Islamic Belief (Aqeedah) Made Simple

A person enters Islam by sincerely saying and believing: “Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah” — I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

The first half, “La ilaha illallah”, has two parts:

• A denial: nothing and no one deserves worship — no idol, saint, prophet, angel, or desire.
• An affirmation: Allah alone deserves all worship.

The second half means that we believe Muhammad ﷺ was sent by Allah, we believe what he told us, we obey what he commanded, we avoid what he forbade, and we worship Allah in the way he taught.

The Shahada is not just words. Scholars explain that it requires knowledge of its meaning, certainty without doubt, sincerity, truthfulness, love for it, acceptance and submission.

When a person accepts Islam, all their previous sins are forgiven and they begin a new page.

Tawhid means believing that Allah is One and treating Him as One. Scholars often explain it in three connected aspects to make it easy to learn:

• Oneness of Lordship (Rububiyyah): Allah alone creates, owns, provides for and controls everything.
• Oneness of Worship (Uluhiyyah): Allah alone deserves every act of worship — prayer, du'a, sacrifice, vows, trust, fear and hope.
• Oneness of Names and Attributes (al-Asma' was-Sifat): we affirm the names and qualities Allah has given Himself in the Quran and that His Messenger ﷺ gave Him, without denying them, twisting their meaning, or comparing Him to His creation.

Allah tells us that there is nothing like Him (42:11). He is not a part of His creation, and nothing in creation shares in His divinity.

Every prophet, from Nuh to Muhammad ﷺ, called people to this same message: worship Allah alone.

Belief in Allah is the first and most important pillar. It includes:

• Believing that Allah exists. Our natural disposition (fitrah), our reason and the signs in creation all point to the Creator.
• Believing that He alone is the Lord of everything.
• Believing that He alone deserves worship.
• Believing in His beautiful names and perfect attributes.

Allah is the Most Merciful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. He is close to those who call on Him and hears every du'a.

This belief should fill the heart with love for Allah, hope in His mercy and awe of His greatness.

Angels are real beings created by Allah from light. We cannot normally see them. They never disobey Allah and do exactly what they are commanded.

Some angels and their tasks, as mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah:

• Jibril (Gabriel): brings revelation to the prophets.
• Mika'il (Michael): entrusted with rain and provision.
• The angel commonly named Israfil: will blow the Trumpet to begin the Day of Resurrection.
• The Angel of Death: takes souls at the appointed time (Quran 32:11).
• The noble recording angels: write down every person's good and bad deeds (Quran 82:10–12).
• Malik: the keeper of Hellfire (Quran 43:77).

Knowing that angels record our deeds encourages us to do good and be mindful of what we say.

Allah sent down scriptures to His messengers as guidance for people. We believe in all of them. Those named in the Quran include:

• The Scrolls (Suhuf) of Ibrahim and Musa.
• The Tawrah (Torah), given to Musa (Moses).
• The Zabur (Psalms), given to Dawud (David).
• The Injil (Gospel), given to 'Isa (Jesus).
• The Quran, given to Muhammad ﷺ — the final book.

The earlier books were given to particular nations, and their original texts were not preserved; over time changes entered them. The Quran confirms the truth in them and is the final, complete guidance for all people.

Allah Himself has promised to protect the Quran (Quran 15:9), so it remains exactly as it was revealed.

Allah sent prophets and messengers to every nation, all calling to the worship of Allah alone. They were human beings, chosen and protected by Allah in conveying His message.

We believe in all of them without making a distinction in belief between them. Twenty-five are named in the Quran, including Adam, Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il, Ishaq, Ya'qub, Yusuf (Joseph), Musa (Moses), Harun, Dawud, Sulayman, Yunus, Zakariyya, Yahya, 'Isa (Jesus) and Muhammad ﷺ.

Five are known as the messengers of firm resolve (Ulul-'Azm): Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, 'Isa and Muhammad ﷺ.

About 'Isa (Jesus): Muslims love and honour him as a great messenger. He was born miraculously to the virgin Maryam (Mary), performed miracles by Allah's permission, and called people to worship Allah alone. Muslims believe he is not God nor the son of God, and the Quran states that he was not killed or crucified but raised up by Allah (Quran 4:157–158). He will return before the Last Day.

Rejecting any one messenger is like rejecting them all, because they all brought the same core message.

This life is a test, and it will end. Every soul will taste death, and then everyone will be raised again to be judged by Allah, who is perfectly just and merciful.

Belief in the Last Day includes everything the Quran and authentic Sunnah tell us about what happens after death:

• The life of the grave (Barzakh): its questioning, and its comfort or punishment.
• The blowing of the Trumpet and the Resurrection of all people.
• The Gathering, the Reckoning and the giving of the record of deeds.
• The Scale (Mizan) on which deeds are weighed.
• The Bridge (Sirat) over Hellfire.
• Paradise (Jannah), the eternal home of the believers, and Hellfire (Jahannam).

