Foundations of Islamic Creed: Aqidah, Tawhid, and the Articles of Faith

At the heart of Islamic faith lies a precise theological claim: that God is one — absolutely, uniquely, and without partner or equivalent. This concept, Tawhid, is not merely a numerical assertion but a comprehensive theological orientation that shapes every dimension of Islamic belief, ethics, and practice. Understanding Islamic creed (Aqidah) means grasping the full implications of that orientation. By the end of this course you will be able to explain the concept of Tawhid and its three dimensions as articulated in classical Islamic theology, describe the six articles of faith (arkan al-iman) and their theological content, identify the major theological schools of Sunni Islam — Ash'ariyya, Maturidiyya, and the Athari tradition — and their distinctive positions, explain the Islamic understanding of prophethood (nubuwwa) and the finality of Muhammad's prophethood, and describe Islamic eschatology including the concepts of the afterlife, judgment, and resurrection. What you will learn: - Tawhid in its three dimensions: Tawhid al-Rububiyya (the Lordship of God), Tawhid al-Uluhiyya (the exclusive right to worship), and Tawhid al-Asma' wa'l-Sifat (the divine names and attributes) - The six articles of faith: belief in God, angels, scriptures, prophets, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree — what each entails theologically - The Ash'ari school: its founding by Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, its rational methodology, and its treatment of the divine attributes - The Maturidi school: parallel to the Ash'ari tradition but with specific differences on the scope of reason in theology — foundational in Central Asian and Hanafi practice - The Athari (Hanbali/Salafi) approach: the principle of affirming divine attributes without engaging in rational elaboration (tafwid) and its contemporary expressions - Prophethood: what Islam means by nabi and rasul, the qualities required of prophets, and the doctrine of the finality of Muhammad's prophethood - Islamic eschatology: the Day of Judgment, the resurrection of the body, the scales of deeds, the bridge (sirat), paradise (janna) and hellfire (jahannam) in classical theological formulation - How Islamic theology developed as a discipline (kalam) and the debates about its legitimacy within Islamic scholarship The course is structured to build the theological framework systematically before examining the different school positions. Primary source excerpts from classical creedal texts in translation are included. Reflection prompts ask you to engage analytically with the theological arguments. This course is scholarly and educational in nature and is not a religious instruction course. This course is designed for learners new to Islamic studies as well as those with some background seeking a rigorous theological grounding. No prior knowledge of Arabic or Islamic theology is assumed. All key terms are provided with Arabic script and transliteration.