The six pillars of Iman are belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgement, and divine decree (qadr), both its good and its bad. They come from the well-known Hadith of Jibril in Sahih Muslim, where the Prophet described faith in exactly these six parts.
Key Takeaways
- Iman means faith, and its six pillars describe what a Muslim believes.
- They come from the Hadith of Jibril, recorded in Sahih Muslim 8a.
- The six are belief in Allah, the angels, the revealed books, the messengers, the Day of Judgement, and divine decree.
- The pillars of Iman describe belief, while the five pillars of Islam describe core actions, and both appear in the same hadith.
- Each pillar is a large subject in its own right, best studied gradually with a qualified teacher.
Where the Six Pillars Come From
In a well-known narration, the angel Jibril came to the Prophet in human form and asked him about Islam, Iman and Ihsan in front of his companions. When asked about Iman, the Prophet replied: "That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil" (Sahih Muslim 8a).
The Six Pillars
- Belief in Allah. That Allah is One, with no partner, the Creator of everything, with names and attributes of perfection. Surah Al-Ikhlas summarises this, as our guide to Surah Al-Ikhlas explains.
- Belief in the angels. Created beings who worship Allah and carry out His commands, such as Jibril, who brought revelation.
- Belief in the revealed books. Scriptures Allah revealed to messengers, including the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel, and the Quran as the final revelation. Our guide to what the Quran is introduces the Quran itself.
- Belief in the messengers. The prophets and messengers Allah sent to guide people, from Adam to Muhammad, the final messenger.
- Belief in the Day of Judgement. That this life will end, everyone will be resurrected, and all will be held to account for their deeds.
- Belief in divine decree (qadr). That nothing happens outside Allah's knowledge and will, both what we see as good and what we see as hard, while people remain responsible for their choices.
Each of these has been explained by scholars in great depth. This is a simple introduction rather than a full treatment, so for detail, especially on subjects like qadr, learn with a qualified teacher.
Iman and Islam: What's the Difference?
| Six pillars of Iman | Five pillars of Islam | |
|---|---|---|
| What they describe | What a Muslim believes | Core acts of worship |
| Contents | Allah, angels, books, messengers, the Last Day, divine decree | Declaration of faith, prayer, zakat, fasting in Ramadan, Hajj |
| Source | The Hadith of Jibril (Sahih Muslim 8a) | The same Hadith of Jibril |
Belief Shown Through Everyday Life
The pillars of Iman aren't only ideas to agree with. Belief in Allah shows in prayer and remembrance, belief in the Day of Judgement in how people treat one another, and belief in qadr in patience during difficulty and gratitude in ease. The Quran itself links these together in the verse describing the believers: "All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers" (Al-Baqarah, 2:285, Sahih International).
Teaching the Pillars to Children and New Muslims
- Start with simple statements children can remember, one pillar at a time.
- Use stories of the prophets to bring the pillars of the books and messengers to life.
- Revisit them as understanding grows, adding depth over the years.
Learn the Foundations Properly
Our Islamic Studies course covers the pillars of Iman and Islam in depth, one-to-one, with lessons for children in our Quran classes for kids and a gentle start for new Muslims in our Quran for reverts lessons. You can book a free trial lesson with no card required, or call +44 7848 496686.
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