The Six Pillars of Iman (Faith)
أركان الإيمان
Iman (faith) is the foundation of being a Muslim. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ defined faith when the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) asked him about it. These six beliefs are what every Muslim holds in their heart.
“The Prophet ﷺ said: '[Iman is] that you believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and that you believe in Divine Decree, both its good and its bad.'”
To believe that Allah is the One and Only God. He has no partners, no children, no parents. He is the Creator of everything, the Sustainer of all existence, and the Only One worthy of worship. This is called Tawhid — the Oneness of God.
Key points
- •Allah is One (Ahad) — there is no god but Him
- •He was not born, nor does He have children (Quran 112:3)
- •Nothing in creation is like Him (Quran 42:11)
- •He knows everything, sees everything, hears everything
- •He is the Creator of all things (Quran 6:102)
- •Only He deserves worship — no saints, no prophets, no idols
Quran: Quran 112:1-4قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad. Allahu As-Samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.
Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Quran: Quran 42:11فَاطِرُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ أَزْوَٰجًۭا ۖ يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ ۚ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْءٌۭ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
Laysa kamithlihi shay'un wa Huwa as-Sami'u al-Basir
[He is] Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.