The Six Pillars of Iman: Islam's Articles of Faith Explained Simply

Short answer: The six pillars of iman (faith) are belief in Allah, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree (qadr), its good and its bad. They come from the well-known Hadith of Jibril in Sahih Muslim 8, and most of them are named together in Quran 2:285 and Quran 4:136.

The Five Pillars of Islam describe what a Muslim does. The six pillars of iman describe what a Muslim believes. If you have read our guide on what Islam is and the Five Pillars, this article completes the picture.

Where do the six pillars come from?

In the Hadith of Jibril, a stranger with very white clothes and very black hair sat before the Prophet ﷺ and asked about Islam, iman and ihsan. About iman, the Prophet ﷺ answered: "That you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and that you believe in divine decree, its good and its evil." The Prophet ﷺ later told his companions that the visitor was Jibril, who came to teach them their religion.

This single narration is the reason Muslim teachers across the world teach faith in the same six headings.

1. Belief in Allah

Belief in Allah means affirming that He exists, that He alone is Lord and Creator, that He alone deserves worship, and that His names and attributes are perfect. This is tawheed. Surah al-Ikhlas (112) summarises it in four lines: He is One, Self-Sufficient, He neither begets nor is begotten, and nothing is comparable to Him.

For a deeper explanation, read Who Is Allah? The Meaning of Tawheed.

Roman Urdu note: Allah par imaan ka matlab sirf yeh maan lena nahi ke Allah maujood hai, balke yeh ke ibadat ka haqdaar sirf wohi hai.

2. Belief in the angels

Angels (mala'ikah) are created beings who obey Allah and do not disobey Him (Quran 66:6). In Muslim's collection, the Prophet ﷺ said angels were created from light (Muslim 2996). Some are named in revelation: Jibril brings revelation, Mika'il is associated with rain and provision, and others record deeds (Quran 82:10–12).

Why it matters: believing that deeds are recorded encourages honesty even when nobody human is watching.

3. Belief in the revealed books

Muslims believe Allah sent scriptures to earlier prophets, including the Tawrah to Musa, the Zabur to Dawud and the Injil to Isa, and finally the Quran to Muhammad ﷺ (Quran 3:3–4). Muslims respect the original revelations, while believing the Quran is the final, preserved message and the criterion over earlier texts (Quran 5:48).

New to the Quran? Start with What Is the Quran? A Simple Guide.

4. Belief in the messengers

Allah sent messengers to every nation (Quran 16:36). The Quran names 25, including Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad ﷺ, the final prophet (Quran 33:40). Muslims do not reject any of them (Quran 2:285). This is why Muslims love Prophet Isa — see Jesus in Islam.

5. Belief in the Last Day

Muslims believe this life will end, the dead will be resurrected, deeds will be weighed, and people will be judged with perfect justice (Quran 99:7–8). The next article in this series, What Happens After Death in Islam, explains the stages in detail.

6. Belief in qadr (divine decree)

Qadr means Allah knows everything, has written it, wills it, and creates it (Quran 54:49). It does not mean humans are robots. Humans have real choice and responsibility (Quran 18:29). Belief in qadr gives calm in hardship and humility in success. It also answers part of the question in Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Roman Urdu note: Taqdeer par imaan mehnat chhorne ka bahana nahi; mehnat karna humari zimmedari hai aur natija Allah ke haath mein hai.

How to explain the six pillars in da'wah

• Start with what is shared. Christians and Jews also believe in God, angels, prophets, scripture and judgment.
• Explain the difference clearly and kindly. Islam's emphasis is pure tawheed and the finality of Muhammad ﷺ.
• Connect belief to life. Each pillar changes behaviour: honesty, patience, hope and accountability.

Practise this conversation with our AI avatars in Practice Da'wah, or study the structured lessons in our da'wah modules.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Islam and iman? In the Hadith of Jibril, Islam refers to outward practice (the Five Pillars) and iman to inward belief (the six pillars). Ihsan is worshipping Allah as though you see Him.

Can a Muslim deny one pillar of iman? Mainstream Sunni scholarship holds that knowingly rejecting any of the six pillars contradicts faith. Doubts should be discussed with a qualified teacher, not hidden in fear.

Does belief in qadr mean we have no free will? No. Islam teaches both Allah's complete knowledge and will, and real human choice for which people are accountable.

Are the six pillars mentioned in the Quran? Yes. Allah, angels, books, messengers and the Last Day appear together in Quran 2:177, 2:285 and 4:136. Qadr is affirmed in verses such as 54:49 and fully listed in the Hadith of Jibril.