Iman

What is Iman?
Many people falsely interpret Iman to mean faith or belief in one’s heart. However, this is not the way the messenger Muhammad (SAW) and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) understood Iman to be. Allah (swt) says in the Qur’aan: “If they believe the way you believe (Sahabah), they will be guided. And if they go astray, they will be in complete contradiction…” (Quran Soorah Al-Baqarah, 2: 137)This verse was revealed in relation to the Muslims that will come after the companions of Rasoolullah (SAW). Allah (swt) clearly explains that for any Muslim to be guided, he must believe in what the Sahabah (the companions of the messenger Muhammad (SAW)) believed in. Therefore the understanding of the Sahabah in matters relating to ‘Aqeedah (belief) and Fiqh is binding (obligatory) upon us to follow and adopt.The Sahabah understood Iman to be belief in the heart, to testify by the tongue and to practice (the deen of Islaam) willingly. The evidence for this is the hadith reported in Ibn Maajah, narrated by Imaam ‘Ali (ra), that the messenger Muhammad (SAW) said: ‘Iman is conviction in the heart, testifying by the tongue and acting upon the pillars of the actions.’Therefore it goes without saying that any other understanding of Iman is a misguided and deviant understanding and should not be followed or adopted by any sincere Muslim who wishes to follow the path of the best men that walked the earth.Why is it so important to know what Iman is?Without Iman a person can never be called a Muslim. The sciences in Shari’ah related to Iman and Tawheed are the greatest of all sciences and if understood correctly, the way the Sahabah did, it would lead to the first step towards paradise.Secondly, for us to be guided we must believe in what the Sahabah believed in, hence we must believe in Iman they way they did (as explained above) therefore we are obliged to study this topic. Also any negligence to study what Iman is could lead to apostasy; if one does not know what Iman is, it is inevitable that he or she will commit kufr.The evidences for the three conditions of Iman are given in more detail below:Iman is to believe in the heartAllah (swt) says in the Qur’aan: “When the hypocrites come to you they say: "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allâh." Allâh knows that you are indeed His Messenger and Allâh bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed.They have made their oaths a screen (for their hypocrisy). Thus they hinder (men) from the Path of Allâh. Verily, evil is what they used to do. That is because they believed, then disbelieved, therefore their hearts are sealed, so they understand not.” (Quran Al-Munaafiqoun, 63: 1-3)In the above verses Allah (SWT) states that the Munaafiqoun (hypocrites) pretend Iman and Islaam in their actions but they disbelieve in their heart. Therefore it is not enough just to testify by your tongue and perform good actions; you MUST also believe in the heart. Furthermore, Allah (swt) says in the Qur’aan: “And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: "We believe in Allâh and the Last Day" while in fact they believe not. They (think to) deceive Allâh and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!” (Quran Al-Baqarah, 2: 8-9)The hypocrites will always claim to be believers and publicly show Islaam but in their inner (heart) they conceal kufr and hatred for Islamic laws. Imaam Al-Qurtubi said in response to this aayaat ‘they (the hypocrites) try to deceive Allah and the believers but they deceive none but themselves.’Because of their false impressions and lies, Allah (swt) informs us that the munaafiqeen will be in the bottom of hell-fire, simply because they testify that which they do not believe in:“Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them.” (Quran An-Nisaa’, 4: 145)Also the famous hadith, quoted even in Imaam Nawawi’s forty ahadith, the messenger Muhammad (SAW) said: ‘Every action is done by intention...’ Again this hadith confirms the principle ‘action is the manifestation of the intention.’ Therefore when a person commits that which is kufr, it is not our duty to check his heart and his intention, we leave this to Allah. Our duty is to judge the action not the intention, and this famous hadith states that the intention behind every action is apparent in the action.When a person fornicates and there are a sufficient number of witnesses, that person will be lashed, regardless of his intention! If we judged by intention, what if the intention of a fornicator is to have children and bring them up as ‘Ulama? Would he then be pardoned from punishment? Likewise a thief may have the intention of steeling in order to support the Mujaahideen! Do we judge his intention or action? Allah (SWT) and the messenger Muhammad (SAW) never instructed us to judge by intention as only almighty Allah knows that which is in the heart. We are obliged to judge the action of mankind, not their heart.Also it is narrated by ‘Umar bin Khattaab (RA) that the messenger Muhammad (SAW) said: ‘Action is based upon the intention…the intention cannot be separated from action.’ (Muslim)And narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) that the messenger Muhammad (SAW) said: ‘The one who testifies that ‘there is none truly worthy of worship but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah’ sincerely from his heart, Allah will forbid upon him hell-fire.’ (Bukhaari)Therefore it is beyond doubt that Iman is belief in the heart. The only people who say that Iman is only to testify by the tongue is a sect called Al-Karamiyyah who are from the Mu’tazila (rationalists). They believe if you say something and do not fulfil it you are a munaafiq (hypocrite). The Karamiyyah do not believe anything is settled in the heart as they interpret qalb (heart) to mean ‘mind’. However, the Karamiyyah generally do not exist today but can be found in some remote parts of the world (they are very rare to find).Iman is to testify by the tongueIt is narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar in Saheeh Muslim that the messenger Muhammad said to his uncle Abu Taalib (on his death bed): ‘Say: Laa ilaha illallah’ and I will testify for you on the day of judgement that you are a believer. His uncle then said: ‘…it is only because my people may think that I have turned my back, otherwise you would see tears of happiness.’ In other narrations he said: ‘nobody is more trustworthy than Allah and there is no Deen (what you believe in, live by and die for) like the Deen of Islaam, but I will never like what my people dislike.’ His uncle Abu Taalib rejected to testify the kalimah, though he believed in his heart. Allah then informed his messenger that he does not have the power of guidance; it is only Allah that can guide.Imaam Nawawi also said: ‘The condition of Iman is to testify (the kalimah) verbally, believing in it and all what the prophet (SAW) gave.’Iman is to practice willingly by the limbsAllah (swt) says in the Qur’aan: And Allâh would never make your Iman (prayers) to be lost (i.e. your prayers offered towards Jerusalem). Truly, Allâh is full of kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind. (Quran Al-Baqarah, 2: 143)Imaam Al-Qurtubi said in his tafseer (explanation) on this verse: ‘Iman is salaat as it requires niyyah (intention), sayings and action. People used to pray towards Jerusalem but then Allah changed the Qiblah (direction of prayer) and they thought that their salaat before was wasted (invalid).’Imaam Maalik also said: “those who say: ‘salat is not Iman’ are Murji’ih (those who separate Iman from action i.e. they are misguided)’”The messenger Muhammad (SAW) was also once asked: ‘What is the best action? He (SAW) replied: ‘to believe in Allah and his messenger.’ (Bukhaarie)The messenger Muhammad (SAW) was asked in the above hadith ‘what is the best action?’ He replied ‘to believe in Allah and his messenger.’ Hence Iman is action.It is also narrated that the messenger Muhammad (SAW) said: ‘Iman is over 70 branches. The highest is to say Laa ilaha illallah…and the lowest is to remove harm from street.’ (Muslim)This hadith again indicates that Iman is action as he said the lowest form of Iman is to remove harm from the street, which is an action.And finally it is narrated that Imaam Bukhaari said: ‘Al-Iman is sayings and action that increases (by good deeds) and decreases (by bad deeds).’