As'salamu'Alaikom, Muslimahs!
Iman (faith) is a very important part of a Muslim’s life. Muslims believe in 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).
Tawhid - Oneness
Belief in Allah is the foundation of Iman. There is no one worthy of worship except Allah. He is our Creator, but 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 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 clearly explains Tawheed in the Holy Qur’an as He says, Say: 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)
Mala'ikah - Angels
Angels are a creation of Allah 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 created them for the sole purpose of worshipping Him and obeying Him. They perform different and numerous tasks which have been assigned by Allah. For example, Jibreel Alayhissalam is the Angel of Revelation, Malak al-Mawt, the Angel of death and so on.
Kutub - Divinely Revealed Books
Allah 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 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 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 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.
Nabi and Rusul - Prophets and Messengers
Allah chose Prophets and Messengers in order to guide and bring people to Islam. He has sent all of the Messengers with the same Message, as He says in the Qur’an: Surely, We have sent to each nation a Messenger (saying): Worship Allah and abandon the false gods. (Surah An-Nahl 16:36) There were many Prophets sent by Allah but only twenty-five of them have been mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. The first Prophet sent by Allah was Prophet Adam (Alayhissalam) and the last prophet to be sent by Allah was Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). He is known as the Seal of Prophethood since there will not be any Prophet after him.
Qiyâmah - Judgment Day
Muslims should believe in the Final Hour when Allah will terminate the creation and cause everything to die. We should believe in the Day of Resurrection in which Allah 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. We should also believe in the Last Hour and its signs. There are many future events that will happen in the Last Hour which are foretold in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith Shareef of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam).
Qadr - Predestination
Allah 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. Allah 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. Allah says in 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 22:70).
A Muslim believes in Allah’s predestination of all things and events (Qadaa), His Decree (Qadr) and His Will. Nothing in the universe can occur without the knowledge of Allah. A Muslim further believes that Allah is Just in His predestination and 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.