Basic Islamic Beliefs (Bunyadi Aqayed)

 

 # **Basic Islamic Beliefs (Bunyadi Aqayed)**

 *An In-Depth Article with Qur’anic Verses and Hadith References*

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 ## **Introduction**

 Islam is not merely a set of rituals but a comprehensive way of life.  Its foundation rests upon a firm belief system called **Aqeedah (faith)**.  The **basic Islamic beliefs** are the core principles every Muslim must believe in.  Without belief in these fundamentals, no act of worship or righteousness is accepted.

 Allah commands in the Qur'an:

 > **“O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger…”**

 > (Surah An-Nisa 4:136)

 Belief in these fundamental doctrines is not optional; they are obligatory upon every male and female Muslim, sane and mature.  These are six pillars of faith (Iman) derived from the **Hadith of Jibreel (Gabriel)**, which we will discuss in detail.

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 ## **The Six Articles of Faith (Bunyadi Aqayed)**

 ### **1.  Belief in Allah (Iman bil-Allah)**

 This is the most important pillar of faith.  It means to believe that:

 * Allah alone is the **One and Only God**.

 * He is the **Creator**, **Sustainer**, and **Sole Ruler** of the universe.

 * He has **no partners**, no children, no parents.

 * He is **Unique** in His Essence and Attributes.

 > **"Say, He is Allah, \[who is] One.  Allah, our steadfast refuge. He neither begets nor is born.  Nor is there to Him any equivalent." **

 > (Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4)

 Believing in Allah also includes belief in all of His **Names and Attributes** such as:

 * **Al-Hayy (The Ever-Living)**

 * **Al-Qadir (The All-Powerful)**

 * **Al-Aleem (The All-Knowing)**

 * **As-Sami’ (The All-Hearing)**

 * **Al-Basir (The All-Seeing)**

 > **"And the best names belong to Allah; therefore, invoke Him by them." **

 > (Surah Al-A'raf 7:180)

 ### **2.  Belief in the Angels (Iman bil-Mala'ika)**

 Angels are created from **light**.  They are obedient servants of Allah, devoid of free will, and cannot disobey His commands.

 > **"They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded." **

 > (Surah At-Tahrim 66:6)

 Famous angels include:

 * Jibreel (Gabriel) – Provides insight * **Mika'il (Michael)** – In charge of rain and sustenance

 * **Israfil** – Will blow the Trumpet on the Day of Judgment

 * **Malik-ul-Mawt (Azrael)** – Angel of death

 * **Munkar and Nakir** – Questioning in the grave

 * **Raqib and Atid** – Record human deeds

 Belief in the angels is essential as they are part of the unseen world.

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 ### **3.  Belief in the Divine Books (Iman bil-Kutub)**

 Allah has revealed divine scriptures to His messengers for the guidance of mankind.  Among these are:

 * Tawrah (Torah) was given to Moses, the Prophet. * **Zabur (Psalms)** – revealed to Prophet Dawud (David)

 * **Injil (Gospel)** – revealed to Prophet Isa (Jesus)

 * **Qur’an** – revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

 > **"Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light..." **

 > (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:44)

 > **"It is He who sent down to you the Book in truth, confirming what was before it..." **

 > (Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:3)

 The **Qur’an** is the final, unaltered and preserved book, meant for all of humanity until the Last Day.

 > **"Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian." **

 > (Surah Al-Hijr 15:9)

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 ### **4.  Belief in the Prophets (Iman bil-Rusul)**

 Allah sent prophets to every nation to convey His message.

 > **"And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, \[saying], 'Worship Allah and avoid Taghut (false gods).'" **

 > (Surah An-Nahl 16:36)

 Some famous prophets include:

 * **Adam** (the first human and prophet)

 * **Noah (Nuh)**

 * **Ibrahim (Abraham)**

 * **Musa (Moses)**

 * **Isa (Jesus)**

 * **Muhammad ﷺ** – The final and last prophet

 > **"Muhammad is not the father of \[any] one of your men, but \[he is] the Messenger of Allah and Seal of the Prophets." **

 > (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:40)

 It is necessary to believe in all prophets without discrimination. ---

 ### **5.  Belief in the Last Day (Iman bil-Yawm al-Akhir)**

 The Islamic faith is centered on the concept of "Life after Death." Every soul will die, and then be resurrected for judgment.

