Introduction of Islam

Section Four “The Articles of Faith”

Background

We live in an age marked by anxiety and restlessness, as a subtle transformation sweeps across the globe. The old order is gradually disintegrating, and a new one is on the horizon. History shows that such periods of upheaval often give birth to fresh movements and cultures. Today, the world is saturated with tension, yet there is also an eager anticipation of a renaissance—a revival of humanity in the twentieth century.

A distinctive hallmark of our era is the widespread revival of Islam. After a long period of dormancy, the Islamic world is awakening from its slumber. A renewed consciousness is emerging, invigorating the global Muslim community in every corner of the world and carrying the potential to usher in a new age.

However, for this Islamic revival to herald a genuinely transformative era, it must be accompanied by an intellectual revolution—a comprehensive reassessment of Islam’s rich intellectual and cultural heritage, presented in language and ideas that resonate with contemporary thought.

Islam is not merely a collection of beliefs; it is a complete way of life that offers guidance for every aspect of human existence—spiritual, moral, social, and legal. This publication is designed to explore the foundational concepts of Islam in a structured and accessible manner, guiding readers step by step through its key principles.

The complete Series:

The series is divided into six sections, each delving into a critical aspect of Islam to provide a deep understanding of its fundamental teachings and practical applications. These sections include:

• Section One: The Meaning of Islam – Explores the essence of submission to God and lays the foundation for further study.
• Section Two: Faith and Obedience – Examines the intrinsic link between belief and action.
• Section Three: The Prophethood – Highlights the role and significance of the Prophets as divine messengers.
• Section Four: The Articles of Faith– Details the core tenets of Islamic belief and the practices that express them. (you are here)
• Section Five: Prayer and Worship – Outlines the practices that express the core tenets of Islamic belief.
• Section Six: Din and Shari’ah – Explores how faith and divine law interact to guide personal and societal conduct.
• Section Seven: The Principles of Shari’ah– Outlines the legal, ethical, and social frameworks that define Islam’s moral code.

Each section will be published separately, with links provided to previous chapters and glimpse for upcoming topics to ensure smooth continuity. At the end of each section, you’ll find a brief summary of what has been covered so far, followed by an introduction to the next topic—allowing you to follow a logical progression in your journey to understand Islam.

This series invites you to explore Islam comprehensively, from its core meaning to its extensive legal and ethical framework. Whether you are new to the subject or seeking to deepen your understanding, each installment builds upon the last, guiding you closer to the timeless wisdom and practical relevance of Islam.

Summary of Previous Sections “Meaning of Islam-Faith and Obedience- Prophethood”

• We have studied the core definition of Islam, understanding that it is a way of submission to God that encompasses every aspect of life. We have explored how Islam provides both spiritual fulfillment and practical guidance, ensuring a balanced and purposeful existence.
• We have studied the connection between faith and obedience, learning that true belief in God requires adherence to His guidance. Islam is a practical religion where faith is demonstrated through action, shaping individuals into morally responsible beings.
• We have studied the vital role of Prophets as divine messengers, learning how they conveyed God’s revelations and served as models for human behavior. Their mission was to lead humanity toward righteousness and ensure adherence to divine principles.

The Articles of Faith

The Articles of Faith outline the fundamental beliefs every Muslim must accept. These six tenets form the foundation of Islamic theology, guiding individuals in their understanding of God’s justice, mercy, and wisdom. In this section, we discuss each article in detail, demonstrating their significance in shaping a believer’s worldview.

Introduction

Having explored the foundational truths of Islam—its essence, the historical evolution of prophethood, and the finality of Divine guidance through Muhammad (peace be upon him)—it is now both natural and necessary to turn our attention to the content of that guidance. But before doing so, let us briefly recapitulate the core ideas discussed so far to ground our understanding in a coherent context:

• The Essence of Islam:

At its heart, Islam is the conscious submission and obedience to Allah, the Lord of the Universe. Yet this submission is not abstract or arbitrary; it must be rooted in the path laid down by the true Prophet. Islam, therefore, is not merely theistic belief but complete faith in the Prophet’s teachings and unwavering obedience to his divinely guided way of life. Anyone who attempts to bypass the Prophet and claims direct adherence to God, without accepting the Prophetic medium, cannot be considered a Muslim.

