quran, angels do not possess free will, and therefore worship and obey God in total obedience.

Angel's duties include -

- Communicating revelations from God

- Glorifying God

- Recording every person's actions

- Taking a person's soul at the time of death

Allah has created the angels from Noor (Light).

Angels do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.

Allah created them to worship Him, and only Allah Knows about their numbers.

IMPORTANT ANGELS

1. Jibreel - is charged with delivering Divine revelations to the Prophets and Messengers

2. Meekaeel - is charged with the delivering of rain and subsistence (provision, etc.)

3. Izraeel - is charged with extracting human souls

4. Israfeel - is charged with blowing Trumpet on Doomsday

5. Munkar and Nakeer - After death, these two angels will question souls in the grave about their faith

6. Malik - is the guardian of hell

7. Ridwan - The angel who serves as the guardian of heaven

3. BELIEF IN THE PROPHETS

Muslims identify the prophets of Islam (Arabic-Ambiya) as those humans chosen by God to be his messengers.

They set the best examples of moral and spiritual conduct. They lead mankind to Allah by conveying the Divine revelation and also by their own example of purity and righteousness.

According to the Quran, the prophets were instructed by God to bring the "will of God" to the people of the nations.

Allah says in Quran -

And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying]: Worship Allah and avoid Taaghoot (i.e., false deities)

[Quran-16:36]

Muslims believe that prophets are human and not divine, though some are able to perform miracles to prove their claim.

There are at least 25 Prophets mentioned in the Quran.

Of all the Messengers, there are 5 who were the most persevering and determined to do what Allah had enjoined upon them.

- Nuh

- Ibraheem

- Musa

- Isa ibn-e-Maryiam

- Muhammad (SAW)

Muslims believe that God finally sent Muhammad as the last prophet (Seal of the Prophets) to convey the divine message to the whole world (to sum up and to finalize the word of God).

Muhammad (SAW) is the chief of the Prophets, and he brought perfect guidance for us from Allah. He came as a blessing for mankind.

4. BELIEF IN DIVINE BOOKS

Belief in Divine Books is believing that Allah the Exalted did in reality reveal Books to His Messengers to convey them to their people.

Muslims believe in the revelations sent by Almighty God to His prophets and messengers including the Quran, the Torah, the Gospel, the Scrolls of Abraham and the Psalms of David.

However, Muslims believe that all such revelations were limited to a specific time and people and are not preserved in their original purity, but subject to distortions.

All the Holy Scriptures culminated in, and were perfected in, the Holy Quran (just as all religions were perfected in Islam).

The Islamic holy books are the records which most Muslims believe were dictated by God (Allah) to various prophets.

Following are Divine Books:

1. The Tawrat - Musa

2. The Zabur - Dawood

3. The Injeel - Isa

4. The Quran - Muhammad (SAW)

We as Muslims are to believe in all of these books, in their original form. Unfortunately, the currently available Tawrat, Zabur and Injeel are corrupt, but still contains same remaining traces of the truth. The only book that has been preserved in its original form is the Quran.

The Quran which literally means, "Reading" or "Recitation" is viewed by Muslims as the final revelation and literal word of God.

The Quran is the most important writing in the religion of Islam and is the highest authority in both religious and legal matters.

5. BELIEF IN THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT

The Judgement Day, is the Day of accounting for all deeds; evil or good, big or small.

One of the most emphasized beliefs in the Holy Quran is the belief in the Day of Judgment.

Islam teaches that physical death is not the end of man's existence, rather it is the door to a higher form of life which can bring one closer to Allah, depending on one's deeds in this life.

Muslims believe that all people will be brought back to life to face the Judgment of Almighty God.

Muslims believe that on the Day of Judgment, humans will be judged for their actions in this life;

- Those who followed God's guidance will be rewarded with paradise;

- Those who rejected God's guidance will be punished with hell

No one but Allah knows when this day will come, so it is up to us to live each day as if it was our last.

On that day, humanity will be divided into 2 groups: - That of paradise and - That of hell

On the Day of Judgment this entire universe will come to an end, and the dead will be resurrected. Their deeds will be judged and they will be rewarded accordingly. Those with good records will merit Heaven, while those with bad deeds will be punished in Hell.

It is the day, when the life of every human being will be assessed to decide whether they go to heaven or hell.

