The Six Articles of Faith in Islam
Every Muslim must believe these six doctrines. Here we examine them with Quranic sources, hadith references, and critical analysis comparing them to biblical truth.
Belief in Allah (Tawhid)
التوحيد
(at-Tawhid)The absolute oneness of Allah. Muslims believe God has no partners, no son, and no equals.
Quranic References
Primary sources from the Quran about this belief. Visit our Quran page for more verses.
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
"Say, 'He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.'"
Quran 112:1-4
Read on Quran.comوَإِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
"And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful."
Quran 2:163
Read on Quran.comBelief in Angels
الملائكة
(al-Mala'ika)Belief in angels as beings made of light who carry out Allah's commands.
Quranic References
Primary sources from the Quran about this belief. Visit our Quran page for more verses.
آمَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ
"The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers."
Quran 2:285
Read on Quran.comوَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِءَادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِۦ
"And [mention] when We said to the angels, 'Prostrate to Adam,' and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord."
Quran 18:50
Read on Quran.comBelief in Holy Books
الكتب السماوية
(al-Kutub as-Samawiyya)Belief in the Torah (Tawrat), Psalms (Zabur), Gospel (Injeel), and Quran as revelations from Allah.
Quranic References
Primary sources from the Quran about this belief. Visit our Quran page for more verses.
نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ
"He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel."
Quran 3:3
Read on Quran.comفَإِن كُنتَ فِى شَكٍّۢ مِّمَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ فَسْـَٔلِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكَ
"So if you are in doubt, [O Muhammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you."
Quran 10:94
Read on Quran.comBelief in Prophets
الرسل والأنبياء
(ar-Rusul wal-Anbiya)Belief in all prophets sent by Allah, with Muhammad as the final prophet (Seal of the Prophets).
Quranic References
Primary sources from the Quran about this belief. Visit our Quran page for more verses.
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍۢ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ
"Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets."
Quran 33:40
Read on Quran.comقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ
"Say, [O believers], 'We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.'"
Quran 2:136
Read on Quran.comBelief in Day of Judgment
يوم القيامة
(Yawm al-Qiyamah)Belief in a final day when all will be resurrected and judged by Allah based on their deeds.
Quranic References
Primary sources from the Quran about this belief. Visit our Quran page for more verses.
وَنَضَعُ ٱلْمَوَٰزِينَ ٱلْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْـًٔا
"And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant."
Quran 21:47
Read on Quran.comقُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَمَآ أَدْرِى مَا يُفْعَلُ بِى وَلَا بِكُمْ
"Say, 'I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me.' Say, 'Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?'"
Quran 46:9
Read on Quran.comBelief in Predestination (Qadar)
القضاء والقدر
(al-Qada wal-Qadar)Belief that Allah has predetermined everything that happens, including human actions.
Quranic References
Primary sources from the Quran about this belief. Visit our Quran page for more verses.
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَٰهُ بِقَدَرٍۢ
"Indeed, all things We created with predestination."
Quran 54:49
Read on Quran.comوَمَن يَشَإِ ٱللَّهُ يُضْلِلْهُ وَمَن يَشَأْ يَجْعَلْهُ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ
"And whoever Allah wills - He leaves astray. And whoever He wills - He puts him on a straight path."
Quran 6:39
Read on Quran.comوَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ
"And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless."
Quran 7:179
Read on Quran.comQuick Questions & Answers
Common questions about Islamic beliefs with direct answers
Do Muslims worship the same God as Christians?
No. While both claim to worship the God of Abraham, the character and nature are fundamentally different. The God of the Bible is Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), is love, never deceives, and offers salvation through grace. Allah is strictly monotheistic, is described as 'the best of deceivers,' leads people astray, and salvation is based on works with no assurance. These cannot be the same God.
Why do Muslims reject the Trinity?
Muslims misunderstand the Trinity, thinking Christians worship three gods. The Quran incorrectly describes the Trinity as Allah, Jesus, and Mary (5:116), showing Muhammad didn't understand Christian theology. The Trinity is one God in three persons - not three gods. Muslims reject it because the Quran explicitly denies Jesus is the Son of God (112:3).
Can Muslims have assurance of salvation?
No. Islamic theology provides no assurance. Salvation depends on deeds outweighing sins on judgment day, but no one knows the threshold. Even Muhammad said 'I do not know what will be done with me' (Quran 46:9). A hadith states even Muhammad needed Allah's mercy, not just deeds (Muslim 2816). This creates perpetual uncertainty.
What is the Islamic view of sin?
Islam views sin as individual bad deeds that can be balanced by good deeds. There's no concept of original sin or inherent human sinfulness. The greatest sin is shirk (associating partners with Allah), which is unforgivable (4:48). This differs from Christianity, which sees sin as rebellion against God requiring atonement, not just good deeds.
How does Islamic predestination affect morality?
It creates a logical problem. If Allah predetermines all actions (54:49), including who believes and disbelieves (6:39), and even creates people for Hell (7:179), how can humans be morally responsible? Muslims often respond that humans don't know their destiny so must try - but this doesn't solve the philosophical problem of determinism vs. accountability.
Why do Muslims believe earlier scriptures are corrupted?
Because they contradict the Quran. The Bible affirms Jesus' divinity, death, and resurrection - which the Quran denies. Rather than acknowledge contradiction, Muslims claim the Bible was changed. However, there's zero manuscript evidence for this. The Dead Sea Scrolls (pre-Islam) match modern Bibles, and the Quran itself says to consult previous scriptures (10:94).
What is Taqiyya and is it really Islamic?
Taqiyya is the practice of concealing one's faith or lying to protect oneself or Islam. It has Quranic basis (3:28, 16:106). While primarily a Shia doctrine for persecution scenarios, it's sometimes used to justify deception in presenting Islam favorably to non-Muslims. This is controversial even among Muslims, but the textual basis exists.
How do Muslims view Jesus?
Muslims see Jesus (Isa) as a prophet, born of a virgin, who performed miracles. However, they deny His divinity, His death on the cross (believing someone else was crucified), and His resurrection. The Quran says He's not God's Son (112:3) and Christians who believe this are kafir (disbelievers). See more on our Prophets page.