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Muslim Students
THE PILLARS OF IMAAN
By: Syed Yasin Ali
Iman (Faith) is a very important part of a Muslim’s life. Muslims believe in the six articles of Faith. These beliefs are derived from the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). The Pillars of Iman are belief in Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala), belief in His angels, belief in His Books, belief in His Messengers, belief in the Hereafter, belief in the Divine Decree of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) and raising up for judgement on the Day of Resurrection after death. It is extremely important to believe in these six pillars as we learn from this verse of the Holy Qur’an:
O you who believe! Keep Faith in Allah and His Messenger and the Book (the Qur’an) which He revealed to His Messenger, and the Book which He revealed before, and whoever disbelieves in Allah, and His angels, and His Books, and His Messengers and the Last Day, then verily he has wandered far astray. (Surah an-Nisaa’, 4:136)
Belief in Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala)
Belief in Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) is the foundation of Iman. There is no one worthy of worship except Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala). He is our Creator, and He is not created. He is the Eternal and the Ever-Lasting without a beginning or an end. He sustains and protects all that exists. To Him belong the heavens and the earth and everything in between them. He is the All-Knower and nothing escapes His Wisdom. He does not tire or become weary. He is the Owner and complete Sovereign of all. He has complete control over everything and nothing happens except by His Permission. He is the Best Planner. Others may plan, but His is the way that will be. He is Pardoning and Forgiving. He forgives His servants out of his infinite Mercy. He is the Mighty. He is Unique; the Possessor of Majesty and Nobility.
Muslims believe in all the ninety-nine names and attributes of Allah Ta‘ala which are described by the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). Belief in Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) 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 (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) clearly explains Tawheed as we learn from the translation of Surah al-Ikhlas of the Holy Qur’an,
Say (O Beloved Prophet): He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternally Besought. He begets not, nor was He begotten; and there is none comparable unto Him. (Surah al-Ikhlas, 112:1-4)
Belief in His Angels
Angels are a creation of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) who have been created from pure light. They neither eat nor sleep. They are free from the weaknesses of the flesh. They don’t suffer from hunger, weakness, illness or disease. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) created them for the sole purpose of worshipping Him and obeying Him. They perform different and numerous tasks which have been assigned by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala). For example, Hadrat Jibreel (‘Alayhissalam) is the Angel of Revelation, Malak al-Mawt, the Angel of death and so on.
They are constantly engrossed in the remembrance of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala):
They celebrate His praises night and day, and they do not slacken. (Surah Al-Anbiya’, 21:20)
The angels are a special creation of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala).
All praise is for Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the Appointer of the angels – messengers flying on wings: two, three, and four. He increases in the creation what He pleases. Surely, Allah Has power over all things. (The Qur’an, Surah Al-Fatir, 35:1)
Belief in the angels is very important since they play a huge role in our affairs. They keep a record of our good and bad deeds. They attend gatherings of zikr held in the remembrance of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala).
Belief in His Divine Revelations
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) guided and helped different nations by sending a revelation that contained the laws that were to be observed by a particular nation. He sent these revelations through a Prophet (‘Alaihissalam) and also blessed him with the knowledge and the wisdom to teach the revelations to his people. These Books helped the people understand that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) was the only One worthy of worship, and that true success in this life and the Hereafter could only be achieved by worshiping Him alone, without any partner. They informed of life in the Hereafter, giving glad tidings to those who obeyed the Messengers, and warning of severe punishment for those who rejected their guidance.
Among the Books that were revealed by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) were the Suhuf (Scrolls) given to Prophet Ibrahim (‘Alayhissalam), the Zaboor (Psalms) revealed to Prophet Dawud (‘Alayhissalam), the Tawrah (Torah) revealed to Prophet Musa (‘Alayhissalam), the Injeel (Gospel) given to Prophet Isa (‘Alayhissalam) and the Holy Qur’an which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam).
Muslims believe in all of the Divine Revelations revealed by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala). However, we follow the Qur’an only as it is the Final Revelation and implement it in our daily lives, as commanded by Allah the Almighty to His Messenger, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam).
Belief in His Messengers (‘Alaihimussalam)
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) chose Prophets and Messengers (‘Alaihimussalam) in order to guide and bring people to Islam. He has sent all of the Messengers (‘Alaihimussalam) with the same Message, as we learn from the Qur’an:
And surely, We have sent to each community a Messenger (saying): Worship Allah and abandon the false gods. (Surah An-Nahl, 16:36)
There were many Prophets (‘Alaihimussalam) sent by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) but only twenty-five of them have been mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. The first Prophet sent by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) was Prophet Adam (‘Alayhissalam) and the last Prophet to be sent by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) was Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). He is known as the Seal of Prophethood since there will not be any Prophet after him.
