Foundational Beliefs
7th Century CE - Present
19 articles: 8 theologys, 8 practices, 3 texts
What Muslims believe and how they worship: the oneness of God, the angels, divine decree, the Day of Judgment and the realities of the unseen; the Quran, the hadith and the Sunnah; and the Five Pillars with the observances built on them — prayer, fasting and Ramadan, zakat, the Hajj and the Umrah, the two Eids, Ashura and the Hijri calendar. These subjects have no single era. They were established in the Prophet's lifetime and have been held and practised in every century since, which is why they are gathered here rather than filed under a period.
Al-Lawh al-Mahfuz: The Preserved Tablet in Islamic Theology
The Preserved Tablet, in Islamic theology the divine record in which Allah's knowledge and decrees are inscribed. Named in the Qur'an and elaborated in the hadith literature, it bears on divine omniscience, predestination and the nature of revelation.
Allah
Allah is the Arabic name for the One God in Islam: the eternal, unique Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. Belief in Him is the foundation of Islamic faith, expressed in Tawhid, the testimony of faith, and the divine names and attributes.
Angels in Islam
Angels (mala'ikah) are beings created from light who hold a central place in Islamic theology. Belief in them is one of the six articles of faith; the Quran describes them as servants of God who transmit revelation, record deeds, and act in death and the afterlife.
Ashura: The Tenth of Muharram
Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Sacred for its connection to Prophet Musa's deliverance and transformed by the martyrdom of Imam Husayn at Karbala in 680 CE, it is observed across all Islamic traditions.
Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Din)
The Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Din) is a fundamental article of Islamic faith — the final day when humanity is resurrected and held accountable before God. The doctrine shapes Islamic ethics, theology, and spirituality, framing the ultimate meaning of human actions.
Eid al-Adha - The Festival of Sacrifice
Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah. Celebrated during Hajj on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, Muslims sacrifice animals and distribute meat to family, friends, and the poor.
Five Pillars of Islam (Arkan al-Islam)
The Five Pillars of Islam are the five obligatory acts of Muslim practice: the shahada, the five daily prayers, the zakat, the fast of Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Mecca for those able to make it. They are named together in the Hadith of Gabriel.
Hadith - The Prophetic Traditions
Hadith are the recorded sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad, serving as the second primary source of Islamic guidance after the Quran. These prophetic traditions provide detailed explanations of Islamic teachings and serve as practical examples for Muslim life and conduct.
Hajj - The Sacred Pilgrimage
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, a sacred pilgrimage to Mecca that every capable Muslim must perform once in their lifetime. This spiritual journey retraces Prophet Abraham's footsteps, uniting millions of Muslims in worship and devotion to Allah.
Predestination (Qadar) in Islam
Predestination (Qadar) is the sixth article of Islamic faith, encompassing divine foreknowledge, the divine decree, and the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility. It drove major early theological debates, producing the Ash'ari and Maturidi Sunni schools.
Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr - The Month of Fasting and Festival of Breaking the Fast
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the holiest period in Islam, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. This month of spiritual discipline culminates in Eid al-Fitr, celebrating the completion of the fast.
Sharia - Islamic Law and Guidance
Sharia is the comprehensive legal and moral framework of Islam, derived from the Quran and Sunnah. It encompasses ethics, spirituality, and social justice, aiming to promote human welfare and establish a just society based on divine guidance.
Sidrat al-Muntaha: The Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary
The Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary, named in the Qur'an and described in the hadith as standing in the highest heaven, at the limit beyond which no created being passes. The Prophet Muhammad reached it during the Night Journey and Ascension.
Sunnah - The Prophetic Way
The Sunnah represents the teachings, practices, and sayings of Prophet Muhammad, serving as the second primary source of Islamic guidance after the Quran. It provides practical examples of how to implement Quranic principles in daily life.
Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism)
Tawheed is the fundamental doctrine of Islamic monotheism, asserting the absolute oneness and uniqueness of Allah. It encompasses three categories: Oneness of Lordship, Oneness of Worship, and Oneness of Names and Attributes. This concept forms the foundation of Islamic faith and practice.
The Islamic Calendar - Hijri Calendar System
The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar of twelve months, four of them sacred, instituted as an era by the caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab and counted from the Hijra of 622 CE. It governs Islamic worship, festivals, and historical dating.
The Quran (Al-Qur'an)
The holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the direct word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel (Jibril) over 23 years. The Quran serves as the primary source of Islamic law, guidance, and spiritual instruction for Muslims worldwide.
Umrah - The Lesser Pilgrimage to Mecca
Umrah is the lesser pilgrimage to Mecca, performable year-round unlike Hajj. It consists of ihram, tawaf, sa'i and the cutting of hair. The schools of law differ on whether it is obligatory once in a lifetime or strongly recommended.
Zakat - The Third Pillar of Islam
Zakat is the obligatory charitable giving that constitutes the third pillar of Islam. A fixed percentage of wealth given annually to specified recipients, it purifies wealth, supports the needy, and embodies Islamic principles of economic justice.