My Faith: Shia Aqaid for Kids
میرا ایمان: بچوں کے لیے شیعہ عقائد
إِيمَانِي: الْعَقَائِدُ الشِّيعِيَّةُ لِلْأَطْفَال
The five Usool-e-Deen, Tawheed, Adl, Nubuwwat, Imamat and Qiyamat, explained simply, with the twelve Imams, Imam al-Mahdi (A.T.F.S.), the angels, the Holy Quran and the ten Furoo-e-Deen. Ten short chapters, each with a 15-question quiz, plus two games.
How to use this book
Read one chapter at a time. Each chapter starts with a summary card, explains one belief with verses of the Holy Quran and hadith of the Ahlulbayt (A.S.), and ends with a 15-question quiz. Every correct answer earns a star for your certificate. At the end there are two games.
This free book is made by ShiaEdu, an online Shia Quran school where certified male and female tutors teach the Quran, Aqaid and Fiqh Jaffari one to one.
Contents
Who is Allah? The roots of our faith and the Kalima
مَنْ هُوَ اللَّه؟ أُصُولُ الدِّينِ وَالْكَلِمَة
اللہ کون ہے؟ اصولِ دین اور کلمہ
Look at the sun that rises every morning, the rain that makes plants grow, and your own eyes that let you read these words. A painting needs a painter, and a house needs a builder. In the same way, this amazing world needs a Maker who is wise and powerful. We call Him Allah.
أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ
“Were they created from nothing, or are they the creators of themselves?”
A tree with roots and branches
Our religion is like a tree. The roots are hidden in the ground but hold the tree up: these are the Usool-e-Deen, the five beliefs. The branches are what we can see: these are the Furoo-e-Deen, the ten actions such as Namaz and fasting.
| # | Usool-e-Deen | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tawheed | Allah is One |
| 2 | Adl | Allah is Just |
| 3 | Nubuwwat | Allah sent prophets to guide us |
| 4 | Imamat | Allah chose twelve Imams to lead after the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) |
| 5 | Qiyamat | The Day of Judgement will come |
For the rules of Furoo-e-Deen we follow a Marja, but the Usool-e-Deen we must understand for ourselves. That is why this book gives you reasons, not just facts.
The Kalima
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، عَلِيٌّ وَلِيُّ اللَّهِ
“There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Ali is the Wali (guardian) of Allah.”
The first two parts make a person a Muslim. Shia Muslims also declare “Aliyyun Waliyyullah”, our belief in the Wilayah of Imam Ali (A.S.), which the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) announced at Ghadir. In the adhan and iqamah it is said as a recommended testimony, not as one of their parts.
أَوَّلُ الدِّينِ مَعْرِفَتُهُ
“The beginning of religion is to know Him.”
Sources: the Holy Quran; Nahj al-Balagha.
Tawheed: Allah is One
التَّوْحِيد
توحید: اللہ ایک ہے
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
“Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, who needs no one. He has no child, and He was not born. And there is none like Him.”
Tawheed means believing that Allah is One. He has no partner, no child and no parent. Nothing is like Him. He has no body, so we cannot see Him with our eyes, but we can know Him through His creation, and love Him with our hearts.
Why can there be only one God?
Imagine a class with two teachers giving opposite instructions at the same time. There would be confusion. The universe is in perfect order: the sun, the moon and the seasons follow one plan. The Quran says that if there were more gods than Allah, the heavens and the earth would fall into disorder.
لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا
“If there were gods in them other than Allah, both the heavens and the earth would have fallen into ruin.”
Some of Allah's qualities
- Al-Qadir: the All-Powerful, who can do anything.
- Al-Alim: the All-Knowing, who knows even our thoughts.
- Al-Hayy: the Ever-Living, who never dies or sleeps.
- Al-Rahman, Al-Rahim: the Most Kind, the Most Merciful.
Shirk
The opposite of Tawheed is shirk: treating anyone or anything as a partner of Allah, or worshipping anything besides Him. It is the greatest sin. We love and respect the Prophets and Imams (A.S.) because Allah loves them, and we ask Allah through them, but we worship Allah alone.
Sources: the Holy Quran.
Adl: Allah is Just
الْعَدْل
عدل: اللہ عادل ہے
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ
“Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, even the weight of an atom.”
Adl means that Allah is perfectly just. He never wrongs anyone, not even by the smallest amount. He does not punish anyone for something they did not do, and He never forgets a good deed.
We choose our actions
Allah gave us a mind to think and the freedom to choose. He shows us the right way through the prophets and Imams, and we choose whether to follow it. That is why it is fair that good deeds are rewarded and bad deeds have consequences. Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (A.S.) taught that we are neither forced nor left completely on our own: the truth is in between.
لَا جَبْرَ وَلَا تَفْوِيضَ وَلَٰكِنْ أَمْرٌ بَيْنَ أَمْرَيْنِ
“There is no compulsion and no total delegation, but a matter between the two.”
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni
Why do hard things happen?
