عَنْ أبِى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ يَقُوْلُ :

بُنِيَ الإسْلآمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ : شَهَادَةِ أنْ لآ إلَهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وَ أنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ ، وَ إقَامِ الصَّلاةِ ، وَ إيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ ، وَ حَجِّ الْبَيْتِ ، وَ صُوْمِ رَمَضَانَ.

رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ وَ مُسْلِمٌ .

On the authority of Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman ‘Abdullah, the son of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattib (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say:

Islam has been built on five [pillars]: (Iman) to testify that there is nothing worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer (As-Salat), paying charity (Az-Zakat), making the pilgrimage to the House (Hajj), and fasting (As-Sawm) in Ramadan.

It was related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

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Essentials of Belief:

1. Iman (Belief): to bear witness that ; there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

أشْهَدُ أنْ لآ إلَهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وَ أشْهَدُ أنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ

Ash-hadu an-laa ilaaha ill-Allahu, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan

‘Abdu-hu wa Rasuuluhu.

2. To establish Salah (prayer; five times a day at designated times).

3. To pay Zakat (charity).

4. To fast the month of Ramadan.

5. To perform the Hajj to the Ka’bah at Makkah (once in your lifetime, if you are physically and financially able).

The Religion of Al-Islam has five essential creeds that are mentioned in the above hadith. The first creed, or pillar of the faith is to testify that “There is no god but Allah: Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” This, ‘belief’ must be joined with action, these actions Iman (Belief), As-Salat, Az-Zakat, As-Sawm, and Hajj), are actions that manifest our belief in Allah. When we implement these into our lives we are able In-sha-Allah to receive mercy from Allah; [see Quran 24:55-56].

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Articles of Faith:

{Specific beliefs that are required of a person to have firm faith in Allah.}

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ ءَامِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۚ

وَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلاَۢ بَعِيدًا

“O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and his Messenger, and the scripture which He hath sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He sent to those before (him). And who denieth Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Day of Judgment, hath gone far, far astray;” – Quran 4:136.

1. Belief in Allah

• Belief in God (Allah), the one and only one worthy of all worship (Tawhid).

2. Angels

• Belief in the Angels (Mala’ika).

3. Revealed Books

• Belief in the Books (Kutub) sent by Allah

4. Prophets (Messengers); all of them including Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus, etc., (may the peace of Allah be upon them all (including belief in the finality of Prophethood with the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمُ ).

• Belief in all the Messengers (Rusul) sent by Allah

5. The Last Day: Resurrection, and the Hereafter.

• Belief in the Day of Judgment (Qiyama) and in the Resurrection (life after death).

6. Divine Decree

• Belief in Destiny (Qadar), both the good and bad thereof.

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