The Shahada is the Islamic statement of faith. It is an oath and creed that is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

The Shahada reads: “I bear witness that there is no deity but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God”. This declaration signifies belief in the oneness (tawhid) of God and the acceptance of Muhammad as God’s messenger

There are six main articles of islamic faith:

1. Belief in one God (Tawhid) This means having absolute faith in the oneness of God. Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. It has no plural in Arabic, which shows that there is only one God. Muslims believe that no being is like Allah.
2. Belief in angels (malaikah) Angels were the first creation of God. Muslims believe that God’s greatness means he does not communicate directly with humans and so he passed messages, called risalah to his prophets via the angels. Angels also tell Allah about the behaviour of humans.
3. Belief in holy books (kutub) The holy books of Islam should be respected. This is especially true of the Qur’an, which is the unchanged word of Allah, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
4. Belief in the prophets (nubuwwah) Allah is believed to have communicated with the prophets, called nubuwwah, through the angels. Muslims believe the prophets should be respected but never worshipped.
5. Belief in the Day of Judgement and the afterlife (Akhirah) Muslims believe that life on Earth is a test and that, after they die, they will be judged by God and sent to either Paradise or Hell.
6. Belief in predestination (Al-Qadr) This means that everything in the universe follows Allah’s masterplan – Muslims believe that Allah has decided everything that happens. This shows the importance of God’s will: In all things the master-planning is God’s (Surah 13:42). The Prophet Muhammad also told his followers: There is not one amongst you who has not been allotted his seat in Paradise or Hell (Sahih Muslim, Book 33, Hadith 6400). Muslims take this as further proof that every person’s life is already mapped out in Allah’s plan

Belief all healing is in the hands of God (Allah)

All healing (shifa) is in the Hands of our Creator (Allah). The best thing to do for those afflicted with illness or disease or problem is to seek help from Him.

“And when I am ill, it is He who cures me.” [Quran, 26: 80]

تَدَاوَوْا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَضَعْ دَاءً إِلَّا وَضَعَ مَعَهُ شِفَاءً إِلَّا الْهَرَمَ

Seek cures, O servants of God, for God has placed a cure for every ailment that He has allowed, except for old-age/death.