Introduction

All praise and thanks to Allah Alone, the One, the Almighty,
All-Merciful. Blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad,
last of His Messengers and Prophets, and upon his family,
Companions and all those who follow in his footsteps until
end of time.

and
the
his
the

Indeed, having good deeds may not cause us to enter Paradise

but it always lies with Allahs mercy.
This summary is simply meant as a guide for AKIC Muslim students
who are in need of Islamic fundamentals in a very quietshort
period of time (trimester system) to carry out Islamic virtues
along with proper worshiping Allah in accordance with the
Prophetic tradition.
I am looking forward from Allah to showering us with His
blessings along with Barakah in this Dawah, may He let this
text-book accepted by Him and place it into my MeezanHasanaat.

How to worship Allah?

Allah wants to be worshipped by the mankind and the jinkind by
means of:
1. Fulfilling his commands:
o Shahaadah
o Prayer
o Charity
o Fasting
o Hajj (for incapable ones)
2. Abstaining oneself from any prohibition (Haraam):
o Smoking
o Intoxicants
o Disobedience
o All kinds of depravity
o Shirk

Two Parts of Shahaadah

1st type:
Ash-haduanlaailaahaillallahu
(I bear witness and testify that there is no deity worthy of
worship but Allah.)
Three Dimensional matters of the 1st part Shahaadah:
1. Declaration of the Tongue:
Its essential to declare the Shahaadah with your tongue in
order to embrace Islam. This point pertains to the death of
the Prophets (s.a.w) uncle Abu Talib.
2. Confirmation of the Heart:
It simply means that you pledge a covenant with Allah
(s.a.w), the Creator and Ruler of all that exists anchored
in these four conditions:
o The Creator of everything is Allah.
o None has the right to be worshipped but Him.
o All the best of names He named and described Himself
are nothing but true.
o Testimony as to Muhammads (s.a.w) Prophecy.
3. Implementation with the Limbs:
Once we have declared the Shahaadah with our tongue and
have confirmed it in our heart, it is then vital to put
them into action.
o Refraining oneself from mocking any aspects of Islam.
o Avoiding man-made legislatives.
o Establishing Islam within our life.
2nd type:
"Ash-haduanna Muhammad rasulullah
(I bear witness that Mohammad is the Messenger of Allah)
Details Concerning the Prophethood of Muhammad (s.a.w):
o The final revelation)(:
Allah ) (says:
2

This day, I have completed your religion for you,

completed My favor upon you, and have chosen/accepted
for you Islam as your religion1

o The finality of Prophethood:

)(
Allah ( )says:
Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but
he is the Messenger of Allah and the last (seal) of
the Prophets and Allah is ever all-Aware of
everything.2
o The Methodology)):
Allah ( )says:
Verily in the Messenger of Allah you have the best
example for him who looks unto Allah and the Last Day
and remembers Allah much.3

Conditions of the Shahaadah:

1st Condition knowledge ()
Knowledge of its meaning in terms of negation and affirmation.
Also knowledge about whom we are worshipping.
So know, that La ilaahaillallah.4

2nd Condition Certainty )(

Once a person has become firm in the knowledge of La
ilaahaillallah, and then all doubts and suspicions should be
replaced with certainty. The declaration ha to be made without
any suspicion regarding its meaning.

Al-Maidah 5:3
Al-Ahzab 33:40
3
Al-Ahzab 33:21
4
Muhammad 47:19
2

Allah ( )says:
Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His
Messenger, and never since doubted but strive with their wealth
and their lives for cause of Allah. Those! They are the
truthful.5

3rd Condition Sincerity )(

The intention behind accepting Islam and performing all acts of
worship must be purely devoted to Allah (). It is the
sincerity which negates Shirk.
Allah ( )says:
And they were commanded not, but that they should worship
Allah, and worship none but Him Alone, and perform As-Salaat and
give Zakaat: and that is the right religion.6
4th Condition Truthfulness )(
The truth that permits neither falsehood nor hypocrisy.
Allah ( )says:
AlifLaamMim. Do peple think they will be left alone because
they say: We believe and will not be tested. And we indeed
tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make
(it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly
make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars,
(although Allah knows all that before putting them to test).7
5th Condition Love )(
Love for this statement La ilaahaillallah means:
o To love Allah ) ( and His Messenger Muhammad
(s.a.w) more than anything else.
o To love what Allah ) ( and His Messenger
Muhammad (s.a.w) love.

