What is Islam
The word "Islam" originates from Arabic, meaning to submit one's will to the will of God. As a monotheistic faith, Islam teaches that there is a single divine entity, the supreme Creator of the universe. Adherents, known as Muslims, believe that Islam is the genuine religion revealed to humanity by God. It is a universal faith, meant to be practiced by anyone, anywhere, and at any time. The fundamental principle of Islam is the complete submission to God's will.
Allah says in the Qur'an: "This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion." (Quran 5:3). Islam encompasses a comprehensive and holistic way of life, addressing every facet of human existence. It provides guidance on individual behavior, social interactions, material pursuits, morality, ethics, legal matters, culture, politics, economics, and global issues. In essence, Islam offers a complete blueprint for living that leaves no aspect of life untouched.
What is a Muslim
A Muslim is someone who submits their will to the sole, true deity, Allah, who alone deserves worship. Muslims also hold the belief that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final prophet sent by God. By dedicating themselves to Allah and following His commandments, a Muslim finds peace through this obedience. This peace naturally arises from submitting to Allah's will.
For a person to become a Muslim and accept Islam as their faith, they must say and believe in the following phrase:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ
La ilaha illa Allah. Muhammad rasool Allah
"There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger."
When an individual recites this statement and starts living by it, they become a Muslim.
Who is Allah
Allah is the name God Almighty has given Himself, as mentioned many times in the Holy Quran.
Muslims hold the belief that Allah has no partners in divinity—He has no son, and nothing in the universe can be compared to Him. They believe that Allah is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and that He created human beings solely to worship Him. Worshiping anything other than Allah is deemed a serious sin. Those who worship Him alone and adhere to His guidance are promised goodness in this life and Paradise in the hereafter.
The Holy Quran
A fundamental belief in Islam is that human beings are distinct among God's creations, endowed with the ability to think freely and make their own choices. To guide humanity, Allah sends Prophets and Messengers with scriptures to convey His true message.
Muslims believe that numerous scriptures were revealed to mankind throughout history, including the Psalms given to David, the Torah given to Moses, and the Gospel given to Jesus Christ (peace be upon them all). The Holy Qur'an, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is considered the final revelation from Allah to all of humanity.
The Qur'an we have today is the same Qur'an that was originally revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him). This scripture covers the major themes of life such as piety, worship, belief, morals, good deeds, sins, death, the afterlife, and much more. You can read more Islamic articles on our blog or use the Tawhid app to read the Quran with 50+ translations.
Who is Prophet Muhammad
From the dawn of humanity to the present day, Allah has sent Prophets to every nation to guide them to the truth. These Prophets were tasked with teaching their people to worship God alone and to avoid associating any partners with Him.
You might recognize some of these Prophets' names: Adam, Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail, Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqub (Jacob), Jesus, Muhammad, and many others (peace be upon them all). Muslims regard Jesus as a Prophet of God rather than a divine being or the Son of God, and they believe Muhammad (peace be upon him) to be the final messenger, with no prophets to follow him.
This lineage of prophethood began with Adam and concluded with Muhammad (peace be upon him), the last Prophet of Allah. Muhammad was born in Makkah in 570 CE, about six centuries after Jesus. He earned a reputation for being honest and trustworthy. At the age of 40, he was chosen as a Prophet of Allah at a time when humanity had strayed from the original teachings of God brought by previous Prophets.
Muslims believe that the Gospel, Torah, and other scriptures were altered by people after their respective Prophets had passed away. To restore the untainted teachings of Islam, Allah sent the archangel Gabriel to reveal the Qur'an to Muhammad (peace be upon him). Muhammad successfully conveyed this message, and today, 1.6 billion people follow Islam, grateful for the blessing of being called Muslims.
The Five Pillars of Islam
The Prophet (peace be upon him) defined the five pillars of Islam when the angel Jibreel asked him, "What is Islam?" This is recorded in the Hadith of Jibreel in Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 2, Hadith 50) and Sahih Muslim (Book 1, Hadith 8).
1. Belief in One God and the Testimony of Faith (Tawheed)
Tawheed is an Arabic term that signifies the unique belief in the oneness of God. It represents Islam's concept of monotheism, forming the foundation of the religion's core principles. To become a Muslim, one must declare the testimony of faith, known as the shahada:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ
"Laa ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasoolullah"
"There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger."
This belief in God forms the foundation upon which the entire religion and all its teachings are built.
2. Prayer (Salah)
Prayer is the second pillar of Islam. Every adult Muslim who is of sound mind is required to perform five obligatory prayers each day: Fajr (before dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (mid-afternoon), Maghrib (after sunset), and Isha (at night). Allah says in the Qur'an:
Prayer serves as the connection between an individual and Allah and should be performed with utmost sincerity.
3. Zakat
Zakat is a specified portion of a Muslim's wealth (about 2.5% of eligible assets) given to those in need once a year. It purifies wealth and is mandatory for adults who are mentally sound and possess wealth above the nisaab threshold held for a full year. Allah says:
Asset classes on which Zakat is due include gold, silver, cash, stocks, real estate, and agricultural livestock.
