Part 64

Allah also says about Abraham that his religion is Islam. Allah says: “And who turns away from the religion of Abraham except him who fools himself? Him We chose and rendered pure in this world: and he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the Righteous. Behold! his Lord said to him: ‘Bow [your will to Me].’ He said: ‘I bow [my will] to the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe.’ And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; ‘Oh my sons! Allah has

chosen the [true] religion for you; then die not except as Muslims” (2:130-32). Allah also says: “And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face [himself] to Allah and he is a Muhsin, good doer. And follows the religion of Abraham. And Allah did take Abraham as an intimate friend” (4:125). Hence, happiness will be attainable through the combination of these two qualities. Allah says: “Yes, but whoever submits his face to Allah and is a Muhsin, good doer,

then his reward is with his Lord, on such shall be no fear nor shall they grieve” (2:112). Likewise, Allah links Islam with Iman and the Day Hereafter and with good works. Allah says: “Those who believe and those who follow the Jewish [scriptures], and the Christians and the Sabians, any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” (2:62). It follows that Islam, which is combined with the Ihsan that Allah commands, and Iman, which is associated with righteous deeds, are inseparable from each other. For the promise attached to both is the same, namely, reward and exemption from punishment. For negation of fear is a cause that requires negation of the source of fear. This is why Allah says: “. . . On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” (2:62), but not “they do not fear.” For there shall be no reason for them to fear, although they fear Allah. Moreover, He relates that they shall not grieve. For grief is based on what happened in the past. So they shall not grieve at all, neither in the grave nor in the Courtyards of Resurrection. On the other hand, they may feel fear for what could occur before entering Paradise, although they shall not grieve. Allah says: “Behold! Indeed on the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor shall they grieve. Those who believed and used to fear Allah” (10:62-63).

However, absolute Islam [i.e., Islam that is not joined to Righteous deeds], in the Book of Allah, is not associated with entering Paradise, whereas it is associated with absolute Iman as indicated in the following sayings of Allah. Allah says: “Raise one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord, and towards Paradise, the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers . . .” (57:21); and Allah says: “... And give good news to those who believe, that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds . . .” (10:2). And He describes al-Khalil [i.e., Abraham] and those who followed him with Iman. Allah says: “. . . So Lot believed in him [Abraham] . . .” (29:26). He thus describes him as a believer, saying: “. .. So which of the two parties has more right to be secure, if you know.

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It is those who believe and confuse not their belief with wrong. Those are the ones who have security and they are the right-guided ones. And that was Our Proof which We gave Abraham against his people . . .” (6:81—-83). He even describes him as having attained the highest level of belief, and as being the most righteous of the righteous after Muhammad (pbuh). Al-Khalil [i.e., Abraham] made special supplication to Allah to provide sustenance especially for believers, saying. Allah says: “... And provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day . . .” (2:126). He also prayed, saying. Allah also says: “Our Lord! And make us submissive to You and of our offspring a community of Muslims to You...” (2:128). As for Moses, he said, Allah says: “Oh my people! If you have believed in Allah, put your trust in Him if you are Muslims” (10:84). Allah says: “But none believed in Moses except the offspring of his people, because of the fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs, lest they should persecute them . . .”(10:83). And concerning these events Allah says: “And We inspired Moses and his brother: ‘Take dwellings for your people in Egypt, and make your dwellings as places for your worship, and offer prayers, and give glad tidings to the believers” (10:87). We have mentioned the absolute bushra, glad tidings, promised to Muslims, where Allah says: “. .. And We have sent down to you the Book as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings to the Muslims” (16:89).

Allah describes [Pharaoh’s] sorcerers, after they believed in Allah, as being both believers and Muslims. Allah says: “They said: ‘We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron” (7:121--22); and He also says: “And you take vengeance on us only because we believed in the Signs of our Lord when they reached us! . . .” (7:126); and “They also said: ‘Our only desire is that our Lord will forgive us our faults, that we may become foremost among the believers!” (26:51); and“. . . They said: ‘Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto You as Muslims” (7:126). Allah also attributes Islam to the Prophets of the Children of Israel. He says: “It was We who revealed the Torah [to Moses]: therein was guidance and light. The Jews have been judged by its standard, the Prophets who bowed [as in Islam] to Allah’s Will . . .” (5:44). However, He attributes both Iman and Islam to the Disciples. Allah says: “And behold! I inspired the Disciples to have belief in Me and My Messenger. They said: ‘We have belief, and bear witness that we are Muslims’”” (5:11 1). Allah also

says: “. .. The Disciples said: ‘We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims” (3:52).

