Abstract

This paper explores fundamental Islamic beliefs through a close reading of five key Quranic passages—2:284–286, 4:135–139, 2:62, 5:69, and 22:17—and examines their interpretations from theological, philosophical, and psychological perspectives. These verses articulate core tenets of faith in Islam: the oneness of God and belief in His revelations, moral accountability and divine justice, recognition of righteous believers across different faiths, and the mandate of ethical testimony and justice. Verse-by-verse analysis reveals themes such as God’s absolute sovereignty and knowledge of human hearts (Quran 2:284), the requirement to believe in God, angels, scriptures, and prophets without distinction (2:285, 4:136), the assurance that God does not burden souls beyond capacity (2:286), and calls to stand firmly for justice even against oneself (4:135). Passages on Jews, Christians, and others (2:62, 5:69, 22:17) underscore an inclusive vision of salvation based on belief in God and the Last Day and righteous conduct.

Classical Sunni, Shiʿa, and Sufi exegesis are compared to show convergences and divergences in understanding these doctrines—such as debates on free will and predestination underlying moral responsibility, and varying degrees of exclusivism versus pluralism regarding other faiths. The study then engages Islamic philosophical thought (al-Farabi, al-Ghazali, Mulla Sadra) alongside contemporary views to address metaphysical questions about God and being, epistemological questions about how we know religious truths, and ethical questions about justice and virtue. Finally, a psychological analysis draws on classical Islamic models of the soul (nafs, qalb, ruh) and Western psychology (cognitive dissonance theory, moral development) to explore how these beliefs are internalized in the believer’s psyche, influence moral behavior, and contribute to spiritual resilience. The epilogue synthesizes these insights, arguing that the combination of faith in God’s oneness and justice, ethical responsibility, and openness to righteous believers of all communities contributes to a coherent Islamic worldview marked by pluralistic tolerance, commitment to justice, and inner spiritual strength.

Introduction

Islamic theology holds that certain Quranic verses encapsulate the essential beliefs and values that define a Muslim’s worldview. The verses selected for this study (Quran 2:284–286, 4:135–139, 2:62, 5:69, and 22:17) span multiple chapters but collectively address core theological and ethical principles. They cover the Articles of Faith (belief in God, angels, scriptures, prophets, and the Last Day), the concept of accountability before an omniscient and omnipotent God, the imperative of justice and truthful testimony, and a recognition of salvation beyond the confines of one’s own community for those who believe in God and the Last Day and act righteously. Together, these passages form a concise textual basis for examining what might be termed seminal beliefs in Islam – those foundational convictions that shape Islamic thought and practice.

This paper first provides a verse-by-verse thematic exegesis of these Quranic passages to extract their key messages about belief, accountability, justice, interfaith relations, and ethics. It then offers a theological analysis of each theme, highlighting interpretations from Sunni, Shiʿa, and Sufi perspectives, including classical commentary (tafsir) and creed (`aqidah) formulations. Next, a philosophical analysis addresses how these beliefs engage issues in metaphysics (the nature of God, existence, and cosmic order), epistemology (sources of religious knowledge and truth), and ethics (conceptions of virtue, law, and the good life) as discussed by notable Islamic philosophers and contemporary thinkers. A psychological analysis follows, examining how these beliefs are internalized and manifested within the human psyche, drawing on both the rich spiritual psychology of the Islamic tradition (concepts of nafs or self, qalb or heart, and ruh or spirit) and parallels in modern psychology (e.g. cognitive dissonance when actions contradict beliefs, and frameworks of moral development). Finally, a thematic epilogue reflects on how these beliefs cohere to form an integrated Islamic worldview that emphasizes divine unity, justice, moral responsibility, pluralism in human community, and spiritual resilience in the face of life’s challenges.

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