Islam: Six Articles of Faith (PDF)

# SECTION EIGHT: Six Articles of Faith ## Chapter 2: Angels Belief in the existence of angels is an article of Islamic faith. The non-believers considered angels to be deities and Allah's daughters. This article of faith purifies the belief in the unity of Allah. The Holy Prophet said that angel...

# SECTION EIGHT: Six Articles of Faith ## Chapter 2: Angels Belief in the existence of angels is an article of Islamic faith. The non-believers considered angels to be deities and Allah's daughters. This article of faith purifies the belief in the unity of Allah. The Holy Prophet said that angels have no share in Allah's Divinity. To worship them and to ask for their help is degrading and debasing for man. On the very first day of Adam's creation, Allah told the angels to prostrate before Adam and granted him greater knowledge than they possessed. Allah conveyed His revelations to prophets including Hazrat Muhammad through an angel, Hazrat Jibrael. In the Holy Quran, angels are spoken of as 'messengers'. The Quran says: "He doth send down His angels with inspiration of His command to such of His servants as He pleaseth ...." (16:2) Because of the importance of angels as messengers of Divine revelation to prophets, belief in them is a fundamental article of faith in Islam. Angels act as Allah's agents and serve Him in many ways. They are created of light and unlike jinn and men have not been endowed with a free will. They are absolutely obedient to Allah's commands and are engaged in worship and service to Him. They are sent to protect men, to administer Allah's punishments, to carry His messages and to perform various other functions. Angels are heavenly beings not visible to ordinary mortals and belong to the category of the unseen, unless they appear in human form. Angles brought messages from Allah to Hazrat Zakaria and to Hazrat Maryam before whom they appeared in human form. Angels also appeared in human form before Hazrat Ibrahim to give him the glad tidings of the birth of a son. Hazrat Lut was also warned by angels in human form of the impending doom of his wicked people and told to leave the town that was going to be destroyed. Angels have been given the necessary qualities and powers to carry out their duties by Allah. They are not His daughters nor are they objects of worship. They have no knowledge except what Allah has taught them; they obey Allah and act on His commands. They prostrated before Adam when Allah commanded them to do so. Angels glorify and praise Allah. They never get tired. They do not need sleep, nor do they require the things needed by human beings. Angels have various functions and duties. They act as Allah's messengers but do not descend except by Allah's command. They strengthen the hearts of the righteous believers and are their protectors. At the Battle of Badr, they helped and strengthened the hearts of the believers and put terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. They implore forgiveness for the believers but they can offer no intercession for them. They send blessings on the Holy Prophet and the believers. Angels are the guardians of Hell-fire. They will welcome in Heaven all those who obey Allah's commands and will throw the wrong doers into Hell. The name of the angel incharge of Paradise is Rizwan while Malik rules over Hell. Angels record man's words and deeds. Two angels who record all his deeds upto the moment of his death attend each human. This record will be presented to him on the Day of Judgment. They are called the 'respected recorders.' The Quran says: "But verily, over you (are appointed angels) to protect you - kind and honourable, writing down (your deeds)." (82:10-11) The two angels, called Munkar and Nakir question the dead in their graves. There are many angels, the prominent among them are: 1. Hazrat Jibrael: He is the chief among the angels. He is said to have revealed the Quran to the Holy Prophet and also brought revelations to other prophets before him. He is also the messenger through whom Allah speaks to His prophets. 2. Hazrat Izrael, also called the angel of death is responsible for taking our souls upon death. 3. Hazrat Israfil who will blow the trumpet at the time of the end of the world, that is, on the Day of Judgement. 4. Hazrat Mikail: He is charged to look after the universe, movement of the stars, planets and galaxies and the forces of nature. He is responsible for rain and providing provision to people at Allah's command. ## Chapter 3: Revealed Books Human beings are the servants of Allah and His agents on earth who need guidance to carry out their various duties and responsibilities. This guidance is contained in the books of revelation sent to mankind through prophets and messengers. Belief in the reality of Allah's guidance to mankind in the form of revealed books is an article of faith in Islam. Allah, who has created for man all things that are on the earth and has made subservient to him all that is in the heavens and on the earth, has provided everything for man's physical needs, has also provided him with spiritual guidance. Revelation is the name given to the means of communication employed by Allah for conveying His command and messages to prophets and apostles. Revelation is not due to the prophet's own thoughts, intelligence or knowledge. It is not acquired through study or learning nor is it earned through