Aqidah (term)
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Aqidah (Arabic: عقيدة) is an Arabic Islamic term meaning creed. Therefore any religious belief system, or creed, can be considered an example of aqidah. In Islam, Aqidah refers to the Islamic creed, or the six articles of faith, which consist of the belief in God, Angels, Messengers and Prophets, Scriptures, the Day of Judgement, and Destiny. In Sahih Al-Muslim and Al-Bukhari, Muhammad explains, "It (Al-Iman/faith) is to affirm your faith in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers and the Last Day, and to believe in the Divine Destiny whether it be good or bad."
All Islamic beliefs, such as the Five Pillars of Islam, are a part of Aqidah. For example, Muslims believe that God sent messengers with scripture in order to give guidance and warning of the Day of Judgment. Shahada is an expression of belief in God.
Sectarian differences between Shias, Wahabis and Sunnis are often expressed in differences in aqidah [1]. Differences in aqidah among Muslims consists of differences in belief regarding the various aspects of the seven articles of faith. For example, Muslims may have different ideas regarding the concept of God or about the purpose of angels. The fundamentals of Shia Islamic Creed is better known as Usūl al-Dīn.
Many Muslim scholars have attempted to explain Islamic creed. One such example is the book Aqidah al-Tahawiyya [2] by Imam Abu Ja'far al-Tahawi al-Hanafi. Al-Tahawi was a follower of Imam Abu Hanifa, founder of the Hanafi madhhab, one of the four central sharia schools in Sunni thought.