[Coach]

There are SIX pillars of Iman (Faith or Belief) according to Islamic teachings which one is required to believe...


1. BELIEF IN ALLAH (God)

- The first among the six major elements of faith in Islam is the belief in Allah, the one and only true God. His Knowledge encompasses everything; and He is completely Knowledgeable about a thing even before He creates it, knowing the how of the thing and all of its conditions and stipulations, including its duration of existence. He has complete control over everything and nothing happens except by His Permission. His Footstool extends over the heavens and the earth; His Throne is over His Footstool; and He is Above His Throne. He is the High and the Mighty.

He is the First, the Last, the Highest, the Nearest, and the Knower of all things. He is Ever-Living, without end. He is the Wise, the Well Acquainted. With Him are the keys to all knowledge beyond human reach, and none knows them except Him. Nothing happens at all except that He has written it in a Clear Book. He is Capable of everything. He is the Possessor of Strength, the Unbreakable. He Has no likeness. He is the Hearing and the Seeing, always. He Loves the doer of good, the just, the upright, and the pious. He Loves the repentant and those who purify themselves. He Loves those who fight for His Cause. He Loves those who Follow His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him). He is the Forgiving, the Loving, and the Loved.

He is the Merciful, the Mercy-Giver. He has encompassed everything with His Mercy and He is Ever-Merciful with the Believers. He has prescribed mercy for Himself; He is the Coverer of sins, the Best Protector, and Most Merciful to those who show Mercy.




2. BELIEF IN THE ANGELS

- The angels are usually hidden from the senses of man, though sometimes they may be visible. Their existence is recognizable through reason, and it is proven by Divine Revelation. The following are some of the many characteristics of the angels:

Angels are shy and behave modestly; similar to people, they become annoyed by that which they dislike (like foul odors etc.). They flock to those who remember Allah and worship Him alone. Angels are created from light; they are free of the weaknesses of the flesh from which humans suffer, such as hunger, disease, illness, slumber, exhaustion, etc.,


"They are but honored servants; they speak not until He has spoken; and they act by His command." (The Qur’an 21:26-27)





3. BELIEF IN DIVINE REVELATIONS

- From this lineage of Prophets, we are aware of the following Books: the Suhuf (Scrolls) revealed to Ibrahim (Abraham), the Zaboor revealed to Dawud (David), the Tawrah (Torah) revealed to Musa (Moses), the Injeel (Gospel) revealed to Isa (Jesus), and the Qur’an revealed to Muhammad, whose lineage traces back to Abraham through Ismael (peace be upon them all).


Allah has guided and helped the human race in many ways. One of these ways was to reveal a book containing the laws prescribed for a particular people though their Prophets. Each of the Prophets who received a divinely revealed Book also received a wisdom enable them to explain and teach their people how to best implement the divinely revealed Books.

These Books explain to the people that Allah was the only one worthy of worship, and that true success in this life and the Hereafter would only be reached by worshiping Him alone, without any partners or associates. They explained laws and codes for the people to follow; they informed of life in the Hereafter, giving glad tidings to those who obeyed the Messengers, and warning of severe punishment for those who rejected their guidance.

"But We had already given the house of Ibrahim the Book and the Wisdom, and conferred upon them a great kingdom." (The Qur’an 4:54)

"And We bestowed upon him (Ibrahim) Ishaq and Yaqub (Isaac and Jacob) and ordained among his offspring Prophet hood and Revelation..." (The Qur’an 29:27)

"Indeed We did reveal the Torah, therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophet’s, who surrendered to Allah's Will, judged the Jews; and the Rabbis and the Priests (who judged also), for to them was entrusted the protections of Allah's Book, and they wee witness to it; therefore fear not men but fear Me and sell not My Signs for a miserable price. And who-so-ever odes not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are disbelievers." (The Qur’an 5:44)




4. BELIEF IN THE MESSENGERS

Allah has chose Messenger from among His own creatures. He has sent all of the Messengers with the same Message, delivering this Message to all people; "Surely We have sent to each nation a Messenger (saying) ‘Worship Allah and abandon the false gods.’" (The Qur’an 16:36) These Messenger were sent to invite their people to worship Allah alone, abandoning all false deities. Beside the first objective of inviting to the worship of Allah alone, the Messengers also were commissioned with warning people of the torment in the next life for those who did not worship Allah alone; as well as delivering glad tidings to those who worship Allah. By this, mankind will have no excuse on the Day of Resurrection. Allah the Mighty and Majestic said...