This belief gives life meaning: no good deed is lost, and no injustice goes unanswered.

Belief in Qadar means believing that everything that happens — good or bad — is by Allah's knowledge, will and wisdom. Scholars explain it in four levels:

• Knowledge: Allah knows everything — what was, what is, and what will be.
• Writing: Allah wrote everything in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz).
• Will: nothing happens except by Allah's will.
• Creation: Allah is the Creator of everything, including our actions.

At the same time, Allah has given us free choice and responsibility. We are not forced; we choose our actions and will be judged for them. Qadar is never an excuse for sin.

This belief brings peace: we try our best, trust Allah with the results, are patient in hardship and thankful in ease.

Iman is belief in the heart; Islam is its expression in action. The five pillars are:

• Shahada: the testimony of faith.
• Salah: the five daily prayers.
• Zakat: giving a fixed share of qualifying wealth to those in need.
• Sawm: fasting the month of Ramadan.
• Hajj: pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime for those able.

Like the pillars of a building, these hold up a Muslim's religion. After the Shahada, the prayer is the most important of them.

See the Fiqh for Beginners section to learn how to perform them.

In the famous Hadith of Jibril, the angel Jibril came in the form of a man and asked the Prophet ﷺ about Islam, Iman and Ihsan, then about the Hour. Afterwards the Prophet ﷺ told his companions that it was Jibril, who had come to teach them their religion.

This hadith shows three levels of the religion:

• Islam: the outward actions.
• Iman: the inner beliefs.
• Ihsan: excellence — being aware of Allah in everything.

Ihsan means praying, working and dealing with people as someone who knows Allah is watching. It also means doing everything well and treating all of creation with kindness.

Allah has told us His names so that we may know Him, love Him and call upon Him by them (Quran 7:180). Some of them:

• Allah: the proper name of the One true God.
• Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim: the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
• Al-Malik: the King.
• Al-Quddus: the Most Pure.
• As-Salam: the Source of Peace, free of every flaw.
• Al-'Alim: the All-Knowing.
• Al-Ghafur: the Most Forgiving.
• Ar-Razzaq: the Provider.
• Al-Wadud: the Most Loving.

Scholars explain that “enumerating” them means learning them, understanding their meanings, and worshipping Allah in light of them.

We affirm these names and their meanings as Allah describes Himself, without comparing Him to creation.

A good practice is to call upon Allah by the name that fits your need: “Ya Ghafur, forgive me”, “Ya Razzaq, provide for me”.

Explore more in the Names of Allah section of the library.

Shirk is giving to anyone or anything what belongs only to Allah. It is the opposite of Tawhid and the greatest sin. Allah forgives any sin for whom He wills, but whoever dies upon major shirk without repenting will not be forgiven (Quran 4:48). Repentance before death wipes out everything, even shirk.

Major shirk takes a person out of Islam. Examples:

• Praying to, or making du'a to, anyone other than Allah — whether an idol, a dead saint or a prophet.
• Sacrificing or making vows for other than Allah.
• Believing someone other than Allah can create, control the universe or know the unseen.

Minor shirk does not take a person out of Islam but is very serious. Examples:

• Showing off (riya'): doing good deeds to be praised by people.
• Swearing by other than Allah (“I swear by my mother”).
• Relying on amulets, charms or lucky objects for protection.

Going to fortune-tellers, astrologers and magicians is also forbidden. Our protection is Allah, His remembrance and the du'as taught by the Prophet ﷺ.

Muhammad ibn Abdullah ﷺ was born in Makkah around 570 CE. At about forty years of age he received the first revelation through the angel Jibril, and he spent twenty-three years conveying the message.

We believe that:

• He is the servant and Messenger of Allah — a human being, not divine.
• He is the last prophet; no prophet comes after him.
• He was sent to all of mankind and jinn, as a mercy to the worlds (Quran 21:107).
• He conveyed the whole message faithfully.
• Obeying him is part of obeying Allah, and his Sunnah explains the Quran.

Loving him is part of faith. Muslims send blessings on him by saying “sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam” (ﷺ) — may Allah send blessings and peace upon him — whenever his name is mentioned.

The Quran is the actual speech of Allah, revealed in Arabic to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through the angel Jibril over about twenty-three years. It is not the Prophet's ﷺ own words.

Some key beliefs about the Quran:

• It has been preserved exactly as revealed, memorised by millions and written from the time of the Prophet ﷺ.
• It is a miracle; Allah challenged those who doubt it to produce even one surah like it (Quran 2:23).
• Translations are explanations of its meaning; the Quran itself is the Arabic text.
• Reciting it brings great reward, even for a learner who struggles with it.

The Quran is guidance, healing and light. Begin by learning Al-Fatiha and a few short surahs for your prayers — see Tafsir for Beginners for their meanings.