Islamic Beliefs: Nature of God, Articles of Faith, and Key Concepts
This page provides a comprehensive overview of fundamental Islamic beliefs, focusing on the nature of Allah, the Six Articles of Faith in Sunni Islam, the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din in Shia Islam, and other crucial concepts such as angels, prophets, holy books, predestination, and the Day of Judgment.
Nature of Allah
The nature of Allah in Islam is characterized by absolute oneness, known as Tawhid. Muslims believe in strict monotheism, rejecting any form of polytheism or associating partners with Allah.
Highlight: Tawhid is the most important belief in Islam, emphasizing the indivisible unity of Allah.
Key aspects of Allah's nature include:
- Allah is the one true God, referred to by 99 names describing His attributes.
- Allah is both immanent (present everywhere) and transcendent (beyond the physical world).
- It is forbidden to depict Allah in any form, as He is beyond human comprehension.
Quote: "Say 'He is Allah who is one.' He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there any equal to him."
Six Articles of Faith and Five Roots of Usul ad-Din
The 6 articles of faith in Islam (Sunni tradition) are:
- Tawhid (Oneness of God)
- Malaikah (Belief in Angels)
- Kutub (Belief in Holy Books)
- Risalah (Following the Prophets)
- Al-Qadr (Predestination)
- Akirah (Belief in Afterlife)
The 5 roots of Usul ad-Din (Shia tradition) are:
- Tawhid (Oneness of God)
- Adalat (Justice)
- Nubuwwah (Belief in Prophets)
- Imamate (Leadership after Muhammad)
- Mi'ad (Day of Judgment and Afterlife)
Definition: Usul ad-Din refers to the fundamental principles or roots of the Islamic faith in Shia tradition.
Angels in Islam
Angels play a significant role in Islamic belief. They are created from light and serve Allah's will without free will of their own.
Example: Important angels include Jibril (Gabriel), who delivered the Qur'an to Muhammad, and Azrael, the angel of death.
Prophets and Holy Books
Islam recognizes numerous prophets, with Muhammad being the final messenger. The Qur'an is considered the ultimate and unaltered word of Allah.
Vocabulary: Risalah refers to the belief in and following of prophets in Islam.
Predestination (Al-Qadr)
The concept of predestination differs between Sunni and Shia Islam:
- Sunni view: Allah has predetermined all events.
- Shia view: Allah knows all events but did not predetermine them, preserving human free will.
Day of Judgment and Afterlife
Islam teaches about the Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyamah) and the afterlife (Akirah). This includes concepts such as:
- Barzakh: The period between death and resurrection.
- Judgment Day: When all souls will be judged based on their deeds.
- Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam): The eternal destinations based on one's judgment.
Highlight: The belief in the Day of Judgment emphasizes personal accountability and the importance of righteous living in Islam.
