Muslims believe in one God (Allah), His angels, His revealed books, His prophets, the Day of Judgement, and divine decree (qadar). These are the six articles of faith, or pillars of iman, taught by the Prophet Muhammad in the hadith of Jibril in Sahih Muslim. Together they form the core of Muslim belief, while the five pillars describe Muslim practice.
The six articles are the framework used in mosques, Islamic schools and religious studies courses around the world. This guide takes each one in turn, using the hadith of Jibril as the spine, and explains how belief (iman) relates to practice (islam) and excellence (ihsan).
Key takeaways
- The six articles of faith come from the hadith of Jibril, narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab in Sahih Muslim 8, and in a version from Abu Hurayrah in Sahih al-Bukhari 50.
- The Quran lists five of them together: "whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray" (Quran 4:136).
- Belief in divine decree includes "its good and its evil," according to the Prophet's answer in Sahih Muslim 8.
- Angels were created from light, according to a hadith in Sahih Muslim 2996.
- The Quran describes Muhammad as "the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets" (Quran 33:40).
- The same hadith of Jibril defines three levels of religion: islam (practice), iman (faith) and ihsan (worshipping God as if you see Him).
The hadith of Jibril: where the six articles come from
The best-known summary of Muslim belief comes from a single scene. Umar ibn al-Khattab described how the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sitting with his companions when a stranger arrived, dressed in very white clothes with very black hair, showing no signs of travel, yet known to none of them. He sat close to the Prophet and asked a series of questions.
He asked about islam, and the Prophet described the five pillars. He asked about iman, and the Prophet said:
That you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers and the Last Day, and that you believe in divine decree, its good and its evil.
He asked about ihsan, and the Prophet said it is to worship God as though you see Him, for even if you do not see Him, He sees you. After the man left, the Prophet told his companions that the visitor was Jibril (Gabriel), who had come to teach them their religion. The hadith is recorded in Sahih Muslim 8. The wording above is a translation of its meaning.
Iman (iman, إيمان) is usually translated "faith" or "belief." In Islamic usage it means firm conviction in the heart, affirmed by the tongue and shown in action.
1. Belief in God (Allah)
The first and foundational article is belief in one God, called Allah in Arabic. Muslims believe He is the only Creator and Lord of everything, that He alone deserves worship, and that His names and attributes are perfect and unlike anything in creation. This belief in God's absolute oneness is called tawheed.
Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Islam teaches that God has no partner, no son and no physical form, yet He is near to those who call on Him. Our guides to who Allah is and what tawheed means explore this article in depth, and the 99 Names of Allah describe His attributes one by one.
2. Belief in angels
Muslims believe in angels (mala'ika), beings God created from light who worship Him and carry out His commands without disobedience. According to a hadith narrated by Aisha in Sahih Muslim 2996, angels were created from light, the jinn from smokeless fire, and Adam from what the Quran describes.
Some angels are named in the Quran. Jibril brought revelation to the prophets, and Mika'il (Michael) is mentioned beside him in Quran 2:98. Others have roles without names given in the Quran, such as the two recording angels that note every word a person speaks (Quran 50:17–18).
Belief in angels reminds Muslims that the world is larger than what they can see, and that their deeds are witnessed and recorded. For their names and roles, see angels in Islam.
3. Belief in the revealed books
Muslims believe God sent revelation to guide humanity, and that several prophets received scriptures. The Quran names four: the Torah (Tawrat) given to Moses, the Psalms (Zabur) given to David, the Gospel (Injil) given to Jesus, and the Quran given to Muhammad. It also mentions the scrolls (suhuf) of Abraham and Moses.
Muslims believe the original messages of these scriptures came from God. They also believe the Quran is God's final revelation, preserved in its original Arabic, and the standard by which earlier texts are understood. Believing in the earlier books is part of Islam itself:
O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.
To learn more about the final revelation, read what is the Quran and who wrote the Quran.
4. Belief in the prophets and messengers
Muslims believe God sent prophets to every community to call people to worship Him alone. "And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], 'Worship Allah and avoid Taghut'" (Quran 16:36). The Quran tells the stories of some and says there were others it did not relate (Quran 40:78).
The prophets named in the Quran include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, John the Baptist and Jesus. Muslims believe in all of them, love them, and make no distinction between them in faith (Quran 2:285). Muhammad is the final prophet, the "last of the prophets" (Quran 33:40).
In Islam, prophets are human beings, chosen and protected by God from major sin, but not divine. For a full list and their stories, see prophets in the Quran, and follow some of their journeys on the Quran Universe timeline.
5. Belief in the Last Day
Muslims believe this life will end, that every person will be resurrected, and that each will be judged by God with perfect justice and mercy. Those whose faith and deeds earn God's pleasure will enter Paradise (Jannah), and those who reject Him and do wrong face Hell (Jahannam), though God's mercy is vast.
