The 6 Articles of Faith

Known as Arkan al-Iman (Pillars of Faith). They appear in the famous Hadith of Jibreel, also called Hadith al-Jibreel. In this hadith, narrated by ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), the basic principles of Islam are clearly explained.

Hadith al-Jibreel

حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ: بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ، إِذْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ………فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ، قَالَ: «أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللهِ، وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ، وَكُتُبِهِ، وَرُسُلِهِ، وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ، وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ»، قَالَ: صَدَقْتَ……….ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي: «يَا عُمَرُ أَتَدْرِي مَنِ السَّائِلُ؟» قُلْتُ: اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ، قَالَ: «فَإِنَّهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَتَاكُمْ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ دِينَكُمْ»

Umar ibn al-Khattab (R) said that we were sitting by the Prophet ﷺ and the man came to us……. And asked the Prophet ﷺ  “Tell me about belief (iman).”The Prophet ﷺ  replied, “It is to believe in Allah; His Angels; His Books; His Messengers; the Last Day; and in destiny—its good and bad.”…….and the Prophet ﷺ told me do you know this man and I replied Allah and his Messenger know the best and he ﷺ replied indeed he is Jibreel he came to teach you your religion. [1]

From this hadith, we learn that belief has six pillars. Each one is essential for every Muslim. They are described as follows:
1.     Absolute and total belief and acceptance in the Oneness of Allah.
2.    Absolute and total belief and acceptance in the Angels of Allah.
3.     Absolute and total belief and acceptance in all the revealed books of Allah.
4.     Absolute and total belief and acceptance in all the appointed Prophets of Allah.
5.     Absolute and total belief and acceptance in the concept of the Hereafter, Paradise, and Hell-Fire
6.     Absolute and total belief and acceptance in the ‘Qadr’ or Divine Decrees of Allah.

These six pillars form the foundation of a Muslim’s faith. Without them, Iman is incomplete.

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