• Historical Prophethood:

In earlier times, different nations were guided by different prophets. Often, several prophets appeared successively within a single nation. Though the essence of Islam remained constant throughout history—submission to God’s will—the practical details varied: forms of worship, legal systems, and moral codes were adapted to each society’s unique context. Thus, every nation was only accountable for the divine message delivered through its own prophet.

• The Finality of Prophethood:

This sequential system of guidance culminated with the advent of Muhammad (peace be upon him), through whom the message of Islam was perfected and made universal. No longer was the guidance confined to a particular people or age—his mission encompasses all of humanity for all time. With him, all earlier revelations were superseded, and the comprehensive, unchanging code of life was established. The door to further prophethood was decisively closed, and the only valid path to God is now through belief in Muhammad (peace be upon him), adherence to his teachings, and submission to the divine commands preserved in the Qur’an and Sunnah.

This summary leads us directly to the next vital inquiry: What exactly has Muhammad (peace be upon him) asked us to believe in? What are the foundational principles—the core beliefs and devotional acts—that define a Muslim’s relationship with God and structure their life in this world and the next?

 

The Articles of Faith and Worship

In this section, we turn to the foundational beliefs and practices of Islam—those Articles of Faith and Acts of Worship which, far from being obscure creeds or burdensome rituals, form the clearest and noblest path to human excellence. They are astonishingly simple, deeply true, and universally beneficial. More than a system of beliefs, they provide clarity of purpose, moral dignity, inner peace, and the promise of eternal success.

Tawheed

• Faith in the Unity of Allah

The first and most essential teaching of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is belief in the Oneness of God—Tawheed. This doctrine is encapsulated in Islam’s fundamental declaration:

“La ilaha illallah” (“There is no deity but Allah”).

This phrase forms the very heart and foundation of Islam. It is the definitive boundary separating belief from disbelief, monotheism from polytheism, and purpose from confusion. A person’s acceptance or rejection of this truth divides humanity into two distinct camps: those who unite in a single, God-conscious community with the promise of success in this world and the Hereafter—and those who, by denying it, lose both.

However, merely uttering these words is not sufficient. Their true impact emerges only through conscious acceptance, deep understanding, and active adherence. Without comprehending their significance, one’s repetition of this phrase is no more transformative than saying “food” to cure hunger or reciting a prescription to treat illness. The real revolution happens when the unity of God becomes a lived reality—reshaping beliefs, emotions, choices, and actions. Such faith naturally distances a person from all forms of disbelief, atheism, and polytheism. That is the essence and power of Tawheed.

• The Meaning of the Kalima

To appreciate this declaration fully, we must understand the terms it contains.

• • Ilah:

In Arabic, “ilah” refers to a being that is worshipped—one considered so powerful, majestic, and mysterious that humans bow before it in submission. It denotes something (or someone) perceived to possess authority, control, or overwhelming influence, often unseen yet deeply felt. Words like Khuda (Persian), Deva (Hindi), or God (English) carry similar connotations.

• • Allah:

The term “Allah”, however, is not a generic title—it is the personal name of the One True God. Thus, “La ilaha illallah” means: “There is no ilah—no being worthy of worship or obedience—except the One Supreme Reality known as Allah.”

This phrase affirms that all power belongs to Him alone; all creation is dependent upon Him, while He remains above need. Though unseen, His reality is manifest through the workings of the universe, which speak to His majesty and command.

• Why Man Worships

Why does man feel the need to worship anything at all? The answer lies in human nature and condition:

• • Human Nature:

Man is not all-powerful. He is vulnerable and dependent—subject to natural forces, needs, and fears. Even his most basic survival relies on conditions beyond his control. When confronted with the grandeur of the cosmos—the mountains, oceans, stars, and storms—he realizes his own smallness.

• • Control and Security:

This recognition naturally leads him to seek out a higher power, a source of control and security. In ignorance, early humans often mistook visible objects—like the sun, moon, rivers, or animals—as gods, believing them to wield ultimate authority. But these were merely symbols of power, not power itself. Worshipping such objects is a misguided result of failing to look beyond appearances.

• Discovering the One True God

  • The laws of Nature:

As knowledge progresses, man begins to see that even the most powerful natural phenomena are governed by laws—they follow patterns, obey cycles, and are not self-directed. The sun rises and sets; the moon waxes and wanes; the rivers flow in paths determined by gravity and terrain. These laws point to a singular will, an overarching intelligence behind the order.