Al-Hujuraat 49:15
Al-Baiyyinah 98:5
7
Al-Ankabut 29:1-3
6

o To hate or dislike what Allah ) ( and His

Messenger Muhammad (s.a.w) hate or dislike in all
matters that are related to the religion.
It is narrated from Anas (r.a) that The Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w) said: Whoever possesses the following three qualities
will attain the sweetness of faith:

Allah and His Messenger are dearer to him than anything

else.
To love a person for nothing except the sake Allah.
To hate to revert to disbelief (Kufr), having been saved
from it by Allah, as he hates being thrown into Hell-Fire.8

6th Condition Submission )(

Submission is fulfilled by obedience to Allah ) ( and His
Messenger (s.a.w)
To its rightful requirements, which are the duties that must be
performed with sincerity to Allah ) ( alone, seeking His
pleasure.
Allah ( )says:
And turn to your Lord (in repentance) and submit to His (will)
before the torment comes upon you then you will not be helped.9
7th Condition Acceptance )(
Acceptance that contradicts rejection and evidence for
acceptance from the Quran.
Allah ( )says:
And similarly, We sent not a warner before you (O Muhammad) to
any town (people) but that the luxurious ones amongst them said:
We found our fathers following a certain way and religion and
We will indeed follow their footsteps. (the warner) said: Even
if I bring you better guidance than that which you found your
fathers following? They said: Verily we disbelieve in that

8
9

Reported by Muslim
Az-Zumar 39:54

with which you have been sent. So we took revenge on them, then
see what was the end of those who denied (Islam).10

The Prayer
Lexical and Technical Definition:
Linguistically, the word al-salaat )(means supplication.
Allah ( )says:

Supplicate on their behalf, verily your supplications are a
source of security for them (al-Taubah 103). Technically, the
word refers to specific statements and actions beginning with
the takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar) and ending with the
salutations with its particular prerequisities.
The prayer was made obligatory during the Night of Ascension to
heaven before the migration to Madinah. It is one of the pillars
of Islam. It was the first act required by the Prophet (peace be
upon him) after proper belief in Allah. The Messenger of Allah
(peace be upon him) said,

The head ofthe matter is Islam. Its pillar is prayer. And its
apex is Jihad.11
The Wisdom Behind its Legislation:
Prayer is in gratitude to great blessings that Allah has
bestowed upon His servants. Similarly, it is one of the clearest
demonstrations of the meaning of worship, as it displays one
turning to Allah and submission and humility in front of Him and
a private conversation with Quranic reciting, words of
remembrance and supplications.
How to Perform Salah:

10
11

Al-Zukhruf 43:23-25
An authentic hadith recorded by Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi and others. --JZ

A. For males: Any clothing that covers from the naval to the
knees. It is preferable to cover the shoulders.
B. For females: Any clothing that covers all of the body
(including the head) except the face, hands, and according to
Imam Abu-Hanifah the toes and a portion of the front of the
feet.
1. Stand upright facing the direction of Al-Ka'bah. This
position is called Qiyaamand the direction is called Qiblah in
Arabic.
2. Make Niyyah (intention) in your heart for the prayer you want
to pray.
3. Raise your hands to your ears and say: "Allahu Akbar. This
means: (Allah is the Greatest). This is called Takbiratul Ihram.
4. Now place your right hand on top of your left hand on the
cupper navel and look downward to the place where your forehead
will touch the ground in the Sujood(prostration) and recite
silently:
"Subhanakaallahummawa bi
hamdikawatabarakasmukawata'alajaddukawa la ilahaghairuka."

