The Six Articles of Faith (Iman)

Where the pillars describe what a Muslim does, the articles of faith describe what a Muslim holds true. The Qur'an lists them nearly complete in one verse: "The Messenger believes in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. All believe in Allah, His angels, His books and His messengers" (2:285).

The six articles

1. Allah — one, eternal, without partner or likeness (Qur'an 42:11).
2. Angels — created servants of light who never disobey (66:6).
3. Revealed books — the Torah, Psalms, Gospel and the Qur'an as the final, preserved revelation.
4. Messengers — thousands sent to every nation, sealed by Muhammad (ﷺ).
5. The Last Day — resurrection, reckoning, Paradise and Hellfire.
6. Divine decree (qadar) — nothing occurs outside God's knowledge and permission.

The Shia formulation

Shia theology teaches five usul al-din: Tawhid (oneness), Adl (divine justice), Nubuwwah (prophethood), Imamah (divinely appointed leadership) and Ma'ad (resurrection). The content overlaps heavily with the six articles; the distinctive emphases are Adl — that God never acts unjustly, so human responsibility is real — and Imamah.

The debate over qadar

All schools affirm that God knows and wills all things. They differ on how human freedom fits. Ash'ari Sunni theology teaches kasb, human "acquisition" of acts God creates. Shia and Mu'tazili theology teach amr bayn al-amrayn — "a matter between the two extremes": neither compulsion nor human independence from God. Salafi creed affirms four levels of qadar (knowledge, writing, will, creation) while insisting the servant genuinely chooses.

Why the creed matters practically

A creed is not trivia. Belief in accountability restrains behaviour when nobody is watching. Belief in divine justice makes oppression intolerable rather than fated. Belief in the books makes the Muslim a reader.

References across the schools

• Qur'an: 2:177, 2:285, 4:136, 42:11, 54:49.
• Sunni: Sahih Muslim 8 (hadith of Jibril); al-Tahawi, al-Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah.
• Shia: al-Saduq, al-I'tiqadat; al-Hilli, al-Bab al-Hadi Ashar; al-Kulayni, al-Kafi, Kitab al-Tawhid.
• Salafi/Wahhabi: Ibn Taymiyyah, al-Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah; Ibn Uthaymin, Sharh al-Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah.