Fundamentals of Islam

Usool -ad-Deen (Roots of Religion):-

• Tawheed - (Oneness of God) :-

The most fundamental aspect of all beliefs revolves around the total acceptance of
the Absolute and Perfect Creator. Belief in the Originator of all causes and effects
with no effect on Him and that He is One, Everliving, Beneficent and Merciful. He
has neither a colleague nor a partner. He begets not, nor is He begotten, and there is
none like Him. The Almighty God is Unique and is Absolute in the Absolute sense.
No entity in His Universe can ever comprehend His true state and none should even
bother to try for it will lead to futility and insanity. Yet there is no doubt in any sane
mind that His existence precedes all and His presence is Absolutely ubiquitous
(everpresent). For anyone to say that God does not exist is a liar and a fool because
such a person can NEVER disprove His existence, whether scientifically or
philosophically, or for that matter in any method known. Because He is Absolute
and none is like Him, no one in the relative world can ever physically define Him,
and thus all idol worshippers and those who ascribe a shape or a body to Him are
wrong. Ascribing a shape to the One who is beyond our limited perceptions would
be tantamount to lying and giving a false appearance and a false representation. In
addition, to believe that one can see God in the physical sense of sitting on a throne
like some mythical being is certainly an untrue statement and should never be
accepted. The Almighty Creator brings to existence everything with utmost
Perfection and nothing in His Universe is imperfect. Thus to state that the Creator
has created imperfect things is certainly a false statement. He is the One and Only
and is Absolutely independent of anything and everything that exists. Glorified be
His names, the Most High!

• 'Adl - (Justice) :-

Essentially part of Tawheed. Belief that God is Just. He will reward or punish any
person according to his deeds and thus the notion of predestination (where all
decisions are God's and not any one else's) in one's deeds does not exist. It is
absolutely forbidden in Islam to believe that the Almighty, Merciful Allah planned
our destiny and that the good and the bad are just His Will and there is no choice
for us between them (God forbid!). Those who ascribe to such lies do so because
they want to blame their own evils on Allah and claim the good for themselves!
Although the attribute of Allah's Justice is not a separate entity of Allah for
certainly the Almighty God can never be compartmentalized nor defined in any
relative terms, it is nonetheless absolutely compulsory to believe and fully
understand the importance of this attribute in Islam so as not to allow the evil
 suggestions of Iblees (curse of Allah be upon him and his progeny) and his
companions from leading us astray.

• Nubuwwat - (Prophethood) :-

Belief in the Prophets (PBUT) of God who excel all other persons for whom they are
sent for. All prophets of Allah are perfect and sinless (ma'soom). Prophet
Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH&HF) is the last of the prophets sent by God and the
sealer of prophets for NO more are to come, EVER! The total number of prophets
(PBUT) that were sent by God to mankind is 124,000 and every nation on earth was
given guidance through them. In fact, all major religions today on earth can be
traced to have these divinely guided teachers as their original propagators of the
Truth of Allah. The best of His messengers all came from the same tree i.e. family
lineage and many of them are mentioned in the Holy Qur'an which describes who
they were and what their mission on earth was. It is important to note that no
prophet on earth ever negated or rejected any of the other divinely ordained
prophets and thus their message was always the same and one in purpose. Each
established the law of the One and Only God and showed the way of life for humans
to observe. From the very first creation of mankind, there was always a prophet on
earth which was Prophet Adam (PBUH). This guidance from the Merciful Allah to
establish His complete laws continued to the last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF)
who exemplified the letters of the law in his most perfect behavior. He completed
and perfected the one and only True religion, Islam. With the revelation of the last
Holy Book, the Qur'an, which is the most protected and perfect book of God with
us, he established as part of his mission, every concievable and practical law for
mankind to follow in order to attain spiritual perfection. Great prophets such as
Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael), Ishaaq (Isaac), Yaqoob (Jacob),
Yusuf (Joseph), Dawood (David), Sulaiman (Solomon), Musa (Moses), Yahya
(John), and Isa (Jesus), - (Peace be upon them all) - all came from the one blessed
lineage of Prophet Adam (PBUH) and ended with the last Messenger, Muhammad
(PBUH&HF). It is also important to note that anyone who ascribes imperfections or
mistakes to these divinely guided personalities is ascribing it directly to Allah who is
certainly free from such. Acceptance of such ideas is also rejection of the message of
Allah entirely. Thus with prophethood, a believer has to accept in their complete
message without any reservations of possible errors or mistakes.

• Imamat - (Guidance) :-

Belief in the divinely appointed leadership after the death of the Holy Prophet
(PBUH&HF) to protect and guide mankind with the revealed Truth, the Holy
Qur'an and the true practices of the Holy Prophet himself. The roles of these leaders
is an integral part in the protection of all the Messengers and their divine Messages.
The Almighty Allah appointed through the Holy Prophet himself, twelve Guides
(Imams) to protect mankind from misrepresenting and misinterpreting the Truth.
Belief in this is most important in Islam and no doubts about their positions should
be allowed. They are indeed sinless (ma'soom) and perfect in the highest sense of the
 word. The Imams have direct knowledge from God, and their verdict is the verdict
of God. After the Holy Prophet, only they can interpret and guide mankind in every
aspect of life and death and all believers must acquire guidance from them or else
they will certainly be lost. They do NOT bring any new laws nor do they ever
innovate their own laws. They always exempliy and elucidate the practical (Sunnah)
and the written (the Holy Qur'an). It is also important to note that they NEVER
disagree with each other in their manners and duties nor in their representations of
the Divine Laws. They are from the best and the most blessed and purified lineage
of the last Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUT) and their names are as follows: (1)
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Holy Prophet who called
him his only brother in this world and in the next, (2) Imam Hasan son of Ali, (3)
Imam Husain son of Ali, (4) Imam Ali son of Husain, (5) Imam Muhammad son of
Ali, (6) Imam Ja'far son of Muhammad, (7) Imam Musa son of Ja'far, (8) Imam Ali
son of Musa, (9) Imam Muhammad son of Ali, (10) Imam Ali son of Muhammad,
(11) Imam Hasan son of Ali, and the last and living Imam Muhammad son of
Hasan, the establisher of the Truth till the end of this world (PBUT). There is no
successor to the Twelfth Holy Imam Muhammad ibnul Hassan (PBUH) and he is
LIVING today but is in occultation and appears only to those who are most in need
and to those who are most virtuous and pious. By the Command of Allah, he will
reappear to all when he will establish true justice on earth and will rule mankind
compassionately with utmost perfection as is the Will of the Almighty Allah. He will
abolish the evil establishments on earth and mankind will live under true guidance
as should have been many centuries ago!

• Qiyaamat - (Resurrection) :-

Belief in the Day of Judgement when all human beings shall be raised from the
dead and all their good and bad deeds shall be ultimately judged and recompensed
accordingly. This belief is most essential WITH the belief in the One True God. The
Day of Judgement will prove to all in this Universe that the Almighty Allah is the
Creator of all from nothing and is the Absolute Master. His divine presence shall be
most apparent on this important Day for all to witness. It is a judgement Dayfor His
creatures to know themselves and their relationship to the Creator Allah. Just as
pursuit for justice is inseperable in any society on earth, so is the Ultimate Day of
Justice inseparable for mankind.

Furoo-ad-Deen (Branches of Religion):-

• Salat (Prayers)
• Saum (Fasting)
• Hajj (Pilgrimage)
• Zakat (Poor Rate)
• Khums (Wealth Tax)
• Jihad (Striving)
• Amr-Bil-Ma'roof (Enjoin what is good)
 • Nahi-Anil-Munkar (Forbid what is wrong)
• Tawalla (To love and respect the Ahl-ul-Bait and their friends)
• Tabarra (To disassociate from the enemies of the Ahl-ul-Bait)

The Fourteen Ma'soomeen

• Prophet Muhammad Ar-Rasool (PBUH&HF)

• Imam Ali Al-Ameeril Mo'mineen (AS)
• Hazrat Fatima Az-Zahra (AS)
• Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba (AS)
• Imam Husain As-Shaheed (AS)
• Imam Zain-ul-Abideeen (AS)
• Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (AS)
• Imam Ja'far As-Saadiq (AS)
• Imam Musa Al-Kazim (AS)
• Imam Ali Ar-Reza (AS)
• Imam Muhammad At-Taqi (AS)
• Imam Ali An-Naqi (AS)
• Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS)
• Imam Muhammad Al-Mahdi (AS)

The Seal of the Prophets

Prophet Muhammad al-Mustafa (PBUH&HF)

Name - Muhammad

Title - Al-Mustafa, Al-Amin, Ar-Rasool

Kunyat - Abul Qasim

Born - Friday, the 17th of Rabi-ul Awwal

Father's Name - Abdullah Ibn Abdul Muttalib

Mother's Name - Amina bint-e-Wahab

Died - at the age of 63 years on Monday, 28th Safar 11 AH

Buried- in his house adjoining the mosque at Medina

The First Imam

Hazrat Ali Al-Murtaza (AS)

Amir-ul-Mo'mineen
Name - Ali

Title - Al-Murtaza, Al-Amir-ul-Mo'mineen, Abu-Turab, Asadullah

Kunyat - Abul Hasan

Born - Friday 13th of Rajab, in the Holy Ka'ba

Father's Name - Abu Talib-ibne-Abdul Muttalib

Mother's Name - Fatima bint-e-Asad

Died - at the age of 63 years, at Kufa, on Monday, the 21st Ramadan 40 AH, murdered by an
assassin who mortally wounded him with a poisoned sword in the Mosque at Kufa during
morning prayers on the 19th of Ramadan.

Buried - Najaf, near Kufa.

The Daughter of the Holy Prophet and the Wife of Imam Ali

Hazrat Fatima Zahra (AS)

Leader of the Women of Paradise

Name - Fatima

Title - Az-Zahra

Kunyat - Umm-ul-Aimma

Born - Friday 20th of Jamadi-ul-Akhar in Mecca

Father's Name - Holy Prophet Muhammad Ibn-e-Abdulla (PBUH)

Mother's Name - Khadija bint-e-Khuwailid

Died - 14th Jamadi-ul-Awwal at Medina at the age of 18 years (due to injury inflicted upon her
through force of a falling door by a hypocrite).

Buried - The cemetery of Jannatul Baqi at Medina

The Second Imam

Hazrat Hasan Al-Mujtaba (AS)

Name - Hasan

Title - Al-Mujtaba

Kunyat - Abul Muhammad

Born - Tuesday, 15th Ramadan 3 AH at Medina

Father's Name - Ali ibne abu Talib

Mother's Name - Fatima (Daughter of the Holy Prophet)

Died - at the age of 46 years, at Medina, on Thursday, 28th Safar, 50 AH.

Buried - at the cemetery of Jannat-ul-Baqi in Medina

The Third Imam

Hazrat Husain As-Shaheed (AS)

Name - Husain

Title - Sayyid-ush-Shohada (Leader of Martyrs)

Kunyat - Abu Abdullah

Born - Thursday, 3rd Shaban 4 AH at Medina

Father's Name - Ali ibne abu Talib

Mother's Name - Fatima (Daughter of the Holy Prophet)

Martyred - at the age of 57 years, in Kerbala, on 10th Muharram 61 AH by Yazid-ibn-Muawiya

and his ruthless army.
Buried - in Kerbala

The Fourth Imam

Hazrat Zain-ul-Abideen (AS)

Name - Ali-ibn-ul Husain

Title - Zain-ul Abideen

Kunyat - Abu Muhammad

Born - Saturday 15th of Jamadi-ul-Awwal, at Medina

Father's Name - Husain ibn Ali

Mother's Name - Shahr Banoo, daughter of King Yazdigard II

Died - at the age of 58 years, in Medina , on the 21st of Muharram 95 AH. Poisoned by Waleed
bin Abdul Malik Marwan.

Buried - Jannat-ul-Baqi .

