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Al-Quran as a book of guidance

• Al-Quran is a perfect guidance for the ummah to follow

• Al-Quran include Alamiyyah, meaning that it is universal

Five pillars of Islam

1. Testifying that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger (Shadatain)

2. Performing five mandatory prayer / salah

3. Sawm Ramadhan / Fasting in the month of Ramadan

4. Paying Zakah

5. Performing pilgrimage (Hajj)

Five pillars of Iman

1. Belief in Allah

2. Belief in His angels

3. Belief in His books

4. Belief in His messengers

5. Belief in the Day of the Judgement

6. Belief in Qada' and Qadar

Iman means faith or belief. It is the foundation of a Muslim’s life, consisting of six core beliefs that shape one's relationship with Allah and the unseen world. True Iman is not just about belief in the heart but also about acting upon it with sincerity and devotion.

1. Belief in Allah

Belief in Allah means acknowledging that:

1. Allah is the One and only supreme Creator of the universe.

2. He is eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, merciful, and just.

3. No partner, equal, or deity is beside Him (Tawhid).

2. Belief in Malaikah (Angels)

Malaikah are unseen beings created from light who obey Allah’s commands without question.

They worship Allah alone and never sin.

Each angel has specific tasks assigned by Allah.

Examples of angels and their roles:

Jibreel (Gabriel): Delivers revelations to prophets.

Mika'il (Michael): Manages sustenance and natural phenomena.

3. Belief in Kutubs (Holy Books)

The Kutubs (Kitabs) are Allah’s revelations sent to guide humanity. The four main scriptures include:

1. Tawrah (Torah) – Given to Musa (Moses).

2. Zabur (Psalms) – Given to Dawud (David).

3. Injil (Gospel) – Given to Isa (Jesus).

4. Qur’an – Revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the final and complete guidance.

Allah sent messengers to every nation to guide people toward the truth. All of them preached the same core message—Islam, the worship of one true God.

Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:285):

"The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and (so have) the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, (saying), 'We make no distinction between any of His messengers.' And they say, 'We hear and we obey.'”

Muslims believe in all the prophets (Anbiya’) and messengers (Rasul) sent by Allah, from Adam to Muhammad (peace be upon them all). The final messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), was sent as a mercy to all of humanity and delivered the last revelation, the Qur'an.

5. Belief in Qiyamah (Hereafter)

The fifth pillar of Iman is the belief in life after death. A person is not a true believer without believing in this. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of believing in the Day of Judgment and resurrection after death.

Allah SWT says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:2):

"And who believe in what has been revealed to you, (O Muhammad), and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain (in faith)."

Belief in Qiyamah means accepting that this world and everything in it will come to an end on an appointed day. Every person will be resurrected and held accountable for their deeds.

6. Belief in Qada’ and Qadar (Divine Decree and Destiny)

Belief in Qada' and Qadar (pre-destination) is another essential pillar of Iman. A person cannot be a true believer without accepting that everything happens by Allah’s will and wisdom.

The pillars of Iman guide a Muslim’s faith and actions. Believing in the Hereafter encourages responsibility and righteousness, while faith in Qada' and Qadar helps cultivate trust in Allah’s wisdom, leading to inner peace and perseverance in life.

"Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then know that He sees you."

Ihsan means striving for excellence in worship, character, and daily life with sincerity and devotion to Allah.

Iman is the inner belief in Allah, the angels, the books, the messengers, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree.

Ihsan perfects Iman by ensuring that belief is reflected in one's actions with sincerity, awareness, and devotion. Without Ihsan, faith may become routine rather than heartfelt worship.

Ihsan also enhances our ibadah (worship) and transforms acts of devotion from mere rituals into meaningful experiences. For example:

A person with Ihsan prays with humility and focus, rather than just completing the physical actions.

Ihsan is not only about worship but also about how we treat others. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that we should act with kindness, honesty, and justice in all aspects of life.

Ihsan strengthens both our faith and character, leading us to a life of sincerity and devotion. It prepares us for the Hereafter by ensuring that our actions are done with excellence, bringing us closer to Allah

and earning His pleasure.

