Explaining the Islamic Creed: Faith and Monotheism in Light of the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, and the Holy Qur’an

 

 In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful

Praise be to Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and made faith a light by which He guides whomever He wills. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, his family, and all his companions.

Islamic faith: monotheism and belief in God

introduction

The Islamic faith represents the foundation of our true religion, and it is embodied in the complete belief in the Oneness of God Almighty. God Almighty said in His clear book:{وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ}[Adh-Dhariyat: 56]. This verse explains the purpose of human creation, which is to worship God alone and single Him out for worship and obedience.

The call of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, to monotheism

The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, came with a great message that highlights monotheism as the essence of the Islamic religion. God Almighty said:{يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ * قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ * وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ}[Al-Muddaththir: 1-3]. The call to monotheism began from the first day of revelation, as the divine commands were clear to reject polytheism and worship God alone. The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Say, ‘There is no god but God,’ and you will be successful” (Bukhari). This hadith shows the importance of monotheism in achieving success and prosperity.

Types of monotheism

• Monotheism of Lordship: It is the belief that God is the Creator and Manager of everything. God Almighty said:{اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ}[Az-Zumar: 62]. This type of monotheism makes the believer acknowledge God’s power and authority over everything in the universe.

• Monotheism: It is to single out God in worship and obedience, without anyone else. God Almighty said:{إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي}[Taha: 14]. This monotheism directs Muslims to make every act of worship purely for God, from prayer, fasting, and zakat, without regard to any other person or thing.

• Monotheism of Names and Attributes: It is the belief in the beautiful names and attributes of God as they appear in the Qur’an and Sunnah. God Almighty said:{لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ}[Ash-Shura: 11]. This monotheism strengthens the belief that God has unique attributes that are unlike the attributes of any creature.

Monotheism in the life of a Muslim

Monotheism must be reflected in all aspects of a Muslim’s life. It is not just a belief in the heart, but rather a behavior and practice.

Sincerity in worship

Sincerity in worship is the essence of monotheism. God Almighty said:{وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ}[Al-Bayyinah: 5]. The goal of all actions must be for the sake of Allah Almighty, as the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Actions are but by intentions, and each person will have but what he intended” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari).

Stay away from polytheism

Polytheism is one of the greatest sins that a person can commit. God Almighty said:{إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ}[An-Nisa: 48]. A Muslim must be aware of the forms of polytheism, whether apparent or hidden, and be careful to avoid them by all means.

Commitment to Sharia orders

Adhering to the obligations and Sunnahs that Allah has commanded us to do strengthens monotheism. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with this command of ours, it will be rejected” (Narrated by Muslim). A Muslim must follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and avoid innovations that take us astray from the right path.

Examples from the lives of the companions

The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were wonderful models of monotheism and faith. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, for example, was among the first to believe in the message of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and offered all his support. Omar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, after his conversion to Islam, became an example of faith and piety, as he sought to spread truth and justice.

Monotheism in preaching and advocacy

Calling people to monotheism is one of the greatest deeds a Muslim can do. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “For Allah to guide even one person through you is better for you than having red camels” (Bukhari). Calling people to Islam should be based on knowledge and sincerity, and aim to guide people to Allah.

Monotheism and confronting sedition

Adherence to monotheism protects the believer from temptations. God Almighty said:{الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ}[Al-Ra’d: 28]. Faith and monotheism make the believer steadfast in the face of crises.

Monotheism and community protection

Monotheism helps protect society from corruption and evil. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I advise you to fear Allah, for it is a protection” (Narrated by Ibn Majah). A society that adheres to the monotheism of Allah is a stable and healthy society.

The importance of promoting monotheism in education and upbringing

Teaching children and youth the faith is a great responsibility. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Every child is born in a state of fitrah (natural disposition), then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Zoroastrian” (Bukhari). Raising children and youth on the basis of monotheism contributes to building a strong and faithful generation.

Monotheism and trust in God

Trusting in God is one of the manifestations of monotheism. God Almighty said:{وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا}[Al-Ahzab: 3]. Trust reflects complete faith that God is the One who controls all matters, and makes the believer feel reassured.

Monotheism and its relationship to good deeds

Good deeds are a natural result of monotheism. God Almighty said:{وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّـٰلِحَاتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ}[Al-Bayyinah: 7]. The believer who is committed to the Oneness of God will be keen to do good deeds that bring him closer to God.

The basic pillar of Islamic faith

The Islamic faith is based on solid foundations that confirm the soundness of faith and the integrity of worship. The most important of these pillars are:

1. Belief in Angels : Angels are creatures created by God from light, and they carry out His commands. God Almighty said:{يُسَبِّحُونَهُ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ}[Al-Anbiya: 20]. Belief in angels is part of the faith, and includes belief in their existence and their functions.

