{The Absolute

Essentials of Islam}
Faith, Worship, and Spirituality

Lesson Two: Belief in Allah

Faraz Rabban

The Text

Purpose

Review of
Lesson One
(1) What is the Way of
Guidance: How we understand
the Qur’an & Sunna
(2) Religion in Three
Dimensions
(3) Author’s Introduction

Absolute Essentials of Islam - 02 - Belief - Steps 2014T3.key - October 11, 2014

First Dimension: Faith (iman)

The Hadith Jibril

“Tell me about faith!”
Strangeness.
Lessons on learning
What is iman?

Second Dimension: Submission (islam)

The Hadith Jibril

“Tell me about submission”
What is Islam?
How is it manifest?
Key manifestation: Prayer

Absolute Essentials of Islam - 02 - Belief - Steps 2014T3.key - October 11, 2014

 Third Dimension: Spiritual Excellence
(ihsan)
The Hadith Jibril
“Tell me about spiritual
excellence… It is to worship
Allah as though you behold
him…”
Excellence in faith & submission
Sincerity & striving
Consequence: closeness & beholding
7

Author’s
Introduction KNOWLEDGE ACTION

Three Keys to Guidance SINCERITY

Focus of the Course

(1) Validity (2) Soundness

(3) Propriety
8

Today: Lesson Two

Belief in Allah

Absolute Essentials of Islam - 02 - Belief - Steps 2014T3.key - October 11, 2014

 What is faith (iman)?

Confirmation
Reality
Knowable

10

What are our beliefs?

“Points of knowledge that

Allah has granted eternal
consequence.”
Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi

11

Why do we believe in Allah?

Reflect:
(1) Qur’an: 3.190-200
(2) Surat al-Ikhlas
(3) Surat al-Fatiha
(4) Ayat al-Kursi

12

Absolute Essentials of Islam - 02 - Belief - Steps 2014T3.key - October 11, 2014

 Revelation and Responsibility

What is Revelation?
Moral responsibility (taklif)
Need Guidance
Seek Guidance

13

The Points of Belief

Allah

Destiny Angels

Pillars of
Faith

Last Day Books

Messengers

14

There is no god but Allah

{God}
The One free of need of all other,
whom all are in absolute need of
The Necessary Existent
The Creator
The Sustainer
The One alone worthy of worship
15

Absolute Essentials of Islam - 02 - Belief - Steps 2014T3.key - October 11, 2014

 The Text (p. 13)

The Articles of Faith: Qur’an,

2.286
The Consequence of Faith

16

Belief in Allah

Knowing the Meanings of

“God”

17

Allah’s Attributes

General Principle: Absolute

Perfection, Absolute
Transcendence
Personal Attribute
Attributes of Negation

18

Absolute Essentials of Islam - 02 - Belief - Steps 2014T3.key - October 11, 2014

 Affirmative Attributes

The Essential Attributes

The Creator
Attributes established by
Revelation

19

Principles

Emphasis on Transcendence
All Perfection
Awe of Allah

20

How does one increase in faith?

Not study…

21

Absolute Essentials of Islam - 02 - Belief - Steps 2014T3.key - October 11, 2014