Sometimes people get ill or face difficulties. These can be tests that make us patient and strong, and Allah rewards those who are patient. Some harm comes from people's wrong choices, not from Allah. And this life is not the end: on the Day of Judgement everyone will receive full justice.
Sources: the Holy Quran; Usul al-Kafi.
Nubuwwat: the Prophets and the holy books
النُّبُوَّة
نبوت: انبیاء اور آسمانی کتابیں
Allah did not leave people without guidance. He sent prophets (anbiya) to teach them how to live. Hadith tell us there were 124,000 prophets, from Prophet Adam (A.S.) to the last Prophet, Muhammad (S.A.W.W.).
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا
“And We certainly sent a messenger to every nation.”
Prophets are ma'soom
The prophets are ma'soom: Allah protected them from sin and mistakes, so that people could trust and follow them completely. Allah also gave them miracles (mu'jizat) to prove they came from Him, like the staff of Prophet Musa (A.S.).
The five Ulul Azm prophets
Five messengers brought a new shari'ah (way of law) and showed great determination. They are called the Ulul Azm:
- Prophet Nuh (A.S.)
- Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.)
- Prophet Musa (A.S.)
- Prophet Isa (A.S.)
- Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.)
The holy books
| Book | Given to |
|---|---|
| Suhuf (scrolls) | Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) |
| Tawrat | Prophet Musa (A.S.) |
| Zabur | Prophet Dawud (A.S.) |
| Injeel | Prophet Isa (A.S.) |
| The Holy Quran | Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) |
The last Prophet
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.”
No prophet will come after the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.). His message is for all people until the end of time, and Allah chose the Imams (A.S.) to protect it after him.
Sources: the Holy Quran; Usul al-Kafi; al-Khisal, Shaykh al-Saduq.
Imamat: the twelve Imams
الْإِمَامَة
امامت: بارہ امام
After the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.), people still needed a guide who would explain the Quran correctly and protect Islam. Allah chose twelve Imams from the family of the Prophet. Like the prophets, they are ma'soom. An Imam is chosen by Allah and announced by the Prophet or the previous Imam; people do not elect him.
أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ
“Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those vested with authority among you.”
Ghadir Khumm
On his last Hajj, at the pond of Ghadir Khumm, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) raised the hand of Imam Ali (A.S.) in front of the pilgrims and said:
مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَهَٰذَا عَلِيٌّ مَوْلَاهُ
“Whoever I am his master, this Ali is his master.”
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni; al-Irshad, Shaykh al-Mufid
The twelve Imams
| # | Imam | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S.) | Ameer al-Momineen |
| 2 | Imam Hasan (A.S.) | al-Mujtaba |
| 3 | Imam Husain (A.S.) | Sayyid al-Shuhada |
| 4 | Imam Ali ibn al-Husain (A.S.) | Zain al-Abideen, al-Sajjad |
| 5 | Imam Muhammad (A.S.) | al-Baqir |
| 6 | Imam Ja'far (A.S.) | al-Sadiq |
| 7 | Imam Musa (A.S.) | al-Kazim |
| 8 | Imam Ali (A.S.) | al-Ridha |
| 9 | Imam Muhammad (A.S.) | al-Jawad, al-Taqi |
| 10 | Imam Ali (A.S.) | al-Hadi, al-Naqi |
| 11 | Imam Hasan (A.S.) | al-Askari |
| 12 | Imam Muhammad (A.T.F.S.) | al-Mahdi, al-Qa'im |
You can read the life story of each Imam in our book Ahlulbayt (A.S.) for Kids.
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ
“Your guardian is only Allah, His Messenger, and those who believe, who establish prayer and give charity while bowing in ruku.” Shia books narrate that this verse was revealed when Imam Ali (A.S.) gave his ring to a poor man while in ruku.
Sources: the Holy Quran; Usul al-Kafi; al-Irshad.
The Imam of our time (A.T.F.S.)
إِمَامُ الزَّمَان (عج)
امامِ زمانہ (عج)
Our twelfth Imam, Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (A.T.F.S.), is alive today. Allah has kept him hidden from people's eyes, which we call ghaybah (occultation), and he will appear when Allah commands, to fill the earth with justice as it is now filled with injustice. The letters A.T.F.S. stand for a short dua: “May Allah hasten his noble reappearance.”
Two occultations
When his father was martyred in 260 AH, the minor occultation began. For about seventy years believers sent their questions through four special deputies. In 329 AH the major occultation began. Now, during his absence, we follow qualified scholars (the Marja) for the rules of religion.
مَنْ مَاتَ لَا يَعْرِفُ إِمَامَهُ مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً
“Whoever dies without knowing his Imam dies the death of the days of ignorance.”
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni
What does waiting (intizar) mean?
Waiting for the Imam is not sitting and doing nothing. It means getting ready, so that we would be good helpers if he appeared today:
- Praying on time and being honest, kind and fair.
- Learning the Quran and our religion.
- Praying for his reappearance, for example with Dua al-Faraj.
- Giving sadaqah for his safety, and remembering him every day.
