المعنى الاصطلاحي :

Everything that a person believes in with absolute certainty, his heart agrees with, and he adopts as a religion.

الشرح المختصر :

"`Aqeedah" (creed) is the belief in and acknowledgement of something and adopting it as a religion and methodology such that the heart believes in it and the inner self is at peace with it, abides by it, and submits to it. Such acknowledgment is not mixed with doubts or uncertainty about whether it is true or false, such as the belief in the existence of Allah and the belief in resurrection after death. It is called "`aqeedah" because one's heart is fastened and tied to it. "`Aqeedah" is divided into two categories: 1. Sound "`aqeedah", which is the Islamic "`aqeedah" consisting of the belief in the Lordship of Allah, His Divinity, His Names and Attributes, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, fate – the good and bad thereof–, all matters of the Unseen, the fundamentals of religion, and everything that the righteous predecessors agreed upon. Sound "`aqeedah" is established upon two basic principles, which are: a) "Ikhlaas": sincerity to Allah, the Exalted, and its opposite is "shirk" (polytheism), or ascribing partners to Allah. That can be either major or minor "shirk". b) "Ittibaa`": Following the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, in his statements and actions, and its opposite is "ibtidaa`", or innovation in matters of religion. 2. False creed, such as the creed of all deviant religions, like Judaism and Christianity, and the creed of deviant sects, like the Khawaarij, Ash`aris, Sufis, and others.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر :

"`Aqeedah": creed; everything that one believes in his heart with absolute certainty; firm conviction that is not susceptible to doubt; one's religious beliefs. Original meaning: fastening and pulling tight; opposite: "hall" (loosening) and "naqd" (untying).