The Fifth Imam

Hazrat Muhammad Baqir (AS)

Name - Muhammad

Title - Al-Baqir

Kunyat - Abu Jafar

Born - Tuesday 1st of Rajab 57 A.H. , at Medina

Father's Name - Ali ibn Husain

Mother's Name - Fatima binte Hassan

Died - At the age of 59 years, at Medina, on Monday, 7th Zilhajj 116 AH. Poisoned by Hisham
bin Abdul Malik

Buried - Jannat-ul-Baqi .

The Sixth Imam

Hazrat Ja'far As-Sadiq (AS)

Name - Ja'far

Title - As-Sadiq

Kunyat - Abu Abdullah

Born - Monday 17th of Rabi-ul-Awwal 83 A.H. in Medina

Father's Name - Muhammad ibn Ali

Mother's Name - Umme-e-Farwah

Died - At the age of 65 years, at Medina, on Monday, 15th Rajab 148 AH. Poisoned by Mansur
Dawaneeqi the Abbasite

Buried - Jannat-ul-Baqi .

The Seventh Imam

Hazrat Musa-al Kadhim (AS)

Name - Musa

Title - Al-Kadhim

Kunyat - Abu Ibrahim

Born - Sunday 7st of Safarb 128 A.H. , at Abwa (Between Mecca and Medina)

Father's Name - Ja'far ibn Muhammad

Mother's Name - Hamida Khatoon

Died - At the age of 55 years, at Baghdad, on Friday, 25th Rajab 183 AH. Poisoned by Harun-al-
Rashid the Abbaside caliph

Buried - Kazmain, Baghdad .

The Eighth Imam

Hazrat Ali Ar-Ridha (AS)

Name - Ali

Title - Ar-Ridha

Kunyat - Abul Hasan

Born - Thursday 11th of Zilqad 148 A.H. , at Medina

Father's Name - Moosa ibn Ja'far

Mother's Name - Ummul Baneen Najma

Died - At the age of 55 years, at Mashad in Khorasan, on Tuesday, 17th Safar 203 AH. Poisoned
by Mamoon the Abbaside Caliph

Buried - in Mashad, Iran .

The Ninth Imam

Hazrat Muhammad At-Taqi (AS)

Name - Muhammad

Title - At-Taqi and Al-Jawad

Kunyat - Abu Ja'far

Born - Friday 10th of Rajab 195 A.H. , at Medina

Father's Name - Ali ibn Musa

Mother's Name - Khaizuran

Died - At the age of 25 years, at Kazmain , on Wednesday, 29th Zilqad 220 AH. Poisoned by
Mu'tasin the Abbaside Caliph

Buried - in Kazmain, Bagdad.

The Tenth Imam

Hazrat Ali An-Naqi (AS)

Name - Ali

Title - An-Naqi and Al-Hadi

Kunyat - Abul Hasan

Born - Friday 15th of Zilhajj 212 A.H., at Surba

Father's Name - Muhammad ibn Ali

Mother's Name - Summana Khatoon

Died - At the age of 42 years, at Samarra , on Monday, 26th Jamadi-ul-Akhar 254 AH. Poisoned
by Mu'taz the Abbaside Caliph

Buried - at Samarra, Baghdad.

The Eleventh Imam

Hazrat Hasan al-Askari (AS)

Name - Hasan

Title - Al-Askari

Kunyat - Abu Muhammad

Born - Monday 8th of Rabi-ul-Akhar 232 A.H. , at Medina

Father's Name - Ali ibn Muhammad

Mother's Name - Saleel

Died - At the age of 28 years, at Samarra, on Friday 8th Rabi-ul-Awwal 260 AH. Poisoned by
Mo'tamad the Abbaside Caliph

Buried - at Samarra, Baghdad.

The Twelfth Imam

Hazrat Muhammad al-Mahdi (AS)

Name - Muhammad

Title - Al-Mahdi, Sahib-ul-Asr, Al-Hujjat, Al-Qa'im

Kunyat - Abul Qasim

Born - Friday 15th of Shaban 255 A.H., at Samarra

Father's Name - Imam Hasan-al-Askari

Mother's Name - Nargis Khatoon

Died - Still living but in hiding and will appear before the Day of Judgement to establish justice
on earth.