Islam 101
The six articles of faith
A stranger in white asked about faith. The answer named six beliefs.
5 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 5
A man in very white clothes, with no sign of travel, sat knee to knee with the Prophet. He asked: what is Islam, iman, ihsan, and when is the Hour? Then he left. It was the angel Jibril.
Lesson
Islam, iman and ihsan: doing, believing, and doing beautifully.
Part 2 of 5
The six beliefs begin with one God, unique and without partner, who creates, sustains and knows everything. He is described by many names, such as the Most Merciful, the Wise and the Forgiving.
Qur'an 2:255
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡحَيُّ ٱلۡقَيُّومُۚ لَا تَأۡخُذُهُۥ سِنَةࣰ وَلَا نَوۡمࣰۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِي يَشۡفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦۚ يَعۡلَمُ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَمَا خَلۡفَهُمۡۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيۡءࣲ مِّنۡ عِلۡمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَۚ وَسِعَ كُرۡسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفۡظُهُمَاۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيُّ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ ٢٥٥
255 Allah: none has the right to be worshiped except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that can intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows what was before them and what will be after them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge, except what He wills. His Kursī [i.e., footstool] extends over the heavens and earth, and safeguarding of both does not weary Him, for He is the Most High, the Most Great.
A long ayah: scroll within the card.
Lesson
In Islam, everything begins with one God.
Part 3 of 5
Angels are beings of light who carry out God's commands, such as Jibril, who brought revelation. God's books include the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel and, finally, the Qur'an.
Qur'an 2:285
ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيۡنَ أَحَدࣲ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦۚ وَقَالُواْ سَمِعۡنَا وَأَطَعۡنَاۖ غُفۡرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ٢٨٥
285 The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, as do the believers. All of them believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers, [saying], “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. Grant us Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination.”
Lesson
The Qur'an presents itself as the last of a series of scriptures.
Part 4 of 5
Muslims believe God sent prophets to every people, all teaching the same core: worship one God and do good. Muslims must believe in all of them, from Adam to Muhammad.
Lesson
A Muslim believes in all the prophets, not just one.
Part 5 of 5
Muslims believe one day everyone will be raised and held to account, and justice will be done. And nothing happens outside God's knowledge and will, while people remain responsible for their choices.
Qur'an 99:7-8
فَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيۡرࣱا يَرَهُۥ ٧ وَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةࣲ شَرࣱّا يَرَهُۥ ٨
7 So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it,
8 and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.
Lesson
Every atom's weight of good or evil will be seen.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
A stranger in white asked about faith. The answer named six beliefs.