)
This means: O Allah, how perfect You are and praise be to You.
Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no
god but You. [Only recite this supplication, Subhanaka, at the
beginning of the first Rak'ah]
5. After this, recite SuratulFatihah (the opening chapter) of
the Noble Qur'an.
6. Now recite any other passage from the Noble Qur'an.
7. Now bow down saying: "Allahu Akbar" and place your hands on
your knees and say silently: "SubhanaRabbiyalAdhim."This means:
(How Perfect is my Lord, the Supreme) three times. This
position is called Rukoo'. Keep your head in line with your
back, and look downward to the place of Sujood.
7

8. Stand up from the bowing position saying:

"Sami'Allahulimanhamidah" (Allah hears those who praise
Him)"Rabbanalakalhamd."This means: (Our Lord, praise be to You).
9. Prostrate on the floor saying: "Allahu Akbar" with your
forehead, nose, palms of both hands, your knees, and toes all
touching the floor. Then recite silently:
"SubhanaRabbiyalA'la."
(How Perfect is my Lord, the Highest) three times. This position
is called Sujood. Keep your arms away from the sides of the body
and the ground.
10. Sit up from the floor saying Allahu Akbar. Sit upright with
your knees bent and palms placed on them and say: Rabbighfir
li.

This means:
O my Lord! Forgive me.
Say "Allahu Akbar" and again prostrate in the Sujood position.
Recite "SubhanaRabbiyalA'la" three times. Sit up from this
position saying "Allahu Akbar"
This completes the first Rak'ah or unit of Salah. Now stand up
for the second Rak'ah and perform it in the same way, except
that you do not recite Subhanaka at the beginning, and after the
second Sujood (prostration) you sit on the left leg while
keeping the right foot upright and put your right hand on the
right thigh, with all fingers together in a fist except the
index finger. Stick the index finger straight out. Put your left
hand on the left thigh. Now recite Tashahhud silently:

.
"At-Tahiyyatulillahi
This means: Greetings, prayers and

was- Salawatuwat-Tayyibatu.
goodness belong to Allah.
As-Salamu ' alaika
Peace be on you,
ayyuhannabiyyu
O Prophet
warahmatullahi
and the mercy of Allah
wabarakatuhu.
and His blessings.
Assalamu 'alainawaala
Peace be on us and on
ibadil-Lahis -Salihin
the righteous servants of Allah
ashhadu al-La ilaha
I bear witness that
il-Lallahu
there is no god but Allah,
wa ash haduanna
and bear witness that
Muhammadanabduhu
Muhammad is His servant
warasuluhu."
and Messenger.
In a three-Rak'ah Salah (as in Maghrib) or a four-Rak'ah Salah
(Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha) you stand up for the remaining Rak'ah(s)
after you have done Tashahhud. For a two-Rak'ah Salah you remain

seated after Tashahhud and then recite silently AssalatulIbrahimiyah:

"Allahummasalli 'alaMuhammadin
O Allah, let Your mercy come upon Muhammad
Wa 'alaaliMuhammadin
and the family of Muhammad
Kama sallaita 'alaIbrahima
as You let it come upon Ibrahim
wa 'alaaliIbrahima
and the family of Ibrahim
wabarik 'alaMuhammadin
O Allah, bless Muhammad
wa 'alaaliMuhammadin
and the family of Muhammad
Kama barakta ' alaIbrahima
as You blessed Ibrahim
Wa ' alaaliIbrahima
and the family of Ibrahim.
Fila'laminaInnaka
Truly You are
hamidunMajid."
Praiseworthy and Glorious.
After this say silently: "Allahummainnia'udhubika min
adhabijahanamwaminadhabilqabriwaminsharrifitnatilmahyawalmamatwa
minsharrifitnatilmasihiddajjaal. Rabbi-ghfir li waliwalidayya,
rabbi-rhamhumakamarabbayanisaghira."
10


.
This means: O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the torment of
the Hellfire, from the torment of the grave, from the trials and
afflictions of life and death, and from the deception of the
False-Christ. O my Lord! Grant me and my parents forgiveness,
and bestow Your mercy upon them, just as they brought me up when
I was small.
11. Now turn your face to the right saying:
"Assalamualaikumwarahmatullah"(peace and the mercy of Allah be
on you) and then to the left repeating the same words.
This completes the two-Rak'ahSalah.
In the three or four-Rak'ah prayers (Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and
Isha) the whole procedure is repeated in the remaining
Rak'ah(s), except after Tashahhud, you say "Allahu Akbar" and
stand up and only recite Surat Al-Fatiha in Fard prayers and no
other Surah, then continue doing the rest of the actions as you
have done before (Rukoo', rising, Sujood). Then stand again for
the fourth Rak'ah.
Also, in the last Rak'ahof any prayer, after you have made your
Sujood, sit up and silently recite both Tashahhud and
SalatulIbrahimiyyah. At the end of any prayer, you must finish
by making Tasleem.
When to Recite Aloud or Silently:
During obligatory Fajr prayers, you recite the Qur'an aloud in
both Rak'ahs. You also recite the first two Rak'ahs of the
obligatory prayers of Maghrib and 'Isha aloud as well.
However, the third and fourth Rak'ahsare always recited silently
during obligatory prayers. Also, in the Dhuhr and Asr prayers,
the recitation is always silent for all four Rak'ahs.
Furthermore, the one who leads Jumu'ah prayers (Friday prayer in
place of Dhuhr) will recite the Qur'an aloud.

