Aqeedah in Islam
(Based on Thalaathatul-Usool and classical commentaries)
Question
What is Aqeedah, which version is correct, and why is it the foundation of a Muslim’s life?
Bottom Line
Aqeedah is the Muslim belief system. It begins with knowledge, is rooted in Tawheed, and is safeguarded by rejecting Shirk. The only correct Aqeedah is that of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah, the saved, victorious group mentioned in the hadith of the 73 sects.
Quick Answer
Aqeedah is the creed of Islam, grounded in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Its six pillars are belief in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree. Its foundation is Tawheed, and its greatest threat is Shirk. Without sound Aqeedah, deeds are void Qur’an 5:5; 39:65
What Is Sound Aqeedah?
The Qur’an and Sunnah define it succinctly: belief in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and Qadar. These six pillars anchor faith, and from them flow all matters of the unseen and the Resurrection.
Key Takeaways
- Knowledge precedes action: “Know that there is no god but Allah.” Qur’an 47:19
- The three fundamentals:
- Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet?
- Tawheed:
- Ruboobiyyah, Uloohiyyah, and Asma wa Sifaat.
- Shirk can be major, minor, or hidden; riya’ is the classic hidden form.
- Qadar has four levels:
- Allah’s knowledge, His writing in al-Lawh al-Mahfuz, His will, and His creation.
Core Questions & Answers
These three questions form the essence of Islamic belief and will be asked in the grave. They measure a person’s knowledge, conviction, and lived faith.
| Core Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is your Lord? | Allah, the Creator, Sustainer, Giver of Life and Death. “Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all.” – Qur’an 2:255 |
| What is your religion? | Islam is submitting fully to Allah through Tawheed and abandoning shirk. “Indeed, the religion with Allah is Islam.” – Qur’an 3:19 |
| Who is your Prophet? | Muhammad ﷺ, the final Messenger with complete and final revelation. “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.” – Qur’an 33:40 |
Tawheed vs Shirk
Tawheed affirms Allah’s oneness in worship, lordship, and attributes the core of Islam. Shirk corrupts this by directing any act of worship to anything other than Him.
| Category | Tawheed | Shirk | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruboobiyyah (Lordship) | Allah alone creates and sustains. | Attributing creation or control to others. | Believing stars determine fate. |
| Uloohiyyah (Worship) | Directing all worship to Allah alone. | Worshipping graves, saints, or idols. | Praying at a shrine for intercession. |
| Asma wa Sifaat | Affirming Allah’s names and attributes as revealed. | Denying His names or likening Him to creation. | Saying Allah “sleeps” or “is like us.” |
Categories of Shirk
Shirk isn’t one-size-fits-all; it appears in major, minor, and hidden forms. Each one threatens faith differently, from nullifying Islam to quietly corrupting sincerity.
| Type | Effect | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Major Shirk | Invalidates Islam. | Sacrifice to jinn or invoking saints. |
| Minor Shirk | Corrupts sincerity. | Showing off in prayer or charity. |
| Hidden Shirk | Subtle distraction from Allah. | Riya’ and superstitions. |
Knowledge, Then Action
Belief starts with knowing the truth, then applying it. Without knowledge or without action, faith remains incomplete. “So know that there is no deity except Allah…” Qur’an 47:19
Ibn ‘Uthaymeen: Knowledge without action is arrogance. Action without knowledge is misguidance.
From the Qur’an
- Tawheed: “Say: He is Allah, One…” Qur’an 112:1–4
- Shirk Forbidden: Qur’an 4:48
- Six Pillars: 2:177, 2:285, 4:136
- Finality of Prophethood: Qur’an 33:40
- Invalidation of Deeds by Shirk: 39:65, 5:5
From the Sunnah
- “Worship Allah alone and avoid worshipping others.” – Bukhari 2856, Muslim 30
- Hadith Jibril: Defines iman as belief in the six pillars. – Muslim 8
- Whoever dies knowing La ilaha illa Allah enters Jannah. – Muslim 26
- Last Day details: Sirat, scale, reckoning, cistern, records, and seeing Allah are all affirmed in sahih texts.
