Ideological Teachings of Islam Core Beliefs Explained

The Ideological Teachings of Islam

Islam provides extensive guidance to its followers regarding actions, but even more than that, it has emphasised theological teachings, because belief serves as the foundation and basis. The importance of belief can also be understood in this way: just as a crop cannot grow without a seed; a sapling cannot become a vast tree without a root; and a building cannot stand without a foundation; similarly, the structure of pious deeds cannot be established without the reformation of one's belief and faith. The "flower" of a good and pious deed can never turn into a fruit that benefits in the Hereafter without correct faith and beliefs.

Therefore, Islam first commands faith, so that a person believes in Allah, His beloved Messenger, and everything that the Messenger brought, with a sincere heart and confesses it with his tongue. Consequently, the seed of faith can save the crop of his deeds from being wasted and his hard work from going in vain. This reality has been mentioned in many places in the noble Quran, where the deeds of those who do not believe in Allah Almighty are described as being like ashes, like the scattered dust of fine particles, and sometimes like a mirage. A thirsty person thinks the mirage is water, but can never quench his thirst from it.

Our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم described the fundamental and foundational beliefs of Islam in this manner:

اَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللهِ، وَمَلَائِكَتِهٖ، وَكُتُبِهٖ، وَرُسُلِهٖ، وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ، وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهٖ وَشَرِّهٖ

"Faith is that you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and you believe in destiny—it’s good and it’s bad."[1]

Faith in Allah Almighty

The first of the fundamental beliefs of Islam is to have faith in Allah Almighty. Islam has given its followers the belief that Allah Almighty is one. He is the One True Being, which means He is Unique and Alone. He is neither a father, nor a son. He has no wife and no relatives. He is free from tribes and families and is independent of everyone. He has created all of creation, and all are dependent on Him. He is the Pure Lord of all the worlds and has no partner. He has always existed and will remain forever. He is the Creator of all the worlds. Humans, jinn, angels, plants, the heavens, the earth, the moon, the stars, the living, and the non-living—all of them were created by Allah alone. Allah Almighty, is free from every defect, imperfection, and evil. He knows everything, both visible and hidden; nothing is outside of His knowledge. Just as His Being has always existed, so too all of His attributes are pre-eternal.

Faith in Angels

Angels are a creation of Allah who are free from being male or female. It is obligatory to have faith in angels. Only Allah knows their exact number. There is not a span of four fingers in the heavens where an angel has not placed its forehead in prostration.[2] Angels were created from light, as the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: خُلِقَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ نُورٍ “Angels were created from light.”[3] Angels neither eat, nor drink. They have two, three, and four wings. [4] Allah Almighty has also granted them the power to assume any form they wish. Angels are free from all types of sins and only do what they are commanded to do by Allah Almighty. They do not disobey any of Allah's commands.

Different angels have been assigned different responsibilities. For example, some are assigned to record deeds; they are called Kirāman Kātibīn. There are eight angels who will carry the Throne on the Day of Judgment. There are nineteen angels who are assigned to Hell. Some angels are also assigned to question the deceased. To deny the existence of angels is to deny many verses of the noble Quran, and a person who does so is no longer a Muslim.

Faith in Books

This means that all the books that Allah Almighty revealed to His messengers are true. [5] Just as it is obligatory for every sane, adult Muslim to have faith in the Holy Quran, it is also necessary to have faith in the books that Allah Almighty revealed to the Prophets before the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. However, we cannot act upon the rulings from those books that have been abrogated in our Shariah, but it is necessary for us to have faith in them. For example, in previous renditions of Divine Law, the Qiblah was Bayt al-Maqdis. It is necessary for us to have faith in this, but it is not permissible for us to act upon it, meaning we cannot face Bayt al-Maqdis in our prayers, as this command has been abrogated. [6]

Faith in Messengers

This means that all the news that the Messengers gave about Allah, the Exalted, must be accepted as true. [7] The noble Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـسَّـلَام have very high esteem and status in the court of Allah Almighty. They are beloved and dear to Allah Almighty. Revelation is sent down to them, and they are granted all kinds of marvels and miracles. Among all of creation, the highest rank belongs to the noble Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـسَّـلَام. A Prophet is even more virtuous than an angel. The noble Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـسَّـلَام are the most excellent of all creation. It is obligatory to honour and respect them, and even the slightest insult or disrespect towards them, or belying them, is an act of disbelief.

A person cannot be a believer until he believes in all of these noble Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـسَّـلَام. Satan was declared accursed because he disrespected and was insolent towards Allah's beloved Prophet Adam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم.

Faith in the Hereafter

After the belief in Tawḥīd (Oneness of Allah), the second point revealed to all the noble Prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـسَّـلَام in every era, which they were commanded to teach, was to have firm faith in the Hereafter. This is because the first fundamental principle of the religion is that our Lord is Allah alone, Who should be worshipped, and the second fundamental principle is to have firm faith in the Hereafter. This is stated in order in the initial verses of Surah al-Baqarah:

الَّذِیْنَ یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِالْغَیْبِ

" Those who believe in the unseen"[8]

وَ بِالْاٰخِرَةِ هُمْ یُوْقِنُوْنَؕ(۴)

" And they are certain of the Hereafter." [9]

In the same verses, such people are honoured with the title of Muttaqīn (those who fear Allah Almighty), and the exalted Book (the noble Quran) was revealed for the guidance of these very people who fear Allah Almighty. To believe in Allah Almighty after denying the Hereafter holds no meaning in the religion of Islam, because considering the Hereafter far-fetched is not just a denial of the Hereafter, but also a denial of Allah's power and wisdom.

Faith in Destiny

Whatever happens in this world and whatever people do, whether good or evil, it all happens in accordance with the eternal knowledge of Allah Almighty. Everything that is to happen is known to Allah Almighty and is recorded with Him. [10] To deny destiny is an act of disbelief. [11] The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has declared those who deny destiny to be the "Magians of this nation." [12]

Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ narrates:

The noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came to us while we were discussing the issue of destiny. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم became angry, to the extent that his blessed face turned red, as if pomegranates had been squeezed on his cheeks. He said, "Have you been commanded to do this? Or was I sent to you for this? The people before you were destroyed when they argued about this issue. I make it obligatory upon you not to argue about this matter.” [13]