THE ISLAMIC CREED
`Aqeedah - (creed and belief) is the foundation of the religion and it (‘Aqeedah) is what is contained in the declaration
(Shahaadah) that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. And it is the first pillar from the pillars of Islaam.
On the authority of `Umar (Allaah be Pleased with him) who said: One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allaah (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him), there came before us a man with extremely white clothing and extremely black hair. There were no signs of travel on him and none of us knew him. He [came and] sat next to the Prophet (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him). He supported his knees up against the knees of the Prophet (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him) and put his hand on his thighs. He said, ‘O Muhammad, tell me about Islaam.’ The Messenger of Allaah (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him) said, ‘Islaam is to testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, to establish the prayers, to pay the zakaat, to fast [the month of] Ramadhaan, and to make pilgrimage to the House if you have the means to do so.’ He said, ‘You have spoken truthfully [or correctly].’ We were amazed that he asks the question and then says that he had spoken truthfully. He said, ‘Tell me about Imaan (faith).’ He [the Messenger of Allaah (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him)] responded, ‘It is to believe in Allaah, His angles, His books, His messengers, the Last Day and to believe in the divine decree, [both] the good and the evil thereof.’ He said, ‘You have spoken truthfully.’ He said, ‘Tell me about al-Ihsaan (goodness).’ He [the Prophet (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him)] answered, ‘It is that you worship Allaah as if you see Him. And even though you do not see Him, [you know] He sees you.’ He said, ‘Tell me about [the time of] the Hour,’ He [the Prophet (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him)] answered, ‘The one being asked does not know more than the one asking.’ He said, ‘Tell me about it’s signs.’ He answered, ‘The slave-girl shall give birth to her master, and you will see the barefooted, scantily-clothed, destitute shepherds competing in constructing lofty buildings.’ Then he went away. I stayed for a long time. Then he [the Prophet (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him)] said, ‘O `Umar, do you know who the questioner was?’ I said, ‘Allaah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘It was [the angel] Gabriel who came to teach you your religion.’ (Recorded in Muslim)
(Shahaadah) that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. And it is the first pillar from the pillars of Islaam.
On the authority of `Umar (Allaah be Pleased with him) who said: One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allaah (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him), there came before us a man with extremely white clothing and extremely black hair. There were no signs of travel on him and none of us knew him. He [came and] sat next to the Prophet (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him). He supported his knees up against the knees of the Prophet (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him) and put his hand on his thighs. He said, ‘O Muhammad, tell me about Islaam.’ The Messenger of Allaah (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him) said, ‘Islaam is to testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, to establish the prayers, to pay the zakaat, to fast [the month of] Ramadhaan, and to make pilgrimage to the House if you have the means to do so.’ He said, ‘You have spoken truthfully [or correctly].’ We were amazed that he asks the question and then says that he had spoken truthfully. He said, ‘Tell me about Imaan (faith).’ He [the Messenger of Allaah (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him)] responded, ‘It is to believe in Allaah, His angles, His books, His messengers, the Last Day and to believe in the divine decree, [both] the good and the evil thereof.’ He said, ‘You have spoken truthfully.’ He said, ‘Tell me about al-Ihsaan (goodness).’ He [the Prophet (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him)] answered, ‘It is that you worship Allaah as if you see Him. And even though you do not see Him, [you know] He sees you.’ He said, ‘Tell me about [the time of] the Hour,’ He [the Prophet (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him)] answered, ‘The one being asked does not know more than the one asking.’ He said, ‘Tell me about it’s signs.’ He answered, ‘The slave-girl shall give birth to her master, and you will see the barefooted, scantily-clothed, destitute shepherds competing in constructing lofty buildings.’ Then he went away. I stayed for a long time. Then he [the Prophet (Allaah's Peace and Blessings upon him)] said, ‘O `Umar, do you know who the questioner was?’ I said, ‘Allaah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘It was [the angel] Gabriel who came to teach you your religion.’ (Recorded in Muslim)
Five Pillars of Islaam
1. Testimony of faith (Shahaadah)
2. Prayer (Salaah)
3. Fasting in Ramadhaan (Sawm)
4. Charity (Zakaah)
5. Pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj)
2. Prayer (Salaah)
3. Fasting in Ramadhaan (Sawm)
4. Charity (Zakaah)
5. Pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj)
Six Pillars of Faith (Imaan)
1. Belief in Allaah
2. Belief in Angels
3. Belief in His Books
4. Belief in the Prophets
5. Belief in the Last Day
6. Belief in Predestination (Qadr)
2. Belief in Angels
3. Belief in His Books
4. Belief in the Prophets
5. Belief in the Last Day
6. Belief in Predestination (Qadr)
Tawheed
Tawheed is maintaining the oneness of Allaah, Glorified is He and Most High. It is to have firm belief that Allaah is one without any partners.
Say: He is Allaah, the One and Only; Allaah, the Self Sufficient
He begets not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.
Qur’aan (Soorah Al-Ikhlaas)
Tawheed is composed of three categories:
Tawheed Ar-Rububiyyah - Maintaining the unity of Lordship. “Allaah is One without any partner".
Tawheed Al-Asma Was-Sifaat - Maintaining the unity of Allaah's Names and Attributes.
Tawheed al `Ibaadah - Maintaining the Unity of Allaah as the Only One with the right to be worshipped.
Say: He is Allaah, the One and Only; Allaah, the Self Sufficient
He begets not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.
Qur’aan (Soorah Al-Ikhlaas)
Tawheed is composed of three categories:
Tawheed Ar-Rububiyyah - Maintaining the unity of Lordship. “Allaah is One without any partner".
Tawheed Al-Asma Was-Sifaat - Maintaining the unity of Allaah's Names and Attributes.
Tawheed al `Ibaadah - Maintaining the Unity of Allaah as the Only One with the right to be worshipped.
Books on the Matters of the Creed
Kitab al Imaan by Ibn Taymiyyah
Sharh Al-Aqeedat-il-Wasitiyyah By Ibn Taymiyyah
Kitaab al Tawheed By Abdul-Wahhab (Explanation by Abdur-Rahmaan As-Sa'di)
Explanation to the Beautiful and Perfect Names of Allah by Abdur-Rahmaan As-Sa'di
The Signs Before the Day of Judgement By Ibn Kathir
Sharh Aqeedah al-Tahawiyyah By Ibn Abi Al-`Izz
Sharh Al-Aqeedat-il-Wasitiyyah By Ibn Taymiyyah
Kitaab al Tawheed By Abdul-Wahhab (Explanation by Abdur-Rahmaan As-Sa'di)
Explanation to the Beautiful and Perfect Names of Allah by Abdur-Rahmaan As-Sa'di
The Signs Before the Day of Judgement By Ibn Kathir
Sharh Aqeedah al-Tahawiyyah By Ibn Abi Al-`Izz