Explanation of the Foundations of Faith (Allah, His Angels, His Messengers, His Books, the Last Day, and Divine Decree)
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The Shaykh : One believes in Allah, in His existence, in His names and attributes, in His divinity and lordship, and in other things that are known from the attributes of the Lord (Exalted and Majestic is He). One believes in the angels, who are a hidden realm that Allah the Exalted created from light and charged with tasks, some of which are known and some are not. Jibril (peace be upon him) is charged with the revelation, bringing it down from Allah to the prophets and messengers.
Mikail is charged with the rain and vegetation, meaning: Allah entrusted him with the rain and everything related to it, and with vegetation.
Israfil is entrusted with the blowing of the Trumpet.
Malik is entrusted with the Fire.
Ridwan is entrusted with Paradise.
There are angels whose names we do not know, and whose tasks we do not know either. However, it came in a hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that he said:. Likewise, we believe in the books that Allah sent down upon the messengers (peace be upon them all), and we believe in the messengers whom Allah has narrated to us; we believe in them specifically. And those whom He has not narrated to us, we believe in them in general, because Allah has not narrated to us the news of all the messengers. Allah the Exalted said: [Ghafir 40:78]. The Last Day is the Day of Resurrection, the day when people come out of their graves for recompense, barefoot, naked, uncircumcised, and without wealth. "Barefoot" means those who have no sandals or leather socks, i.e., their feet are bare. "Naked" means those who have no clothes. "Uncircumcised" means those who have not been circumcised. "Without wealth" means those who have no money with them.
They will be gathered in that state. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) narrated that they would be naked, Aisha said:Sahih al-Bukhari 6527 meaning: from looking at one another, because every person is preoccupied with himself.
Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "And part of belief in the Last Day is belief in everything that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) informed us about that will happen after death". It is obligatory for you to believe in the trial of the grave, i.e., the test that occurs for the deceased when he is buried and his companions leave him. Two angels will come to him and ask him about his Lord, his religion, and his Prophet.
You also believe that the grave is either a garden from the gardens of Paradise or a pit from the pits of the Fire, i.e., that it contains either punishment or reward.
You also believe in Paradise and the Fire and everything related to the Last Day, for it is included in our saying that you believe in Allah and the Last Day.
Divine decree is the determination of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), meaning: it is obligatory for you to believe that Allah the Exalted has decreed everything. This is because Allah created the Pen and said to it:. So, the belief in His saying: [Ash-Shu'ara 26:227] includes what?
Belief in the six foundations that the Messenger (peace be upon him) explained.
Mikail is charged with the rain and vegetation, meaning: Allah entrusted him with the rain and everything related to it, and with vegetation.
Israfil is entrusted with the blowing of the Trumpet.
Malik is entrusted with the Fire.
Ridwan is entrusted with Paradise.
There are angels whose names we do not know, and whose tasks we do not know either. However, it came in a hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that he said:
There is no place in the sky the width of four fingers but that there is an angel in it standing for Allah, or bowing, or prostrating.
ما من موضع أربع أصابع في السّماء إلاّ وفيه ملك قائم لله أو راكع أو ساجدAmong them are those [whose stories] We have related to you, and among them are those [whose stories] We have not related to you.
منهم من قصصنا عليك ومنهم من لم نقصص عليكThey will be gathered in that state. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) narrated that they would be naked, Aisha said:
O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Will the men and the women look at each other?" He said, "The situation will be too hard for them to pay attention to that."
يا رسول الله الرّجال والنّساء ينظر بعضهم إلى بعض؟ قال: الأمر أعظم من ذلكShaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "And part of belief in the Last Day is belief in everything that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) informed us about that will happen after death". It is obligatory for you to believe in the trial of the grave, i.e., the test that occurs for the deceased when he is buried and his companions leave him. Two angels will come to him and ask him about his Lord, his religion, and his Prophet.
You also believe that the grave is either a garden from the gardens of Paradise or a pit from the pits of the Fire, i.e., that it contains either punishment or reward.
You also believe in Paradise and the Fire and everything related to the Last Day, for it is included in our saying that you believe in Allah and the Last Day.
Divine decree is the determination of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), meaning: it is obligatory for you to believe that Allah the Exalted has decreed everything. This is because Allah created the Pen and said to it:
Write. It said: What should I write? He said: Write what is destined to happen until the Day of Resurrection. So it wrote in that moment what is destined to happen until the Day of Resurrection.
اكتب، قال وماذا أكتب؟ قال: اكتب ما هو كائن إلى يوم القيامة، فجرى في تلك السّاعة إلى ما هو كائن إلى يوم القيامةExcept those [poets] who believe
إلاّ الذين آمنواBelief in the six foundations that the Messenger (peace be upon him) explained.