Qur’ānAllah alone creates, owns, and sustains — Lordship belongs to Him.
allah is the creator of all things, and he is, over all things, disposer of affairs.
The Essentials of Creed
The foundations every Muslim must know: that Allah alone is Lord and alone is worshipped, His names and attributes as He described them, the finality of the Prophet ﷺ, and the path held in common by Ahl al-Sunnah.
Every āyah and hadith reference here was verified against the text of the Qur’ān and the hadith collections. Hadith text is a faithful summary of the meaning — tap any reference to read the full narration.
1.Allah Alone Is the Lord — Creator and Sustainer
'Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is over all things a Disposer.' There is no creator, provider, or controller of the universe besides Him — a truth even the deniers of His worship were made to admit. Every child is born upon this natural recognition (fiṭra).
Qur’ānAllah alone creates, owns, and sustains — Lordship belongs to Him.
indeed, your lord is allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established himself above the throne. he covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [he created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by his command. unquestionably, his is the creation and the command; blessed is allah, lord of the worlds.
Qur’ānAllah alone creates, owns, and sustains — Lordship belongs to Him.
o mankind, remember the favor of allah upon you. is there any creator other than allah who provides for you from the heaven and earth? there is no deity except him, so how are you deluded?
Successor report (maqṭūʿ)Al-Albani: Sahih Isnaad Maqtu · Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid: Sahih Isnaad Maqtu · Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad SahihAllah alone creates, owns, and sustains — Lordship belongs to Him.
explaining the tradition “every child is a born on islam”, hammad b. salamah said :in our opinion it means that covenant which allah had taken in the loins of their fathers when he said : “am i not your lord? they said: yes
HadithṢaḥīḥ — included per the compiler's conditionAllah alone creates, owns, and sustains — Lordship belongs to Him.
narrated imran bin husain: i went to the prophet (ﷺ) and tied my she-camel at the gate. the people of bani tamim came to the prophet (ﷺ) who said "o bani tamim! accept the good tidings." they said twice, 'you have given us the good tidings, now give us something" then some yemenites came to him and he said, "accept the good tidings, o people of yemen, for bani tamim refused them." they said, "we accept it, o allah's messenger (ﷺ)! we have come to ask you about this matter (i.e. the start of creations)." he said, "first of all, there was nothing but allah, and (then he created his throne). his throne was over the water, and he wrote everything in the book (in the heaven) and created the heavens and the earth." then a man shouted, "o ibn husain! your she-camel has gone away!" so, i went away and could not see the she-camel because of the mirage. by allah, i wished i had left that she-camel (but not that gathering)
ClassicalV3P490Allah alone creates, owns, and sustains — Lordship belongs to Him.
$ 62 - {الله خالق كل شيء}:
ClassicalV2P24Allah alone creates, owns, and sustains — Lordship belongs to Him.
خلق المخلوقات: {الله خالق كل شيء} .
2.He Alone Deserves Worship
'I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.' To every nation Allah sent a messenger with one message: worship Allah and shun false gods. This — directing all worship to Him alone — is the tawḥīd for which the prophets were sent and the scales are set.
Qur’ānBecause He alone is Lord, He alone is worshipped — this is why we were created.
and i did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship me.
Qur’ānBecause He alone is Lord, He alone is worshipped — this is why we were created.
and we certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "worship allah and avoid taghut." and among them were those whom allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed. so proceed through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers.
Qur’ānBecause He alone is Lord, He alone is worshipped — this is why we were created.
and we sent not before you any messenger except that we revealed to him that, "there is no deity except me, so worship me."
ClassicalV1P2Because He alone is Lord, He alone is worshipped — this is why we were created.
ج: معناه لا معبود بحق إلا الله وحده.
ClassicalV1P48Because He alone is Lord, He alone is worshipped — this is why we were created.
(أن لا إله) أي: لا معبود بحق (إلا الله) حال كونه (وحده) أي: منفردا، توكيد لتوحيد الذات والصفات.