"Surely We have sent to each nation a Messenger (saying) ‘Worship Allah and abandon the false gods.’" (The Qur’an 16:36) and: "We would not punish (a people) until we send a Messenger (to them)." (The Qur’an 17:15).

The Messengers were worshipers of Allah whom Allah honored with the position of Prophet hood and Messengership. They were indeed the greatest men who ever lived and the best example, Allah says about Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him);


"Indeed he was a great worshiper." (The Qur’an 17:3)


...and about Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yaqub (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, peace be upon them):


"Recall Our worshipers, Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yaqub, who were loyal worshipers and well versed in religion." (The Qur’an 38:45).

Regarding Yusuf (Joseph, peace be upon him):


"Surely he was one of Our chosen worshipers." (The Qur’an 12:24). Regarding Dawud (David, peace be upon him): "Recall Our worshiper Dawud, a loyal servant..." (The Qur’an 38:17).

Regarding Sulaiman (Solomon, peace be upon him):


"How excellent a worshiper, indeed he was loyal in repentance to Us." (The Qur’an 33:44). Concerning Ayub (Job, peace be upon him): "How excellent a servant." (The Qur’an 38:44). Concerning Muhammad (peace be upon him): "Blessed be He who revealed the Criterion to His worshiper." (The Qur’an 25:1); and concerning Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) Allah said, "He was but a worshiper upon whom Webestowed favors, and We made him example for the children of Israel." (The Qur’an 43:59).

The Last of all of the Prophet and Messengers was Muhammad (peace be upon him). He was, in fact, sent for all of mankind:


"Say: O mankind! Surely I am the Messenger of Allah unto all of you..." (The Qur’an 7:158).


The first of the Messengers was Nuh (Noah), and the last of them was Muhammad (peace be upon him). The best of them were, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa (Moses), Isa and Muhammad. We also believe that the Law revealed to Muhammad completes and override the Law received by previous Prophets.





5. BELIEF IN THE HEREAFTER

- Among the six major elements of faith in Islam is the belief in the Hereafter. The following discussion is based upon information derived from the Qur’an - the Last of Divine Revelation and the Tradition of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to whom the Qur’an was revealed, explaining and elaborating upon the Qur’an.





6. BELIEF IN THE DIVINE WILL

The last of the six major elements of faith Islam is the belief in the Divine Will. The Divine Will encompasses all things and events that occur, whether they be good or evil.

Belief that Allah’s Knowledge is all inclusive and Complete, that He is most aware of every creature’s qualities and innermost feelings, of the results of their actions, as well as what action they will perform before they perform them, and what actions they may have performed had He willed them to perform otherwise. He is aware of all of this without burden, and there is no contradiction between His encompassing Will and the free will and choice of the creatures.

The Divine Will is both detailed and general, as for the details, Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) described the fetus in the womb and said,


Whatever Allah wills, then it shall be.

"Truly, when He intends a thing, His command is ‘Be’, and it is!" (The Qur’an 36:82).

All of the actions of the creatures, whether good or bad, occur according to obey Him, and He has forbidden them to behave disobediently. He loves the just and pious people and He is please with their good deeds. He is displeased with those who disbelieve and perform evil. He does not wish disbelief for His creatures; He warns them from it; yet He allows them to stray of they so desire.

His Wisdom is unique in that it may not be understandable to human intellect. So we believe that He allows evil and disobedience even though He encourages good from His creatures. It is only due to His Wisdom, not a frustration of His Will, that one will disobey and commit evil acts.

Human beings have some control over their actions and they have a limited type of will. The Will of Allah is not frustrated by the fact that He gave humans the freedom to choose.

The ancient Greek philosophers claimed that good comes from God, but evil comes from others besides Him. This is what is common among their teachings and what led them the declare that either,

(a). Allah things are good and evil in a relative sense, or,

(b). All evil exists because of another agent (either man himself, or other deities). This concept led the philosophers to debate endlessly over the matter.

However, one should recognize the truth in what we have mentioned, for the belief in one God includes the true concept that there is only one Creator, and He alone created everything, whether good or evil.


(Source: http://www.anwary-islam.com/life/pillars_iman.htm)