11

The Prerequisites (Shuroot) for the Prayer:

1) Intention.
2) Being Muslim.
3) Being sane.
4) Being as least of the age of discernment.
5) The time for the prayer having begun.
6) Being in a state of purity.
7) Facing the qiblah.
8) Covering the private parts.
9) Being free of any physical impurities (on ones clothing or
place where one is praying).
The Pillars (Arkaan) of Prayer:
There are fourteen essential components or arkaan) (of the
prayer which may not be left, not intentionally, forgetfully or
ignorantly.
1) Standing straight in the obligatory prayer for the one who
has the ability to do so.
2) The opening takbeer which is the statement, Allahu Akbar,
and nothing else suffices for the beginning of the prayer.
3) Reciting surah Al-Faatihah.
4) The bow.
5) Rising from the bow and standing up straight.
6) Prostration.
7) Coming up from the prostration.
8) Sitting between the two acts of prostration.
9) Having calmness and stillness (in each of the acts of the
prayer).
10) The final tashahhud.
11) Sitting for the final tashahhud.
12) Saying the prayers for the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him).
13) Saying the salutation. This is to
say twice, Assalaamalaikumwa
rahmatullahi (peace be upon you and
themercy of Allah).

12

Note:
It is best not to add, wabaraakatuhu(and his blessings) for in
the hadith of ibn Masood, he narrated that the Prophet (peace be
upon him) would greet on his right,Assalaamalaikumwa
rahmatullahi (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) and on
his left, Assalaamalaikumwarahmatullahi(peace be upon you and
the mercy of Allah).(Recorded by Muslim.)
14) Performing the above in the correct order.
Note:
Essential components (arkaan) differ from obligatory acts
(waajibaat). If a person fails to perform the essential
components, under most circumstances it will be as if he did not
perform the act at all. If a person fails to perform the
obligatory acts, under some circumstances he may simply have to
make up for those acts in another way.
The Obligatory Acts (Wajibaat)12 of Prayer:
1) All of the Takbeeratsaying Allahu Akbar
2) Saying SamiaAllahulimanHamidah.
3) Saying Rabbanaawawalakal-hamid.
4) Saying SubhaanaRabbital-Adheem.
5) Saying SubhaanaRabbiyal-Alaa.
6) Saying Rabbi ighfir li.
7) The first Tashahhud.
8) Sitting for the first Tashahhud.
Note:
Whoever leaves any one of these eight obligations of sayings or
actions intentionally, his prayer is void. If he leaves anything
of them due to forgetfulness, he should make the two
prostrations of forgetfulness.

12

What is meant by the obligatory acts here are those actions which, if left, the person must make two
prostrations for forgetfulness at the end of the prayer, but need not make the actual missed acts.

13

Zakaat
The Wisdom of Legislating Zakaat
The wisdom behind the legislation of zakaat includes the
following:
1) It purifies the souls of humans from the depravity of
miserliness and stinginess and their evils.
2) It comforts and assists the poor and helps the needy and
destitute fulfill some of their needs.
3) It establishes the general welfare upon which the life and
well-being of the society rests.
4) It limits the growth of wealth among the rich and in the
hands of the merchants and professionals, such that wealth
is not circulated only among the rich.
The definition of Zakaat:
Zakaat) (is the obligatory amount that one must give out, to
its rightful recipients, of the wealth that has met specific
minimum and special conditions. It is a cleansing of the person
and a purification of his soul.

