Like footsteps in the sand, the manifestations of God are the only things which we can observe.  We cannot  experience God Himself because He appeals to none of our five senses.  We can, however, observe that God Almighty has submitted all of Creation to His will and law:  the planets, the seasons, and our own bodies are witnesses of this.  Among the only creatures to which He has  given free will are human beings.  Man and womankind can choose to either to ignore God's way or fall in accordance with it, like the rest of His creation... and God makes lawful and unlawful only that which is beneficial for us.  However, God the Beneficent has taken mercy upon us and not left us in the dark.  He has guided us in His way through the prophets.  These were our role models, and as God-fearing individuals we must earnestly try to emulate their behavior and follow the scriptures which they brought forth from the Almighty.  This is the background from which the Muslim comes to affirm his faith in Allah and His final prophet.

       Islam houses at least seven catechisms, or codes of faith.  Although it is not necessary for a Muslim to know all seven catechisms by heart, it is nonetheless important that one testifies to his or her faith daily.  (These should not be confused with the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the physical manifestations of a Muslim's belief.)

1.  The Declaration of Faith [Kalimaa Tayyibaa]:

There is no god except [the one God] Allah, and Muhammad is the [last] messenger of Allah.

2.  The Declaration of Testimony [Kalimaa Shahadaa]:

I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah--that He is alone and has no partners--and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

3.  The Declaration of the Glory of God [Kalimatut-Tamjeed]:

Glory be to Allah and praise be unto Him!  There is no god except Allah--God, who is greatest--and there is no power or might except that which comes from Him, the most high, the magnificent.

4.  The Declaration of the Oneness of Allah [Kalimatut-Tawheed]:

There is no god except Allah, who is alone and has no partners.  Unto Him belongs the Kingdom, and unto Him is due all praise.  He grants life and causes death.  In His hand lies all good, and He has power over all things.

5.  The Rejection of Atheism and Idolatry [Kalimatu Raddil-Kufri Wush-Shirk]:

O God!  Verily I seek your protection lest I join anything as a partner with You while I am aware of it.  I turn away from it and am innocent of disbelief, of joining partners with You, and of all wrong-doing.  I surrender to your will and I believe; I also declare that there is no object worthy of worship except Allah (the God), and that Muhammad is the messenger of God.

6.  Concise Belief [Imaan-Mujmal]:

I believe in God, as He is with His attributes and His qualities, and I accept all His commandments.

7.  Detailed Belief [Imaan-Mufassal]:

I believe in [the absolute, all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present] God; His [countless] angels [who can act only in accordance with God's will]; His holy books of guidance [including the Mushaf, which was the name of the revelation given to Abraham, the Taurat of Moses, the Zaboor of David, the Injeel of Jesus, and the Quran of Muhammad, among which now only the Quran holds authority, not only because it is the "Final Testament" of God, but also because only it has been perfectly preserved (see Quran 15:9)]; [all]  His messengers [from Adam to Muhammad, including Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus, and countless others--may peace be upon them all]; the Day of Judgment [or "Last Day", when all men and women will be judged by God according to their actions in this world]; that a person's fate, whether good or bad, is [already] known by God [as part of His omnipotent character]; and in the resurrection [for Heaven or Hell] of every person after death.