ARTICLES OF FAITH

Introduction :

The fundamental beliefs, which serve as the foundation of a religion , are

called its doctrines or articles of faith . All the prophets of Allah , in their
attempts to reform mankind , concentrated mainly on transferring their
beliefs to their followers. The prophet Mohammed (bpbuh) , too , began his
massage fussing attention on these beliefs .

The fundamental beliefs or articles of faith are :

1. Unity or oneness of Allah

2. Angels

3. Revealed books

4. Prophets

5.Life after death

6.Predestination and decree

1. Unity or Oneness of Allah

Belief in the unity and oneness of Allah , Tawhid is the first and main principle
of the Islamic faith .It means that Allah is the supreme being , the creator ,
sustainer and the master of the universe , the highest authority and exclusively
worthy of worship . Tawhid is the belief in Allah with all his powers. Allah is
all-knowing, all-wise, and all-powerful . He is and will always be . He has no
beginning and no end . He is the first and the last .He has no parents or son .
He has no partners of any sort in his attributes , Power, work and domination.

Allah is beyond anything which mind or senses of man can grasp or

comprehend or imagine . He is above having any similarity to any of his
creations for he alone is the creator and everything else is created by him .

Shirk
 Associating partners with Allah is called Shirk. Shirk is the worship of
idols ,and offering prayers and supplications to anyone, dead or living . To
implore any other being besides Allah to grant any wishes or answer prayers is
also shirk .

Man has been created as lord of creation and everything in nature has been
placed under his control. By worshipping other beings besides Allah man
debase himself .

2 . Angels

Belief in the existence of angels is an article of Islamic faith . Because of the

importance of angels as messengers of divine revelation to prophets , belief in
them is fundamental article in Islam . Angels act as Allah’s agents and serve
him in many ways .They are created of light and unlike jinn and men have not
been endowed with a free will . They absolutely obedient to Allah’s
commands and are engaged in worship and service to him . Angels have been
given the necessary qualities and power to carry out their duties by Allah .
They are not his daughter nor are they objects of worship . They have no
knowledge except what Allah has taught them , they obey Allah and act on his
commands. Angels glorify and praise Allah . They never get tired . They do not
need sleep , nor require the things needed by human beings .

Angels have various functions and duties , the following are some of their
duties :

1. Angel jibrael is the chief of angels .He convey the revelation of the holy
Quran to the prophet Mohammed (bpbuh) and also to other before him . He
brought messages from Allah to prophet Zakria , Maryam . He appear also
before prophet Ibrahim to give the glad tidings of the birth of a son . Prophet
Lut also was warned by him of the impending doom of his wicked people .

2. Angel Ezrael or the angel of death is responsible for taking our soul upon
death .
 3. Angel Esrafil will blow the trumpet at the time of judgment day .

4.Angel Mikail is look after the universe , movement of the stars , planets and
galaxies and the force of nature .

5. Two angels record all human’s deed up to the moment of death .

6. Angels Monkar and Nakir question the dead in their graves .

7.Angel Malik is in charge of hell while angel Redwan is responsible for

paradise .

3. Revealed books

Human beings are the servants of Allah and his agent on earth who need
guidance to carry out their various duties and responsibilities . This guidance is
contained in the books of revelation sent to mankind through prophets and
messengers . Belief in reality of Allah’s guidance to mankind in the form of
revealed books is an article of faith in Islam .

Revelation is the name given to the mean of communication employed by

Allah for conveying his commands and messages to prophets and apostles .

The guidance sent by Allah for time to time to his messengers was basically
the same . The principles of religion relating to the unity of Allah , his attributes
, prayers , belief in prophethood , the day of judgement and the concept of
reward and punishment for one’s deed in the life hereafter are common to all
the revealed books .

The revealed books mentioned by name in holy Quran are :

1.Sahifa or Suhuf to Adam , Ibrahim ,Musa and other prophets .

2.Zabur granted to prophet Daud .

3.Tawrat to prophet Musa.

4.Injeel granted to prophet Isa .

 5.The holy Quran is the last book revealed by Allah to his last messenger
prophet Mohammed (bpbuh).

4. Prophets

Belief in Allah’s messengers and prophets is an article of faith in Islam .The

word Nabi denote one who is very close to Allah through total surrender to his
entire being to him and receives revelations from him which serve as a source
of guidance for human .If the revelation is in the form of a scripture ,the
prophet is, in addition , a messenger - Rasol - as well . Prophets are sent to
many people addition to his relative and family .