Allah has said:

Of their goods take alms, so that you may purify and sanctify
them13
The Recipients of Zakaat:
The groups of people to whom one is allowed to give zakat are
eight. They are the ones mentioned in Allahs statement:

Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to
administer the funds; for those whosehearts are to be reconciled
13

Al-Taubah 68

14

(to the truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause
of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah,
and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.14
Hence, they are as follows:
1) The poor: those who cannot meet some of their basic needs.
2) The needy: those who meet most or half of their basic
needs.
3) Those employed to administer the funds:those who collect
and watch over the funds-but this is only if they do not
receive a wage.
4) Those whose hearts are to be reconciled to the truth: those
leaders of their people who one hopes will embrace Islam or
those who are to be given to repel their harm or by giving
to them one hopes to strengthen their faith or have someone
similar embrace Islam.
5) Those in bondage: those slaves who have made agreements
with their masters to pay for their freedom.
6) Those in debt: this group falls into two categories:
o Those who have incurred a debt to reconcile opposing
parties.
o A person himself who has fallen into debt and does not
have the means to repay.
7) In the cause of Allah: to those volunteer fighters striving
for the sake of Allah and those calling to the way of Allah
and whatever helps and supports their activities.
8) Wayfarers: those travelers who are cut off from their
homeland and do not have wealth with them that will allow
them to reach their homes.
Gold, Silver and Currency:
Zakaat of 2.5% is obligatory upon gold if the amount of gold one
reaches twenty mithqaal.
Zakaat of 2.5% is obligatory upon silver if the amount of silver
one owns reaches two hundred dirhams.
Paper currency reaches is considered according to its value. If
the paper currency reaches the equivalent of the nisaab of
either gold or silver, zakat becomes obligatory upon it. Once
14

Al-Taubah 60

15

again, the amount of zakat will be 2.5%, given that the wealth
was with the person for an entire year.
Note that it is forbidden for men to wear gold; however, they
may wear a silver ring or have silver embroidery on the swords
and so forth.
Fasting
Definition of Fasting:
Lexically, al-saum) (means to refrain from something.
Legally speaking, it refers to refraining, witrh the intention
of worship, from food, drink, sexual intercourse and other acts
that break the fast from dawn until sunset.
Allah says:


Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was
prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa (fear
of Allah).15
The Benefits of Fasting:
Fasting has spiritual, societal and health benefits.
o The spiritual benefits include the practicing and
strengthening of ones patience, knowing how to control
oneself and help oneself in that realm. The soul finds
within itself the ability to have taqwa and to improve upon
it.
o Societal benefits include the fact that it adds a certain
system and unity to the society, engenders love for justice
and equity, brings about mercy and compassion among the
believers as well as good behavior. Furthermore, it keeps
the society from evil and wickedness.
o Health benefits include the purifying of the intestine,
improving the health of the stomach, cleansing the body of
impurities, decreasing the level of fat in the body and
decreasing the heaviness of the stomach due to fat.
15

Al-Baqarah 183

16

The time of Ramadhans commencement:

1. Sighting the new moon by a trustworthy Muslim (male of
female).
2. Completing of thirty days of the month of Shaban.
The Conditions requiring One to Fast:
These conditions are the following:
1) Being Muslim.
2) Being adult.
3) Being sane.
4) Having the ability to fast.
Nullifiers of the Fast:
1. Sexual intercourse.
2. Ejaculation due to kissing, hugging or masturbation.
3. Eating or drinking something intentionally.
4. Letting blood, by means such as cupping or blood donation.
5. Intentional vomiting.

Hajj (Pilgrimage) and Umrah (Lesser visitation)

The pilgrimage is the fifth pillar of the five pillars of Islam.
It was made obligatory in the ninth year after the Hijrah.
Allah says:

Pilgrimage is a duty mankind owes to Allah, those who can
afford the journey.16
The Legal Status of the Pilgrimage:
The pilgrimage is an obligation from Allah upon His servants, to
be performed at least once in ones lifetime.
The Umrah (Lesser Visitation:

16

Ali-Imram 97

17

Umrah)(, linguistically, means a visit. Legally, it refers

to specific actions (performed at specific places) that shall be
discussed later.
The Wisdom Behind the Enjoining of Hajj and Umrah:
Among the aspects of wisdom behind the Hajj and Umrah is that
they purify the soul from the effects of sins so that the person
becomes ready for the grace of Allah in the Hereafter.
The Prophet (s.a.w) said:

