The Six Articles of Faith in Islam

Sahih Muslim (8) reports from Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that the angel Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Prophet ﷺ in the form of a man and asked him about Islam, iman (faith) and ihsan (excellence). When he asked about iman, the Prophet ﷺ answered: "To believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers and the Last Day, and to believe in the divine decree, its good and its bad." Sahih al-Bukhari (50) has a similar report from Abu Hurairah.

The same report says that Islam means the five pillars, and that ihsan means to worship Allah as if you see Him, knowing that He sees you.

This report shows that faith and practice go together. The beliefs below are the base, and good actions grow from them.

Belief in Allah means believing that He is the one Creator, that He alone deserves worship, and that He has the most beautiful names and perfect qualities. In daily life it brings trust, gratitude and honesty, because Allah knows what we do.

Angels are honored beings made from light (Sahih Muslim 2996) who obey Allah fully. Jibril brings revelation, and other angels record deeds (Quran 82:10-12). Knowing this reminds us to act well even when we are alone.

Belief in the unseen is a central part of faith. Quran 2:285 describes the believers as those who believe in Allah, His angels, His books and His messengers.

Muslims believe that Allah sent books to guide people, such as the Tawrah, the Injil, the Zabur and the Quran. The Quran is the final book, and it is the one that Allah promised to protect (Quran 15:9). In daily life this means reading it, thinking about it and following it.

Muslims also believe in all the messengers, such as Prophet Nuh, Ibrahim and Musa (peace be upon them), up to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the last of them. They all called people to worship Allah alone. Muslims love and respect every prophet and make no distinction between them in belief.

Muslims believe that this life will end and that all people will be raised and judged with perfect justice. Good deeds will be rewarded, and wrongs will be accounted for, though Allah may forgive whom He wills.

This belief gives a person hope and responsibility. It encourages fairness, repentance, and care for others, since nothing is lost with Allah.

The Last Day also reminds us that wealth, status and power do not last. What stays is faith and good character.

Qadar means that Allah knows everything, has written it, and that nothing happens outside His will. He is the Creator of all things (Quran 54:49). People still have choices, and they are responsible for them.

In daily life this brings balance. We make a sincere effort, and then we accept the result with patience when it is hard and with thanks when it is good. Quran 2:286 reminds us that Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear.

The Prophet ﷺ said that the affair of the believer is all good: if something good happens to him he is thankful, and if something harmful happens to him he is patient, and both are good for him (Sahih Muslim 2999). A helpful habit is to say alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah) in good times and to be patient in hard times.