Iman (faith) is a very important part of a Muslim’s life. Muslims believe in six articles of faith(pillars of Iman). These beliefs are derived from the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAW). The pillars of Iman are belief in Allah, belief in His angels, belief in His Books, belief in His Messengers, belief in the Hereafter and belief in the Divine Decree of Allah. It is extremely important to believe in these six pillars as Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Qur’an:

O you who believe! Believe in Allâh, and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW), and the Book (the Qur'ân) which He has sent down to His Messenger, and the Scripture which He sent down to those before (him), and whosoever disbelieves in Allâh, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, then indeed he has strayed far away (4:136)

Belief in Allah

A Muslim believes in ONE GOD, Supreme and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider. God has neither father nor mother, neither sons nor was He fathered. None equal to Him. He is God of all mankind, not of a special tribe or race.

God is High and Supreme but He is very near to the pious thoughtful believers; He answers their prayers and helps them. He loves the people who love Him and forgives their sins. He gives them peace, happiness, knowledge and success. God is the Loving and the Provider, the Generous, and the Benevolent, the Rich and the Independent, the Forgiving and the Clement, the Patient and the Appreciative, the Unique and the Protector, the Judge and the Peace.

God creates in man the mind to understand, the soul and conscience to be good and righteous, the feelings and sentiments to be kind and humane. If we try to count His favours upon us, we cannot, because they are countless. In return for all the great favours and mercy, God does not need anything from us, because He is Needless and Independent. God asks us to know Him, to love Him and to enforce His law for our benefit and our own good.

Muslims believe in all the ninety-nine names and attributes of Allah Ta’ala which are described by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Belief in Allah as the Lord is known as Tawheed. On the other hand, associating someone else with Allah is called shirk and is one of the gravest sins in Islam.

Allah clearly explains Tawheed in the Holy Qur’an as He says,

Say (O Muhammad (SAW)): "He is Allâh, (the) One."Allâh-us-Samad  [Allâh the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)].”He begets not, nor was He begotten"And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." (112:1-4)