Whoever makes the pilgrimage to this house and does not have
sexual intercourse nor does evil shall return (with respect to
his sins) like the day on which his mother gave him birth.17
The Conditions of the Hajj and Umrah:
In order for the Hajj to become obligatory, one must meet the
following conditions:
1) Being Muslim.
2) Being sane.
3) Being adult.
4) Being able to make the journey, this includes the presence
of the provisions and other righteous travelers to
accompany him.
5) Complete freedom.
6) In the case of women, another condition is added and that
is the existence of an adult male relative within the
prohibited degrees of marriage [who can accompany her on
the journey]; if she makes pilgrimage without such an
escort, she would have committed a sin although her
pilgrimage would have been valid.
The Different Ways in Which the Pilgrimage Cab Be Performed:
1) Performing the umrah by itself.
2) Performing the hajj by itself.
3) Performing the hajj in connection with the umrah.
17

Recorded by Al-Bukhari

18

4) Performing the umrah in combination with the hajj but with

a break in between.
There are nine things that are prohibited while in the state of
Ihraam:
1) Cutting the hair.
2) Clipping the nails.
3) For the male, wearing stitched clothes.
4) Covering the head.
5) Wearing perfume on the body or clothes.
6) Hunting wild game.
7) Contracting a marriage.
8) Touching the wife as foreplay to sexual activity.
9) Having sexual intercourse.
The Pillars (Arkaan) of Hajj are four:
1) Ihraam, and this includes the intention to make Hajj.
2) Stopping (al-Wuqoof) at Arafat
3) Circumambulation of the Kabah (Tawaaf al-Ifaadah).
4) Procession between safa and Marwah (Sai).
The Obligations (Waajibaat) of Hajj are seven:
1) Making the ihram from the assigned placers (al-Miiqaat).
2) Staying at Arafat until the night.
3) Spending the night at Muzdalifah until after the middle of
the night.
4) Spending the nights at Mina during the days of Tashreeq.
5) Throwing the pebbles at the Jamaraat.
6) Shaving the head or cutting the hair.
7) The Farewell Tawaaf (Tawaaf al-Wadaa).
The Pillars (Arkaan) of Umrah areThree:
1) Ihraam.
2) Circumambulation (tawaaf of Umrah).
3) SaI of Umrah.
The Obligations of Umrah are two:
1. Ihraam from the assigned places (al-Miiqaat).
2. Shaving the head or cutting the hair.
19

Note:
The person who leaves a pillar (Arkaan) will not have his Hajj
or Umrah complete and it becomes null and void. Someone who
leaves an obligation must compensate for it by slaughtering a
sacrificial animal. Someone who leaves a Sunnah of the Hajj and
Umrah has no fault against him.

Six Articles of Faith

Belief in Allah (one God):
The doctrine of God is the foundation of the religion of Islam
and is central to the teachings of the Holy Quran. God is the
Supreme Being who exists independently of everything else. He is
the sole Creator of the Universe, the Maker of the Heaven and
Earth. According to Islam, no event occurs in this Universe
without Gods knowledge and implicit consent. He is the ultimate
source of every action and happening, animate or inanimate. God
created not only the galaxies and stars, but also the life-form
on this earth and elsewhere. He is the Nourisher and Sustainer
of all creation; He is their Lord.
Belief in God, the Creator and the Master of the Universe, is
common to all religion. But the Islamic name Allah, in Arabic,
applies only to One God and to no one else. Islam advocates
belief in the absolute Unity of God in its entire purity as its
very foundation. Oneness of God means that He is the God of all
people: past, present and future.

