Beliefs (Aqeedah)
Iman
Īmān
Faith — belief in the heart, affirmation by the tongue, and action by the limbs; it comprises six pillars and increases with obedience.
What is Iman?
Iman is faith or belief — the second of the great realities of the religion after Islam (outward submission) and before Ihsan (excellence). In its complete sense, Iman is defined as affirmation in the heart, declaration with the tongue, and action with the limbs. It increases with obedience and decreases with sin, making faith a living, growing reality rather than a static label.
The Six Pillars of Iman
When the angel Jibril asked the Prophet ﷺ about faith, he answered with six articles (Muslim 8):
- Belief in Allah — His existence, lordship, and oneness
- Belief in His Angels — created beings of light who obey Him
- Belief in His Books — the Torah, Gospel, Psalms, and the Quran
- Belief in His Messengers — from Adam to Muhammad ﷺ
- Belief in the Last Day — resurrection, judgement, Paradise and Hell
- Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar) — that all good and bad is by God's knowledge and will
Iman in the Quran
- "The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited, it increases them in faith." (8:2)
- "The Messenger believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so did the believers..." (2:285)
Faith and Action
True Iman is inseparable from righteous deeds. The Prophet ﷺ described faith as having "over seventy branches, the highest of which is La ilaha illallah and the lowest is removing a harmful thing from the road; and modesty is a branch of faith" (Muslim 35). Faith is therefore lived, not merely claimed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Islam and Iman?
Islam refers to the outward acts of submission (the five pillars), while Iman refers to inner belief (the six articles). Every true believer combines both; the Quran sometimes distinguishes them and sometimes uses them interchangeably.
Does Iman increase and decrease?
According to the majority of scholars, yes — faith increases with obedience and remembrance of God, and weakens with sin and heedlessness.
Etymology & origin
Iman (الإيمان) comes from the root A-M-N (أ-م-ن), meaning "to be secure," "to trust," and "to affirm as true". The same root gives amn (security), amanah (trust), and mu'min (believer). Iman is thus not mere intellectual assent but a deep, secure conviction of the heart that brings inner peace and produces trustworthiness, expressed in word and translated into action.
References
- Quran:
- 2:285, 8:2, 49:14, 49:15
- Hadith:
- Muslim 8 (Hadith of Jibril — six articles of faith); Muslim 35 (faith has over seventy branches); Bukhari 9 (faith has over sixty branches); Bukhari 13 (none truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself)
Related terms
Akhirah
The Hereafter — the eternal life after death, including resurrection, judgment, paradise and hellfire; belief in it is the fifth pillar of faith.
Ihsan
Spiritual excellence — to worship Allah as if you see Him; the highest level of faith, defined by the Prophet ﷺ in the Hadith of Jibril.
Mala'ika
Angels — beings created from light who never disobey Allah; belief in them is the second pillar of faith. They record deeds, convey revelation, and more.
Qadar
Divine decree and predestination — belief that Allah knows, has written, wills, and creates all things; the sixth pillar of faith.
Tawhid
The absolute oneness of Allah — the central doctrine of Islam affirming that Allah is unique in His essence, lordship, worship, and attributes.