Article of Faith

The word faith is synonym of the Arabic word Iman.

To have strong belief or trust in someone or something is known as Faith.
The fundamental (basic) beliefs, which serve as the foundation of a
religion, are called articles of faith.
All the messengers of Allah tried their best to transfer these beliefs to
their followers.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) too began propagating his message by focusing
attentions on these beliefs.
These beliefs are related in Iman-e-Mufasil in these words:
"I believe in Allah, in His Angels, in His Books, in His messengers,
in the Last Day and in the fact that everything good or bad, is
decided by Allah, the Almighty Allah, and in the life after death".

These articles of Faith are as under:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Belief
Belief
Belief
Belief
Belief
Belief
Belief

in
in
in
in
in
in
in

the Oneness and Unity of Allah or Tauheed.

the Angels.
Revealed Books.
the Prophets.
the Last Day of Judgment.
Life after Death.
Predestination.

TAUHEED

Tauheed or the belief in the Oneness of Allah is the first and the main
principle of Islam.
It means that Allah is the Only Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
He is Ever-Living without a beginning or an end (the first and the last).
He is Independent while others are dependent on Him for their existence
and survival.
He is the source and support of all life.
He is the only one worthy of worship. Allah is Omnipotent (having
unlimited authority or power).
He knows everything; the hidden and the manifest (obvious, apparent).
He is not bound by space and time; He is everywhere and has knowledge
of the past, present and future.
Surah Ikhlaas proclaims this in the most comprehensive way:

'' Say He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal. He does not beget nor is He
begotten, and there is none like Him'' (112:1-4).
Surah Ikhlaas is also called one-third of the Qur'an which means that onethird of the subject matter of the Qur'an revolves around Tauheed.
A person becomes a Muslim just by believing and uttering the expression:
'' There is no god but Allah and Mohammad (pbuh) is the Messenger of
Allah''. The first part of this message occurs repeatedly in the Qur'an in
slightly different shades. For example the Verse of Throne begins as:
''there is no God but He...'' (2:255).
The first Surah of the Qur'an begins as: ''Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the
worlds" (1:1).
According to the leading scholars of Islam, there are three kinds of
Tauheed:
Tauhid-ar-Rabubiya (Oneness of Lordship of Allah)
Tauhid-al-Auluhiya (Oneness in the Worship of Allah)
Tauhid-al-Asma-wa-Sifat (Oneness of the names and qualities of Allah)\
Tauhid-ar-Rabubiya refers to the belief that Allah is Self-Existent; He is the
Creator and the Sustainer of the universe.
Allah is the Creator of all things and He is the Guardian over all things
(39:62). Allah is Omnipotent, the Law Giver and the Judge.
The verse of the Throne says: .who is there who can intercede in His
presence except as He permits (2:255).
It also to the belief that He is entirely immune to all forms of human
weaknesses and needs such as hunger, thirst and the need to rest or
sleep etc.
no slumber ca seize Him nor sleep (2:255).
He is above the grip of space and time, He is the First and Last, the
evident and the hidden (57:3).
Tauhid-al-Auluhiya refers to the belief that since Allah is the creator, He is
the only one worthy of worship.
All supplication, beseeching (Pleading) and imploring (begging) are due
only to Allah.
So we as Muslims, must observe all the religious practices such as
prayers, Hajj, fast and giving alms to the poor etc. for His sake only.
I created Jinn and mankind only to worship me (51:56).
You alone we worship and Your aid we seek (1:4).
Tauhid-al-Asma-wa-Sifat refers to the belief that Allah is matchless not
only in His Essence but also in His names and Attributes.
This belief includes that we must not name or qualify Allah except with
what He and His Messenger have named or qualified Him.

None can be named or qualified with the names or qualifications of Allah,

for example Karim, Raheem, Rehman etc. And there is none like unto
Him (112:5).
We must believe in all the qualities of Allah which He has stated in His
Book or mentioned through His Messenger without changing, twisting or
ignoring their meaning.
The acknowledgement of Tauheed is the fundamental belief in Islam and
is the basis of salvation (rescue).
The basic message of all the prophets was the same i.e. there is no god
but Allah.
All the previous scriptures preached the Unity of Allah but due to
alterations made in their text over the passage of time, the doctrine (set
of guidelines) of Tauheed was changed. Finally, when the need arose for
final and universal guidance, Allah sent His last Messenger with the
Quran to set the people on the straight path and correct their beliefs.
We cannot see Allah but His existence is confirmed when we ponder over
the universe, that such an organized and well-coordinated world could not
have come into existence on its own; just like a letter cannot be written
without an author.
who created the seven heavens, one above the other. You will not see
any flaw in what the Lord of mercy creates. Look again! Can you see any
flaw? Look again! And again! Your sight will turn back to you, weak and
defeated. (67:3-4).

SHIRK

The Arabic word shirk means to share.