 > **"Every soul will taste death.  Then to Us will you be returned." **

 > (Surah Al-Ankabut 29:57)

 Belief in the Hereafter includes:

 * Life in the grave (Barzakh)

 * Resurrection (Ba’ath)

 * Gathering (Hashr)

 * Judgment (Hisab)

 * Bridge (Sirat)

 * Scale (Meezan)

 * Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam)

 > **"Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it." **

 > (99:7-8, Surah Az-Zalzalah) ---

 ### **6.  Faith in the Decree of God (Iman bil-Qadar)** It is to believe that everything happens by the **Will**, **Knowledge**, and **Command** of Allah – whether good or evil.

 > **"Indeed, We created everything by predestination." **

 > (Surah Al-Qamar 54:49)

 > **"No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being – indeed that, for Allah, is easy." **

 > (Surah Al-Hadid 57:22)

 Belief in Qadar includes belief in:

 * Allah’s **Knowledge** of all things

 * Allah’s **Writing** of all destinies

 * Allah’s **Will** and Decree

 * Allah’s **Creation** of everything

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 ## Summary of Aqeedah from Jibreel's Hadith The Hadith of Jibreel (Gabriel) reported in **Sahih Muslim (Hadith 8)** is a foundational text for Islamic beliefs.

 When the angel Jibreel came in human form and asked the Prophet ﷺ:

 > **"Inform me about Iman (faith)." **

 The Prophet ﷺ replied:

 > **"It is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in Qadar – both its good and its evil." **

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 ## **The Importance of Aqeedah (Faith)**

 Aqeedah is the foundation of a Muslim's life.  All acts of worship and good deeds are meaningful only if they stem from **correct belief**.

 > **"We will surely grant them a good life": "Whoever does righteous deeds, male or female, while being a believer." **

 > (Surah An-Nahl 16:97)

 Without correct belief, actions are meaningless:

 > **"And We will regard what they have done of deeds and make them as dust dispersed." **

 > (Surah Al-Furqan 25:23)

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 ## **Consequences of Corrupt Beliefs**

 A person may enter disbelief (kufr) or misguidance if they hold false or heretical beliefs. > **"Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers – never would the whole capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would \[seek to] ransom himself with it." **

 > (Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:91)

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 ## **Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah Creed (Sunni Islam)**

 The following are the tenets of those who follow the Sunnah and the majority: 1.  Belief in the **oneness of Allah** and His Names and Attributes without denial or distortion.

 2.  Love and respect for all **Sahabah (Companions)**.

 3.  Finality of Prophethood with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

 4.  Acknowledgment of **Imam Abu Hanifa**, **Imam Malik**, **Imam Shafi’i**, and **Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal** as leaders in jurisprudence.

 5.  Belief in the **Day of Judgment**, **Heaven**, and **Hell** as eternal abodes.

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 ## **Poetic Reflection on Iman**

 > **With faith in heart and truth in deed,**

 > **We stand as Muslims, freed from greed. **

 > **To Allah we pray, to Him we bow,**

 > **His Word is true, then, now, and how. **

 > "Believe in destiny and bright angels," > **In books divine that give us light. **

 > **In prophets sent to guide our way,**

 > **In judgment sure on final day. **

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 ## **Conclusion**

 The **basic beliefs of Islam** form the foundation of a Muslim’s spiritual and worldly life.  Without sound Aqeedah, worship is meaningless.  These beliefs are not mere theories; they shape behavior, ethics, and goals of life.  A true Muslim continuously strengthens their belief through knowledge, reflection, and righteous actions.

 May Allah keep us steadfast on the **correct Aqeedah**, protect us from misguidance, and grant us a place in **Jannah** with the Prophets and the righteous.  Ameen.

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 ## **References (Hawalaat)**

 1.  **Qur’an** – Surah Al-Ikhlas (112), Surah An-Nisa (4), Surah Al-Ahzab (33), Surah Al-Hadid (57), Surah Al-Qamar (54), Surah An-Nahl (16), Surah Aal-e-Imran (3), Surah Al-Ma’idah (5), Surah Az-Zalzalah (99), Surah Al-Furqan (25)

 2.  **Sahih Muslim** – Hadith of Jibreel (Hadith No.  8)

 3.  **Sahih Bukhari** – Kitab al-Iman

 4.  **Sharh Aqeedah Tahawiyyah** – Imam Ibn Abi al-Izz al-Hanafi

 5.  **Aqeedah al-Nasafiyyah** – Imam Abu Hafs an-Nasafi

 6.  **Kitab at-Tawheed** – Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (for basic creed explanations)

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