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Āmantu billāhi wa malāʾikatihi wa kutubihi wa rusulihi
At the heart of Islam lies īmān — belief. The six articles of faith are the foundations upon which a Muslim's worldview rests, shaping how we understand God, ourselves, and the life to come.
Islam is often described as resting on two pillars of understanding: īmān and islām. Where islām refers to outward practice — the acts of worship a Muslim performs, such as prayer, fasting and charity — īmān refers to inner belief, the convictions of the heart that give those actions meaning. Faith and practice are deeply intertwined: belief inspires action, and action nourishes belief.
The six articles of faith are the core beliefs that every Muslim holds. They are drawn from the Qur'an and from the well-known teaching of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, often called the Ḥadīth of Jibrīl, in which the angel Gabriel asked the Prophet ﷺ about faith and he answered by naming these six. Together they describe a complete picture of reality: a single Creator, an unseen world, divine guidance sent through history, the messengers who carried it, the final accounting that awaits us, and the wise decree of God over all things.
To believe in these articles is not merely to accept a list of statements. It is to live with awareness — of God's presence, of accountability, and of a purpose that gives weight to every choice. The cards below introduce each article in turn.
The foundations of belief
The first and greatest article is belief in the One God — Allah — who alone is worthy of worship. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists, without partner, without equal, and unlike anything in creation. This is tawḥīd, the absolute oneness of God, the root from which all other belief grows.
Muslims believe in the angels — beings created by Allah from light, who never disobey Him and carry out His commands. Among them is Jibrīl (Gabriel), who brought revelation to the prophets. The angels are part of the unseen world, faithfully serving God in ways we cannot fully perceive.
Allah sent guidance to humanity through revealed scriptures, including the Torah, the Psalms (Zabūr) and the Gospel (Injīl) given to earlier prophets. The final revelation is the Qur'an, preserved in its original form, which Muslims believe completes and confirms the message of those that came before it.
Throughout history, Allah sent prophets and messengers to guide people back to Him — among them Ādam, Nūḥ (Noah), Ibrāhīm (Abraham), Mūsā (Moses) and ʿĪsā (Jesus), peace be upon them all. Muhammad ﷺ is the final messenger, sent as a mercy to all the worlds, sealing the line of prophethood.
This worldly life is not the end. Muslims believe in the Day of Judgement, when all people will be resurrected and held accountable for their deeds. Justice will be perfect and complete, and each soul will face the consequences of its choices — a belief that gives this life weight, purpose and moral urgency.
The sixth article is belief in al-qadar — divine decree. Nothing happens outside the knowledge and will of Allah, whose wisdom encompasses all things. This belief brings the believer contentment in hardship and gratitude in ease, while still embracing human responsibility and the duty to strive and choose well.
Belief and practice
Īmān is what a Muslim believes: the six articles of faith. It lives in the heart and gives every act of worship its sincerity, direction and meaning.
Islām is what a Muslim does: the five pillars and the wider practice of faith. Action expresses belief and turns conviction into a way of life.
The Prophet ﷺ described a third dimension, iḥsān: to worship Allah as though you see Him, knowing that even when you do not, He surely sees you.
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