Iman
Iman is an Arabic word. It means Faith. Faith
means complete trust in someone. It means if you
have faith in someone, you believe in him with
all your heart, and you do not have any doubt
about it.
To belive,to have faith in something that is to accept Islam with conviction.
The antonym of “Iman” is “Kufr”
meaning of “Kufr” to conceal or to hide it also means disobedience or thanklessness.
Significance of Iman
Remember doubt and faiths are two opposite
things. If you doubt in something, you believe
that it might not be true. Iman is a state in
which the heart accepts the truth and lives by
it.
Difference between Iman And islam
Allah will exalt those of you who believe (have Iman), and those who are given knowledge, in higher
degrees.” (The Holy Quran, Surah al-Mujadilah, 58:11)
“Those only are believers whose hearts become full of fear when Allah is mentioned, and
when His communications are recited to them they increase them in faith, and in their Lord
do they trust. Those who keep up prayer and spend (benevolently) out of what We have given
them. These are the believers in truth; they shall have from their Lord exalted grades (various
levels) and forgiveness and an honourable sustenance.” (The Holy Quran, Surah al-Anfal,
8:2-4)
The third difference between Islam and Iman is that “Islam” is related to actions between the
creation and other human beings such as marriage, animals that are slaughtered for food, etc…
meaning that through Islam, one can eat the meat that other Muslims slaughter and he may marry
another person who is a Muslim and can also marry into another Muslim family – thus, Islam is
limited to the interactions of this material world. However the higher stage is that of “Iman” and
this is the relationship of the actions between the creation (Mo`min) and the Creator (Allah,
Glory and Greatness be to Him) and other creations. Those who have Islam are only related to
one another on physical, material incidents that occur in this world where as those who possess
Iman have a much deeper, spiritual relationship with Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) and
one another – the true believers.
Imam Ja`far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said:
Anyone who accepts Islam, his blood will be sanctified (he cannot be killed), anytime he gives you a
trust, it must be returned and (sexual) relations are made permissible (after marriage) however the
reward (from Allah) is limited to Iman (true faith).”
The First Pillar
Belief in Allah Most High.
It is the foundation of the Islamic personality.
It is a basic human need, more basic than the need for his provision and sustenance.
Acts of worship only become real and valid with the feeling and awareness of their
Object.
The Second Pillar
Belief in the Angels.
Belief that among Allah's creation are angels.
Real beings, not illusions or figments of human imagination.
Created from light.
A Muslim must believe specifically in all the angels named and/or described in the Qur'an
and the Sunnah.
Jibreel: in charge of delivering revelation.
Mika'il: in charge of bringing the rain.
Israfil: the blower of the horn on Qiyamah.
Malik-ul-Maut: the Angel of Death who takes people's souls at death.
The Third Pillar
Belief in the Books of Allah.
General belief in the phenomenon of the sending of books.
Six specific books mentioned in the Qur'an:
As-Suhuf of Ibrahim and Musa.
Az-Zaboor given to Daud.
At-Taurat revealed to Musa.
Al-Injeel revealed to Isa.
Al-Qur'an - the final revelation.
The Fourth Pillar
Belief in the prophets, prayers and salutations of Allah be upon them.
Belief in the process of prophethood.
Allah in His wisdom did not neglect His creation.
Prophets sent to guide us in this life and the next
The Fifth Pillar
Belief in the resurrection . Reconstruction of the body and return of the soul to it. People will
come forth out of their graves like locusts. Faces bent down. Rushing to the Caller.
he resurrection is of the body and the soul, not some metaphysical resurrection of the
latter.
Twelve verses from the Qur'an which prove that.
Hadith: The sun will come down toward the people on the day of Qiyamah until it is only
about a mile up. The people will be in their own perspiration according to their acts: some of
them will be in it up to their ankles, some up to their groin and others up to their chins, and
he pointed to his mouth. Narrated by Muslim.
A disbeliever once came to the Prophet (saws) with an old bone, crumbled it with his hand
and said: O Muhammad, will Allah bring this back to life after it has rotted?! The Prophet
said: Yes, Allah will resurrect this and he will cause you to die, bring you back to life, and
put you into the fire of Jahannam!
The Sixth Pillar
Belief In Predestination and Decree
A Muslim believes in Allah's predestination of all things and events (Qadhaa), His decree
(Qadar), His wisdom in His actions, and His will. Nothing in the universe can occur, even the
voluntary actions of His slaves, except after Allah's knowledge, and His decree of that event.
A Muslim further believes that Allah is Just in His predestination and His decree, Wise in all
of His actions. His wisdom follows His will: Whatever He wills is, and whatever He does not
will is not. There is no power nor any movement except by Allah. This is substantiated by
the textual and logical proofs which follow:
