God in the Holy Qur’ān in the verse quoted above, it is also mentioned distinctly on many occasions as in verse 13:2. Again, in the Ḥadīth, the Books are not mentioned distinctly and are included in the word “Messengers.” Thus the basis of belief rests on five principles, according to the Holy Qur’ān and Ḥadīth: God, His Angels, His Prophets, His Books, and a Life after death.10
As already stated, all articles of faith are in reality principles of action. Allāh is the Being Who possesses all the perfect attributes and when a man is required to believe in Allāh, he is really required to make himself possessor of the highest moral qualities, his goal being the attainment of the Divine Attributes. He must set before himself the highest and purest ideal which the heart of man can conceive, and make his conduct conform to that ideal. Belief in the angels means that the believer should follow the good impulses which are inherent in him, for the angel is the being who prompts the doing of good. Belief in the books of God signifies that we should follow the directions contained in them for the development of our inner faculties. Belief in apostles means that we are to model ourselves on their noble example and sacrifice our lives for humanity even as they did. Belief in the Hereafter or the Last Day tells us that physical or material advancement is not the end or goal of life; but that its real purpose is an infinitely higher one, of which the Resurrection, or the Last Day, is but the beginning.
10 In some Ḥadīth the words are added: “That thou believe in qadar” (lit. the measure ). Qadar is, no doubt, spoken of in the Holy Qur’ān as a law of God, but never as an article of faith, and all the Divine laws are accepted as true by every Muslim. See chapter on Qadar or Taqdeer.