4. Fasting in the Month of Ramadan
Fasting involves refraining from eating, drinking, and engaging in sexual activity from dawn until sunset during Ramadan. It is obligatory for every sane, adult Muslim. Allah says:
The month of Ramadan is when Allah revealed the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him); the reward for good deeds is multiplied in this month.
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage)
The fifth pillar is the pilgrimage to Makkah. It is obligatory for every Muslim who has the physical and financial means to perform Hajj at least once in a lifetime. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Millions of Muslims travel to the Kaaba, the Sacred House of Allah in Makkah, each year to perform this act of worship. For prayer times and 99 Names of Allah, visit Tawhid's free tools.
The Six Pillars of Faith
In the same Hadith of Jibreel (Sahih al-Bukhari 50, Sahih Muslim 8), when the angel asked "What is Iman (faith)?", the Prophet (peace be upon him) described the six pillars of belief:
- Belief in Allah — as the sole Creator, Sustainer, Sovereign, and Planner; belief in His Names and Attributes as in the Qur'an and Sunnah.
- Belief in Angels — they obey Allah and never transgress. Among them are Jibreel (Gabriel), Mikail, Israfeel, and Malik. The Qur'an states that two angels record each person's deeds: "When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left. Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record]." (Surah Qaf 50:17–18).
- Belief in the Revealed Scriptures — the Torah, Gospel, Psalms (Zaboor), and the Qur'an, all revealed by Allah to His messengers (Quran 3:3–4, 4:136).
- Belief in the Messengers — all prophets sent by Allah, including the 25 mentioned by name in the Qur'an, from Adam to Muhammad (peace be upon them all). Muhammad is the final messenger (Quran 33:40).
- Belief in the Last Day — the Day of Judgment, resurrection, the weighing of deeds, and Paradise and Hell (Quran 82:5, 39:68).
- Belief in Divine Decree (Al-Qadar) — that everything that occurs happens according to Allah's will, knowledge, and wisdom (Quran 4:79, 57:22).
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) — His Life
Early life: Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in 570 CE in Makkah. He was an orphan; his father had died before his birth, and his mother passed away when he was six. He was raised by his grandfather and then his uncle Abu Talib. He became known as al-Ameen (the Trustworthy) for his honesty and character—narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari. He later worked for Khadija and married her at age 25.
Prophethood: At 40, in the Cave of Hira, the angel Jibreel (Gabriel) appeared and commanded him to read. The first verses revealed were: "Read in the name of your Lord who created—created man from a clinging clot. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous." (Surah Al-Alaq 96:1–3). This is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 1, Hadith 3). For 13 years he called people in Makkah to worship Allah alone; many faced persecution. Some Muslims migrated to Abyssinia for safety.
Hijrah (Migration to Madinah): When the Quraysh plotted to kill him, Allah protected him (Quran 8:30) and he migrated with Abu Bakr to Madinah. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. In Madinah he built the first mosques, established brotherhood between the migrants and the Ansar, and continued to spread Islam. The Conquest of Makkah took place years later; he entered with forgiveness and removed the idols from the Kaaba.
Farewell Pilgrimage and Final Sermon: In the 10th year after Hijrah he performed Hajj and delivered his final sermon at Arafah, emphasizing the sanctity of life and property, the rights of women, the prohibition of usury, equality of all people, and that no prophet would come after him. He left behind the Qur'an and his example (Sunnah) as guidance for the Ummah. The completion of the religion was revealed in Quran 5:3 at that time. He passed away at age 63 in the 11th year of the Islamic calendar.
The Afterlife
From an Islamic perspective, the journey to the afterlife is divided into four stages: death, life in the grave, the Day of Judgment, and eternal life.
Death is inevitable for every human. Allah says: "Every soul will taste death." (Surah Ali 'Imran 3:185). The Qur'an also reminds us to remember death and to prepare by doing good and giving charity before our time comes (e.g. Surah Al-Munafiqun 63:9–11).
Life in the grave: After burial, two angels (Munkar and Nakeer) question the deceased: Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is this man sent among you? A righteous soul answers with confidence (Allah, Islam, Muhammad); an evil soul cannot answer. The soul then experiences a state of blessing or torment. This is described in authentic Hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).
Day of Judgment: Only Allah knows when the Hour will come (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:63). Allah says: "And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown a second time, and at once they will be standing, looking on." (Surah Az-Zumar 39:68). Humanity will be assembled, and each person's deeds will be judged. Some will be admitted to Paradise and some to Hell (Surah Ali 'Imran 3:30).
Eternal life: Everyone will enter their eternal home—Paradise or Hell—according to Allah's judgment. The dwellers of Paradise will have everlasting bliss; the dwellers of Hell will face lasting punishment (e.g. Surah An-Naba 78:30). May Allah protect us and admit us to Paradise.