6 Pillar of Iman Explained Simply for All Ages

Have you ever thought about the unseen but strong forces that deeply affect who a Muslim is? As Muslims, our whole life is built on our faith – our iman. This spiritual belief guides every decision we make, influences how we act, and helps us connect with our Creator. These ideas are not just distant or hard to understand; the 6 pillar of iman (the six pillars of faith) are basic, life-changing truths. They are simple ideas that have a big impact, and every Muslim – whether young or old – should truly believe in them, live by them, and share them with others. 

In this detailed article, we will explain the 6 pillar of iman in a clear and easy way so that people of all ages can understand,and how each of these beliefs plays an important role in a Muslim’s life.

The Meaning of Iman

Iman in the Arabic language means belief or affirmation.In Islamic terminology, it is defined as:

• a declaration with the tongue (speech)
• a firm conviction in the heart ( intention), 
• and actions with the limbs (body parts). 

Imam Al-Shafi’i said — None of these three is sufficient without the others.” And if the heart’s conviction (belief) is missing, then the remaining parts are of no benefit, because the belief of the heart is a condition for the validity and acceptance of the rest.

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6 Pillar of Iman and Their Role in Every Muslim’s Life

6 Pillar of Iman, as clearly stated by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the famous hadith:

“Iman is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in Divine Decree, both its good and its bad.”

So,The 6 pillar of iman are:

1. Belief in Allah (God)
2. Belief in the Angels
3. Belief in the Divine Books
4. Belief in the Prophets
5. Belief in the Day of Judgment
6. Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar)
   
   

Each of these pillars is a part of the spiritual picture. When all of them come together, they build a strong, solid faith that can handle any challenge. A Muslim who knows the 6 pillar of iman feels spiritually secure, emotionally calm, and mentally happy with the truth of Islam. 

Belief in Allah: The Cornerstone of Faith

The first and most important pillar of the 6 pillar of iman is belief in Allah. As Muslims, we know with certainty that Allah is One, without partners, children, or equals. He is the Creator of all that exists — the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the Most Merciful.

Belief in Allah is not just an abstract idea. It is the light in our hearts that gives us strength during hard times and humility during good times. We believe that Allah sees us, hears us, and loves us. That belief changes everything. We are never alone.

Belief in Allah means having a firm conviction in:

• His existence
• His Lordship (Rububiyyah)
• His divinity (Uluhiyyah)
• and in His names and attributes.

1.Belief in the Existence of Allah the Almighty:

Whoever reflects on themselves, the universe, and the Qur’an will find clear evidence of Allah’s existence. Reason proves that creation must have a Creator — it cannot create itself, nor exist by chance. Thus, the only logical conclusion is that Allah, the Lord of all worlds, is the Creator. Allah the Almighty pointed to this logical and definitive argument in His saying:

“Or were they created by nothing, or are they ˹their own˺ creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? In fact, they have no certainty.(Surah At-Tur, 52:35–37).

2.Belief in the Lordship of Allah (Tawheed al-Rububiyyah)

It means having firm belief and acknowledgment that Allah alone is the Lord and Master of all things, without any partner or equal. He is the sole Creator, Sustainer, the Giver of life and death. All goodness is in His hands, and to Him all matters return. Allah says:

“Unquestionably, to Him belongs the creation and the command. Blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.”(Surah Al-A’raf, 7:54)

3.Belief in the Divinity (Uluhiyyah) of Allah the Almighty

The word “Ilah” means “the one who is worshipped”, i.e., the object of worship, out of love and reverence. This is the true meaning of the statement “La ilaha illa Allah” — There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. 

Scholars have defined Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Divinity) as: “Singling out Allah in all forms of worship and denying worship to anything or anyone other than Allah”. It was narrated that Mu’adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘O Mu’adh, do you know what Allah’s right over His slaves is and what His slaves’ right over Allah is?’ I said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said: ‘The right of Allah over His slaves is that they should worship Him and not associate anything with Him. And the right of the slaves over Allah, if they do that, is that He admits them into Paradise..’”

