7.1 Core Beliefs, Five Pillars & Quranic Fundamentals

Core Beliefs (Iman-e-Mufassal) & The Five Pillars of Islam (Arkan-e-Islam)

Exam Focus: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Airman selection test frequently assesses knowledge of the core tenets of Islamic faith, obligatory practices, structural breakdown of the Holy Quran, and Islamic purification rules. Memorizing exact numbers, names, and Arabic terminology is essential for high performance.

Islamic faith and practice are built upon two foundational structures: Iman-e-Mufassal (the Detailed Faith containing the Six Articles of Faith) and Arkan-e-Islam (the Five Pillars of Islam).

The Six Articles of Faith (Iman-e-Mufassal)

Every Muslim must hold firm belief in six fundamental pillars of faith:

1. Belief in Allah (Tawheed): Uncompromising monotheism—believing in the oneness of Allah, His unique attributes, and supreme sovereignty. Tawheed is classified into Tawheed-ar-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Lordship), Tawheed-al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship), and Tawheed-al-Asma was-Sifat (Oneness of Names and Attributes). Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the only unforgivable sin if unrepented.
2. Belief in Angels (Malaikah): Created from divine light (Nuur), angels execute Allah's commands without sin or free will.
3. Belief in Revealed Scriptures (Kutub): Believing in all divine books revealed to Allah's messengers.
4. Belief in Prophets (Rusul): Believing in all prophets from Prophet Adam (AS) to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who is Khatam-un-Nabiyyin (the Seal of the Prophets). The Quran mentions 25 prophets by name.
5. Belief in the Day of Judgment (Qiyamah): Absolute accountability of human deeds, bodily resurrection, and eternal placement in Jannah (Paradise) or Jahannam (Hellfire).
6. Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar): Believing that all good and bad destiny operates under Allah's absolute pre-knowledge, divine wisdom, and supreme will.

The Four Major Archangels & Assigned Roles

The Four Prominent Revealed Scriptures

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The Five Pillars of Islam (Arkan-e-Islam)

The physical and spiritual practice of Islam is sustained by five mandatory obligations established in the famous Hadith Jibril:

1. Shahada (Declaration of Faith)

The foundational creed: "La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah" (There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). Sincere recitation makes one a Muslim.

2. Salah (Obligatory Daily Prayers)

Prescribed five times daily during the event of Isra and Mi'raj (10th year of Prophethood / 621 CE). Salah is the first act humans will be questioned about on Qiyamah.

3. Zakat (Obligatory Alms)

Annual compulsory charity of 2.5% levied on net wealth held above the Nisab threshold for one full lunar year. Cleanses wealth and aids the poor.

4. Sawm (Fasting in Ramadan)

Abstaining from food, drink, and marital relations from dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib) during the 9th Hijri month of Ramadan. Prescribed in 2 AH (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 183).

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah)

Obligatory once in a lifetime for every financially and physically capable Muslim adult (Mustati'). Made mandatory in 9 AH. Performed between the 8th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah.

Quranic Fundamentals, Structural Metrics & Key Surahs

The Holy Quran is the uncreated, literal word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) over a span of approximately 23 years (610 CE – 632 CE). Understanding its structural parameters and historical compilation is a frequent subject in PAF written examinations.

Structural Metrics of the Holy Quran

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Makki vs. Madani Surahs: Key Differences

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Notable Surahs & Unique Facts

• First Revelation: The first 5 verses of Surah Al-Alaq (Chapter 96) revealed in Cave Hira on 27th Ramadan, 610 CE: "Iqra bismi Rabbikal ladhi khalaq".
• Longest Surah: Surah Al-Baqarah (Chapter 2) with 286 verses and 6,100 words. Contains Ayat al-Kursi (Verse 255).
• Shortest Surah: Surah Al-Kawthar (Chapter 108) with only 3 verses and 10 words.
• Mother of the Quran (Umm-ul-Quran): Surah Al-Fatiha (Chapter 1), mandatory recitation in every Rakat of Salah.
• Heart of the Quran (Qalb-ul-Quran): Surah Yaseen (Chapter 36), consisting of 83 verses.
• Beauty of the Quran (Arus-ul-Quran): Surah Al-Rahman (Chapter 55), featuring the recurring refrain "Fabi-ayyi ala-i Rabbikuma tukadhdhiban".
• Surah Without Bismillah: Surah Al-Tawbah (Chapter 9), also known as Surah Bara'at.
• Surah With Two Bismillahs: Surah Al-Naml (Chapter 27) contains Bismillah at the start and in Verse 30 (Prophet Sulaiman's letter to Queen Bilqis).
• First Complete Surah Revealed: Surah Al-Fatiha.
• Last Fully Revealed Surah: Surah Al-Nasr (Chapter 110).

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History of Quranic Compilation

1. Prophetic Era: Verses recorded on palm leaves, flat stones, parchment, and camel shoulder bones under Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) direct instruction. Memorized by hundreds of Huffaz.
2. First Official Compilation (Abu Bakr's Caliphate, 11–13 AH): Following the Battle of Yamama where 70 Huffaz were martyred, Hazrat Umar (RA) advised Caliph Abu Bakr (RA) to collect the Quran. Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (RA) was appointed head of the compilation committee. The master copy was named Suhuf and preserved with Hazrat Hafsa (RA).
3. Standardization & Distribution (Uthman's Caliphate, 23–35 AH): To eliminate dialectical pronunciation differences across expanding Islamic territories, Caliph Uthman (RA) ordered Zaid bin Thabit (RA) to prepare official copies in Quraish dialect. These copies were dispatched to major provincial capitals (Makkah, Kufa, Basra, Damascus). Caliph Uthman earned the title Jami-ul-Quran (Compiler of the Quran).

Islamic Purification (Taharat), Ablution Fard & Salah Requirements

Purification (Taharat) is half of faith (Al-Tuhuru shatru-l-iman). In Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), performing valid worship requires physical cleanliness from major and minor impurities.

Purification Methods: Fard Requirements

1. Wudu (Minor Ablution)

Wudu is required for performing Salah and touching the mushaf (written Quran). It contains 4 Fard (obligatory) acts:

Note: Rinsing the mouth, washing nostrils, and washing 3 times are Sunnah, not Fard.

2. Ghusl (Major Ritual Bath)

Ghusl is required to remove major ritual impurity (Janabat). It contains 3 Fard acts:

1. Rinsing the mouth thoroughly (Madmada).
2. Clearing water up the nostrils (Istinshaq).
3. Washing the entire body from head to toe so that no single hair remains dry.

3. Tayammum (Dry Purification)

Tayammum is a substitute for Wudu or Ghusl when clean water is unavailable or its use causes severe medical harm. It was sanctioned in 5 AH. Contains 3 Fard acts:

1. Forming sincere intention (Niyyah).
2. Striking clean earth/dust with both hands and wiping the entire face.
3. Striking clean earth again and wiping both arms up to the elbows.

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Summary of Purification Rules Comparison

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Essential Conditions for Validity of Salah (Shara'it-es-Salah)

Before initiating Salah, 6 outer conditions (Shara'it) must be fulfilled:

1. Taharat: Cleanliness of body, clothes, and place of prayer.
2. Satr: Covering private parts (Awrah: navel to knee for men; entire body except face, hands, and feet for women).
3. Istiqbal-e-Qibla: Facing the Kaaba in Makkah.
4. Waqt: Correct prayer time.
5. Niyyah: Sincere mental intention for the specific prayer.
6. Takbeer-e-Tahreema: Opening declaration of "Allahu Akbar".