Direct answer: The six articles of faith in Islam are belief in Allah, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree. These beliefs are also called the pillars of iman. They form the foundation of Muslim belief and help a Muslim understand life, worship, guidance, accountability, and trust in Allah.
Contents
Overview of the six articles of faith
In Islam, faith is not vague spirituality. It has clear foundations. A Muslim believes in Allah, the unseen world Allah revealed, the guidance sent through revelation, the prophets who carried that guidance, accountability after death, and Allah’s perfect knowledge and decree.
| Article of faith | Simple meaning |
|---|---|
| Belief in Allah | Allah is One, the Creator, Lord, and only One worthy of worship. |
| Belief in angels | Allah created angels who obey Him and carry out His commands. |
| Belief in revealed books | Allah sent revelation to guide humanity. |
| Belief in messengers | Allah sent prophets and messengers to call people to worship Him alone. |
| Belief in the Day of Judgment | All people will be resurrected and held accountable. |
| Belief in divine decree | Allah knows, wills, writes, and creates all things with wisdom. |
“The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so have the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers.”
Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:2851. Belief in Allah
The first article of faith is belief in Allah. Muslims believe Allah is the one true God, the Creator, Sustainer, Lord of everything, Most Merciful, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, and the only One worthy of worship.
Belief in Allah includes believing that He has no partner, no child, no parent, and no equal. Nothing resembles Him, and nothing shares His divinity.
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”
Quran, Surah Ash-Shura 42:11Helpful related article: Who Is Allah?
2. Belief in the angels
Muslims believe angels are real creations of Allah. They are part of the unseen world. They do not disobey Allah and they carry out the tasks Allah gives them.
Some angels have known roles. Jibril, Peace be upon him, brought revelation to the prophets. Mika'il is connected with provision by Allah’s command. The Angel of Death takes souls by Allah’s permission. Other angels record deeds, guard people, and carry out commands that Allah knows best.
Important point
Muslims do not worship angels. Angels are honoured servants of Allah, not divine beings.
3. Belief in the revealed books
Muslims believe Allah sent revelation to guide human beings. This includes belief that Allah revealed books and scriptures to His prophets.
Muslims believe in the original revelations sent by Allah, including the Torah given to Musa, the Zabur given to Dawud, the Injil given to Isa, and the Quran revealed to Muhammad (PBUH), Peace and Blessings upon them. Muslims believe the Quran is the final and preserved revelation.
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran, and indeed, We will be its guardian.”
Quran, Surah Al-Hijr 15:9Helpful related article: What Is the Quran?
4. Belief in the messengers
Muslims believe Allah sent prophets and messengers to guide humanity. Their central message was the same: worship Allah alone and avoid worshipping anything besides Him.
Muslims believe in all prophets sent by Allah, including Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, and Muhammad, Peace and Blessings upon them. Muslims do not reject prophets because of race, nation, or tribe.
“We make no distinction between any of His messengers.”
Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:285Prophet Muhammad, Peace and Blessings upon him, is the final Messenger. His message confirms the truth of earlier prophets and completes the guidance Allah chose for humanity.
Helpful related article: Who Are the Prophets in Islam?
5. Belief in the Day of Judgment
Muslims believe this life is not the end. Every human being will die, be resurrected, and stand before Allah for judgment. Deeds, belief, intentions, words, and choices matter because life has accountability.
Belief in the Day of Judgment gives life seriousness and hope. It reminds a Muslim that oppression will not be ignored, patience will not be wasted, hidden good deeds are known to Allah, and repentance matters.
“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”
Quran, Surah Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8Helpful related article: What Is the Day of Judgment?
6. Belief in divine decree
Belief in divine decree means Muslims believe Allah knows all things, has written all things, wills what happens, and creates all things. Nothing escapes His knowledge, power, or wisdom.
This does not mean humans have no responsibility. Islam teaches both Allah’s complete knowledge and human accountability. People make choices, and Allah knows those choices fully before they occur.
Simple explanation
Belief in decree helps a Muslim trust Allah during hardship, avoid arrogance during ease, and keep turning back to Allah in every situation.
“Indeed, all things We created with predestination.”
Quran, Surah Al-Qamar 54:49Articles of faith vs Five Pillars
The six articles of faith and the Five Pillars of Islam are connected but not the same.
| Six articles of faith | Five Pillars of Islam |
|---|---|
| Describe what Muslims believe. | Describe major acts of worship and practice. |
| Belief in Allah, angels, books, messengers, Judgment Day, and decree. | Shahada, prayer, zakah, fasting Ramadan, and Hajj. |
| Related to iman, faith in the heart. | Related to Islam as outward worship and practice. |
Helpful related article: What Are the Five Pillars of Islam?
FAQ: Six Articles of Faith
What are the six articles of faith in Islam?
The six articles of faith are belief in Allah, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree, both its good and its difficult aspects.
Why are the six articles of faith important?
They form the foundation of Muslim belief. They explain who Allah is, how He guides humanity, what happens after death, and how Muslims understand Allah’s knowledge, wisdom, and decree.
Are the six articles of faith the same as the Five Pillars of Islam?
No. The six articles of faith describe what Muslims believe, while the Five Pillars describe major acts of worship and practice.
Do Muslims believe in all prophets?
Yes. Muslims believe Allah sent many prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, Peace and Blessings upon them.
What does belief in divine decree mean?
Belief in divine decree means Allah knows all things, has written all things, wills what occurs, and creates all things with wisdom and justice.