labour but it is a special gift from Allah. About the various methods employed by Allah for communicating His commandments to His apostles, the Quran says: "It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil or by the sending of a messenger to reveal with Allah's permission what Allah wills: ...." (42:51) The guidance sent by Allah from time to time to His messengers was basically the same. The principles of religion relating to the Unity of Allah, His Attributes, prayer, belief in prophethood, the Day of Judgement and the concept of reward and punishment for one's deeds in the life Hereafter are common to all the revealed books. However, as the needs of the people differed in different periods, the details of the laws given in these books also varied. Each of the previous apostles and prophets was sent to some particular nation, people or tribe and therefore, the revelation sent to each was intended for the guidance of his people. It was not intended to be universal because humanity had not yet reached the stage of readiness for such a comprehensive and final guidance from Allah. This is clear from what the Quran states concerning the messages given to various prophets. Moreover, by the time of the Holy Prophet, the books revealed upto that time had either been totally lost, or their original message distorted. Allah therefore sent a final and complete revelation in the form of the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran is the only revealed scripture, which has been preserved to the present time in its exact, original form and language. Although parts of the earlier revealed books still survive, they are so intermixed with additions and alterations that it is very difficult to determine what part of them actually forms the original message sent by Allah. The Holy Quran does not mention all the prophets nor all the revealed books. It only mentions revelations sent to Hazrat Nuh, Hazrat Ibrahim, Hazrat Ismail, Hazrat Ishaq, Hazrat Daud, Hazrat Musa, Hazrat Isa and the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The revealed books mentioned by name in the Holy Quran are: 1. Sahifas revealed to Hazrat Adam, Hazrat Ibrahim and other prophets. 2. Zabur granted to Hazrat Daud. 3. Taurat revealed to Hazrat Musa. About it, the Quran says: "And before this was the book of Moses as a guide and a mercy ......" (46:12) According to the Holy Quran, the book revealed to Hazrat Musa contained guidance, Allah's commands and warnings for the Bani Israel who failed to act according to its teachings. They distorted and perverted Allah's word. No copy of the original Taurat is now available. 4. Injeel, granted to Hazrat Isa. About this book, the Quran says: "And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the law that had come before him: We sent him the gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the law that had come before him: a guidance and an adomonition to those who fear Allah." (5:46) The Injeel confirmed the Taurat and contained guidance and light for the Bani Israel. According to the Holy Quran, Allah took a covenant from those who call themselves Christians, but they forgot the message that was sent to them and failed to act according to its teachings. 5. The Holy Quran is the last and the most comprehensive book revealed by Allah to His last messenger, Hazrat Muhammad, through Hazrat Jibrael. It was not sent down by Allah all at once. Its revelation to the Holy Prophet was spread over a period of twenty-three years. The Holy Quran confirms the previous revelations, and points out and corrects some of the errors that had crept into the earlier revealed books. Thus, the Holy Quran perfects and completes Divine Revelation. The Quran speaks of the attributes of Allah and His power, of man's relationship and responsibility to Him, of the certainty of the coming of the Last Day and the life hereafter. It contains instructions about the principles of Islam and the method of worship and guides mankind to the right path. It lays down moral and ethical principles to govern all aspects of human life, both individual and collective. It narrates the stories of some of the earlier prophets and nations as an example and encouragement to the Prophet and his community and as a warning to those who deny Allah. Its main theme, repeated again and again is the reality of Allah's Supreme Power and man's position as His slave and vicegerent who is accountable to Him in everything. About the Holy Quran Allah says: "This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah; who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer and spend out of what we have provided for them; and who believe in the revelation sent to thee and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter; They are on (true guidance) from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper." (2:2-5) Quran is undoubtedly the only revealed book that remains in the same form today as it was fourteen hundred years ago. This is because Allah Himself promised to safeguard it from corruption and change. Allah says: "We have, without doubt, sent down the message and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)" (15:9) The Holy Quran is a book for reading, reciting and learning. In fact, prayers cannot be complete without the recitation of some parts of the Quran. The Holy Prophet laid great emphasis on memorizing the Holy Quran. There is authentic proof to show that as soon as the Holy Prophet received a revelation, he would ask his scribes to write it down. The Quran was committed to memory as well as written down during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet. The Quran was complete with the same arrangement of chapters and verses that we have now, at the time of the death of the Holy Prophet. The Quran is not only a blessed book, but also a complete code of life. We must, therefore, study it with the object of acting in all matters according to its teachings. We must mould our lives according to the guidance contained in the Holy Quran and abstain from whatever is against its teachings. The success of human beings on this earth and in the life after death depends on obedience to the Quranic teachings and principles. These are as valid and binding today as when they were first revealed. Though the style and mode of human life have changed, the ultimate realities, the nature of good and evil and man's own nature are unalterable and are not affected by the passing of time or changes in the world. ## Chapter 4: Prophets Belief in Allah's messengers and prophets is an article of faith in Islam. The word prophet - Nabi - denotes one who is very near to Allah through the total surrender of his entire being to Him and who receives revelations from Him which serve as a source of guidance for men. If the revelation is in the form of a scripture, the prophet is, in addition, a messenger - Rasul - as well. Islam holds that a prophet possesses the following characteristics: he is absolutely truthful, he is free of all sins, he delivers the messages from Allah without any omission or concealment and he has the highest order of intelligence and mental ability. According to the Quran, all the apostles and prophets sent by Allah were men, had wives and children and were mortal. All of them taught in the language of the people to whom they were sent. At the same time, the Quran tells us that they were good and truthful, Allah favoured them above all others, chose them and guided them and conferred His grace upon them. He gave them the Book and prophethood and sent them for the guidance of their people. The Holy Quran insists that the prophets were raised to be obeyed and followed; they called their followers to profess and follow the Divine code of rules to regulate their life. There are numerous verses in the Quran in which emphasis is laid on obedience to the prophets and following their example. It says: "We sent not a messenger, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of Allah." (4:64) The unbelievers scoffed at them and persecuted them but they bore it patiently. Some of them were endowed with more gifts than the others, but Muslims are asked to believe in all of them, to respect them and to make no distinction amongst them. The Quran says: ".....We make no distinction...... between one and another of His messengers." (2:285) The Quran tells us that Allah always helped His apostles and prophets and punished and destroyed the wicked non-believers. The apostles and prophets will be questioned on the Day of Judgement about the response of their people to their mission. Allah sent prophets to mankind from amongst themselves for their guidance and reformation because a man can best serve as an example and a guide for his own race. The message could have been conveyed by the angels, but they belong to a different class of beings and cannot serve as models for men. The Quran says: "If there were settled on earth, angels walking about in peace and quiet, we should certainly have sent them down from the heavens an angel for a messenger." (17:95) All the prophets who preceded Hazrat Muhammad were sent with a message of warning and guidance to a particular people. None of their messages was intended to be universal, until the last messenger, Hazrat Muhammad was entrusted with the final and complete guidance for the whole of humanity for all times to come. The Quran says that Allah sent a warner and guide to every nation and it mentions the names of many of them. According to a tradition of the Holy Prophet, their number is said to be 1,24,000. (Islam Beliefs and Teachings by Ghulam Sarwar) At the beginning of the line was Hazrat Adam, who was also the first human being. Allah bestowed prophethood on him and gave him guidance for himself and his descendants. The first human beings on earth were true believers in one Allah, and submitted to His guidance. But, gradually over a period of time, they became idolators, until Allah raised a new messenger from amongst them to recall them to the truth. The Quran mentions Hazrat Nuh, who brought a message of warning to his people. They refused to listen and were destroyed by the flood. The next major prophet whose history is narrated in the Quran is Hazrat Ibrahim. Although he grew up among idolators, he surrendered himself to Allah with such total submission that Allah made him an example for people of all times. From Hazrat Ibrahim came a long line of prophets through his two sons - Hazrat Ismail and Hazrat Ishaq. From Hazrat Ishaq a number of prophets came which include Hazrat Yaqoob, Hazrat Yusuf, Hazrat Musa, Hazrat Daud, Hazrat Sulaiman, Hazrat Yahya and Hazrat Isa. Hazrat Ismail was the ancestor of the Arabs and Hazrat Muhammad was among his descendants. Many prophets came to this world. The last in the line of prophets is the Holy Prophet Muhammad who is termed as "the seal of the prophets." The Quran says that the appearance of the Holy Prophet was foretold by previous prophets. His distinguishing feature was that he confirmed the truth of all the prophets that preceded him. He not only conveyed the message revealed to him, but also explained and acted upon it himself and after demonstration, urged the people to follow it for their own benefit. The Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad is distinguished in many ways: 1. It is universal, that means that the Holy Prophet was not sent for any particular country or community but for the whole world and the entire mankind. Allah says in the Holy Quran: "We have not sent thee but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings and warning them (against sin)....." (34:28) And the Holy Prophet also confirmed this: "Every prophet who preceded me was sent especially to his own people but I have been sent as a Prophet for all mankind." 2. The Prophethood of the Holy Prophet is eternal. With him, the chain of revelation and Prophethood has come to an end. The Quran says: ".....But he is the messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets."(33:40) The Holy Prophet said: "Whenever a prophet perished, another prophet followed him and surely there will be no prophet after me." (Bukhari) 3. The religion and the Divine law which the Holy Prophet brought is perfect in all respects. This distinction was not enjoyed by any other religion. The Quran says: "This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." (5:3) Through the Holy Prophet a perfect law was given to suit the requirements of all ages and for all countries and this law that is, the Holy Quran was guarded against all corruptions. The life of the Holy Prophet is an explanation of the Holy Quran as confirmed by his wife Hazrat Aisha: "His morals are the Quran." It means that while the Holy Quran was the command, the Prophet's life was an example of the teachings of the Quran. The Quran compares his personality to the sun, while the previous prophets were like lamps. Just as the light of the sun cannot be substituted by any other light and is universal, similarly, after the advent of the Holy Prophet, no necessity is felt of any other prophet to follow him. ## Chapter 5: Life After Death Belief in life after death, which pertains to the Day of Judgement, bodily resurrection, Heaven and Hell, is one of the articles of faith in Islam. The word, generally, used in the Quran to indicate the life after death is Al-Akhirah. The Holy Quran gives great importance to this belief, placing it next in importance to faith in Allah at many places in the Holy Quran. It says ".. Any who believe in Allah and the last Day and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord......" (2:62). A man's life on this earth ends with his death, after which another life begins in the state of Barzakh, which is an intermediate state in which the soul is placed after death till the resurrection. The state of grave is therefore, the same state as that of Barzakh. Immediately after death the lesser Judgement or Qiyamat-e-Sughra takes place, after which the righteous are spoken of as tasting the fruit of their good deeds while the evil doers have to taste the evil consequences of their wrong deeds. In this connection, a companion reported that the Holy Prophet said; "When a man dies, his abode (in next life) is brought before him morning and evening, in Paradise if he is one of the inmates of Paradise, and in fire if he is one of the inmates of Hell." (Muslim) The Quran describes the events of the last day in a very clear and awe-inspiring language. It says that at a time known only to Allah this world will be brought to an end with a deafening noise. The earth will split apart and become a level stretch, the mountains will crumble to dust and will fly here and there like wool. The sun will be folded up, the moon will be in darkness, the stars will become dim and fall, the oceans will boil over and burst forth. All landmarks on this earth will be lost, the world will cease to be in the form we see now. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. The Quran Says: "One day, the earth will be changed to a different earth and so will be the Heavens" (14:48) All those who are alive on earth at that time will die. Then the bodies of the dead will be raised from their graves and rejoined with their souls. All men will then stand before Allah to give an account of their actions in this world. They will be given their book of deeds which they will be asked to read. The good will be given their record in their right hand, while the sinners in their left hand or from behind their backs. The Quran says: "Then he who is given his record in his right hand, soon will his account be taken by an easy reckoning, and he will turn to his people, rejoicing! But he who is given his record behind his back soon will he cry for perdition, and he will enter a blazing fire." (84:7-12) No injustice will be done on the Day of Judgement. People's hands feet and tongues will bear witness against them. There will be no bargaining, no friend-ship or intercession. Parents, children, spouses and relatives will be of no avail. The Quran says: 'At length, when there comes the deafening noise that Day shall a man flee from his own brother, and from his mother and his father, and from his wife and his children. Each one of them, that Day, will have enough concern (of his own) to make him indifferent to the others: (80: 33-37) Those who rejected Allah and ignored His guidance and the warning conveyed through His Messengers and Prophets will be thrown into Hell, a terrible and fearsome abode which the Quran describes as: "The fire of (the wrath of) Allah kindled (to a blaze) which doth mount (right) to the hearts." (104: 6,7) These people, along with their companions, will be in a state of agony and torment. For them, the Quran says: "........ They are the companions of the fire, they will abide therein" (10 : 27). As for those people who believed in Allah, who obeyed and submitted to "Him and did righteous deeds, the Quran says: "...... They are the best of creatures. Their reward is with Allah: Gardens of eternity, beneath which rivers flow, they will dwell therein forever: Allah well pleased with them and they with Him........." (98:7-8) And also: "..... they are the companions of the Garden, they will abide therein." (10: 26) The two states of Heaven and Hell are not spiritual. They will be experienced in physical forms by the new bodies with which Allah will raise men up. Islam lays the greatest stress on the individual's accountability to Allah. The human being's life in this world is a trial, an examination period, during which he prepares himself, either for reward or punishment, for the next life which is ever lasting. It is obvious that a person who has lived his life in submission to Allah is in an entirely different state from the one who has lived all his life in rebellion and ingratitude to Allah. Those who do not believe in a future life become immoral and irresponsible because, for them the short life on this earth is everything. On the other hand, those who have a firm belief in life after death fear Allah, follow the straight path, do good deeds and abstain from all evil deeds. ## Chapter 6: Allah's Predestination and Decree Another article of Islamic belief is faith in destiny; its good and evil. The Arabic word for destiny, Qadr, implies the measuring out of something or fixing a limit to it. The word 'Qadr' has the same root as 'Qadir', one of Allah's names, meaning 'All Powerful'. Everything in the universe is subject to the law of Allah. This universal law is explained in the following verse of the Holy Quran: "Glorify the name of thy Guardian-Lord Most High, Who hath created, and further, given order and proportion, Who hath ordained laws. And granted guidance." (87: 1-3) Here four things are mentioned regarding every object of creation including man, its growth, its completion, its measure and its guidance to its goal which is brought about according to a law or measure within which everything works by Divine Guidance. It is only in this sense that a Muslim can be said to have faith in Qadr. The basic concept which the word Taqdir furnishes and which is substantiated by the Quran and the Sunnah is that this universe and everything contained therein is the outcome of the planning and will of the Creator. He has created and fashioned it with infinite wisdom and with a definite purpose; He is not only supervising the universe but also directing it to its destined end. What Islam really stresses is that the Lord is the Supreme Power of the universe and He creates and directs it with a rational will. Allah's knowledge encompasses all things, possible and impossible. He is eternally and absolutely knowing of everything; the Quran says: "... the decree continues to descend among them, that you may know that Allah has power over all things and that Allah indeed encompasses all things in Knowledge." (65:12) Allah created man with certain powers, which he could exercise under certain limitations and it is the exercise of these powers that produce good or evil. For instance, Allah has gifted man with the power of speech which he can use either to do good or evil to humanity, either to tell a truth or to utter a falsehood. Similarly, Allah has endowed man with numerous other powers that may be used either for good or for evil. He has given human beings freedom of choice for their actions, but He has also made them responsible for what they do as He has shown them the difference between right and wrong. The Quran says: "The truth is from your Lord; let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject (it) (18:29) Allah's Knowledge, Will and Power are Absolute and Unbounded, therefore, He knows the results of all events before their occurence. A human being, however, does not have access to this knowledge and he acts in accordance with a desire from within which makes him responsible for his deeds and he is then happy or unhappy with the consequences. The Holy Prophet explained this belief in the following words: "If something befalls you, don't say if now I would have done such and such, rather say: Allah foreordained this, and whatever He wishes, He does; for, verily, the phrase "If only I would have", makes way for the work of Satan" (Muslim) The Holy Prophet once asked one of his companions: "Shall I not guide you to words that are a treasure from the treasures of Paradise?" He said: "Of course! O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet said: "There is no ability or power except through Allah" (Bukhari and Muslim). The reality of these words is the crux of a full and proper understanding of Qadr.