The Messengers (‘Alaihimussalam) were worshippers of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) whom Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) honoured with the position of Prophethood. They were indeed the greatest men who ever lived as Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) says about Prophet Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him) in the Qur’an,
Indeed he was a thankful bondsman. (Surah Bani Israeel, 17:3).
Most of the Messengers (‘Alaihimussalam) were sent by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) to a particular nation or people but the Last Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) was sent for the whole of mankind. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) tells Prophet Muhammad to tell the people,
Say (O beloved Prophet): O mankind! Surely I am the Messenger of Allah unto all of you… (Surah Al-A‘raf, 7:158).
The Hereafter
We should also believe in the end of times and its signs. There are many future events that will happen at the end of times which are foretold in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith Shareef of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). One of the major events is the appearance of Dajjal (The Antichrist). Some of the other signs is the appearance of the Mahdi, Nabi Isa (‘Alayhissalam) and the appearance of Ya’juj and Ma’juj.
Muslims should believe in the Final Hour when Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) will terminate the creation and cause everything to die. We should believe in the Day of Resurrection in which Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) will raise mankind back to life and in the Day of Judgement when all of mankind will return to Him and have our deeds rewarded by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala).
On the Day of Judgement, there will be Scales set up to weigh the good and the bad deeds and Justice will be done as we learn from this verse of the Qur’an:
And We shall set up the Scales of Justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none shall be wronged in any matter and if (a deed) the weight of a mustard seed exists, We shall bring it and We are Sufficient to take Account. (Surah Al-Anbiya’, 21:47).
The good deeds will be placed on one side of the scale and the bad deeds will be placed on the other side of the scale. The weighing of the deeds will be followed by a revelation of the person’s record. The person who receives his record in the right hand will have an easy reckoning while the person who receives his record in the left hand will be thrown into hell.
Muslims also believe in the existence of Paradise and Hell. Paradise is prepared for the servants of Allah only. Paradise has been described in the Qur’an. The translation of one relevant verse is:
Gardens of perpetual bliss – they shall enter them, as well as the righteous among their fathers, and their spouses and their decendants. And angels shall enter (to welcome them) from every gate. (Surah Al-Ra‘ad, 13:23).
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) has mentioned many beautiful descriptions about Paradise but the most important aspect is that life in Paradise will never end. And the greatest happiness of those in Paradise will be achieved when they behold Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala).
Hell is prepared for the sinners and for those who have rejected Faith in Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala). It is filled with many kinds of punishments. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) warns his creatures beforehand about hell in the Holy Qur’an. This is a translation of one relevant verse:
Therefore I warn you of the flaming hell-fire. (Surah Al-Layl, 92:14).
The main goal of every Muslim is to enter Jannah (Paradise). We know the description of Jannah from the Holy Qur’an and the Blessed Hadith Shareef, but we have not seen it. We can only imagine Paradise through our analogy. But the reality of Jannah is far beyond description. According to a Hadith Qudsi, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) says that He has prepared for his servants, “what no eye has seen and no ear has heard and has never occurred to a human heart.” (Sahih Al-al-Bukhari).
Jannah is not just limited to enjoyments but it also contains the greatest pleasure of all, the pleasure of being closer to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala).
But Paradise comes with a price. The price of Jannah is true Faith in Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) and in His beloved Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). Muslims should believe in “La ilaaha Illallah, Muhammad ur-Rasulullah” (none is to be worshiped but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) with all their hearts, and be prepared to sacrifice all that they have for Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala).
Belief in the Divine Decree
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) has decreed and ordained in due measures everything that has happened until this present day and everything that will happen from this day until the Last Hour comes. There is nothing that can interfere with the Decree that has been issued by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala). Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) has recorded every event that will ever occur. He has recorded everything in the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz), which contains the records of all creations as we learn from this verse of the Holy Qur’an,
Know you not that Allah Knows all that is in the heavens and on the earth? Indeed it is (all) in the Book. (The Qur’an, Surah Al-Hajj, 22:70).
A Muslim believes that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) has predestined all things and events (Qadar). He also believes in His Decree (Qadaa’) and His Will. Nothing in the universe can occur without the Knowledge of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala). A Muslim further believes that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) is Just in what He has predestined and in His Decree, and Wise in all of His actions. Whatever He desires, it occurs and whatever He does not desire, it doesn’t occur. There is no power or any movement except by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala).
Rabi‘ Awwal 1422, June 2001