Iman (Faith) is the foundation of a Muslim’s belief. It represents a person’s inner conviction and trust in Allah (God) and all the unseen matters that Allah and His Messenger (Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) have informed us about. The word Iman comes from the Arabic root A-M-N, which means “to believe,” “to trust,” or “to have faith.”
The Six Pillars of Iman are clearly mentioned in a famous hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ď·ş when the angel Jibreel (Gabriel) asked him about Islam, Iman, and Ihsan. The Prophet ď·ş replied:
“Iman is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in Qadar (Divine Decree), both the good and the bad of it.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Let’s understand each pillar in detail 👇
1. Belief in Allah (Tawheed)
The first and most important pillar is to believe in Allah, the One and Only God who has no partner, no son, and no equal.
A believer accepts that Allah alone is the Creator, Sustainer, and Controller of everything in the universe.
He has perfect names and attributes (Asma-ul-Husna), such as Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful) and Al-Aleem (The All-Knowing).
Believing in Allah also means worshipping Him alone, without associating anyone or anything with Him (Shirk).
2. Belief in Angels (Malaika)
Muslims believe that angels are created from light and have specific duties assigned by Allah.
They do not have free will like humans; they obey Allah in all matters.
Examples include:
- Jibreel (Gabriel): Brings revelation to the prophets.
- Mikail (Michael): Controls rain and sustenance.
- Israfeel: Will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgment.
- Malak-ul-Maut: The Angel of Death who takes souls.
Belief in angels reminds Muslims that Allah’s creation is vast and unseen, and that angels record our deeds day and night.
3. Belief in Divine Books (Kutub)
Allah has revealed scriptures to guide humanity. Muslims believe in all the books that Allah revealed to His prophets:
- The Torah (Tawrat) given to Prophet Musa (Moses)
- The Psalms (Zabur) given to Prophet Dawood (David)
- The Gospel (Injeel) given to Prophet Isa (Jesus)
- The Quran given to Prophet Muhammad ď·ş
The Quran is the final and preserved word of Allah, confirming the previous scriptures and correcting changes made by people over time.
4. Belief in the Prophets (Rasul)
Allah sent thousands of prophets to guide mankind, from Adam (A.S.) to Muhammad (PBUH) — the final messenger.
All prophets delivered the same message: to worship Allah alone and avoid false gods.
Believing in the prophets also means respecting them and accepting their teachings as truth.
5. Belief in the Last Day (Akhirah)
Muslims believe that life in this world is temporary and that everyone will be resurrected for judgment.
On the Day of Judgment, every person will be held accountable for their actions.
Those who did good and believed sincerely in Allah will enter Jannah (Paradise), while those who rejected the truth will face punishment in Jahannam (Hellfire).
Belief in Akhirah motivates Muslims to live righteously and stay away from sins.
6. Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar)
This means believing that everything — good or bad — happens according to Allah’s knowledge and will.
Allah knows all that has happened and all that will happen.
However, humans are still responsible for their choices and will be judged according to their intentions and efforts.
Conclusion
The six pillars of Iman form the core of a Muslim’s faith. Without belief in these six, a person’s Iman is incomplete.
They strengthen the connection between a believer and Allah, guide moral behavior, and bring peace to the heart.
When a Muslim understands and accepts these pillars deeply, his life becomes balanced — full of trust in Allah, hope for the hereafter, and gratitude for the blessings he receives every day.