أركان الإيمان الستّة
Islamic Studies · Key Stage 3 · The School
What Muslims believe
Belief in Allah; in His angels; in His books; in His messengers; in the Last Day; and in qadar, divine decree. The list comes from the hadith of Jibril, in which the angel questions the Prophet ﷺ in front of the Companions and confirms each answer — a teaching device as much as an event.
Qadar without fatalism
Belief in divine decree means Allah knows and has power over all that happens. It does NOT mean human choices are meaningless — the Quran holds people responsible for what they do, which would be incoherent if they had no choice. Muslim theologians spent centuries on this, and the practical position is: act, choose well, and accept the outcome.
Three levels
The same hadith gives three: ISLAM, the outward practice (the five pillars); IMAN, the inward belief (these six articles); IHSAN, excellence — to worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you do not see Him, knowing that He sees you. A person can have the first without much of the third; the aim is all three.
A man asked the Prophet ﷺ whether he should tie his camel or trust in Allah. The answer: tie it AND trust in Allah. Not tie it instead of trusting; not trust instead of tying. Belief in qadar is not an argument for doing nothing, and the same sources that teach it hold people accountable for their choices. Muslim theologians have discussed how both hold for centuries — fatalism was never the answer.