• • The Creator:

This realization refines human understanding: there must be one supreme, law-giving Creator who governs all things in harmony. Had there been multiple deities with conflicting wills, chaos would prevail in the universe. The very existence of order testifies to divine unity.

• • Other Cultures and Religions:

Different cultures may use different names—Allah, God, Khuda, Permeshwar—but the idea of a Supreme Being is nearly universal. Yet even when acknowledging the One True God, ignorance often persists. People begin to imagine divine “assistants”—minor gods or saints—just as kings have ministers. This diluted monotheism leads them to pray to intermediaries, mistakenly believing they can influence the Supreme God on their behalf. Islam rejects this confusion.

• The Revolutionary Message of the Kalima

  • Forms of Servitude:

The Kalima is not merely a statement—it is a revolutionary declaration. It frees human beings from all false authorities—be they natural forces, idols, ancestors, or man-made ideologies—and connects them to the One Supreme Lord. It demands that all forms of servitude be abolished except to Allah. It is this call to freedom, truth, and unity that lies at the heart of Islam.

• • Step Towards Success:

Through this declaration, the believer affirms that no being has the right to rule, command, or be worshipped except Allah. He alone is the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Lawgiver. Recognizing His unity is the first step toward a life of purpose, humility, and true success.

• The Effects of Tawheed on Human Life

Let us examine the effects that belief in La ilaha illallah has on a person’s life and why it guarantees success both in this world and in the hereafter.

• • Expansive Outlook:

A believer in this kalima does not become narrow-minded or limited in perspective. Believing in a God who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Master of the East and the West, and the Sustainer of the entire universe, he sees nothing in the world as foreign. He views everything as belonging to the same Lord to whom he also belongs. This universal vision prevents partisan thinking; his love, sympathy, and service extend beyond any particular group. His intellectual horizon broadens as boundlessly as the Kingdom of God—a state of mind unattainable by atheists, polytheists, or those who believe in a deity with limited, human-like powers.

• • Self-Respect and Independence:

This belief instills the highest degree of self-respect and self-esteem. A true believer understands that only Allah possesses all power—no one else can grant or remove life, benefit or harm, or wield any authority. Consequently, he is independent and fearless, refusing to bow in homage to any of God’s creatures or to place his hope in anything other than Allah. Such confidence does not arise from any belief that associates partners with God or from the denial of God.

• • Modesty and Humility:

Alongside self-respect, this faith cultivates deep modesty and humility. It renders a believer humble and humane, free from pride, arrogance, and haughtiness. He recognizes that whatever he possesses is granted by God, who can just as easily take it away. In contrast, those who attribute personal merit to their own worth tend to develop conceit—a trait often seen in shirk, where one mistakenly believes in a unique relationship with deities.

• • Virtue and Righteousness:

A believer is driven by the conviction that success and salvation come solely through purity of soul and righteous behavior. Fully trusting in a God who is beyond need and influence, he understands that only through living a just and moral life can he hope to succeed. While unbelievers and polytheists cling to false hopes—such as relying on divine intercession or manipulating deities through ritualistic acts—true success is achieved through sincere and ethical actions.

• • Resilience in Adversity:

Belief in one God fills the believer’s heart with extraordinary consolation, satisfaction, and hope. Even if the world rejects him and every path seems closed, his unyielding reliance on God sustains him through trials. This profound confidence, stemming from Tawheed, keeps him from becoming despondent—a clear contrast to polytheists and atheists, who often find themselves overwhelmed by despair and sometimes even resort to self-destruction.

• • Determination and Perseverance:

With Tawheed, a believer develops a steadfast determination and patient perseverance. When he commits to fulfilling God’s commands in pursuit of divine approval, he is assured of Allah’s support. This certainty makes him firm and immovable, akin to a mountain, regardless of the obstacles or opposition he might face—an inner strength unmatched by any other belief.

• • Divine Guidance Through the Qur’an:

Due to human interference, many earlier scriptures have acquired extraneous, conflicting elements that run contrary to reason, justice, and morality. In contrast, the Qur’an is entirely free from such corruption. Its injunctions are logical, just, and morally impeccable, imbued with wisdom and truth from beginning to end. Containing the finest philosophy and the most refined laws for human civilization, the Qur’an stands as the definitive guide to the path of success and salvation. It is for this reason that all peoples are invited to place their faith in the Qur’an, renouncing other scriptures, and follow it exclusively.

