The Pillars of Faith

Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that a stranger in white clothes came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked about Islam, Iman and Ihsan. Afterwards the Prophet ﷺ said: “That was Jibril; he came to teach you your religion” (Muslim). The three levels of the religion are: Islam (what we do — the five pillars), Iman (what we believe — six pillars), and Ihsan (excellence — “to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, He sees you”).

“Islam is built on five: the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establishing the prayer; giving Zakat; fasting Ramadan; and Hajj to the House for whoever is able” (Bukhari and Muslim). Each has its own guide in the Islamic Guides section:

• Shahada — the testimony of faith.
• Salah — the five daily prayers (see “How to Pray”).
• Zakat — purifying wealth (see the Zakat guide).
• Sawm — fasting Ramadan (see the Fasting guide).
• Hajj — pilgrimage once in a lifetime (see the Hajj & Umrah guide).

To believe that Allah is the One Lord, Creator and Sustainer of everything (His Lordship); that He alone deserves worship, with no partner (His Divinity); and that He has the most beautiful Names and perfect attributes, unlike His creation (His Names and Attributes). The greatest sin is Shirk, associating partners with Him (4:48). Surah Al-Ikhlas, worth a third of the Quran, sums it up:

Angels are honoured servants of Allah, created from light, who never disobey Him: “They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, and they do what they are commanded” (66:6). Jibril brings revelation, Mikail is in charge of rain and provision, Israfil will blow the Trumpet, and the Angel of Death takes souls. Two angels on each person's shoulders record their deeds (82:10-12), and Munkar and Nakir question the dead in the grave. Jinn are a different creation, made from smokeless fire (55:15), and they have free will.

Allah revealed books to His messengers as guidance: the Scrolls of Ibrahim, the Tawrat to Musa, the Zabur to Dawud, the Injil to Isa, and finally the Quran to Muhammad ﷺ. Muslims believe in the original revelations, and that the Quran is the final one, confirming what was before it and protected by Allah: “We have sent down the Reminder, and We will surely guard it” (15:9). Its wording and meaning still reach us, unchanged, memorised by millions.

Allah sent messengers to every nation with the same core message: worship Allah alone (16:36). Twenty-five are named in the Quran, among them Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad ﷺ. The five of firmest resolve are Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad ﷺ. Muslims make no distinction between them in belief (2:285). Muhammad ﷺ is the final prophet: “the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets” (33:40).

This life is a test, and it will end. After death comes the Barzakh (life in the grave), then the Resurrection, when everyone is gathered and judged. Each person's record is given (right hand for the successful), the deeds are weighed on the Scale (Mizan), and the Sirat, a bridge over Hell, is crossed. The believers enter Paradise by Allah's mercy and their deeds, and Hell is a place of punishment. Believing in this brings hope, responsibility and fear of wronging others, and it is why Muslims strive to do good.

Qadar means believing that Allah knows everything, wrote it in the Preserved Tablet, willed it, and created it — good and bad. “No disaster strikes in the earth or in yourselves except that it is in a Book before We bring it into being” (57:22). This does not remove our responsibility: Allah gave us choice and we are judged for it. It gives calm in hardship (“what missed you was never going to reach you”) and humility in ease. The Prophet ﷺ taught to act, ask Allah for help, and when something happens beyond our control to say:

Ihsan is the highest level: doing everything — prayer, work, dealing with people — with the awareness that Allah sees you. It means doing things beautifully, sincerely and carefully: “Allah loves that when any of you does a work, he perfects it” (Bayhaqi, graded hasan). It is the fruit of faith, and it turns ordinary life into worship.

Faith rises with obedience and falls with sin. Allah says: “The believers are those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith” (8:2). Ways to strengthen it:

• Pray on time, and recite and reflect on the Quran daily.
• Remember Allah often — morning and evening Adhkar, Dhikr, Istighfar.
• Learn about Allah through His Names and the Prophet's ﷺ life.
• Keep good company, and leave what weakens your faith.
• Give charity, fast, and help others.
• Think about creation — the sky, the earth, yourself — and be grateful.