All the apostles and prophets sent by Allah were men , had wives and children
and were mortal . All of them taught in the language of the people to whom
they were sent . At the same time , the Quran tells us that they were good and
truthful , Allah favored them above all others ,choose them and guide them
and conferred his grace upon them . He gave them the book and prophethood
and sent them for the guidance of their people .

5th Article of faith

Life after death

Believe in life after death , which pertain to the day of judgment , bodily
resurrection , hell and heaven , is one of the articles of faith in Islam . A man’s
life on this earth ends with death , after which another life begins is the state
of Barzakh , which is an intermediate state in which the soul is placed after
. death till the resurrection

Immediately after death the lesser judgment or (Quyamah Sughra) takes place,
after which the righteous are tasting the fruit of their good deeds while the evil
. doers have to taste the evil consequences of their wrong deeds
The Quran describe the events of the last day in a very clear language . It says that
at a time known only to Allah this world will be brought to an end with a
deafening noise . The earth will split a part and become a level stretch , the
mountains will crumble to dust and fly here and there like wool . The sun will be
folded up ,the moon will be in darkness , the stars will become dim and fall , the
oceans will boil over and burst forth . All landmarks on this earth will be lost ,the
. world will cease to be in the form we see now

All those who alive on earth at that time will die . Then the bodies will be raised
from graves and rejoined with souls . All human will then stand before Allah to
. give an account of their actions in this world

The two states of heaven and hell are not spiritual . They will be experienced in
. physical form by the new bodies with which Allah will raise men up

It obvious that a person who has lived his life in submission to Allah is in an
entirely different state from the one who has lived in rebellion and ingratitude to
. Allah

6th Article of faith

Allah’s predestination and decree

Another article of faith in Islamic believe is faith in destiny ; its good and evil . The
Arabic word for destiny , Qadar implies the measuring out of something or fixing a
limit to it . The basic concept of the word Taqdir that this universe and
. everything contained therein is the outcome of planning and will of the creator

Allah ‘s knowledge encompasses all things , possible and impossible . He is

. eternally and absolutely knowing of everything
Allah created man with certain powers , which he could exercise under certain
. limitations and it is the exercise of these powers that produce good or evil

Allah has endowed man with numerous other powers that may be used for good
or for evil . He has given human beings freedom lf choice for their action , but He
has also made them responsible for what they do as He shown them the
. difference between right and wrong

Allah ‘s knowledge , will and power are absolute and unbounded , therefore , He
knows the result of all events before their occurrence . A human being does not
have access to this knowledge and he acts in accordance with desire from within
which makes him responsible for this deeds and he is then happy or unhappy with
. consequences

Five Pillars of Islam

: Meaning and importance

The basic of the Islamic teaching and way of life are various obligatory acts of
: worship , Ibadat that are often refer to the five pillars of Islam . Which consist of

Shahadah : Declaration that none deserve to be worshiped except Allah and .1

. Mohammed (bpbuh) is his slave and apostle

. Alsalah : The prescribed prayer , five times a day.2

. Alzakah : Obligatory charity ,helping the needy by giving them alms .3

. Alsawm : Fasting during the month of Ramadan .4

. Alhajj : Pilgrimage to Makkah . If the circumstances permit .5

The purpose of the Islamic worship is to strengthen the Muslim faith and sense of
submission to Allah , to discipline a Muslim for his role as Allah’s faithful servant
vicegerent on earth , and reinforce the ties of brotherhood and affection among
. Muslims

AL-SHAHADAH .1

Declaration of faith

‫اشهد ان ال اله اال هللا واشهد ان محمد عبده ورسوله‬

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness That “
“ Mohammed is his servant and apostle

The first part of the declaration is faith in the unity of Allah and a constant theme
of the holy Quran . It is repeatedly mention as basic principle of Islam and all the
religion .The declaration attest not only to the oneness of Allah , but it also
signifies the oneness of Lordship , the sovereignty and authority in the universe
and in this world .The second part of the declaration “Mohammed is his slave and
apostle “ shows its inseparable relation to the first. After acknowledge Allah as
our master and sovereign , it is necessary to know that for this propose Allah
appointed Mohammed (bpbuh) as his messenger and sent Quran through him .
He is the model for every muslim without whom we would have no idea of how to
conform to the truth laid down by the first part of the declaration