Faith in Prophets:

In previous sections, we established that God has sent Messengers to every people throughout history, all of whom conveyed essentially the same message: submission to the One God—Islam. In this light, all Prophets stand equal in their mission and status as servants of God, culminating in the final prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). Belief in the Prophets naturally entails belief in the angels who delivered God’s messages to them and the divine scriptures that were revealed through them. These elements are inseparably linked in the structure of Islamic faith, forming a coherent framework of guidance from the Creator to humankind.

• Affirming One Prophet Means Affirming All:

Faith in Prophethood is not selective. If one truly believes in the message of one Prophet, then logically, one must accept the message of all Prophets, as they all spoke the same truth. To deny even a single Prophet is to undermine the credibility of them all. Thus, in Islam, rejection of any one Prophet—regardless of profession of belief in others—constitutes disbelief. This universal affirmation forms a core tenet of Islamic faith.

• The Quranic Record of Prophets:

The Qur’an names several Prophets, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them all), among others. However, according to certain traditions, the total number of Prophets sent by God is 124,000, each raised for a specific community throughout human history. This is not excessive, considering the vast span of civilizations and cultures that have existed across time.

• Respect for Prophets Not Named:

Muslims are required to believe explicitly in the Prophets mentioned in the Qur’an, while also maintaining general belief in all the others who were sent by God—whether to India, China, Iran, Egypt, Africa, or Europe. Although we believe in the universality of Prophethood, we are not authorized to definitively label any specific individual not mentioned in the Qur’an as a Prophet. Nor are we permitted to pass judgment on the founders of other religions. It is possible that some of them were true Prophets whose teachings were distorted over time by their followers, much like what happened with the messages of Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them). Therefore, any critique should be directed at the practices and doctrines of these religions—not at their founders, lest we show irreverence to a true Prophet of God.

• One Unified Message:

All Prophets conveyed one and the same message: submission to the will of God, moral righteousness, and the worship of none but Allah. Islam, as brought by Muhammad (peace be upon him), is thus not a new religion, but the final and complete form of that singular divine path. Muslims are commanded to believe in all Prophets without distinction, as each was commissioned by the same divine authority.

• Three Distinctions of the Final Prophet:

While all Prophets share equality in their role as messengers, three critical distinctions set Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) apart:

• • Universal Mission:

All previous Prophets were sent to specific nations for limited periods. In contrast, Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent as a mercy to all worlds, and his message is valid for all people until the Day of Judgment.

• • Preservation of Message:

The teachings of earlier Prophets have been lost or corrupted over time. In contrast, the life, sayings, actions, and teachings of Muhammad (peace be upon him) have been preserved with extraordinary precision. This preservation ensures that his example remains a living guide for humanity.

• • Completeness of Guidance:

The guidance of former Prophets was partial and provisional. Over time, their messages were either modified or forgotten. Islam, as revealed through Muhammad (peace be upon him), represents the final and most comprehensive code of life, rendering earlier revelations obsolete. To follow him is to inherit the collective wisdom of all preceding Prophets.

• Faith in Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him):

To be a true Muslim is to affirm without doubt that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is:

• • The true and final Prophet of God.
  • The bearer of a perfect and error-free message.
  • The seal of Prophethood—no Prophet will come after him, and no further divine revelation is needed.

Rejecting or sidelining his teachings in favor of any previous religious tradition denies the completeness and finality of Islam. Full faith in Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not only a theological requirement, but a spiritual necessity for those seeking the straight path.

Life After Death: A Rational Vindication:

Having explored the necessity and significance of belief in the Day of Judgment, we now turn to its rational basis. Although our conviction in life after death rests primarily on our trust in the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), reason and reflection also strongly support this belief. In fact, his teachings on the subject are far more coherent and reasonable than any alternative theories proposed throughout history.

• Denial of Life After Death:

One group asserts that human existence ends completely with death—that no part of us survives beyond the grave. They claim this view is scientific and rational, often appealing to certain materialist interpretations of Western science. Since no individual has returned from the dead, they argue, there can be no afterlife.

However, this argument is fundamentally flawed. The absence of observable revival does not logically lead to the conclusion that nothing happens after death; it merely suggests that we do not know what happens. Drawing a definitive conclusion from ignorance is intellectually dishonest. It is akin to a person who has never seen an airplane insisting that airplanes do not exist. Reasonable people do not generalize nonexistence from a lack of personal experience. Therefore, the claim that death is the absolute end of life is unscientific, unsupported, and unworthy of serious consideration.

