'A slave (of Allah) shall not believe until he believes in four: The testimony of La Ilaha Illallah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah whom He sent with the Truth, and he believes in the death, and he believes in the Resurrection after death, and he believes in Al-Qadar."Another chain reports a similar narration.
Exposition of the Hadith on the Pillars of Faith
This noble hadith from the Chapters On Al-Qadar in Jami' at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 2145) establishes four fundamental articles of faith that are essential for the completeness of a believer's iman. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explicitly states that a servant's faith cannot be complete without affirming these four matters.
The First Pillar: Tawhid and Prophethood
The testimony "La Ilaha Illallah" (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah) constitutes the foundation of Islamic monotheism, while bearing witness that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger establishes the necessity of following his guidance. These two testimonies are inseparable - one cannot be accepted without the other, as they form the gateway to Islam.
The Second Pillar: Belief in Death
Faith in death encompasses believing that every soul shall taste death as decreed by Allah. This belief serves as a reminder of life's temporary nature and motivates the believer towards righteous deeds in preparation for the inevitable meeting with the Creator.
The Third Pillar: Belief in Resurrection
Affirming resurrection after death entails certainty in Allah's power to reassemble human bodies and restore souls for the Final Reckoning. This belief forms the basis for divine justice, where every soul will receive recompense for its worldly deeds.
The Fourth Pillar: Belief in Al-Qadar
Faith in Divine Decree (Al-Qadar) requires believing that Allah's knowledge, will, and power encompass everything. This includes accepting both good and evil as occurring by Allah's preordainment, while understanding that human beings are accountable for their voluntary choices within this divine framework.
Scholarly Insights on the Narration
Imam at-Tirmidhi classified this hadith as hasan (good), indicating its sound chain of transmission. The scholars note that while these four matters are essential for complete faith, they do not represent all articles of faith but rather highlight crucial aspects often neglected or misunderstood, particularly belief in divine decree.
The mention of "another chain reports a similar narration" indicates the hadith's strength through multiple transmission paths, enhancing its reliability according to the science of hadith criticism.