Lessons

Faith

The six articles of faith

Discover the core beliefs of Islam taught by the angel Gabriel to the Prophet ﷺ.

3 short lessons · about 3 min · every point has its source

1. The visit of Gabriel and faith in the unseen

One day, a man wearing pure white clothes and having extraordinarily black hair sat directly before the Prophet ﷺ. No marks of travel appeared on him, and none of the companions knew who he was. The Prophet ﷺ later told his companion Umar that this guest was the angel Gabriel, who had come to instruct the people in their religion.¹

During this visit, Gabriel asked about iman, the Arabic word for faith. The Prophet ﷺ explained that faith requires affirming belief in Allah, in His angels, and in His revealed books.¹ Believers are commanded to place their sincere faith in Allah, His angels, and the scriptures He sent down.²

Angels descend only by the command of the Lord.³ Gabriel often visited the Prophet ﷺ in the appearance of a man, though his true angelic form is immense.⁴ Muslims also believe in all the scriptures Allah revealed to earlier messengers.⁵² The Quran is the most recent book sent down by Allah, read in its pure undistorted form.⁶

2. Messengers and the Day of Judgment

Belief in the messengers whom Allah sent to guide humanity is an essential part of faith.² A believer honors all of these noble teachers and makes no distinction between any of them.⁵ Whoever rejects the messengers or the Last Day has strayed far from the truth.²

Faith also includes trusting in the Last Day and the final resurrection.¹⁷ The coming of this Hour is certain, so that each soul can be recompensed for what it strived for in this world. The exact timing of the Hour is known to Allah alone, and even the Prophet ﷺ stated that the one questioned about it knew no more than the person asking.¹

Although the exact time is hidden, the Prophet ﷺ described portents that would appear before the end. One sign he mentioned is that barefoot shepherds would compete with one another in constructing tall buildings.¹ When asked about the Hour, the Prophet ﷺ turned the question toward what a person has prepared for it, teaching that one will be with those they love.⁸ Focusing on sincere love for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ brings hope and quiet peace as you build your new life as a Muslim.

3. Belief in Divine Decree and destiny

The sixth article of faith is belief in Divine Decree, known as qadr in Arabic. When the angel Gabriel came to instruct the companions in religion, the Prophet ﷺ explained that faith requires affirming belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and the Divine Decree concerning both good and evil.¹

Allah created all things with predestination.⁹ Whether you reveal a matter or keep it hidden, Allah is ever Knowing of all things.¹⁰ Everything with Allah has a set and proper measure.¹¹

This belief brings great peace to the heart in every circumstance. When a companion asked the Prophet ﷺ about human deeds and the decree, the Prophet ﷺ explained that what has been written by the Pen has dried, and each person is facilitated for what he was created.¹² Allah also declares that His mercy encompasses all things.¹³ Walking forward with faith in His decree allows you to strive with a calm mind, knowing you are resting in the hands of the most merciful Creator.

Sources

1. Sahih Muslim 8a Read it in full
   It is narrated on the authority of Yahya b. Ya'mur that the first man who discussed qadr (Divine Decree) in Basra was Ma'bad al-Juhani. I along with Humaid b. 'Abdur-Rahman Himyari set out for pilgrimage or for 'Umrah and said: Should it so happen that we come into contact with one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) we shall ask him about what is talked about taqdir (Divine Decree). Accidentally we came across Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab, while he was entering the mosque. My companion and I surrounded him. One of us (stood) on his right and the other stood on his left. I expected that my companion would authorize me to speak. I therefore said: Abu Abdur Rahman! There have appeared some people in our land who recite the Qur'an and pursue knowledge. And then after talking about their affairs, added: They (such people) claim that there is no such thing as Divine Decree and events are not predestined. He (Abdullah ibn Umar) said: When you happen to meet such people tell them that I have nothing to do with them and they have nothing to do with me. And verily they are in no way responsible for my (belief). Abdullah ibn Umar swore by Him (the Lord) (and said): If any one of them (who does not believe in the Divine Decree) had with him gold equal to the bulk of (the mountain) Uhud and spent it (in the way of Allah), Allah would not accept it unless he affirmed his faith in Divine Decree. He further said: My father, Umar ibn al-Khattab, told me: One day we were sitting in the company of Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) when there appeared before us a man dressed in pure white clothes, his hair extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him. None amongst us recognized him. At last he sat with the Apostle (peace be upon him) He knelt before him placed his palms on his thighs and said: Muhammad, inform me about al-Islam. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Al-Islam implies that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and you establish prayer, pay Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the (House) if you are solvent enough (to bear the expense of) the journey. He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth. He (Umar ibn al-Khattab) said: It amazed us that he would put the question and then he would himself verify the truth. He (the inquirer) said: Inform me about Iman (faith). He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil. He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth. He (the inquirer) again said: Inform me about al-Ihsan (performance of good deeds). He (the Holy Prophet) said: That you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, for though you don't see Him, He, verily, sees you. He (the enquirer) again said: Inform me about the hour (of the Doom). He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: One who is asked knows no more than the one who is inquiring (about it). He (the inquirer) said: Tell me some of its indications. He (the Holy Prophet) said: That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and master, that you will find barefooted, destitute goat-herds vying with one another in the construction of magnificent buildings. He (the narrator, Umar ibn al-Khattab) said: Then he (the inquirer) went on his way but I stayed with him (the Holy Prophet) for a long while. He then, said to me: Umar, do you know who this inquirer was? I replied: Allah and His Apostle knows best. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: He was Gabriel (the angel). He came to you in order to instruct you in matters of religion
2. Quran 4:136 (An-Nisa)
   O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray
3. Sahih al-Bukhari 7455 Read it in full
   Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Gabriel, what prevents you. from visiting us more often than you do?" Then this Verse was revealed:--'And we angels descend not but by Command of your Lord. To Him belongs what is before us and what is behind us..' (19.64) So this was the answer to Muhammad
4. Sahih al-Bukhari 3235 Read it in full
   Narrated Masruq: I asked Aisha "What about His Statement:-- "Then he (Gabriel) approached And came closer, And was at a distance Of but two bow-lengths Or (even) nearer?" (53.8-9) She replied, "It was Gabriel who used to come to the Prophet (ﷺ) in the figure of a man, but on that occasion, he came in his actual and real figure and (he was so huge) that he covered the whole horizon
5. Quran 2:285 (Al-Baqarah)
   The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination
6. Sahih al-Bukhari 7522 Read it in full
   Narrated `Ikrima: Ibn `Abbas said, "How can you ask the people of the Scriptures about their Books while you have Allah's Book (the Qur'an) which is the most recent of the Books revealed by Allah, and you read it in its pure undistorted form?
7. Sahih al-Bukhari 50 Read it in full
   Narrated Abu Huraira: One day while the Prophet (ﷺ) was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and asked, "What is faith?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, 'Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection." Then he further asked, "What is Islam?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "To worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan." Then he further asked, "What is Ihsan (perfection)?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you." Then he further asked, "When will the Hour be established?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents. 1. When a slave (lady) gives birth to her master. 2. When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah. The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited: "Verily, with Allah (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour--." (31. 34) Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet (ﷺ) asked his companions to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "That was Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion." Abu 'Abdullah said: He (the Prophet) considered all that as a part of faith
8. Sahih al-Bukhari 3688 Read it in full
   Narrated Anas: A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment) saying, "When will the Hour be?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "What have you prepared for it?" The man said, "Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Apostle." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You will be with those whom you love." We had never been so glad as we were on hearing that saying of the Prophet (i.e., "You will be with those whom you love.") Therefore, I love the Prophet, Abu Bakr and `Umar, and I hope that I will be with them because of my love for them though my deeds are not similar to theirs
9. Quran 54:49 (Al-Qamar)
   Indeed, all things We created with predestination
10. Quran 33:54 (Al-Ahzab)
    Whether you reveal a thing or conceal it, indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing
11. Quran 13:8 (Ar-Ra'd)
    Allah knows what every female carries and what the wombs lose [prematurely] or exceed. And everything with Him is by due measure
12. Sunan Ibn Majah 91
    It was narrated that Suraqah bin Ju'shum said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), is one's deed in that which has already dried of the Pen and what has passed of the Divine Decree, or is it in the future?' He said: 'No, it is in that which he already dried of the Pen and what has passed of the Divine Decree, and each person is facilitated for what he has been createdGrading: Al-Albani: Sahih; Muhammad Fouad Abd al-Baqi: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Sahih
13. Quran 7:156 (Al-A'raf)
    And decree for us in this world [that which is] good and [also] in the Hereafter; indeed, we have turned back to You." [Allah] said, "My punishment - I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things." So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakah and those who believe in Our verses

Every point in this lesson rests on a verse of the Quran or a hadith, listed above. Hadith come from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, or from other collections only where every listed scholar graded them sahih or hasan. Found a mistake? Tell us.

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