Question: What is belief in Allah?
ANSWER
The first fundamental principle of îmân is to have belief in Allah. The expression “billahi” in the Âmantu conveys the meaning of having belief in Allahu ta’âlâ’s existence and oneness.

The Creator of everything is Allahu ta’âlâ. It is He who has created everything on earth and in the heavens, substances, objects, properties, events, powers, laws, and connections. There is no Creator besides Him. It is purported in the Qur’ân al-karîm:
(It is Allah who has created everything.) [Sûrat-uz-Zumar, 62]

(It is Allah who has created you and what you do.) [Sûrat-us-Saffât, 96]

(Allah, your Rabb, is the Creator of all things.) [Sûrat-ul-Mu’min, 62]

(Allah is the Creator of everything. He is the One.) [Sûrat-ur-Ra’d, 16]

(He created everything.) [Sûrat-ul-An’âm, 101]

(Creating belongs to Him.) [Sûrat-ul-A’râf, 54]

Allahu ta’âlâ is One. There is no ilâh besides Him. It is purported in the Qur’ân al-karîm:
(Your Ilâh is one Ilâh. There is no ilâh except Him.) [Sûrat-ul-Baqara, 163]

(There is no ilâh except Allah.) [Sûrat-ul-Baqara, 255; Sûrat-u Âl-i ‘Imrân, 2; Sûrat-un-Nisâ’, 87; Sûrat-u Tâhâ, 8; Sûrat-ut-Taghâbun, 13]

(There is no ilâh except Him.) [Sûrat-u Âl-i ‘Imrân 6, 18; Sûrat-ul-An’âm, 102; Sûrat-ut-Tawba, 31; Sûrat-u Hûd, 14; Sûrat-ur-Ra’d, 30; Sûrat-ul-Mu’minûn, 116; Sûrat-ul-Qasas 88; Sûrat-u Fâtir, 3; Sûrat-uz-Zumar, 6; Sûrat-ul-Mu’min 3, 62, 65; Sûrat-ul-Muzzammil, 9]

(Do not say that there are three gods. Allah is the only One Ilâh.) [Sûrat-un-Nisâ’, 171]

(He is the only One Ilâh.) [Sûrat-ul-An’âm, 19]

(Your Ilâh is the One Ilâh.) [Sûrat-un-Nahl, 22]

(Your Ilâh is One.) [Sûrat-us-Saffât, 4]

(He, Allah, is One.) [Sûrat-uz-Zumar, 4]

(He, Allah, is the One.) [Sûrat-ul-Ikhlâs, 1]

(Do not take for yourselves two ilâhs. He is the only One Ilâh. Then fear Me alone.) [Sûrat-un-Nahl, 51]

(Your Ilâh certainly is Allah, besides whom there is no ilâh.) [Sûrat-u Tâhâ, 98]

(O My Messenger! We revealed each prophet before you, “There is no ilâh except Me. Worship Me.”) [Sûrat-ul-Anbiyâ’, 25]

Knowing Allah
Question: It is said that a person who knows Allah will be saved. Many people say Allah’s name and recite prayers. What is meant by knowing Allah?
ANSWER
A person is not considered to have known Allah by only uttering His name or saying prayers. For example, the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitâb), too, utter His name. Wahhâbîs say, “Allah is in the sky (never!).” Some other people, on the other hand, believe nature to be the creator, and they say “Allah” only when they fall into trouble. They do not believe Allah to be the sole Creator and Owner of Absolute Power. Therefore, they are not deemed to have known Allah.

Knowing Him is to believe in the six fundamental principles expressed in the Âmantu in the same way as they are communicated by our religion. Knowing is to love and obey. Those who defy and disbelieve His commandments and prohibitions are not considered to have known Him. If a disobedient person—for instance, a person who does not perform five daily namâzes—says, “I know Allah,” this is mendacity.