This belief provides a powerful accountability tool in this life as well, meaning that ultimately the accountability for our actions and deeds is with Allah, the Almighty in the hereafter.

6. BELIEF IN DECREE OF ALLAH

The Universe is Allah's property and nothing happens in His Kingdom without His Knowledge and Permission.

Believing in decree of Allah entails believing that Allah has created everything and has fore-ordained its proper measure.

Divine Decree means the Will of Allah.

Muslims believe that Divine Decree controls the eventual outcome of all actions in this universe. It is the law or measure of a thing with regard to its growth and development.

In the Holy Quran, the term is explained as a universal law of Allah which is working through the whole of creation, extending throughout the universe.

Within the boundaries of Divine Decree, man is given free will.

Facets of Qadr (Predestination) -

1. Allah is well acquainted with everything taking place, and His Knowledge encompasses everything.

2. Allah has pre-assigned portions of everything in the Preserved Tablet.

3. Nothing takes place in the heavens or on the earth without the Will of Allah and His Wish. Whatever Allah wills, takes place and whatever He does not will, does not take place.

4. Allah is the Creator of all things. There is no other creator beside Him.

Predestination:

A Muslim believes in the ultimate Knowledge and Power of God to plan and execute His plans. Allah (God) is Wise, Just, and Loving, and whatever He does is good, although we may fail sometimes to understand it fully.

Humans should think, plan and make sound choices and put their trust in God. If things happen as they want they should praise God and if things do not happen as they want they should still praise God (recognizing that He knows best).

Everything in our lives was already known by Allah before we were born. We are free to attempt to make good or bad deeds, but Allah knows in advance what we are going to do and has the power to determine what actually happens.

Allah knows our past, present, and future.

Belief in Fate has 4 levels:

1) Knowledge: We believe that Allah, knows everything. He knows what has happened and what will happen and how it will happen. His knowledge is eternal. He does not acquire a new knowledge nor does he forget what He knows.

2) Recording: We believe that Allah has recorded in the secured tablet (Al Lowh Al Mahfuz) whatever is going to happen until the Day of Judgment.

3) Will: We believe that Allah has willed everything in heaven and Earth. Nothing happens except by His will. Whatever He wills will take place, and whatever He does not will not take place.

4) Creation: We believe that "Allah is the Creator of all things; He is the Guardian over all things, and to Him belong the keys of the heavens and the Earth".

- This level includes whatever Allah Himself does and whatever His creatures do. Thus each saying, deed, or omission of the people is known to Allah, Who has recorded, willed, and created them.

Man's Free Will:

Allah has granted man a power and a free will by which he performs his actions.

Eg: Praising the virtuous for his deeds and blaming the evildoer for his actions.

If the action is not done by the individual's free will, then praising the virtuous is a joke and punishing the evildoer is an injustice, and Allah is, of course, far from joking and being unjust.

Virtues of Belief in Fate:

Dependence on Allah when doing any action, because both the cause and effect are the result of Allah's decree.

- Ease of mind and comfort, because when the individual knows that everything is by Allah's decree and that mishaps are going to take place anyway, his soul will be at ease and his heart will be satisfied with Allah's decree.

No one has a more comfortable life, worry-free soul, and stronger confidence than a believer in fate.

- Freedom from arrogance when a goal is achieved, because this is a blessing from Allah through what He decreed of the causes of good and success. The individual should thank Allah for that and free himself from arrogance.

- Freedom from worry and boredom in case of failure or mishap, because that is by Allah's decree, the One who possesses the Heavens and the Earth. Since that is going to happen anyway, the individual should be patient and hope for the reward from Allah.

Prophet said in a Hadith -

"There is none of you, but has his place assigned either in the Fire or in Paradise." The Companions inquired, "O Allah’s Messenger! Why should we carry on doing good deeds, shall we depend (upon Qadar) and give up work?" Muhammad said: "No, carry on doing good deeds, for everyone will find it easy (to do) such deeds that will lead him towards that for which he has been created."

The Quran says -

For those who do good is good (reward) and more (than this); and blackness shall not cover their faces; these are the dwellers of the garden; in it they shall abide. (Quran-10:26)

We pray to Allah, the Exalted, to reward us for this belief, to realize for us its fruits, to increase our blessings, to keep us on the right path to which He has guided us, and to bestow on us a blessing from Him.

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