2. Belief in the heavenly books : God sent down heavenly books to guide humanity. God Almighty said:{آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ}[Al-Baqarah: 285]. Among the books that God revealed are: the Torah, the Gospel, and the Qur’an.

3. Belief in the Messengers and Prophets : God sent messengers to humanity to deliver His message. God Almighty said:{وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ}[An-Nisa: 164]. These messengers were an example of truth and guidance.

4. Belief in the Last Day : This belief includes belief in life after death, accountability, heaven, and hell. God Almighty said:{الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوٰةَ}[Al-Baqarah: 3]. Belief in the Hereafter motivates the Muslim to do good deeds and be pious.

5. Belief in fate and destiny : Belief that God has decreed everything before it happens. God Almighty said:{لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ}[Q: 16]. This faith inspires reassurance and strengthens trust in God’s judgment.

Teaching the faith to future generations

The importance of teaching the creed to future generations is invaluable. The family and the school must strive to transmit Islamic values ​​in the correct manner. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Order your children to pray at the age of seven, and beat them if they do not pray at the age of ten” (Abu Dawud). Teaching children the correct creed from a young age contributes to building a generation with strong faith.

Common Mistakes in Understanding Doctrine

There are some common mistakes that must be corrected to ensure the integrity of the doctrine. These mistakes include:

1. False interpretation of texts : Some people may misunderstand religious texts or distort their meaning. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever speaks about the Qur’an based on his own opinion, let him take his seat in Hellfire” (narrated by Al-Tirmidhi). We must adhere to the interpretation of trustworthy scholars.

2. Hidden polytheism : Some people may fall into polytheism without realizing it, such as relying entirely on material causes and forgetting to put their trust in Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Polytheism is more hidden than the crawling of an ant” (narrated by Ahmad). We must be aware of this type of polytheism.

3. Innovations in worship : Some people may add to the religion what is not part of it, such as innovations in prayer or fasting. The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours something that is not part of it will have it rejected” (Bukhari). A Muslim must seek out the authentic Sunnah.

Daily life and monotheism

A Muslim must apply the principles of monotheism in his daily life. This means that his relationship with God should be based on sincerity and obedience, and that his dealings with people should be in accordance with what the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, brought.

1. Honesty and Trustworthiness : A Muslim must be honest and trustworthy in all his dealings. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Honesty leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise” (Bukhari). Honesty and trustworthiness are part of monotheism.

2. Treating others well : Treating people with mercy and justice, and avoiding injustice. The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you” (Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi). Treating others well reflects monotheism and faith.

3. Performing obligatory and voluntary acts of worship : being consistent in prayer, zakat, fasting, and Hajj, in addition to voluntary acts such as night prayers. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are performed regularly, even if they are few” (Bukhari). Commitment to acts of worship strengthens monotheism.

The basic pillars of faith

The Islamic faith is based on solid foundations that confirm the soundness of faith and the integrity of worship. The most important of these pillars are:

1. Belief in Angels : Angels are creatures created by God from light, and they carry out His commands. God Almighty said:{يُسَبِّحُونَهُ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ}[Al-Anbiya: 20]. Belief in angels is part of the faith, and includes belief in their existence and their functions.

2. Belief in the heavenly books : God sent down heavenly books to guide humanity. God Almighty said:{آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ}[Al-Baqarah: 285]. Among the books that God revealed are: the Torah, the Gospel, and the Qur’an.

3. Belief in the Messengers and Prophets : God sent messengers to humanity to deliver His message. God Almighty said:{وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ}[An-Nisa: 164]. These messengers were an example of truth and guidance.

4. Belief in the Last Day : This belief includes belief in life after death, accountability, heaven, and hell. God Almighty said:{الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوٰةَ}[Al-Baqarah: 3]. Belief in the Hereafter motivates the Muslim to do good deeds and be pious.

5. Belief in fate and destiny : Belief that God has decreed everything before it happens. God Almighty said:{لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ}[Q: 16]. This faith inspires reassurance and strengthens trust in God’s judgment.

Monotheism in worship

Worship is the means by which a Muslim expresses his belief in the Oneness of Allah Almighty. Worship must be in accordance with what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) brought, and any addition or subtraction in worship is considered an innovation. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours something that is not part of it will have it rejected” (Bukhari).

the prayer

Prayer is the pillar of religion and the greatest form of worship by which a Muslim expresses his monotheism towards Allah. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Prayer is the pillar of religion. Whoever establishes it has established religion, and whoever abandons it has abandoned religion” (Narrated by Ibn Majah). A Muslim must be keen to perform prayers on time, with contemplation and humility.

Zakat

Zakat is a financial act of worship that purifies the soul and achieves social solidarity. God Almighty said:{خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا}[At-Tawbah: 103]. A Muslim must pay zakat regularly and sincerely, and the money he pays must be from pure money.