In religious sense it means associating partners with Allah.
There is an Arabic proverb, things become known through their
opposites.
In the light of this saying, it is necessary to understand the nature of
Shirk for the better knowledge of the oneness of Allah. The avoidance of
Shirk is the fundamental teaching of the Quran, because Shirk is nothing
but the reverse side of Tauheed.
Given the fact that the proclamation of Tauheed is the first pillar of Islam
and Tauheed itself is the first principle of Islam, one begins o understand
why Shirk is so strongly criticized and why.

According to the Holy Quran it is the only unforgiveable sin: indeed Allah
forgives not that a partner should be associated with Him, but less than
that, He forgives whomsoever He wills. (4:48)
The acknowledgement of the Unity of Allah is bound in human nature,
since humans were created with the knowledge that there is no god but
Allah.
The prophets were sent as a reminder of what was already in their original
nature.
Hence to associate others with Allah is to go against the most basic
instincts of the human species. It is, so to speak, to go against human
nature.

BELIEF IN ANGELS

Belief in the existence of angels is an article of Islamic faith.

The non-believers considered angels to be deities and Allahs
daughters.
This article of faith purifies the belief in the unity of Allah.
Allah has appointed many of His Angels for the management of this
Universe.
Angels have been created from light and are not visible to ordinary
mortals.
They belong to the category of the unseen unless they appear in
human form.
They perform their assigned duties according to the Decree (order) of
God.
They are sent to protect men, to administer Allahs punishments, to
carry His messages and to perform various other functions.
Allah describes their entire submission to Him in the following words:
"They never disobey Allah's Command and do as they are
commanded."(16:50)
The Angels are also called messengers in the Holy Book as they
conveyed the Divine message of Allah to the Prophets.
The Angels were also appointed duties in the human form; they
appeared before Abraham to give him the glad tidings of a son.
Hazrat Lut was also warned about impending doom of his town.
Hazrat Maryam was also blessed with the news of a Holy son by an
angel Gabriel.
Hazrat Zakriya also experienced the same experience of visiting of an
angel.

Angels are Allah's creation having necessary powers and qualities.

They are not His daughters nor are they objects of worship.
They have no knowledge except that what Allah has taught them.
They prostrated before Adam when Allah commanded them to do so.
Angels glorify and praise Allah. They never get tired.
They neither need sleep nor do they require the things needed by
human beings.
Angels are the guardians of Hell-fire.
They will welcome in Heaven all those who obey Allah's commands and
will throw the wrong doers into Hell.
The name of the angel in charge of Paradise is Rizwan while Malik is in
charge of Hell. There are many Angels like Kiram-an-katibeen i.e.
angels on our shoulders having records of our good and bad deeds.
They are many in numbers.
The Quran says: But verily, over you (are appointed angels) to
protect you- kind and honorable, writing down (your deeds). (82:1011)
There are also Munkar and Nakeer, they go to the graves of the newly
dead to ask them questions. Besides, there are many angels having
various assignments with them they are as under;
Hazrat Gabriel, who brought revelations from Allah to the Prophets
including Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) He is called 'Rooh-ul-Allah' or
Rooh-ul-Ameen because he never changes the messages of Allah.
Hazrat Izrael, the angel of death. He is responsible for taking our souls
upon death.
Hazrat Israfeel, who will blow the trumpet at the time of the end of the
world, i.e. on the Day of Judgment. With his second blow everyone will
rise again for the Day of Judgment.
Hazrat Mekaeel, who is responsible for rainfall and distribution of
rizq(means of sustenance).

BELIEF IN THE LAST DAY

Belief in life after death, bodily resurrection, final judgment and the eternal life in
Paradise and (or) Hell is one of the articles of faith.
This world as we know it will come to an end one day and the dead will rise from
their resting place for their final and fair trial.
Muslims believe that the time of Qiyama is preordained by Allah but is unknown
to man.

The trials and problems preceding and during the Day of Resurrection are
described in detail in the Quran and Hadith. The Quran says:
Anyone who denies God, His angels, His books, His messenger and the Day of
Judgment has gone far, far astray.(4:136)
Islam teaches us that there are four definite stages of every human life.
The first is in the womb of our mother. There, the flesh is united with the spirit.
According to a tradition of the Holy Prophet, this joining takes place some time
after the fortieth day of conception.
The second stage of our life begins in this world.
We are born, grow from children to adults and then reach old age and die.
Some people die in their youth while others live longer than most.
The third stage starts after our death.
A persons life on this earth ends with his/her death, after which another life
begins in the state of Barzakh, which is an intermediate state in which the soul is
placed after death till resurrection.
The state of grave is therefore, the same state as that of Barzakh.
Immediately after death the lesser Judgement or Qiyamat-e-Sughra takes place,
after which the righteous are spoken of as tasting the fruit of their good deeds
while the evil doers have to taste the evil consequences of their wrong deeds.
The fourth and final stage of our existence is eternal.
It will begin with the end of the world.
The entire universe with all forms of life will be brought to its ends by its Creator.
At many places in the Quran the details of the onset and outcome of the Day of
Judgment have been given.
That Day will start by the first blow of Trumpet by Hazrat Israfil.
The Quran says:When the Trumpet is sounded a single time. When the earth
and its mountains are raised high and then crushed to powder with a single blow.
On that Day the Great Event will come to pass. (69:13-15)
The second Trumpet will be blown and there will be resurrection of everything
that existed in this world.
A new world will emerge with a new sky.
All human beings who had lived on this earth since its inception (start) will come
back to life, this is called Hashr.
Now all humans will stand before Allah for accountability of all their deeds in the
worldly life. Allah will set the Scale of Ultimate Justice.
The account of our deeds will be examined in many ways.
Some people will be interrogated in secrecy and if the person concerned
confesses his/her sins honestly, fearing Allah, they will be pardoned.
Some will be subjected to a very severe interrogation during which they will have
to explain their each and every deed and utterance.
The people undergoing such an interrogation will be sent to Hell.
No injustice will be done on the Day of Judgement.
Peoples hands, feet and tongue will bear witness against them.
There will be no bargaining, no friendship or intercession.
Our good and evil deeds will be sorted out.