3.His Names and Attributes — Affirmed as He Described Himself
'There is nothing like Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.' Ahl al-Sunnah affirm for Allah the names and attributes He affirmed for Himself and His Messenger ﷺ affirmed for Him — without distorting them, denying them, asking 'how', or likening Him to His creation. To Allah belong the most beautiful names; call upon Him by them.
Qur’ānAffirm His names and attributes as He affirmed them — without likening Him, and without emptying them of meaning.
[he is] creator of the heavens and the earth. he has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; he multiplies you thereby. there is nothing like unto him, and he is the hearing, the seeing.
Qur’ānAffirm His names and attributes as He affirmed them — without likening Him, and without emptying them of meaning.
and to allah belong the best names, so invoke him by them. and leave [the company of] those who practice deviation concerning his names. they will be recompensed for what they have been doing.
Qur’ānAffirm His names and attributes as He affirmed them — without likening Him, and without emptying them of meaning.
say, "he is allah, [who is] one,
Qur’ānAffirm His names and attributes as He affirmed them — without likening Him, and without emptying them of meaning.
allah, the eternal refuge.
Qur’ānAffirm His names and attributes as He affirmed them — without likening Him, and without emptying them of meaning.
he neither begets nor is born,
Qur’ānAffirm His names and attributes as He affirmed them — without likening Him, and without emptying them of meaning.
nor is there to him any equivalent."
ClassicalV3P3Affirm His names and attributes as He affirmed them — without likening Him, and without emptying them of meaning.
في آياتنا لا يخفون علينا أفمن يلقى في النار خير أم من يأتي آمنا يوم القيامة اعملوا ما شئتم} الآية. فطريقتهم تتضمن إثبات الأسماء والصفات مع نفي مماثلة المخلوقات: إثباتا بلا تشبيه وتنزيها بلا تعطيل كما قال تعالى: {ليس كمثله شيء وهو السميع البصير} . ففي قوله {ليس كمثله شيء} رد للتشبيه والتمثيل وقوله: {وهو السميع البصير} . رد للإلحاد والتعطيل.
ClassicalV1P49Affirm His names and attributes as He affirmed them — without likening Him, and without emptying them of meaning.
الإجماع الثاني: بيان أن إثبات الأسماء والصفات لا يقتضي مشابهة المخلوق للخالق، كما أشار إلى حدوث العالم.
ClassicalAffirm His names and attributes as He affirmed them — without likening Him, and without emptying them of meaning.
فمذهب المسلمون حق بين باطلين، وهدى بين ضلالتين، وهو إثبات الأسماء والصفات مع نفي التشبيه والأدوات (¬1).
4.Shirk — the One Sin That Undoes It All
'Allah does not forgive that a partner be set up with Him, but forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.' It is the greatest of wrongs, and Luqmān warned his son of it first of all. Whoever meets Allah associating nothing with Him enters Paradise; whoever dies calling on a rival to Allah enters the Fire.
Qur’ānShirk is the one wrong Allah will not forgive if a person dies upon it.
indeed, allah does not forgive association with him, but he forgives what is less than that for whom he wills. and he who associates others with allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.
Qur’ānShirk is the one wrong Allah will not forgive if a person dies upon it.
and [mention, o muhammad], when luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, "o my son, do not associate [anything] with allah. indeed, association [with him] is great injustice."
Qur’ānShirk is the one wrong Allah will not forgive if a person dies upon it.
and it was already revealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate [anything] with allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers."
HadithṢaḥīḥ — included per the compiler's conditionShirk is the one wrong Allah will not forgive if a person dies upon it.
narrated `abdullah:the prophet (ﷺ) said one statement and i said another. the prophet (ﷺ) said "whoever dies while still invoking anything other than allah as a rival to allah, will enter hell (fire)." and i said, "whoever dies without invoking anything as a rival to allah, will enter paradise
HadithصحیحShirk is the one wrong Allah will not forgive if a person dies upon it.
Narrated ' Abdullah (RA) : The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said one statement and I said another. The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said "Whoever dies while still invoking anything other than Allah as a rival to Allah, will enter Hell (Fire)." And I said, "Whoever dies without invoking anything as a rival to Allah, will enter Paradise."
