Table of Contents
Belief in Allah is the first and greatest pillar of Islamic faith. Everything that a Muslim believes, says, and does is built upon this foundation. In this chapter, we focus on what it means to believe in Allah in a general and introductory way, without entering into the details that will be covered under Iman, Kufr, Hypocrisy, and the other related subchapters.
The Centrality of Belief in Allah
Islam begins with affirming Allah. The first part of the testimony of faith, the Shahadah, is to witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. Without this belief, no act of worship is accepted, even if it appears outwardly good.
Allah states that He created the heavens, the earth, and everything between them for a purpose, and at the heart of that purpose is that people acknowledge Him as their only Lord and God.
“And We did not send before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, ‘There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.’”
(Qur’an 21:25)
This belief is not a mere idea in the mind. It is a conviction that transforms a person’s entire life. It shapes how a believer sees the world, understands events, and makes decisions. A Muslim’s identity, values, and aspirations are all rooted in belief in Allah.
Who Is Allah in the Islamic Belief?
When Muslims say “Allah,” they are not speaking about a vague concept of a distant power. They are speaking about the one true God, the Creator of all that exists, who is perfect in His names and attributes.
Allah describes Himself as the Lord of everything that exists.
“All praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
(Qur’an 1:2)
He is the only one who creates, controls, and sustains the universe. He gives life and causes death, provides for His creation, and manages all affairs.
“Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command. Blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
(Qur’an 7:54)
Muslims believe that Allah is completely unique. There is nothing like Him, and nothing shares His divinity.
“Say, ‘He is Allah, One.
Allah, the Self-Sufficient.
He neither begets nor is born,
Nor is there to Him any equivalent.’”
(Qur’an 112:1–4)
This short chapter of the Qur’an summarizes the core of belief in Allah: He is one, He is in no need of anyone, He has no children and no parents, and nothing is comparable to Him.
Key Aspects of Belief in Allah
Belief in Allah includes several essential aspects. These aspects will be explored in greater detail in other parts of the course, but they can be briefly introduced here to show how comprehensive this belief is.
A Muslim believes that Allah alone is the Creator, Owner, and Controller of everything that exists. Nothing happens except by His permission, knowledge, and will.
“Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is, over all things, Disposer of affairs.”
(Qur’an 39:62)
A Muslim also believes that Allah alone deserves all worship. Prayer, supplication, fear, trust, love, hope, sacrifice, and every other act of devotion must be directed to Him alone, not to prophets, angels, saints, or any created being.
“And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.”
(Qur’an 98:5)
Belief in Allah also includes belief in His perfect names and attributes, such as His knowledge, power, mercy, hearing, seeing, and wisdom. These are based on what He has revealed about Himself in the Qur’an and what His Messenger ﷺ has taught, without imagining them in a human form or comparing them to the creation.
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”
(Qur’an 42:11)
These different aspects of belief are closely connected and cannot be separated in true Islamic faith.
Belief in Allah means affirming that Allah alone is the Creator, the only one worthy of worship, and the one who possesses the most beautiful names and perfect attributes, without giving any share of this to anyone or anything else.
Knowing Allah Through His Signs
For the beginner, it is important to understand that belief in Allah is not blind or baseless. The Qur’an repeatedly directs people to reflect on the world around them as a sign that points to their Creator.
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for people of understanding.”
(Qur’an 3:190)
The precision of the universe, the order of nature, the instincts placed in animals, and the inner world of the human being all serve as reminders of Allah’s existence, wisdom, and power. This reflection strengthens faith and makes belief in Allah more vivid and real.
At the same time, Muslims believe that the clearest and most perfect way of knowing Allah is through His revelation, the Qur’an, and through the authentic teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Reason, observation, and revelation all work together to lead a person to a sound and certain belief.
The Impact of Belief in Allah on Daily Life
Belief in Allah is not limited to words or abstract ideas. It has a direct effect on how a Muslim lives every day. When a person knows that Allah is watching, hearing, and aware of everything, this creates a sense of responsibility and consciousness of Him.
“And He is with you wherever you are. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.”
(Qur’an 57:4)
A believer knows that Allah is merciful and forgiving, which brings hope and comfort, especially after sin and in times of hardship.
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’”
(Qur’an 39:53)
At the same time, belief in Allah includes belief that He is just and will call every person to account. This balances hope with fear and prevents a believer from taking sin lightly.
“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”
(Qur’an 99:7–8)
Belief in Allah therefore shapes a Muslim’s character, producing qualities such as honesty, patience, gratitude, generosity, and humility. These are not simply social virtues, but natural results of knowing and believing in Allah.
Sincerity and Worship of Allah Alone
One of the most important fruits of believing in Allah is sincerity. Sincerity means doing acts of worship and good deeds only for Allah, not to be seen or praised by people. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Allah the Exalted said: ‘I am the One who is most free of need of partners. Whoever does an action in which he associates someone else with Me, I will leave him and his shirk.’”
(Hadith, Sahih Muslim)
A Muslim who truly believes in Allah does not seek the approval of people over the pleasure of Allah. This does not mean a believer ignores people completely, but rather that pleasing Allah remains the highest goal.
Any act of worship that is done for someone other than Allah, or shared with others alongside Allah, is not accepted. Belief in Allah demands worship of Him alone, with pure and sincere intention.
Belief in Allah and the Unseen
Belief in Allah is the foundation of belief in the unseen world. A Muslim believes in Allah even though He is not seen with the eyes in this life. This kind of belief is praised in the Qur’an as a mark of true faith and guidance.
“Those who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them. Those are upon guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful.”
(Qur’an 2:3–5)
Belief in Allah opens the way to accepting what He has informed about, such as His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree. These will all be discussed in their own chapters, but it is important to see that they all rest upon belief in Allah. If a person does not believe in Allah, the rest of the pillars of faith have no basis.
The Weight of Belief in Allah
In the sight of Allah, belief has enormous weight. A person may come to Him with many sins, yet if they have sincerely believed in Him and turned to Him before death, Allah may forgive them. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah the Exalted said: ‘O son of Adam, if you were to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth, and then you meet Me not associating anything with Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.’”
(Hadith, Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi)
This does not encourage sin, but it shows how immense and precious true belief in Allah is. It is the greatest treasure that a person can possess.
The most important possession of a believer is their faith in Allah. Protecting this faith, strengthening it, and dying upon it is the greatest success a human being can achieve.
A Lifelong Journey of Knowing and Believing
Belief in Allah begins with the Shahadah, but it does not end there. It grows, deepens, and becomes more firm through knowledge, worship, reflection, and life experience. The Qur’an calls believers to increase in guidance and faith.
“And those who are guided, He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness.”
(Qur’an 47:17)
For the new learner, it is enough to understand that belief in Allah is both simple and profound. It is simple in its basic statement that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. Yet it is profound in how it connects to every part of life, every act of worship, and every other belief in Islam.
The coming subchapters will look more closely at the meaning of iman, the reality of disbelief and hypocrisy, and the questions of judgment and declaring someone outside of Islam. All of those topics build upon this essential truth: the heart of Islam is sincere, pure belief in Allah, the Lord of all worlds.