What must a Muslim believe in? (The articles of faith)
The question as asked, details removedWhat are the articles of faith that every Muslim must believe in?More
This is a sample answer written to show how the site works. It follows the standard Hanafi books, but no mufti has reviewed or signed it yet, so it is not a fatwa. For a real answer, ask a question. Ask a mufti
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِكِ الْوَهَّابِ اَللّٰهُمَّ هِدَايَةَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1Short answer
A Muslim must believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, destiny (that good and bad are decreed by Allah), and being raised again after death.
2Detailed answer
These beliefs are summarised in Iman-e-Mufassal (the detailed statement of faith):
- Allah: He is One, with no partner, and alone deserves worship.
- The angels: honoured creations who carry out His commands.
- The revealed books, including the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel and the Qur'an, which is the final book.
- All the messengers, the last of whom is our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- The Last Day.
- Destiny: everything, good or bad, happens by the decree of Allah.
- Being raised to life after death.
Denying any one of these takes a person out of faith, so each must be believed with certainty, not as a possibility.
3Evidence and sources
- Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:285
- Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, hadith 8 (the hadith of Jibril)
Arabic texts, translations and how the ruling was derived
آمن الرسول بما أنزل إليه من ربه والمؤمنون كل آمن بالله وملائكته وكتبه ورسله
Meaning: The Messenger believes in what was sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. Each believes in Allah, His angels, His books and His messengers.
When Jibril asked the Prophet ﷺ about faith, he answered: to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and destiny, its good and its bad. Belief in the resurrection is part of belief in the Last Day.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