The Holy Quran gives the important message that Allah is One.
He is Independent. He does not need any support. Everything
depends on Him. He has no father and has no son or daughter.
There is none like unto Him. (Holy Quran Chapter 112, verses 25)
Islam stresses the need to have firm belief in various
attributes of Allah, the Creator and the Controller of the
Universe. He is the Lord of all the worlds. He is the Gracious,
the Merciful. He is the Master of the Day of Judgment. (1: 1-4)
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For human beings, He is a very personal God. He listens to their

supplications and prayers (2:187). He provides for all their
needs (42:20). He overlooks their shortcomings and forgives
their excesses (39:54). He is there whenever they need Him, in
distress or prosperity (13:27). He deals with His creation with
mercy, love and compassion (3:31).
He cannot be seen with physical eyes but reveals Himself to man
through His Prophets and through the working of His attributes.
Allah is eternal and infinite. He lives today as He lived before
and will continue to live hereafter. He speaks to people as He
spoke in the past. All His attributes are Ever Lasting.
Belief in the Angels:
Angels are a form of spiritual beings created by Allah to
perform various assigned duties. There are numerous angels. They
are bound to obey the commands of Allah. Unlike human beings,
they have not been given the choice to do either right or wrong.
In the Holy Quran, Angels are frequently referred to as malak
and rasool which, in Arabic language, means power and messenger,
respectively. These literal meanings indicate the nature of
various duties of the Angels.
Angels do not possess any fixed material form. They cannot be
seen with our physical eyes due to our limited faculties. But
when they appear to human beings (e.g. in a spiritual vision),
they appear in such forms which are imaginable by us. For
instance, the Archangel Jibraeel (Gabriel) is known to have
appeared to the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessing of
Allah be upon him, in the form of an ordinary human being. The
same Archangel, however, seemed to have appeared to Jesus
Christ, may peace be with him, in the form of a dove.
The names of some important Angels of Allah are as follows:
Jibraeel (Gabriel)
Mikaeel (Michael)
Israfeel (Raphael)
Izraeel (Israel)
Some of their assigned tasks are given below:

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The Archangel Jibraeel controls the communication of divine

revelation to the Prophets. It was he who used to bring the
Quranic revelation to the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and
blessing of Allah be upon him.
The Chief Angel Mikaeel controls the provision and maintenance
of life.
The Chief Angel Israfeel is the angel responsible for announcing
the last day (the day of Judgment)
The Chief Angel Izraeel controls the phenomenon of death. .
There are other Angels who:
Keep record of peoples deeds.
Control the maintenance of the universe.
Control the operation of the laws of nature.
Glorify Allah with His praise.
In short, according to Islam, the operation and maintenance of
the whole Universe, including our world, is maintained and
controlled by Allah through His Angels.

Belief in the Divine Books of Allah:

The Message of guidance from Allah conveyed to mankind, through
His prophets, from time to time, is called the Books of Allah.
Not only do the Muslims believe in the Holy Quran, but also in
the Books of Allah given to other Prophets. The Quran makes
reference to five revealed Books including the Holy Quran
itself.
These are as follows:
Suhuf (Scrolls): given to prophet Abraham, peace be upon him
(87:20)
Taurat (Torah): given to prophet Moses, peace be upon him (3:4,
5:45)
Zaboor (Psalms): given to prophet David, peace be upon him
(4:164)

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Injeel (Gospel): given to prophet Jesus Christ, peace be upon

him (5:47)
Quran: given to prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him (6:20)
There is, however, a note of caution: All revealed Books except
the Holy Quran were partly changed by their followers and are
not preserved in their original form. As such, the belief of the
Muslims in the Books of Allah refers solely to the original
guidance received by their prophets, and not to the present day
version of these Books. The text of the Holy Quran, however,
has always remained unchanged and preserved in its original
form. Islam claims that the teachings of the Quran are
complete, perfect and eternal. These teachings are fully capable
of guiding mankind in all ages.
Belief in the Prophets of Allah:
A prophet is a person chosen by Allah for the reformation and
guidance of mankind. The Holy Quran uses two Arabic words for a
prophet: Rasool and Nabi.
The term Rasool means a messenger and the term Nabi means one
who gives news of events unknown to people. According to the
Holy Quran, all prophets are messengers and all messengers are
prophets.
Islam makes it compulsory for every Muslim to believe not just
in the truth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and
blessings be upon him, but also to believe in the truth in all
other prophets in the world that came before him.
This concept needs further explanation. Let us take the example
of Jesus Christ, may peace be upon him. We must believe in the
truth of Jesus Christ, may peace be upon him, as a prophet
(human being), as described by the Holy Quran. But in no case
are we supposed to believe in the Christian image of Jesus
Christ, may peace be upon him, as God, because that is not the
truth according to Islam.
The Prophets are raised by God to guide mankind to the right
path. Their basic function is to bring people, among whom they
are raised, closer to God. They face opposition but carry out
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their duties steadfastly and eventually they win. Muslims

