The Basic Islamic Beliefs

There are three fundamental Islamic beliefs. These include:
Tawhid- The oneness of Allah
Risalah- Prophethood
Akhirah- life after death

Tawhid is the most important islamic belief. Everything in existence originates from the one and only creator, who is the Sustainer and sole source of Guidance. This belief should govern all aspects of human life. Recognition of this fundamental truth brings a unified view of life which rejects any division into religious and secular. Allah is the sole source of power and authority, and is to be worshipped and obeyed. He has no partner; Tawhid is pure monotheism. Allah is not born, and he has no son or daughter. Human beings are his subjects. He is the One; He is the Eternal; He is the First and the Last; and there is none like him.

In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. 
Say,"He is God, (who is) One. God the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to him any equivalent." (Surat al-Ikhlas, 112: 1-4)

Abdullah bin Masud has reported that the Quraysh said to the Prophet PBUH: "Tell us of the ancestry of your Lord." thereupon this Surah was sent down.

Tawhid brings total change to a Muslim's life. It makes him bow down only to Allah, Who sees all of his actions. He must work to establish the laws of Allah in all areas of his life, in order to gain his pleasure.

Risalah means prophethood or messengership. Allah has not left man without Guidance for the conduct of his life. Since the creation of the first man, Allah has revealed His guidance to mankind through His prophets. Prophets who received books from Allah are called messengers. All the prophets and messengers came with the same message; they urged the people of their time to obey and worship Allah alone and none other. Whenever the teachings of a prophet where distorted by people, Allah sent another prophet to bring them back to the straight path (Siratul Mustaqim). The chain of Risalah began with Adam, included Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Issac, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Jesus, and ended with Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them all). Muhammad PBUH is the final messenger of Allah to mankind.

The revealed books from Allah are:
1. The Torah, to Moses (Then We gave Moses the Scripture, making complete [Our favour] upon the one who did good [i.e. Moses] and as a detailed explanation of all things and as guidance and mercy that perhaps in the meeting with their Lord they would believe. 6:154);
2. The Psalms, to David (Indeed, We have revealed to you, as We revealed to Noah and prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David we gave the book [of Palsms]. 4:163);
3. The Gospel, to Jesus (And we sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous. 5:46);
4. The Qur'an which was revealed to Muhammad PBUH as the final book (And we have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book [i.e. the Qur'an] in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. 5:48).

Akhirah means life after death. Belief in Akhirah has a profound impact on the life of a believer. We are all accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgement, when we will be judged according to how we lived our lives on this earth. A person who obeys and worships Allah will be rewarded with a place of happiness in Paradise; the person who does not will be sent to Hell, a place of punishment and suffering. Allah knows our every thought and innermost intention; Angels are recording all our actions. If we always keep in mind that we will be judged by our actions, we will try to make sure that we act according to the Will of Allah. Many of today's problems would disappear if we had this awareness and acted accordingly.