Sources: Usul al-Kafi; Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'ma, Shaykh al-Saduq; al-Irshad.
Qiyamat: life after death and the Day of Judgement
الْقِيَامَة
قیامت: موت کے بعد زندگی
This world is like a school, and Qiyamat is the day of results. Death is not the end: it is moving from this world to the next. Because Allah is Just, every good deed and every bad deed will be shown on that day.
فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ
“So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it.”
The journey
- Barzakh: after death, the soul lives in barzakh until Qiyamat. In the grave, the angels Munkar and Nakir ask: Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet? Who are your Imams?
- Qiyamat: everyone will be brought back to life and gathered before Allah.
- The book of deeds is given to each person, and deeds are weighed on the Mizan (scale).
- The Sirat is the bridge everyone must cross.
- Jannah (Paradise) is the reward of the believers who did good, and Jahannam (Hell) the punishment of those who chose evil.
Shafa'ah
By Allah's permission, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) and the Ahlulbayt (A.S.) will intercede for believers who loved them and tried to follow them. This is a great hope, and also a reason to take our prayers seriously, as Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) warned that their intercession will not reach someone who treats prayer lightly.
Sources: the Holy Quran; Usul al-Kafi; Furu' al-Kafi.
The angels (Malaikah)
الْمَلَائِكَة
فرشتے
Angels are creatures of Allah made of light. We cannot see them, but we believe in them because Allah tells us about them in the Quran. They never disobey Allah; they do exactly what He commands.
Four great angels
| Angel | His work |
|---|---|
| Jibrail (A.S.) | Brought Allah's revelation to the prophets, including the Quran to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.). |
| Mikail (A.S.) | In charge of provision (rizq), such as rain and food. |
| Israfil (A.S.) | Will blow the trumpet (Sur) when Qiyamat begins. |
| Izrail (A.S.) | The angel of death, who takes the souls of people. |
قُلْ يَتَوَفَّاكُم مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ
“Say: the angel of death who has been put in charge of you will take your souls.”
The angels who write our deeds
وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ
“And indeed, over you are guardians, noble ones, writing down your deeds.”
Two noble angels, the Kiraman Katibin, write down everything we do. This is not to frighten us: it reminds us that every kind word and every good deed is written and will not be lost.
Sources: the Holy Quran.
The Holy Quran: the book that never changed
الْقُرْآنُ الْكَرِيم
قرآنِ مجید
The Holy Quran is the word of Allah, revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) over about 23 years through the angel Jibrail (A.S.). It has 114 surahs. The first verses came in the Cave of Hira, and the Quran is the greatest miracle of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.): no one has ever been able to bring anything like it.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ
“Indeed, We sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will guard it.”
Allah promised to protect the Quran, and the Quran we read today is the same Quran that was revealed to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.). It is the same in every Shia home and every mosque in the world.
The Quran and the Ahlulbayt (A.S.)
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) said that he was leaving two weighty things, the Book of Allah and his Ahlulbayt (A.S.), and that whoever holds on to both will never go astray. The Imams (A.S.) explain the true meaning of the Quran.
Respecting the Quran
- We do not touch the writing of the Quran without wudu.
- We keep it in a clean, high place and never put it on the floor.
- We say “A'udhu billahi minash shaytanir rajim” and “Bismillah” before reciting.
- We try to read some Quran every day, and to understand and act on it.
Sources: the Holy Quran; Hadith al-Thaqalayn (Kamal al-Din, Shaykh al-Saduq; Usul al-Kafi).
The ten Furoo-e-Deen: what we do
فُرُوعُ الدِّين
فروعِ دین
If the Usool-e-Deen are the roots of the tree, the Furoo-e-Deen are its branches and fruit. They are the actions that show our faith.
| # | Furoo-e-Deen | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namaz (Salat) | The five daily prayers |
| 2 | Roza (Sawm) | Fasting in the month of Ramadan |
| 3 | Hajj | Pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime, for those who are able |
| 4 | Zakat | Giving a share of certain wealth to those in need |
| 5 | Khums | Giving one fifth of yearly savings |
| 6 | Jihad | Striving in the way of Allah, including against our own bad desires |
| 7 | Amr bil Ma'roof | Encouraging others to do good |
| 8 | Nahi anil Munkar | Stopping others, politely, from doing wrong |
| 9 | Tawalla | Loving Allah, the Prophet, the Ahlulbayt (A.S.) and their friends |
| 10 | Tabarra | Keeping away from the enemies of Allah and the Ahlulbayt (A.S.) |
Learn the branches in our other books
Wudu, ghusl, purity, khums and zakat are taught for children in Fiqh Jaffari for Kids. For older readers, the rules of prayer and fasting are in our guide to Shia Namaz and Roza rules.
Sources: Usul al-Kafi; the risalah of the Marja.
Game 1: Usool or Furoo?
Is it a belief (Usool-e-Deen) or an action (Furoo-e-Deen)? Tap the right answer.
Game 2: The twelve Imams in order
Tap the Imams in order, from the first to the twelfth.
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