Fasting

Fasting is an act of worship that refines the soul and strengthens piety. God Almighty said:{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ}[Al-Baqarah: 183]. A Muslim must adhere to the rules of fasting and be careful to be sincere in his fasting.

Hajj

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, and is an act of worship that aims to demonstrate the unity of the Islamic nation. Allah Almighty said:{وَأَذِّنْ فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَى كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ}[Al-Hajj: 27]. A Muslim must perform Hajj when he is able, and his Hajj must be purely for the sake of Allah.

Monotheism in ethics

Monotheism is reflected in the morals and behavior of the Muslim. God Almighty said:{وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ}[Al-Qalam: 4]. The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, was a role model in morals, and he said: “I was sent only to perfect good morals” (Bukhari). A Muslim must have good morals, such as honesty, trustworthiness, and forgiveness.

Diligence in seeking knowledge

Seeking knowledge is a way to achieve true monotheism. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim” (narrated by Ibn Majah). A Muslim must strive to seek Islamic knowledge and be keen to understand his religion correctly.

Unity in the face of challenges

In the face of contemporary challenges, a Muslim must remain steadfast in his monotheism and faith. Allah the Almighty said:{إِنَّمَا النَّصْرُ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ}[Al Imran: 126]. Adherence to monotheism strengthens one’s strength in the face of difficulties and makes the Muslim steadfast in the truth.

Conclusion

The Islamic faith, including belief in and belief in the Oneness of Allah, is the foundation of a Muslim’s life. Every Muslim must adhere to what is stated in the Qur’an and Sunnah, and his monotheism must be sincere in all aspects of his life. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “He who does not thank people does not thank Allah” (Tirmidhi). We must thank Allah for the blessing of monotheism, and strive to apply it in our daily lives.

O God, guide us and grant us success in what you love and are pleased with, and make us among the people of monotheism and faith.

May God’s prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his companions.

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Sources

First: The Holy Quran

1. Surah Al-Fatihah :

   • The verse:{بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ}[Al-Fatihah: 1].

2. Surah Al-Baqarah :

   • The verse:{الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوٰةَ}[Al-Baqarah: 3].
   • The verse:{الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ}[Al-Baqarah: 285].

3. Surah Al Imran :

   • The verse:{إِنَّمَا النَّصْرُ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ}[Al Imran: 126].

4. Surah An-Nisa :

   • The verse:{وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ}[Women: 164].

5. Surah Qaf :

   • The verse:{لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ}[Q: 16].

6. Surah At-Tawbah :

   • The verse:{خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا}[At-Tawbah: 103].

7. Surah Al-Hajj :

   • The verse:{وَأَذِّنْ فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَى كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ}[Al-Hajj: 27].

8. Surah Al-Qalam :

• The verse:{وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ}[The Pen: 4].

Second: Prophetic Hadiths

1. Hadith about prayer :

   • The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Prayer is the pillar of religion. Whoever establishes it has established religion, and whoever destroys it has destroyed religion” (Narrated by Ibn Majah).

2. Talk about honesty :

   • The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari).

3. Hadith about mercy :

   • The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you” (Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi).

4. Talk about science :

   • The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim” (Narrated by Ibn Majah).

5. Hadith about innovations :

   • The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours something that is not part of it, it will be rejected” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari).

6. Hadith about hidden polytheism :

   • The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Polytheism is more hidden than the crawling of an ant” (Narrated by Ahmad).

7. Hadith about Hadith in the Qur’an :

   • The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Whoever speaks about the Qur’an based on his own opinion, let him take his seat in Hellfire” (Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi).

8. Talk about ethics :

• The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “I was only sent to perfect good morals” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari).

Third: Other religious sources

1. Hadith books :

   • Sahih Al-Bukhari : It contains authentic hadiths from the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, on various aspects of belief.
   • Sahih Muslim : It contains hadiths that clarify Islamic rulings and beliefs.

2. Books of interpretation of the Qur’an :

   • Ibn Kathir’s interpretation : includes the interpretation of the Qur’anic verses and their context.

3. Jurisprudence books :

• Islamic jurisprudence : deals with the legal rulings related to belief and worship.

Fourth: Books on the biographies of imams and scholars

1. Biography of Ibn Hisham : It narrates the details of the life of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, and the events of the Prophet’s biography.
2. Fayd al-Qadir : A book explaining the prophetic hadiths and clarifying their meanings.

The sources used in this article contribute to enhancing the correct understanding of the creed and monotheism. They have been carefully selected to provide a comprehensive and accurate view according to what is stated in the Qur’an and Sunnah. And Allah is the Grantor of success and the One sought for help.

May God bless and grant peace to our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his companions.