Al salah – Prayer .2

: Importance of prayer

The importance of prayer in Islam is great as it is the foremost duty of the

muslims , and the chief of the pillars on which the structure of Islam stands .It is
. the distinguishing feature between a muslim and non- muslim
Observance of prayer five times a day is compulsory .Basically it consists of
recitation of the Holy Quran and glorification of Allah accompanied by various
bodily postures ,such as standing ,bowing , prostrating and sitting . Through these
postures , muslim express submission , adoration and humility to Allah

The self –discipline which is needed to perform salah regularly and at proper time
,to perform the ablution which precedes prayer and carry on these prayer in early
morning when sleep is so attractive , during the busy daylight hours when one is
preoccupied with work and other activities , and at night when one is tired and
want to sleep reaffirms the human being’s total dependence in on his creator and
. his position as his slave

Cleanliness – Methods and Conditions

A true muslim must be pure and clean in mind , body and heart . Islam enjoins
. strict cleanliness and purity on its followers

In the light of the Quranic verses and traditions , it become clear that a person
should be clean inwardly as well as outwardly at all times , especially at the time
of saying prayers . Inward purification is to rid the mind of all corrupt idea and evil
thoughts . Outward purification is attained by taking a bath or performing
. ablution

Filth

Apart from waste product discharged from the body which are regarded as
filth , other impurities recognized by Islam are semen , flowing blood , pus ,
swine and everything associated with it and alcohol . All these are included in the
definition of Najasat .If even small quantity of najasah fall in any article of food or
drink , the whole of it is polluted and become unclean and unfit for muslim to
use .If some najasa`h falls on the clothes , they must be removed and washed
trice , and squeezing the cloth each time .

Wudu or Ablution –Method and Conditions

Ablution or wudu is necessary for muslim who intent to pray . The water used
should be absolutely clean .The method of performing ablution is as follow :

1. Making the intention or (niyah).

2. Saying “In the name of Allah the Beneficent ,the Merciful “

‫باسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

3.Washing the right and the left hands up to the wrists trice.

4.Rinse the mouth trice .

5. Some water should be taken in right hand and sniffed in to nostrils trice and
then blow out .The left hand should be used for cleaning the nose.

6.The whole face should be washed by both hands trice .

7.The right arm and then the left arm up to the elbow should be washed trice .

8.Wip the head with wet hands from front to back once .

9.With wet hands clear the inner side of ears with forefingers and outer with
thumbs once.

10. Wash the feet , right and then left up to the ankles trice .

The ablution should be a continuous process without any break or interval. After
ablution , the declaration of faith should be recited

‫اشهد ان ال اله اال هللا وحده ال شريك له واشهد ان محمد عبده ورسوله‬

Tyamum or Dry Ablution

Tayamum Is granted because of illness , travelling and the non-availability of

water. It can be performed instead of ablution . The approved traditional method
of tyamum is as follow :

1. Making the intention or (niyah).

2. Saying “In the name of Allah the Beneficent ,the Merciful “

‫باسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬
3.Both hands should be struck on the pure and clean earth or sand .

4. The excessive dust blown off .

5.The both hands rubbed on the face .

6.Again ,both hands should be struck on the pure and clean earth or sand .

7. The excessive dust blown off .

8.The right arm then left the arm be rubbed up to the elbows.

A dry stone free from dust may also be used for this purpose .

Bath or Ghusul - Method and Conditions

The arabic word for bath is ghusul .In religious terminology , it is the act of
washing the whole body because of the following

1. the greater impurity ( al hadathe al akbar) which caused by , marital

relationship ,menstruation or the period of childbirth.

2. Other occasions like Fridays prayers , Al Eid prayers .

3. Convert to Islam .

The approved traditional method of Ghusul is as follows :

1. Making the intention or (niyah).

2. Saying “In the name of Allah the Beneficent ,the Merciful “‫باسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

3.Washing the right and the left hands up to the wrists trice.

4. Washing any impurity on any part of the body. Especially between the
umbilicus and knees .

5.Performng ablution .
6.Washing the whole body starting with head then the upper limbs ,the right then
left ,then the lower limbs ,the right then the left. Without touching the area
between the umbilicus and knees .

Ineffectual of ablution :

1. Passing urine , stool or wind

2. Deep sleep .