‘Aqeedah means a number of things that people believe in and that the hearts feel at ease with. These matters are considered certain for those who believe in them without the least doubt or suspicion. In the Arabic language, ‘Aqeedah indicates certainty and affirmation. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Allaah will not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for [breaking] what you intended of oaths.} [Quran 5:89]

The Arabic word ‘Aqqda was used in this verse and it was translated as ‘intended oaths’.

In Islam the term ‘Aqeedah stands in parallel with that of Sharee‘ah,  because Islam consists of ‘Aqeedah or a creed and a Sharee‘ah. The word Sharee‘ah means the practical ordinances that Islam enjoins such as acts of worship and types of mutual dealings, while creed is not concerned with practice as it represents the knowledge which the Muslims should believe in since they are established by virtue of the Quran and Sunnah .

The principles of creed, according to what Allaah The Almighty has ordained are mentioned in the Hadeeth that was narrated by Muslim that is the famous Hadeeth of Jibreel (Gabriel) when he asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , about faith. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told him that "faith was to believe in Allaah, His angels, books, messengers, the Day of Judgment and that whatever good or bad happened to a person was from Allaah The Almighty".

Hence,  'Aqeedah, which is creed, and Sharee'ah, revolves around certain issues that were taught to us by Allaah The Almighty and His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Allaah Knows best.