Six Articles of Faith
The six pillars of Īmān from the Ḥadīth of Jibrīl: belief in Allāh, angels, books, prophets, the Last Day, and Divine Decree.
The six articles of faith (أركان الإيمان, Arkān al-Īmān) are the foundational tenets of Islamic belief. They are defined most explicitly in the famous Ḥadīth of Jibrīl (the Angel Gabriel), narrated in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:
“Inform me about Īmān (faith).” The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ answered: “It is that you believe in Allāh and in His Angels and in His Books and in His Messengers and in the Last Day, and that you believe in the Divine Decree — both its good and its evil.”
These six beliefs form the heart of a Muslim’s worldview and underpin every act of worship and daily conduct.
1. Belief in Allah
The foundation of Islam: there is only one God, Allāh, who is unique, indivisible, and the only one worthy of worship. This is Tawḥīd — the Oneness of Allāh. It means that Allāh has no partners, no equals, no sons or daughters, and nothing resembles Him.
2. Belief in the Angels
Allāh created the angels (malāʾika) from light. They are created beings who perfectly obey Allāh and carry out His commands. Among the most well-known are: Jibrīl (Gabriel), who conveyed revelation; Mīkāʾīl (Michael), who oversees rainfall and sustenance; Isrāfīl, who will blow the trumpet at the end of time; and ʿIzrāʾīl (Azrael), the Angel of Death.
3. Belief in the Books
Allāh revealed His guidance to humanity through a series of scriptures, including the Tawrāh (Torah) of Mūsā, the Zabūr (Psalms) of Dāwūd, the Injīl (Gospel) of ʿĪsā, and — as the final, complete, and preserved revelation — the Qur’an sent to Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ. Muslims believe all earlier scriptures were subject to loss or alteration over time, but that the Qur’an remains preserved exactly as revealed.
4. Belief in the Prophets
Allāh sent prophets and messengers to every nation to convey His guidance. Muslims believe in all of them — from Ādam to Nūḥ, Ibrāhīm, Mūsā, ʿĪsā, and culminating in Muḥammad ﷺ, the Seal of the Prophets and the last of the messengers. No prophet will come after him.
5. Belief in the Day of Judgment
One of the most emphasised beliefs in the Qur’an: physical death is not the end. Every human being will be resurrected, their deeds weighed on the Mīzān (scales), and they will receive either eternal reward in Paradise (Janna) or punishment in the Fire (Jahannam).
6. Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar)
The belief that Allāh has knowledge of all things — past, present, and future — and that everything occurs by His will and decree. This includes both good and evil in the world. The Muslim’s response is not fatalism, but tawakkul (trust in Allāh) combined with effort and responsibility.
These six articles together form the complete picture of Īmān. As the Prophet ﷺ taught: “Īmān is an acknowledgement in the heart, a voicing with the tongue, and activity with the limbs.” Faith is not merely intellectual assent, but a living conviction that transforms how we think, speak, and act.
