The 10 core tenets of NAFIS are:
1. The ultimate goal is God: Contemplating His Countenance, attaining His pleasure and entering His Firdaws (the highest level of paradise).
2. The primary focus is the afterlife: Our worldly life serves as an important and necessary bridge to the afterlife, and it is where we are continually tested who among us is best in deeds.
3. The Qur’an & Sunna are central in our journey to God: Qur’an is the living Word of God; it is the living proof that Muhammad is the last Messenger of God, it remains exactly as was originally revealed 14 centuries ago, and it is for all creation for all times to come until the end of this worldly life. Sunna is the authentic teachings, practices, habits, and silent approvals of the prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace.
4. The Islamic Faith has three levels: Islam, Iman and Ihsan, which are reached by overcoming the obstacles within ourselves and in society:
- Islam is the first and foundational level: It is outward in the form of Islam’s five pillars: (1) profession of faith, (2) performing ritual prayer five times a day, (3) alms giving, (4) fasting during Ramadan, and, only if able financially and physically, (5) pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in one’s lifetime.
- Iman is the second level: It is inward and it is belief in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and destiny both its good and bad. Practically, it is the assimilation of over seventy moral qualities, the highest of which is the declaration that there is no true god worthy of being worshipped but God the creator of the universe, and the lowest is the removal of harmful objects from the road.
- Ihsan is the third and highest level: It builds on and perfects the first two levels. It is defined by three complementary meanings: (1) The spiritual, which is to “worship God as if you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then indeed He sees you;” (2) kind and generous service of all God’s creation; and (3) the pursuit of excellence in all works and undertakings.
5. Companionship and Community [as-Suhba wal Jama’a] remain intertwined & inseparable because they are both necessary for the success of the individual, the Muslim community and the society at large.
6. Justice & Ihsan remain intertwined & inseparable because only by pursuing both will the Qur’an & Sunna be followed in a complete way.
7. Men & women play complementary roles that are equally important.
8. The three main organizational pillars are: (1) mutual love for the sake of God; (2) mutual advice & consultation; and (3) respect for authority.
9. The three main organizational practices are: (1) ethics; (2) accountability; and (3) transparency.
10. Collaboration with all people of goodwill for the common good is strongly recommended while racism, intolerance, extremism, violence, and terrorism are all categorically rejected.