• Reincarnation Based on Deeds:

Another view—found in certain Eastern religious traditions—proposes that human beings are repeatedly reborn in different forms based on their actions. Good deeds elevate the soul to a higher existence, while evil deeds result in a lower rebirth, possibly as an animal.

This theory, however, leads to a logical paradox. If one asks, “Which came first—human or animal?” the cycle collapses. If humans existed first, they must have previously been animals; but if animals came first, they must have been humans before that. This circular reasoning creates an infinite regress, making the theory philosophically untenable. The concept of reincarnation thus fails the test of logical consistency.

• Resurrection and Final Judgment:

The third and most coherent position—upheld by all Prophets—is belief in bodily resurrection, divine judgment, and ultimate reward or punishment based on human deeds. This perspective comprises four rationally sound propositions:

• • The End of the World:

This worldview begins with the premise that the universe is not eternal. All natural forces are finite and will eventually be exhausted. Scientific consensus acknowledges that the sun will one day burn out, stars will collide, and cosmic systems will dissolve. Therefore, the idea that the world will end and be replaced by a superior, more refined order is entirely consistent with both revelation and rational expectation. If the universe has evolved to its current state, there is no reason it cannot evolve into a higher form.

• • Resurrection of the Human Being:

If God created life from non-life once, then re-creation is not only possible but rationally necessary. The first creation is greater than resurrection, which is simply a repetition. To deny resurrection while accepting creation is logically inconsistent.

• • Preservation of Deeds:

The claim that all human actions are recorded may seem extraordinary, but modern science makes it plausible. We now understand that sounds produce subtle waves that can be captured and replayed—as with gramophone records. Similarly, human actions leave physical and moral imprints on the world around them. Every deed, word, and even intention interacts with matter and leaves a trace, making the idea of a complete, reproducible record of one’s life not just credible but scientifically imaginable.

• • Divine Judgment:

The fourth proposition asserts that God will establish His Court of Justice to reward or punish individuals according to their deeds. This is not only a matter of faith—it is demanded by reason. In this world, good often goes unrewarded and evil unpunished. Frequently, wrongdoers enjoy ease while the righteous suffer. This imbalance cries out for resolution. Justice requires a final reckoning where every deed receives its due consequence. The present world, governed largely by material and social forces, does not provide space for absolute moral justice. Therefore, a next world—governed by divine wisdom and justice—becomes a rational necessity.

• • Paradise and Hell:

The final proposition is belief in Paradise and Hell—places of eternal reward and punishment. If God can create the complex, majestic systems of this universe—the sun, stars, galaxies—then surely He can create realms suited to moral reward and retribution. Once divine judgment is pronounced, logic and justice both demand the existence of distinct destinations for the virtuous and the wicked: one a realm of peace, fulfillment, and honor; the other, of pain, regret, and disgrace.

After considering these arguments, no rational mind can deny that belief in life after death aligns with logic and common sense. There is nothing irrational or impossible about it. On the contrary, when a true Prophet like Muhammad (peace be upon him) conveys this truth—one that uplifts human character, affirms divine justice, and encourages moral behavior—wisdom dictates that we accept it, unless there is irrefutable evidence to the contrary.

These core beliefs—life after death, divine judgment, prophethood, angels, and divine revelation—constitute the Five Articles of Faith in Islam. Their essence is beautifully encapsulated in the declaration known as Kalima-e-Tayyibah:

“La ilaha illallah” (There is no deity but Allah)

affirms the oneness of God and renounces all false authorities and deities.

“Muhammad-ur-Rasulullah” (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)

confirms that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final bearer of divine guidance.

Accepting this declaration entails believing in:

• • The Oneness and Attributes of God,
  • His angels,
  • His revealed Books,
  • All His Prophets, and
  • The certainty of life after death.

It also necessitates wholehearted commitment to the path of obedience and worship as exemplified by the Prophet (peace be upon him). This is the only road to true success and eternal salvation.

 

 

 

In this section, “Articles of Faith”

In this section we studied the fundamental beliefs which are foundation of Islamic theology, guiding individuals in their understanding of God’s justice, mercy, and wisdom. We discussed each article in detail, demonstrating their significance in shaping a believer’s worldview.

In the next section, “Prayer and Worship”

In the next section, Prayer and Worship, we will explore the significance of religious devotion, outlining the practices prescribed in Islam to maintain spiritual purity and strengthen one’s relationship with God.