ClassicalV1P115Shirk is the one wrong Allah will not forgive if a person dies upon it.
«وتب علينا» : بعد قيامنا بجميع ما أمرتنا حتى لا نلاحظ حركاتنا وسكناتنا، ونرجع إليك عن شهود أفعالنا لئلا يكون خطر الشرك الخفى فى توهم شىء منا بنا.
ClassicalShirk is the one wrong Allah will not forgive if a person dies upon it.
وذلك لما كان الشرك أظلم الظلم كما قال تعالى: {ومن أضل ممن يدعو من دون الله من لا يستجيب له إلى يوم القيامة وهم عن دعائهم غافلون وإذا حشر الناس كانوا لهم أعداء وكانوا بعبادتهم كافرين} . [الأحقاف: 5، 6] .
5.The Qur'ān — the Speech of Allah, Sent Down and Preserved
Allah spoke to Mūsā directly, and grants refuge to the one who seeks it 'that he may hear the speech of Allah'. 'Indeed, We sent down the Reminder, and indeed We are its Guardian.' The Qur'ān we recite is His word, guarded from change until the end of time.
Qur’ānThe Qur'ān is the very speech of Allah — revealed, not created by men, and preserved.
and if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of allah. then deliver him to his place of safety. that is because they are a people who do not know.
Qur’ānThe Qur'ān is the very speech of Allah — revealed, not created by men, and preserved.
and [we sent] messengers about whom we have related [their stories] to you before and messengers about whom we have not related to you. and allah spoke to moses with [direct] speech.
Qur’ānThe Qur'ān is the very speech of Allah — revealed, not created by men, and preserved.
indeed, it is we who sent down the qur'an and indeed, we will be its guardian.
ClassicalThe Qur'ān is the very speech of Allah — revealed, not created by men, and preserved.
صلاة حفظ القرآن
ClassicalThe Qur'ān is the very speech of Allah — revealed, not created by men, and preserved.
فالخلة «1» [حفظ القرآن وفهمه]
6.Muḥammad ﷺ — the Seal of the Prophets
'Muḥammad is not the father of any of your men, but the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.' With him the religion was completed. He ﷺ likened himself to the final brick that completed the house of prophethood; he said 'there is no prophet after me,' and was sent to all mankind.
Qur’ānMuḥammad ﷺ is the last of the prophets — no prophet comes after him.
muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the messenger of allah and last of the prophets. and ever is allah, of all things, knowing.
Qur’ānMuḥammad ﷺ is the last of the prophets — no prophet comes after him.
prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. that is grave disobedience. this day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear me. this day i have perfected for you your religion and completed my favor upon you and have approved for you islam as religion. but whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, allah is forgiving and merciful.
Qur’ānMuḥammad ﷺ is the last of the prophets — no prophet comes after him.
and we have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. but most of the people do not know.
HadithAhmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih Lighairihi · Al-Albani: Sahih · Zubair Ali Zai: Sahih MuslimMuḥammad ﷺ is the last of the prophets — no prophet comes after him.
narrated jabir bin 'abdullah:that the prophet (ﷺ) said to 'ali: "you are to me in the position that harun was to musa, except that there is no prophet after me
HadithAhmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih · Al-Albani: Sahih · Bashar Awad Maarouf: Hasan Sahih · Zubair Ali Zai: SahihMuḥammad ﷺ is the last of the prophets — no prophet comes after him.
narrated sa'd bin abi waqqas:that the prophet (ﷺ) said to 'ali, "you are to me, in the position that harun was to musa, [except that there is no prophet after me]
HadithAhmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih · Al-Albani: Sahih · Bashar Awad Maarouf: Sahih · Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad SahihMuḥammad ﷺ is the last of the prophets — no prophet comes after him.
thawban narrated that the messenger of allah(s.a.w) said:"the hour shall not be established until tribes of my ummah unite with the idolaters, and until they worship idols. and indeed there shall be thirty imposters in my ummah,each of them claiming that he is a prophet. and i am the last of the prophets, there is no prophet after me
HadithصحیحMuḥammad ﷺ is the last of the prophets — no prophet comes after him.
Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas reported that Allah's Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) left ' Ali Ibn Abi Talib (RA) behind him (as he proceeded) to the expedition of Tabuk, whereupon he ('Ali) said: Allah's Messenger, are you leaving me behind amongst women 4nd children? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Aren't you satisfied with being unto me what Aaron was unto Moses (علیہ السلام) but with this exception that there would be no prophet after me.
HadithصحیحMuḥammad ﷺ is the last of the prophets — no prophet comes after him.
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said, "The Israelis used to be ruled and guided by prophets: Whenever a prophet died, another would take over his place. There will be no prophet after me, but there will be Caliphs who will increase in number." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) ! What do you order us (to do)?" He said, "Obey the one who will be given the pledge of allegiance first. Fulfil their (i.e. the Caliphs) rights, for Allah will ask them about (any shortcoming) in ruling those Allah has put under their guardianship."
ClassicalMuḥammad ﷺ is the last of the prophets — no prophet comes after him.
في ذكر عموم رسالته
ClassicalMuḥammad ﷺ is the last of the prophets — no prophet comes after him.
قلنا: يدل على عموم رسالته لا على أن كل حكم منه على كل مكلف.
7.Faith — Belief of the Heart, Speech, and Action
The believers are those whose hearts tremble at Allah's mention, whose faith increases when His verses are recited, and who establish prayer and spend. Faith has some seventy branches; it is not mere claim, and it weakens with sin — which is why the Prophet ﷺ said the adulterer is not a believer at the moment of the act.
Qur’ānFaith is affirmation of the heart, speech of the tongue, and deeds of the limbs — it rises and falls.
the believers are only those who, when allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when his verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their lord they rely -
Qur’ānFaith is affirmation of the heart, speech of the tongue, and deeds of the limbs — it rises and falls.
the ones who establish prayer, and from what we have provided them, they spend.
Qur’ānFaith is affirmation of the heart, speech of the tongue, and deeds of the limbs — it rises and falls.
those are the believers, truly. for them are degrees [of high position] with their lord and forgiveness and noble provision.
Qur’ānFaith is affirmation of the heart, speech of the tongue, and deeds of the limbs — it rises and falls.
the believers are only the ones who have believed in allah and his messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of allah. it is those who are the truthful.
HadithصحیحFaith is affirmation of the heart, speech of the tongue, and deeds of the limbs — it rises and falls.
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA) : The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said, "The one who commits an illegal sexual intercourse is not a believer at the time of committing illegal sexual intercourse and a thief is not a believer at the time of committing theft and a drinker of alcoholic drink is not a believer at the time of drinking. Yet, (the gate of) repentance is open thereafter."
HadithصحیحFaith is affirmation of the heart, speech of the tongue, and deeds of the limbs — it rises and falls.
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA) : The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said, "When (a person) an adulterer commits illegal sexual intercourse then he is not a believer at the time he is doing it; and when somebody steals, then he is not a believer at the time he is stealing."
ClassicalFaith is affirmation of the heart, speech of the tongue, and deeds of the limbs — it rises and falls.
قال إبراهيم بن شماس : وسألت بقية بن الوليد ، وأبا بكر بن عياش ، | فقالا : ' الإيمان قول وعمل ' . | | - قال إبراهيم : وسألت أبا إسحاق الفزاري ، فقلت : الإيمان قول | وعمل ؟ فقال : نعم . وسمعت ابن المبارك يقول : ' الإيمان قول وعمل ' . |
ClassicalV1P25Faith is affirmation of the heart, speech of the tongue, and deeds of the limbs — it rises and falls.
الإيمان قول وعمل
8.Belief in the Unseen — the Ghayb
The guidance is for 'those who believe in the unseen'. With Allah are the keys of the unseen, which none knows but He; and everything was created by a decree. The believer affirms the angels, the Books, the messengers, the Last Day, and the decree — its good and its bad — as the texts state, without demanding to see.