The real difference between Islam and Iman, as understood from the Prophet’s (pbuh) hadith, is that Islam is din, religion. The word din is a noun of the verb dana, which means to submit and to humble oneself. Accordingly, Islam means submitting to and worshiping none but Allah. Hence, whoever worships others beside Allah is not considered a Muslim. Likewise, whoever arrogantly refuses to worship Allah is not considered a Muslim. Philologists say that the word Islam means submission to Allah through the deeds of both heart and body. However, Iman means tasdiq, assent, iqrar, verbal confession, and ma‘rifah, knowledge. Hence it refers to the profession of the heart, which in turn implies work of the heart.

Accordingly, the foundation of Iman is tasdiq, assent, verbal confession, and knowledge. Thus, it is “utterance of the heart,” which implies work of the heart. The essence in it is tasdiq, assent, and the work that is joined to it. For this reason, the Prophet (pbuh) interpreted Iman as consisting of believing in the heart and its ~ [the heart’s] humility, which implies having belief in Allah, in His Angels, in His Books, and in His Messengers. Whereas he [the Prophet] interpreted Islam as a special submission [to Allah], which implies the five pillars. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Islam is overt and Iman is in the heart.” Accordingly, Islam implies overt deeds, whereas Imari implies what is in the heart: tasdiq, assent, knowledge, love, fear, and hope; and all of this is implied inwardly. However, there are some restrictions that might apply to these things. Thus, there are certain conditions that are connected with what the believer may do, on the one hand, and what the hypocrite may do, on the other. In support of this is the following hadith narrated by ‘Abd Allah Ibn ‘Amr and Abu Hurayrah: “A Muslim is one from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe. A believer is one whom people trust with their persons and property.” In this hadith the Prophet (pbuh) interpreted Islam on the basis of an outward phenomena; namely, the safety of others from a Muslim. By contrast, he interpreted Iman on the basis of something implied; namely, people’s willingness to trust the believer with their lives and property. The latter [Iman] ranks higher than the former [Islam]. For if someone is trustworthy, people are safe from his hand and tongue. However, not every person from whose hand and tongue others are safe is trustworthy. On the other hand, one may not harm the

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people and still they may not feel safe from him. This is not a result of belief in his heart but rather of abandoning hurting people out of fear.

In another hadith narrated by “Ubayd Ibn ‘Umayr, on the authority of ‘Amr Ibn “Absah, from the Prophet (pbuh), a man asked the Prophet (pbuh): “What is Islam?” He replied: “Providing food and offering salutations.” The inquirer then asked: “What is Iman?” The Prophet replied: “Tolerance and patience.” Indeed, providing food as well as offering salutations are overt deeds that one does for different reasons. However, tolerance and patience are traits of the soul. Allah says: “*. . . And enjoin patience, constancy, self-restraint, and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion” (90:17). This verse demonstrates that a person who is ina state of thankfulness and patience endures hardship and is kinder to his fellow beings. This is in contrast to the one who is impatient and, whenever he encounters any difficulty, will not show any tolerance.

As a continuation of this hadith, the inquirer then asked: “What of Islam is best?” The Prophet (pbuh) replied: “The one from whose tongue and hand Muslims are safe.” He [the inquirer] asked: “Oh, Messenger of Allah, who is the best believer?” He [the Prophet] replied: “The one with the best morals.” He [the inquirer], asked: “Which among deaths is the best?” He [the Prophet] answered: “That in which your blood is spilled and your horse is wounded.” He [the inquirer] asked: “Which jihad is the best?” He [the Prophet] replied: “To strive in the Cause of Allah with your belongings and person.” He [the inquirer] asked: “Which among charity is the best?” He [the Prophet], replied: “That which one gives when he is wealthy and close-fisted, haunted by the fear of poverty, hoping to become rich, and still hoping to live [as a rich man].” He [the inquirer] asked: “Which among the prayers is the best?" He [the Prophet] replied: “The prayer in which one is completely devoted to Allah.” He [the inquirer] asked: “Which Hijrah is the best?” He [the Prophet] replied: “Abandoning what Allah has prohibited.” He [the inquirer] asked: “Which among the hours is the best?” He [the Prophet] replied: “That of midnight.” A similar hadith was narrated on Jabir’s authority, in which the following statement was used: “The best Iman is tolerance and patience.”