Islam is built on two things: right action and right belief. The Five Pillars describe the actions. The Six Articles of Faith describe the beliefs — the inner convictions that make a person a believer (mu'min). They were stated by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when the angel Gabriel asked him to define īmān (faith):
"It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in divine decree, both its good and its bad."
(Sahih Muslim, 8)
1. Belief in Allah
The first and greatest article is belief in one God — the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists, without partner, equal, or offspring. This is tawhīd, the foundation of everything. To believe in Allah is to believe in His existence, His absolute oneness, His lordship over creation, and His beautiful names and attributes.
"Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent."
(Surah Al-Ikhlas, 112:1–4)
2. Belief in the Angels
Muslims believe in angels — beings created from light who never disobey God and who carry out His commands. Among them is Gabriel, who brought revelation to the prophets; others record human deeds, take souls at death, and guard and serve by God's permission. Belief in the unseen world is part of faith itself.
"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…"
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:285)
3. Belief in the Books
Muslims believe that God sent revealed books to guide humanity through His prophets — including the Scrolls of Abraham, the Torah given to Moses, the Psalms given to David, and the Gospel given to Jesus (peace be upon them all). The Qur'an is the final revelation, confirming the truth that came before and preserved from any alteration.
"And We have revealed to you the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a guardian over it."
(Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:48)
4. Belief in the Messengers
Muslims believe that God sent messengers and prophets to every nation, all calling to the same essential truth: worship the one God. The Qur'an names many — Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and others — and teaches that Muhammad ﷺ was the last of them. To believe in one prophet is to honour them all.
"And for every nation is a messenger."
(Surah Yunus, 10:47)
5. Belief in the Last Day
Muslims believe that this life is not the end. There will come a Day of Judgement, when all people will be raised, held accountable for their deeds, and admitted to Paradise or the Fire by God's justice and mercy. This belief gives life its moral weight: no good deed is lost, and no wrong goes unseen.
"So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it."
(Surah Az-Zalzalah, 99:7–8)
6. Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar)
The sixth article is belief in divine decree — that God has knowledge of all things and that nothing occurs except by His knowledge and will. This does not cancel human choice; the Qur'an holds people responsible for their actions. Rather, it gives the believer peace: trusting that whatever befalls them, of ease or hardship, is within the wisdom of an All-Knowing, All-Merciful God.
"No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah — He will guide his heart."
(Surah At-Taghabun, 64:11)
In Summary
The Six Articles of Faith — belief in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree — form the inner architecture of a Muslim's worldview. Together they describe a universe that is created, guided, purposeful, and just, watched over by a God who is both All-Powerful and All-Merciful.
Part of The Complete Guide to Understanding Islam. Next: Women's Rights in Islam.