What the pillars of faith mean in your life

Beliefs are not only ideas to memorize. Each pillar of faith changes how you see your day. Here is each one in a few lines, with what Allah and His Messenger said about it.

Allah

Allah is One. He has no partner, no child, and no parent, and nothing is like Him. One of the shortest chapters of the Quran, Surah Al-Ikhlas, says it clearly:

Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent."

Quran 112:1-4 (Saheeh International translation)

In daily life: every good thing you have comes from Him, so you thank Him. Every need you have, you can bring to Him. Scholars of tafsir (explanation of the Quran) explain the Eternal Refuge as the One whom everyone turns to for their needs.

The angels

Angels are real beings created by Allah. The Prophet said: "Angels were created from light" (Sahih Muslim 2996). Allah describes them: "they act by His command" (Quran 21:27). Jibril is the angel who brought the Quran down to the Prophet's heart, by Allah's permission (Quran 2:97). Other angels write down what people do:

And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers, Noble and recording; They know whatever you do.

Quran 82:10-12 (Saheeh International translation)

In daily life: this is a comfort, not a threat. Your good deeds, even small ones nobody else notices, are written down.

The books

Allah sent revealed books to His messengers as guidance. The Quran mentions the Torah given to Moses, the Psalms given to David, and the Gospel given to Jesus, peace be upon them (Quran 17:2, 4:163, 5:46). Muslims believe in these books as Allah revealed them. The Quran is the last of them, and it confirms the message that came before it:

He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. Before, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Qur'an.

Quran 3:3-4 (Saheeh International translation)

Allah has promised to protect the Quran:

Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.

Quran 15:9 (Saheeh International translation)

In daily life: the Quran is Allah's words to you. Read a little each day, in Arabic or in a translation of its meaning, and you will come to know your Lord.

The messengers

Allah sent a messenger to every nation (Quran 16:36), among them Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, peace be upon them. Believers accept all of them:

All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers."

Quran 2:285 (Saheeh International translation)

The last of them is the Prophet Muhammad, whom the Quran calls "the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets" (Quran 33:40).

In daily life: if you grew up loving Jesus or Moses, peace be upon them, you have not lost them. As a Muslim you believe in, love, and honor every messenger Allah sent.

The Last Day

This life will end, and every person will be raised to meet the results of what they did. Nothing is overlooked:

That Day, the people will depart separated [into categories] to be shown [the result of] their deeds. So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it.

Quran 99:6-8 (Saheeh International translation)

Allah's generosity is greater than you might expect. The Prophet said, reporting from his Lord:

He who intends a good deed and does not do it, Allah writes it down with Himself as a full good deed; and if he intends it and does it, Allah writes it down with Himself as ten good deeds to seven hundred times, or many times over.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6491 and Sahih Muslim 131

In daily life: nothing good you do is wasted, not even a kind word or a good intention.

Divine decree (qadar)

Everything that happens is known to Allah and happens by His will (Quran 54:49). This does not mean you stop trying. The Prophet said:

Adhere to whatever brings you benefit, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless. If something befalls you, do not say: 'Had I done such-and-such, it would have been such-and-such;' rather, say: 'Allah has decreed, and whatever He wills, He does.'

Sahih Muslim 2664

In daily life: you do your best, ask Allah for help, and then accept the outcome with a calm heart. Allah tells us why He taught us this:

In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you.

Quran 57:23 (Saheeh International translation)

Next, you will move from belief to practice: the five pillars of Islam.