believe that Messengers have been sent by God to all nations.
There are some which are mentioned in the Holy Quran, but there
are many others which are not mentioned therein.
Belief in all Prophets of God is a fundamental article of Muslim
faith. While previous prophets were sent to a particular nation,
tribe or people, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace an
blessing of Allah be upon him, was sent by God Almighty to the
whole of mankind.
The life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessing of
Allah be upon him, was a life of great success. In his high
moral qualities, his spiritual power, his high resolve, the
excellence and perfection of his teachings, his perfect example
and the acceptance of his prayers, in short, in every aspect of
his life, he exhibited such bright signs that he was a perfect
example of manifestation of Divine qualities and was a perfect
man.
Belief in the Last Day The Day of Resurrection:
After belief in One God, belief in the Last Day is the most
emphasized doctrine mentioned in the Holy Quran. No other
revealed book draws such a vivid picture of Life after Death as
does the Holy Quran.
According to the Holy Quran, the entire universe will come to
an end on the Day of Judgment. The dead will be resurrected and
accounts will be taken of their deeds. People with good records
will enter into heaven while those with bad records will be
thrown into hell. According to the teachings of Islam, hell is a
temporary abode while heaven is everlasting (it may be noted
here that many Muslims believe that hell is also everlasting).
The Garden promised to the righteous has rivers of water that is
not corrupted; and rivers of milk of which the taste changes
not; and rivers of wine full of delight for those who drink; and
rivers of pure honey. Thus paradise may be understood as having
endless streams flowing with these things. Some people
unfortunately misunderstand these things and take them
literally. The water of life which a person, possessing insight,
drinks spiritually in this life will be present overtly in the
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life to come. The spiritual milk which he drinks spiritually

like a suckling babe in this world, will be seen openly in
paradise. The wine of the love of God with which he was
spiritual drunk in the world will be made manifest in paradise
in streams. The honey of the sweetness of the faith, which one
possessed of insight, swallowed spiritually in the world will be
felt and observed in the shape of streams in paradise. In short,
spiritual condition will be no longer hidden, but will become
physically visible.
In the Holy Quran
Hour but its exact
description of the
Al-Qariah, Chapter

there are many signs of the coming of the

timing is known only to God. Following is a
Day of Judgment taken from Holy Quran, Surah
101.

Belief in the Decree of Allah:

Belief in theTaqdeer or Divine Decree means believing that both
the law of nature and the law of religion (Shariah) have been
devised by Allah and He alone holds Supreme power over these
laws which are operating in the universe. Allah has laid down
the principles for every material or spiritual thing. According
to these principles, certain actions lead to good results while
certain other actions result in evil consequences as a matter of
course.
Man is subject to Divine decree. If a human design is not in
accord with the design of God, no amount of effort can succeed
in putting it into effect; but when the time of the design of
God arrives, that which had appeared most difficult becomes
easily available.
Taqdeer should not be confused with predestination (as is
understood in this Country) with the understanding that whilst
everything is in the knowledge of Allah and that Allah alone
holds Supreme power over these laws, Allah has also given
mankind free will. This means that according to Islam, man is
responsible for his own destiny, which although is in the
knowledge of Allah, yet Allah will not interfere unless He
desires to do so. Usually, it is only in special circumstances,
where Allah may cause exceptional changes in these laws to
produce miracles for the sake of His prophets and saints.

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However, these exceptional changes are never contrary to His

known ways, His promises or His attributes.
This means that whilst everything has been determined by Divine
Decree, yet this does not mean that one should not strive for
ones betterment or adopt means to avoid the calamities.
Divine Decrees are of two types; one may be described as
suspended, and the other as absolute. The operation of a
suspended decree may be averted by the Grace of God Almighty
through prayers and alms giving. The operation of an absolute
decree cannot be averted through prayer and alms giving,
although God Almighty bestows some other benefit in return for
them. In some cases God Almighty causes a delay in the operation
of a decree.

http://free-islamic-course.org/stageone/stageone-module1/belief-decree-allah-taqdeer.html
http://raleighmasjid.org/how-to-pray/salah.htm

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