Which Comes First — Faith in Allah or the Prayer

Question

(1) What do Muslims need first — sound creed, or first the prayer and creed afterwards? And in which matters exactly do Muslims need creed? If our creed is not sound while we rely upon the prayer, holding that Allah will grant us Paradise through this prayer — is that possible? For example, are the Shi‘ah, the Ahl al-Hadith and the Rafidah deserving of Paradise or not? And if not, then why? (2)

Answer

The testimony “there is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” comes before everything else; then follow in order the prayer, fasting, zakat and Hajj, as is plainly stated in the noble hadith. As for the articles of creed, the foremost importance belongs to: [ar]آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْقَدْرِ خَيْرِهِ…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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