For those new to Islam or considering the faith, understanding the core beliefs (Aqeedah) is essential. This comprehensive explanation breaks down the six articles of Islamic faith and the foundational concepts that every Muslim should know — presented in clear, simple language that makes the profound accessible to everyone.
Tawheed: The Oneness of God
At the heart of Islam is the belief in one God — Allah — who has no likeness to His creation. The word “Allah” is not exclusive to Muslims; Arab Christians and Jews also use it, and you will find it in Arabic translations of the Bible. God is not male or female, not born and does not give birth, and cannot be compared to any created thing. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught, God’s mercy toward us is greater than a mother’s mercy toward her child.
“God loves us more than a mother loves her child. The Prophet pointed to a woman who had lost her child in the chaos of battle, and when she found her baby, he asked: ‘Do you think this woman would ever throw her child into a fire?’ They said no. He said: ‘God is more merciful to you than this mother is to her child.'”
The Six Articles of Faith
- Belief in God: One God with no partners, no image, and no likeness to creation — the same God worshiped by Abraham, Moses, and Jesus
- Belief in Angels: Massive creations with no free will who exist only to worship and serve God — they cannot fall or rebel
- Belief in the Books: The Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran — with the Quran being the final, preserved revelation
- Belief in the Prophets: From Adam to Muhammad, all called humanity to worship the One Creator
- Belief in the Day of Judgment: Every soul will be held accountable, and Paradise is tailored to each person’s deepest desires
- Belief in Divine Decree: Everything happens for a reason — we respond to hardship with patience and to blessings with gratitude
“Whenever we begin any task, we remind ourselves: In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. God has tailored Paradise according to your wants and desires — no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no imagination has ever grasped what awaits.”