So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it.
Belief in the Last Day gives life its moral weight. It means no injustice in this world is the final word, and no good deed, however small, is lost. Our guides explain what happens when you die in Islam and the signs of the Day of Judgement.
6. Belief in divine decree (qadar)
Qadar (qadar, قدر) is the belief that everything happens within God's knowledge, will and plan. "Indeed, all things We created with predestination" (Quran 54:49). The Prophet's answer to Jibril specifically included "its good and its evil," meaning that both blessings and hardships fall within God's decree.
Scholars commonly explain qadar through four elements:
- Knowledge: God knows everything that was, is and will be.
- Writing: God recorded all things before creating them (Quran 57:22).
- Will: nothing happens unless God wills it.
- Creation: God creates all things, including human actions.
Qadar does not mean fatalism. Islam holds that human beings have real choice and are responsible for what they choose. How divine decree and human freedom fit together has been discussed by theologians for centuries, and schools of thought express it in different ways. In daily life, qadar means working hard, then accepting outcomes with patience and trust. The question of hardship is covered in why God allows suffering.
Iman vs Islam vs Ihsan: what is the difference?
The hadith of Jibril describes religion in three layers, and Muslim scholars use them to explain the difference between practice, belief and spiritual excellence.
| Level | Arabic meaning | What it covers | Source in the hadith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islam | Submission | Outward practice: the five pillars | Shahada, prayer, zakat, fasting, Hajj |
| Iman | Faith | Inward belief: the six articles of faith | God, angels, books, prophets, Last Day, qadar |
| Ihsan | Excellence | Worshipping God as if you see Him | "If you do not see Him, He sees you" |
The Quran draws a similar distinction: when some Bedouins claimed faith, they were told to say "We have submitted," because "faith has not yet entered your hearts" (Quran 49:14). The outward practices of Islam are explained in our guide to the five pillars of Islam.
A note on Sunni and Shia frameworks
The six articles of faith are the framework of Sunni Islam, followed by the large majority of Muslims. Twelver Shia Muslims hold the same core beliefs but usually summarize them as five "roots of religion" (usul al-din): the oneness of God, divine justice, prophethood, the imamate and the resurrection. Both traditions affirm God, His prophets, revelation and the Last Day.
The six articles of faith at a glance
| Article | What Muslims believe | Key Quran reference |
|---|---|---|
| God | One Creator with no partner, alone worthy of worship | Quran 112:1–4 |
| Angels | Beings of light who carry out God's commands | Quran 2:98 |
| Books | Torah, Psalms, Gospel and Quran were revealed by God | Quran 4:136 |
| Prophets | God sent messengers to every nation, ending with Muhammad | Quran 16:36 |
| Last Day | Resurrection, judgement, Paradise and Hell | Quran 99:7–8 |
| Divine decree | All things happen within God's knowledge and will | Quran 54:49 |
Read the verses of faith on Quran Universe
Read Quran 2:285, which describes the believers' faith in God, His angels, His books and His messengers, and Quran 4:136 on Quran Universe with word-by-word meaning and Tafsir Ibn Kathir. For a broader introduction to the religion, start with what is Islam.
Frequently asked questions
What are the six articles of faith in Islam?
The six articles of faith are belief in God (Allah), His angels, His revealed books, His prophets and messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree (qadar), including its good and its evil. They come from the Prophet's answer to the angel Jibril in Sahih Muslim 8, and most are listed together in Quran 4:136.
What is iman in Islam?
Iman means faith or belief. In Islam it refers to firm conviction in the six articles of faith, held in the heart, affirmed by the tongue and expressed in actions. Many scholars teach that iman can increase through worship and good deeds and decrease through sin. It is distinct from islam, which refers to outward practice.
What is the difference between the five pillars and the six articles of faith?
The six articles of faith are what Muslims believe: God, angels, books, prophets, the Last Day and divine decree. The five pillars are what Muslims do: the declaration of faith, prayer, charity, fasting in Ramadan and pilgrimage. Both lists come from the same hadith of Jibril in Sahih Muslim.
Do Muslims believe in Jesus?
Yes. Belief in all of God's prophets is an article of faith, and Jesus is one of the greatest prophets in Islam. Muslims believe he was the Messiah, born miraculously to the Virgin Mary, and that he received the Gospel. They do not believe he was divine, and they believe God raised him up.
What do Muslims believe happens after death?
Muslims believe the soul continues after death, that each person will be resurrected on the Last Day, and that God will judge every deed with justice and mercy. The Quran says even an atom's weight of good or evil will be seen (99:7–8). The outcome is eternal life in Paradise or punishment in Hell.