4.Belief in the Names and Attributes of Allah

This means affirming all the names and attributes that Allah has affirmed for Himself in the Quran and the Sunnah of His Prophet ﷺ. Allah is unlike anything else; He is perfect in His beautiful names and lofty attributes. Allah says:

“There is nothing like Him, for He ˹alone˺ is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing..” (Surah Ash-Shura, 42:11)

What Does Belief in Angels Mean?

Angels are among the honored creations of Allah — they do not eat, drink, or have gender, and their exact number is known only to Him. Each angel is assigned specific duties: some deliver revelation, others take souls, oversee the wombs, Paradise, Hellfire, and more. They never disobey Allah, as He says:

“They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, and they do what they are commanded.” (Surah At-Tahrim, 66:6)

Belief in angels is a fundamental part of the 6 Pillar of Iman, and one’s faith is not complete without it. This belief is reflected in several key ways:

1.Loving the Angels and Avoiding What Harms Them

Believers should respect the angels and avoid things that offend them, such as eating garlic or keeping dogs and prohibited images in the home. As Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever eats from this foul-smelling plant, let him not approach our mosque, for the angels are harmed by what harms the sons of Adam.”  (Narrated by Muslim)

“The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)

2.Realizing the Greatness of Allah

believing in angels also means realizing the majesty and power of Allah. The angels were created from light, with wings, and in awe-inspiring forms. This reflects the greatness of Allah, Allah says:

“All praise is due to Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, [Who] made the angels messengers having wings — two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.”  (Surah Fatir, 35:1)

3.Imitating the Angels in Worship and Obedience

Believing in angels helps us  imitate their devotion to Allah — their pure worship, consistent remembrance, and complete submission. The angels never tire, nor do they stop glorifying their Lord. Allah says:

“There is not one of us but has a known position. And indeed, we are those who line up [for worship]. And indeed, we are those who glorify Allah.” (Surah As-Saffat, 37:164–166)

4.Hoping for the Angels’ Prayers and Forgiveness

Believing in angels encourages the believer to seek their intercession, as the angels pray and ask forgiveness for the righteous believers. Prophet ﷺ said:

“The angels pray for one of you (i.e., seek forgiveness for him) so long as he remains in his prayer area after finishing prayer and does not break his wudu’. They say: ‘O Allah, forgive him. O Allah, have mercy on him.’”(Narrated by Al-Bukhari)

A Muslim believes in all of the angels and loves them equally, without distinction, because they are all honored servants of Allah. Understanding and embracing belief in the angels is essential for anyone who seeks to fulfill the core principles of the 6 Pillar of Iman and strengthen their relationship with Allah.

Understanding the Divine Books in Islam

The third of the 6 pillar of iman is belief in the divine books. These are the scriptures Allah revealed to guide mankind.Allah, the Exalted, revealed divine books to a number of His prophets (peace be upon them all):

• The Torah was truly revealed to Moses 
• The Psalms (Zabur) to Dawoud
• The Gospel (Injil) to Isa
• The Scriptures (Suhuf) to Abraham and Moses
• The final and most complete of these is the Quran, which was sent down to the final Arabic Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

The questions may arise: “Why did Allah send down these divine books? What is the wisdom behind their existence?” The wisdom behind this can be summarized as follows:

1.To establish the proof (hujjah) against His creation: So that people cannot claim, “No bringer of good news or warner ever came to us.” Sending messengers with written revelations removes this excuse.

 

2.To affirm the truthfulness of the prophets in their claim of being chosen and sent by Allah: For instance, Allah revealed to Moses (peace be upon him) the Tablets, described in the Quran as:
“And We wrote for him on the Tablets [something] of all things – instruction and explanation for all things.” (Al-A‘raf: 145)

3.To be a judge among people and clarify what they differed about: Allah says:
“…..Then Allah raised prophets as deliverers of good news and as warners, and revealed to them the Scriptures in truth to judge among people regarding their disputes.” (Al-Baqarah: 213)

 

4.To establish justice among people to ensure that everyone’s rights are protected. They serve as a reference for responsibilities and rights. Without them, human desires and biases would dominate, leading to injustice and corruption.