Qur’ānThe believer accepts the unseen on Allah's word — the angels, the decree, and the Last Day.
who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what we have provided for them,
Qur’ānThe believer accepts the unseen on Allah's word — the angels, the decree, and the Last Day.
and with him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except him. and he knows what is on the land and in the sea. not a leaf falls but that he knows it. and no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record.
Qur’ānThe believer accepts the unseen on Allah's word — the angels, the decree, and the Last Day.
indeed, all things we created with predestination.
HadithṢaḥīḥ — included per the compiler's conditionThe believer accepts the unseen on Allah's word — the angels, the decree, and the Last Day.
narrated abu huraira: i said, "o allah's messenger (ﷺ)! i am a young man and i am afraid that i may commit illegal sexual intercourse and i cannot afford to marry." he kept silent, and then repeated my question once again, but he kept silent. i said the same (for the third time) and he remained silent. then repeated my question (for the fourth time), and only then the prophet said, "o abu huraira! the pen has dried after writing what you are going to confront. so (it does not matter whether you) get yourself castrated or not
HadithAbu Ghuddah: Sahih · Al-Albani: Sahih · Zubair Ali Zai: SahihThe believer accepts the unseen on Allah's word — the angels, the decree, and the Last Day.
narrated abu salamah:it was narrated from abu salamah that abu hurairah said: "i said: 'o messenger of allah, i am a young man and i fear hardship for myself, but i cannot afford to marry; should i castrate myself?'" the prophet turned away from him until he said it three times. then the prophet said: "o abu hurairah, the pen is dried concerning what you are going to face, so (it is up to you whether) you castrate yourself or not." abu abdur-rahman (an-nasai) said: al-awzai did not hear this narration from az-zuhri, and this hadith is sahih, yunus reported it from az-zuhri
ClassicalThe believer accepts the unseen on Allah's word — the angels, the decree, and the Last Day.
الإيمان بالغيب
ClassicalThe believer accepts the unseen on Allah's word — the angels, the decree, and the Last Day.
الإيمان بالغيب
9.The Straight Path — the Book, the Sunnah, and the Way of the Salaf
'Hold firmly to the rope of Allah, all together, and do not divide.' 'This is My straight path, so follow it.' When you differ, return it to Allah and the Messenger. The Prophet ﷺ left two things by which we never stray — the Book of Allah and his Sunnah — and a group of his Ummah will remain upon the truth until the end.
Qur’ānThe saved path: hold to the Book and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the first generations.
and hold firmly to the rope of allah all together and do not become divided. and remember the favor of allah upon you - when you were enemies and he brought your hearts together and you became, by his favor, brothers. and you were on the edge of a pit of the fire, and he saved you from it. thus does allah make clear to you his verses that you may be guided.
Qur’ānThe saved path: hold to the Book and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the first generations.
and, [moreover], this is my path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from his way. this has he instructed you that you may become righteous.
Qur’ānThe saved path: hold to the Book and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the first generations.
o you who have believed, obey allah and obey the messenger and those in authority among you. and if you disagree over anything, refer it to allah and the messenger, if you should believe in allah and the last day. that is the best [way] and best in result.
Qur’ānThe saved path: hold to the Book and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the first generations.
and the first forerunners [in the faith] among the muhajireen and the ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with him, and he has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. that is the great attainment.
ClassicalV1P68The saved path: hold to the Book and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the first generations.
[منهج السلف الإثبات المفصل والنفي المجمل]
ClassicalThe saved path: hold to the Book and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the first generations.
منهج السلف في الاستماع إلى القرآن
Adab & method
This page keeps to the creed the whole of Ahl al-Sunnah holds in common, stated in the words of the Qur'ān and the authentic Sunnah. It deliberately does NOT enter the detailed disagreements between the Sunnī theological schools (Atharī, Ashʿarī, Māturīdī) on how certain attributes are understood — those are matters for advanced study with qualified scholars, not for a foundations page. Creed is not won by debate but held with humility: affirm what Allah affirmed, submit where the intellect halts, and leave the disputed fine points to the people of knowledge.