Refuting Innovations & Grave Worship
Innovations and grave worship blur the pure call of Islam. Seeking intermediaries, turning graves into shrines, or inventing rituals adds what Allah perfected, and every addition pulls worship away from Tawheed.
- No Intermediaries: Qur’an 10:18
- Grave Worship: – Bukhari 1330, Muslim 529
- Innovations: – Bukhari 2697, Muslim 1718
Types of Aqeedah Schools
Over time, groups split in defining belief; some leaned on reason, others on philosophy. Only Ahl al-Sunnah held fast to Qur’an and Sunnah as understood by the Salaf, free from distortion.
| School | Key Approach |
|---|---|
| Athari (Ahl al-Sunnah) | Stick to Qur’an and Sunnah as understood by the Salaf; avoid reinterpretation of Allah’s attributes. |
| Ash‘ari & Maturidi | Mix revelation with rational philosophy; reinterpreted some divine attributes. Seen as innovation by Ahl al-Sunnah. |
| Other Groups (Mu‘tazilah, Jahmiyyah, Khawarij, Rafidah) | Departed from sound belief by denying attributes, exaggerating sectarian claims, or excommunicating Muslims. |
✅ Do’s & ❌ Don’ts
| Do’s | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Learn Aqeedah from Qur’an, Sunnah, and scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah. | Blindly follow sects or speculative philosophy. |
| Worship Allah with sincerity. | Show off in worship or charity. |
| Trust Allah’s decree across all four levels. | Deny Qadar or attribute fate to “luck.” |
| Love the Sahabah and Ahl al-Bayt; unite on Tawheed. | Revile the Companions or fuel sectarian hatred. |
What This Means for You
Aqeedah shapes worship, choices, and afterlife preparation. Sound Aqeedah brings purpose and protection from shirk. Weak Aqeedah risks confusion and invalid deeds. A group of this Ummah will always remain upon the truth, unharmed by those who oppose them.
And Allah knows best.
References
Primary Sources
Qur’an
- Surah al-Baqarah 2:177, 2:285, Surah al-Nisa’ 4:136: Six pillars of faith defined.
- Surah al-Baqarah 2:255; Surah al-Ikhlas 112: Allah’s oneness and sovereignty affirmed.
- Surah Aal ‘Imran 3:19; Surah al-Ahzab 33:40: Islam as the only religion; Muhammad ﷺ as Seal of the Prophets.
- Surah al-Nisa’ 4:48; Surah al-Zumar 39:65; Surah al-Ma’idah 5:5: Shirk is unforgivable without repentance; deeds are voided.
Hadith
- Sahih Muslim 8, Book of Faith, Hadith 10: Hadith Jibril defining iman as six pillars.
- Sahih Muslim 26, Book of Faith, Hadith 42: Tawheed as the call of all Prophets.
- Sahih Muslim 30, Book of Faith, Hadith 46: Salvation tied to La ilaha illa Allah.
- Sahih Muslim 529, Book of Prayer, Hadith 215: Warning against grave worship and shrines.
- Sahih Muslim 1718, Book of Judgements, Hadith 12: Every innovation in religion is rejected.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2856, Book of Prophets, Hadith 48: Tawheed as the message of all Prophets.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1330, Book of Funerals, Hadith 166: Warning against turning graves into places of worship.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2697, Book of Conditions, Hadith 15: Every innovation is rejected.
Secondary Sources
- The Three Fundamental Principles: Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab’s primer on Aqeedah.
- Sharh Thalathatul-Usool: Ibn al-‘Uthaymeen’s explanation of the three fundamentals.
- Beneficial Explanation of Thalathatul-Usool: Commentary by Shaykh al-Fawzan.
- Al-‘Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah: Ibn Taymiyyah’s classical creed text.
- Madarij al-Salikin: Ibn al-Qayyim’s roadmap of faith and worship.
- Al-‘Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah: Imam al-Tahawi’s concise creed.
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