The word Adab (أدب) means to refine, educate, and discipline. It refers to good manners, etiquette, and moral behavior in line with Islamic teachings.

Adab is more than just a quality; it is a continuous process of learning and self-improvement. By practicing Adab, we develop good habits and become better individuals in our relationship with Allah and others, especially our parents.

Showing good Adab towards our parents is a sign of respect, gratitude, and love. It strengthens family bonds and earns Allah’s blessings. By continuously improving our manners, we fulfill an important part of our faith and become better individuals in both this life and the Here

after.

To help with that, we should start by doing wudu slowly and properly. It helps clean not just our body, but also gets us ready mentally. Before starting, saying some zikir can calm the mind and help us leave our worries behind. I also learned that it’s easier to focus when we understand what we are saying in prayer—because when the heart understands, it feels more connected.

It also helps to pray in a quiet and clean place, where there’s nothing to disturb us. Taking our time during solat, not rushing, helps us feel peace. I found it interesting that even just looking at the place of sujud helps keep our mind from getting distracted. And lastly, thinking about how short life is can make us realize how important each prayer is it brings more meaning into it.

Khushu’ is not something that comes all at once, but with practice and intention, we can feel it more and more.

When we pray with khushu’, it shows our obedience to Allah. Even when no one sees us, we choose to obey Him. It helps us trust Allah’s plans more than our own desires.

I also learned that having khushu’ takes effort. It’s a struggle to stay focused, fight laziness, and push away distractions. But this struggle makes us stronger and helps us stay close to Allah, even in daily life.

Sujūd (prostration) is a sign of true humility. When we lower ourselves in prayer, it softens our heart and helps us become more gentle with others too.

Khushu’ also gives us time for self-reflection. We start thinking about our intentions and actions, and it makes us want to be better.

Lastly, it teaches us modesty and self-control. When we pray with humility, we become more careful with how we speak, dress, and tre

at people.

One of the main values fasting teaches is sabr (patience). It's not just about being hungry, but also controlling our anger and avoiding sin. It builds self-control, strength, and reminds us that success takes effort.

Fasting also brings rahmah (compassion). When we feel hunger, we understand what the poor go through. It makes us more caring and encourages us to share food, break fast together, and help each other.

I also learned about takrīm (honor and respect). Fasting reminds us to be respectful and kind in the way we speak and treat others. It helps build a united and respectful community.

Lastly, fasting gives us hikmah (wisdom). It’s not just about avoiding food ,it’s a way to reset our heart and mind. It helps us fight our desires and brings us closer to Allah.

One of the main values is Tazkiyah, which means purification. When we give, it cleans our wealth and also our heart. It helps us fight greed and become more generous.

Another value is Tawakkal trusting that giving doesn’t make us poorer. In fact, it reminds us that what we have is also meant to help others.

Ukhwah, or brotherhood, is also strengthened through zakāh and sadaqah. It builds love and unity between people, especially between the rich and the poor. Even small acts of kindness, like a smile or kind word, are valuable in Allah’s eyes.

I also learned that zakāh and sadaqah are full of wisdom (hikmah). They’re not a burden they’re blessings. They help us grow closer to Allah and build a caring, strong community.

True wealth isn’t what we keep, but what we give sincerely for the sake of Allah.

One of the main blessings of Hajj and Umrah is that they give us a fresh spiritual start. Our past sins are forgiven, and we return with a clean heart. It helps us stay on the right path even after we come home.

I also learned that it’s a journey of patience and sacrifice. It’s not always easy, but the challenges teach us to be patient, strong, and to rely on Allah.

Hajj and Umrah also show unity and equality. Millions of Muslims, rich or poor, wear the same clothes and stand together. It reminds us that we are all equal in front of Allah.

We also follow the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim, Hajar, and Ismail (AS). Every part of the pilgrimage has deep meaning and connects us to the history of Islam.

Another beautiful part is that Hajj reminds us of the Day of Judgement. Standing in Arafah feels like standing before Allah. It helps us think about our life and ask for forgiveness.

Lastly, I learned that Hajj is a special time to make du’a. Places like Arafah and Tawaf are powerful moments where prayers are more likely to

be accepted.