Amantu · the six articles of faith
The Six Articles of Faith
Faith is affirmation with the heart and declaration with the tongue. The Amantu prayer states all six articles together.
Amantu
اٰمَنْتُ بِاللّٰهِ وَمَلٰٓئِكَتِه۪ وَكُتُبِه۪ وَرُسُلِه۪ وَالْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ وَبِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِه۪ وَشَرِّه۪ مِنَ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰى وَالْبَعْثُ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ حَقٌّ اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَٓا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Amantu billahi wa mala'ikatihi wa kutubihi wa rusulihi wal-yawmil-akhiri wa bil-qadari khayrihi wa sharrihi minallahi ta'ala wal-ba'thu ba'dal-mawti haqq. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.
I believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His prophets and the Last Day. I believe in divine decree: that good and evil come about by the decree of Allah the Exalted. Resurrection after death is true. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I also bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and messenger.
- 1
Belief in Allah
It is to believe that Allah exists and is One, that He has no partner or equal, that He created everything and has power over all things. “Say: He is Allah, the One.” (al-Ikhlas 1) You can read His names and their meanings in the Asma ul-Husna section.
- 2
Belief in His angels
It is to believe that angels are beings created from light who do not sin and who carry out Allah’s commands. The four great angels: Jibril (who brings revelation), Mika'il (natural phenomena), Israfil (who will blow the Trumpet) and Azra'il (who takes the souls).
- 3
Belief in His books
It is to believe that Allah sent down books to His prophets. The four great books: the Tawrat (Torah, Prophet Musa), the Zabur (Psalms, Prophet Dawud), the Injil (Gospel, Prophet Isa) and the Holy Quran (Prophet Muhammad). The Quran is the final book, and it has reached us without alteration.
- 4
Belief in His prophets
It is to believe that Allah sent prophets to guide people, and to believe in all of them without making any distinction between them. The first is Prophet Adam and the last is Prophet Muhammad. The prophets are free of sin and are role models for people.
- 5
Belief in the Last Day
It is to believe in resurrection after death, the reckoning, Paradise and Hell. Everyone will see the recompense for what they have done. “Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (az-Zalzalah 7-8)
- 6
Belief in divine decree (qadar)
It is to believe that good and evil happen by Allah’s knowledge, will and decree. Believing in divine decree is no excuse for laziness: a person chooses with his own will and is responsible for his choices. “Tie your camel, then put your trust in Allah.” (Tirmidhi, Qiyamah 60)
For the names of Allah, see Asma ul-Husna; for the pillars of Islam, look here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the six pillars of faith (iman)?
There are six: believing in Allah, His angels, His books, His prophets, the Last Day and destiny (qadar), that good and evil come from Allah. These six principles are listed in order in the Amantu.
What is the Amantu?
It is the sentence that summarises the six pillars of faith: “Amantu billahi wa mala'ikatihi wa kutubihi wa rusulihi wal-yawmil-akhiri wa bil-qadari khayrihi wa sharrihi minallahi ta'ala…” Its Arabic text, transliteration and meaning are on this page.
What does belief in destiny (qadar) mean?
It means believing that everything that happens takes place within Allah’s knowledge and decree. This does not remove a person’s free will and responsibility; the servant makes the choice, and Allah has known it from eternity.
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