The Six Pillars of Iman (or Faith) in Islam

by Shahnawaz Khan Sat, 1-Mar-2025 Iman 👁 796 times
Narrated 'Aishah (RAA): that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed among the believers with the most complete faith is the one who is the best in conduct, and the most kind to his family."
On the authority of Umar (رضي الله عنه) who said: While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothes and with very black hair. No traces of journeying were visible on him, and none of us knew him. He sat down close by the Prophet (ﷺ) rested his knees against the knees of the Prophet (ﷺ) and placed his palms over his thighs, and said: … "Inform me about Iman (faith)."… He (the Prophet ﷺ) answered, "It is that you
  1. Believe in Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and
  2. His angels and
  3. His Books and
  4. His Messengers and
  5. in the Last Day, and
  6. in fate (qadar), both in its good and in its evil aspects."


Beliefs concerning Allah (SWT)

  • In the beginning, the entire universe was non-existent. Through the creation of Allah, it came into existence
  • Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) is One. He is not dependent on anyone. He has not given birth to anyone, nor was He begotten. He does not have any wife. There is no one equal to Him.
  • He has been since eternity and will remain till eternity
  • There is nothing similar to Him. He is unique.
  • He is alive. He has power over everything. There is nothing that is beyond His knowledge. He sees and hears everything. He speaks, but His speech is not like ours. He does whatever He wishes and there is no one to stop or reprimand Him. He alone is worthy of being worshipped. He has no partner. He is merciful to His servants. He is the lord. He is free of all blemishes. He is the one who saves His servants from all calamities. He is the possessor of honour and greatness. He is the creator of all things; nothing has created Him. He is the forgiver of sins. He is all-powerful. He gives in abundance. He is the one who gives sustenance. He decreases the sustenance of whoever He wishes and increases the sustenance of whoever He wishes. He humiliates whoever He wishes and elevates whoever He wishes. He gives honour to whoever He wishes and disgraces whoever He wishes. He is just. He is extremely tolerant and forbearing. He values and rewards service and worship rendered to Him. He accepts duas (supplications). He is all-encompassing. He is the ruler over everyone and no one is a ruler over Him. No work of His is devoid of wisdom. He fulfils the needs of everyone. He is the one who created everyone and He is the one who will bring all back to life on the day of qiyamah. He is the one who gives life and He causes death.
Everyone knows Him through signs and attributes. No one can know the essence of His being. He accepts the repentance of the sinners. He punishes those who deserve punishment. He is the one who gives guidance. Whatever happens in this universe occurs under His order. Without His order, even an atom cannot move. He does not sleep nor does He slumber. He does not get weary of protecting the entire universe. He is the one who is keeping everything in control. He has all good and beautiful qualities [/li]

Beliefs concerning angels

After creating certain creatures from light, Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) concealed them from our sight. These creatures are called angels. A lot of work has been given to them. They never do anything contrary to the orders of Allah (SWT). They continue doing whatever work they have been assigned to do. Among them, four angels are very famous. They are: Hadrat Jibra'eel (AS), Hadrat Mika'eel (AS), Hadrat Israfeel (AS), and Hadrat Izra'eel (AS).
Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) created certain creatures from fire. We cannot see them as well. They are called jinn. There are all types of jinn', both good and bad. They also have children. The most famous among them is the accursed Iblis, i.e. Shaitaan.

Beliefs concerning His Books (heavenly books)

Allah Ta'ala has sent down many small and large books through the angel Jibra'eel (عليه السلام) to the prophets so that they may teach the matters of Deen to their respective communities. Among these books, four are very famous:
  1. the Torah which was sent to Musa (AS),
  2. the Zabur which was sent to Daud (AS),
  3. the Injil which was sent to Isa (AS), and
  4. the Quran which was sent to our Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

The Quran is the last of the books. Now, no new book will be sent from the heavens. The instructions of the Quran will remain valid right until the day of qiyamah. Misguided people changed a lot of things in the other books. But Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has promised the protection of the Quran. No one can change it in any way.