If we persecuted or harmed anyone in any way, we may lose some of our good
deeds to them by way of compensation and if we have no good deeds left then
the other persons bad deeds will be transferred to our account.
Then our deeds will be weighed on the scale mentioned before and the true
weight of our conduct will be shown to us.
People will be given their book of deeds which they will be asked to read.
The good will be given their record in their right hand, while the sinners in their
left hand or from behind their backs.
The Quran says: then he who is given his record in his right hand will have an
easy reckoning (calculation) and return to his people well pleased. But whoever
is given his record from behind his back will cry out for destruction and he will
enter a blazing fire. (84:7-12)
Finally according to the deeds people will be awarded forever and ever.
The Quran promises eternal dwelling place as a reward in Paradise for the pious
and the righteous.
The evildoers and the sinners, on the other hand will be given horrible
punishment.
When the judgment is finished, a bridge will be stretched over the top of the pit
of Hell.
This bridge, called the Sirat, will lead to Paradise which will be on the other side.
Everyone will have to cross this bridge(Sirat).
The Prophets and the righteous people will zoom right over and enter Paradise.
The treading of the bridge by the people will be based on the nature and
enormity of their good or bad deeds.
The two states of Heaven and Hell are not spiritual.
They will be experienced in physical forms by the new bodies with which Allah
will raise men up.

BELIEF IN REVEALED BOOKS

Human beings are the servants of Allah and need guidance to carry out
their various duties and responsibilities.
This guidance is mentioned in Books revealed to various Prophets.
So for this guidance Muslims are required to believe in the Books.
Allah says in the Holy Book:
"Those who believe in the revelation sent down to you (Mohammad)
and in what was sent before you" [2:4]
There were several revealed books but only four out of them are
famous"

The Holy Quran, revealed to the Holy Prophet (pbuh).

Injil or the Gospels was revealed to Isa. The Christians failed to act
upon it; they distorted it and introduced the doctrine (policy) of trinity
and redemption through crucification; although Isa clearly told his
followers that Allah was his and their Lord. According to the Quran Injil
confirms the Torah.
Zubur or Psalms, revealed to David.
Torah was revealed to Moses for the guidance of Bani Israel. It
contained Allahs command, warning and mercy. The original book was
changed. Its followers distorted the words of Allah. Allah says, they
change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of
the message that was sent.(5:13)
The Quran also mentions the Suhuf of Ibrahim.
Books were also revealed to other messengers, who were sent at
different times among different nations having different languages.
Their teachings were in the language they spoke and they were for the
guidance of that particular community.
The teachings contained were, the Uniqueness and Oneness of Allah,
the concept of reward and punishment for one's deeds in the life after
death.
All the heavenly books were from Allah and whatever Allah said in
them is to be believed in. However due to changes and alternations,
their originality and purity has been brought into question.
The preservation of the Holy Scriptures was the duty of their respective
followers.
The basic purpose of these books was the acknowledgment of the
Oneness of Allah.
These books made it clear to the people that they should believe in the
prophets of their times.
If anyone failed to do so, their faith in Allah would not merit any
rewards.
These books also testified that all the Prophets were truthful and they
should not differentiate among them.
Each Prophet (pbuh), after all, was sent by Allah with guidance, and the
primary message of each was the same.
These books also reformed the wrong beliefs of people concerning
Allahs Essence, His Messengers, books, and the life after death and
acts of worship.
Instead of preserving the scriptures in their memories and on tablets,
they distorted them. The outcome is that these scriptures cannot be
relied upon to be the same as when they were sent down.

Since Islam is based on the Quran, and the Quran is Allahs last book,
Allah took the responsibility of preserving whatever is contained in it.
The following holy verse testifies this, We have sent down the Quran
Ourself and We Ourself will guard it (15:9)
It is the living miracle of the Quran that no one ever produced even a
verse like that of the Quran.
The Quran, unlike the other divine books which were meant for a
particular community, is a guide book for all communities for all times
to come.
The Quran is a universal book, sent to the entire mankind for all ages.