 

5.To guide and direct people:  Allah revealed the scriptures as sources of knowledge and wisdom, guiding people in matters of their worldly life and the hereafter. While prophets themselves guide their people, the divine books continue to serve this purpose even after the prophets have passed away. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“I have left among you that which, if you hold on to it, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah.” (Narrated by Muslim)

Prophets, Judgment Day, and Divine Decree

Three of the 6 pillar of iman are closely connected and are often taught together:

Belief in the Prophets

The Prophets and Messengers of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) have many rights upon us, due to the elevated and noble rank sand the honorable missions  that Allah has granted them. Among these rights are:

1.Believing in all of them, we must believe that all the prophets and messengers were truly sent by their Lord, and accept all that they were sent to deliver.

2.Loving all of them and making no distinction between them: this is an act of worship that draws one closer to Allah and is a means of entering Paradise with them.

 Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man asked the Prophet (PBUH), “When is the Hour?” The Prophet said, “What have you prepared for it?” The man replied, “Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet said, “You will be with those whom you love.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

3.Believing in the superiority of all prophets and messengers over the rest of mankind as they were the purest of heart, strongest in faith, most devout in worship, and finest in character. All of them were trustworthy and truthful.

4.Sending blessings and peace upon them: The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“When you send salutations upon me, also send salutations upon the other messengers, for I am only one of the messengers.” (Authenticated by Al-Albani)

Belief in the Day of Judgment

We believe that one day, the world will end, and every human being will be resurrected for judgment. Allah will judge us based on our faith and deeds. For the believer, this brings hope — that every good deed matters, even if unnoticed in this life. For the wrongdoer, it is a warning that nothing escapes Allah’s knowledge.

Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar)

The final pillar of the 6 pillar of iman is belief in Qadar — that everything happens by the will and knowledge of Allah. Whether something good or bad happens, it was always written in the Divine plan.

This belief gives Muslims inner peace. We try our best, but we know that whatever the outcome, it is part of Allah’s wisdom. This pillar helps us manage grief, anxiety, and uncertainty — something everyone can relate to, especially young people in today’s world.

How Ulum Al-Azhar Academy Teaches Iman to Youth

One of the shining examples of how the 6 pillar of iman can be taught effectively is through institutions like Ulum Al-Azhar Academy. Their Islamic education model is built to help children and everyone connect deeply with their faith, not just memorize facts. Here’s how they do it:

Interactive Lessons: Instead of dry lectures, they use storytelling, visuals, and activities to teach the 6 pillar of iman in a way kids remember and enjoy.

Age-Appropriate Language: Whether explaining the role of angels to a 5-year-old or the concept of Qadar to a teen, the Academy adapts its message to the level of the student.

Real-Life Application: Students are taught how to apply the 6 pillar of iman in everyday life — dealing with peer pressure, practicing patience, trusting Allah, and loving the Prophet ﷺ.

Teaching belief in Allah to children begins with understanding 6 pillars of islam His beautiful names and attributes. Allah is Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful), Al-Khaliq (The Creator), and Al-‘Aleem (The All-Knowing). These names help Muslims feel connected to their Lord on a personal level.

Through Hadith Jibril Course (Islam Iman Ihsan): A Path to Understanding, Ulum Al-Azhar Academy ensures that the 6 pillar of iman are not just taught, but lived.

Conclusion

Understanding the 6 pillar of iman is important for every Muslim. They form the basis for a strong, meaningful, and peaceful life. These pillars help answer our biggest questions — who made us, why we are here, and what happens after we die. They show us that we are part of something bigger, and that everything happens by Allah’s mercy and wisdom. 

When we really believe in the 6 pillar of iman, we become better Muslims. We become more thankful, patient, kind, and hopeful. We also teach our children not just to believe, but to live with iman in their hearts.

FAQs

Why are the 6 pillar of iman important in Islam?
They define what every Muslim must believe in to have correct faith. Without them, one’s belief is incomplete.

Can children understand the 6 pillar of iman?
Yes! With age-appropriate teaching, even young children can grasp these concepts and apply them in simple ways.

What is the difference between Islam and Iman?
Islam refers to the outward actions (like prayer), while iman refers to the inner beliefs. Both are necessary for a complete Muslim life.