Beliefs concerning the Prophets (pbut)

  • Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has sent down many prophets (عليه السلام) to guide mankind onto the right path. They are all free from sins. Their actual number is known to Allah alone. In order to establish their truthfulness, Allah caused new and difficult acts to happen through them which others cannot do. Such acts are called miracles (mu'jizaat).
  • The first prophet is Adam (عليه السلام) and the last is Muhammad (SAW). All the others came in between these two. Some of them are famous, such as: Nuh (AS), Ibrahim (AS), Is'haaq (AS), Ismail (AS), Yaqub (AS), Yusuf (AS), Dawud (AS), Sulayman (AS), Ayyub (AS), Musa (AS), Harun (AS), Zakariyah (AS), Yahya (AS), Isa (AS), Ilyas (AS), al-Yasa' (AS), Yunus (AS), Lut (AS), Idris (AS), Zul Kifl (AS), Salih (AS), Hud (AS), and Shuayb (AS).
  • Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) did not show the exact number of prophets to anyone. We should therefore have this belief that we have faith in all the prophets that Allah sent down; those that we know of and those that we do not know of as well.
  • The status of some prophets is higher than that of others. The highest status is that of our Prophet Muhammad (SAW).No new prophet can come after him. He is the prophet of all mankind and jinn right until the day of Qiyamat.
  • Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) took our Prophet (ﷺ) physically while he was awake, from Makkah to Baitul Maqdis, and from there to the seven heavens, and from there to wherever Allah wanted. He then sent him back to Makkah. This journey is known as the Mi'raj.

Beliefs concerning the last Day

Belief in Qiyamah (in the existence of the day of the judgement). Your story doesn't end here (after death). The Day of Judgment awaits, a day of truth and eternal consequence. The Last Day when every soul faces its eternal fate, where every deed, every whisper of the heart, will be weighed. As Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has mentioned in the Holy Quran.

“And certainly the Hour is coming, there is no doubt about it. And Allah will surely resurrect those in the graves.” [Quran 22:7]

We will set up the scales of justice for the Day of Judgment, so no soul will be wronged in the least. And ˹even˺ if a deed is the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as a ˹vigilant˺ Reckoner. [Quran 21:47]

Beliefs concerning the fate (qadar)

Everything in our lives, good and bad, is known by Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) before it happens. This is called Al-Qadr, or destiny. We believe Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows our future actions. Knowing this helps us trust in Allah's plan, even when things are difficult. To deny Al-Qadr is disbelief. Allah's knowledge is perfect.
Abdullah bin 'Amr bin al-'As (رضي الله عنه) reported: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah ordained the measures (of quality) of the creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, as His Throne was upon water. [Sahih Muslim 2653]

We have bound every human’s destiny to their neck*. And on the Day of Judgment We will bring forth to each ˹person˺ a record which they will find laid open. [Quran 17:13] (*This refers to the deeds that one is destined to do of their own free will. Out of His infinite knowledge, Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows people’s choices even before they make them. In the Hereafter, He will raise them from the dead for judgment.)

Do you not know that Allah ˹fully˺ knows whatever is in the heavens and the earth? Surely it is all ˹written˺ in a Record. That is certainly easy for Allah. [Quran 22:70]

Indeed, We have created everything, perfectly preordained. Our command is but a single word, done in the blink of an eye. [Quran 54:49-50]

Everything they have done is ˹listed˺ in ˹their˺ records. Every matter, small and large, is written ˹precisely˺. [Quran 54:51-52]

Indeed, if you were to know ˹your fate˺ with certainty, ˹you would have acted differently˺. [Quran 102:5]

Test your Islamic Knowledge !

Where was the prophet (ﷺ) born?

Got a Question?

  • About the content on this website (contact us with evidences)
  • Question on any topic related to Islam
Contact Us
Islamic Spirituality
Guidance & Knowledge
Ad image
Pay your Zakat

Calculate the amount of Zakat, you need to pay this year.

Help the needy.

Check your Eligibility