Ahmed
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Registration date : 2006-10-07
 |  Subject: WHAT IS EEMAN?  Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:26 am | |
| What Is Eeman ? Part 2
Thus, the
belief of the heart is the most important component of Eeman. One who desires
to be certain about his Eeman and safeguard himself from loosing it (Eeman) -
he must Recognize the Truth, Desire the Truth and hold Love for it (meaning
adhere firmly to the Commands of Allah).
This should also be
combined with hatred for falsehood and disbelief, because Allah mentioned love
for Faith along with the hatred for disbelief and disobedience in the verse:
"But Allah
has endured the Faith to you and has beautified it in your hearts and has made
disbelief, wickedness and disobedience hateful to you. These are the rightly
guided ones." [Soorah Hujurat (49): 7]
(B)
Confession by the Tongue: The second
necessary component of Eeman is the confessing of one's Eeman by the Tongue.
The simple pronouncement of the words 'La ilaha illAllah' is not the intent -
Certainly, the hypocrites did so (merely pronounced the Shahadah) but they
were not true believers. The pronouncement of the words must accompany: -
The Correct
Belief in the Lordship of Allah and its related aspects.
Rejection
of all kind of Shirk.
Adherence
to the laws of Islam.
If these
principles are not the intent of the proclamation, then such a confession is
not beneficial. Hence, before one makes the testimony of Faith, he must
clearly understand the meaning and purport of confession.
Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) writes in his book Kitaab al-Eeman: "The Arabs do
not have any such thing in their language as affirmation or denial unless it
be in meaning and wording (i.e. unless one understands and verbally
confesses). One will not find in Arabic speech statements such as: 'Mr. X
believed in Mr. Y' or 'denied him' if Mr. X only knew it in his heart that he
(Mr. Y) was true. (Such a statement would only be made if the person) spoke
it. Whoever does not affirm his belief in someone with his speech, if he has
the ability to do so, is not a believer according to (the language of the)
Arabs. Therefore, our pious predecessors of this nation (the Sahabah) and
those who follow them in goodness agree on this point. One who
believes in his heart but does no verbally state his belief is not considered
as a believer neither in this life nor in the Hereafter. Allah has not
declared such a person to be a believer in the Message (the Qur'aan) - simply
due to the Knowledge of Eeman in his Heart. He is not considered a believer
unless he confirms it by his speech. Therefore,
the outward speech is an essential aspect of Eeman, and according to the
earlier and later scholars, one will not be saved unless he verbally
testifies. The Muslims agree that he, who does not make the confession of
faith although he has the ability to do so, is a disbeliever. He is a
disbeliever both inwardly and outwardly according to the pious predecessors
and Imams of this nation." [Ibn Taymiyyah, Kitaab al-Eeman, p.126] (c)
Actions of the Body: Actions of
the body are the third integral part of Eeman. True belief of the heart
results in external Submission to the Commands of Allah. It is not possible
that one's belief of the heart is at a high level of Eeman but is not
demonstrated by his deeds. Ibn Taymiyyah
(rahimahullah) said: "It is inconceivable that there be a man who is a
believer with confirmed belief in the heart that Allah has obligated him to
Pray, give Zakaat, Fast and perform Hajj but he lives his whole life without
even making one prostration to Allah or never fasting any month of Ramadaan,
never paying Zakaat for the sake of Allah and never making pilgrimage to
Allah's House. This is impossible!! This would only happen if the person
has hypocrisy and opposition to Islam in his heart - It would never happen
with a true faith!! For this reason, Allah describes those who refused to
prostrate, as unbelievers…" [Muhammad Ibn Taymiyyah Majmoo vol.7, p.611] The most
important belief that should dictate our actions is that Allah All-Mighty
exists, He is the Creator and Provider, and none can benefit not harm us
except with His Permission. For example, if a person's Eeman in Allah is firm,
he will be able to direct all his worship and obedience to Allah and feel no
fear to worldly powers. The Story
of the Prophet Moosa, the Magitians and the Pharaoh Consider the
encounter of Pharaoh's court magicians with Prophet Moosa (alaihis-salaam) as
described in the Qur'aan. Before meeting the Prophet, they pleaded with
Pharaoh for a substantial reward if they were to defeat Moosa (alaihis-salaam)
in the contest using magic: "So the
sorcerer came to Pharaoh and said: 'Of course we shall have a suitable reward
if we win.'" [Soorah al-A'raaf (7): 113]
Pharaoh accepted their plea and promised them not only a reward but also
position at court. When the encounter with Moosa (alaihis-salaam) began, the
magicians realized quickly that while their own display was simple magic, the
Prophet Moosa's display was extraordinary and much more than any human could
do. So they all fell down in Sajda (prostration) saying: "We believe in the
lord of the Worlds. The Lord of Moosa and Haroon." [Soorah Taa-Haa : 70]
Pharaoh was so stunned by their declaration of Faith in Allah that he shouted:
"Have you believed in him, before I gave you permission?… Be sure, I will
cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and then I will crucify
you on trunks of palm trees. So shall you know which of us can give the more
and lasting punishment." [Soorah Taa-Haa : 71]
But these threats did not frighten the magicians. These men who had just been
begging Pharaoh for more gold coins now became so fearless because of their
faith in Allah that they answered him back easily: "Never shall we prefer
you over the Clear Signs that have come to us and Him who has created us. So
decree whatever you wish to decree. For you can only decree concerning matters
of this world. We have believed in our Lord; may He forgive us our faults and
the magic to which you did compel us, for Allah is the Best and forever
abiding." [Soorah Taa-Haa : 72-73] Increase
and Decrease of Eeman: "Whenever
there comes down a Soorah, some of them say: 'which of you has had his faith
increased by it? Yes, those who believe their faith is increased and they do
rejoice. But as for those whose hearts is diseased, it only adds wickedness to
their wickedness, and they die while they are disbelievers." [Soorah at-Tawbah
: 124-125] The Messenger
of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "Faith has over seventy branches,
most excellent of which is the declaration of "La ilaha illa Allah' and the
humblest of which is the removal of a bone from the road. And modesty is a
branch of Eeman." [(Saheeh) Sunan Abo Dawood (3910)] Eeman
increases and decreases according to one's Belief and Actions. It has higher
parts and levels. Acts of obedience to Allah increase one's Eeman and acts of
disobedience decrease it. This is where those who posses Eeman fall in
different ranks. Hence, with regards to the actions of the heart, some have a
greater love of Allah than others, while others fear Him more, and others are
superior in their sincerity to Allah. Concerning the actions of the tongue,
some recite Qur'aan more than others do, others engage in more remembrance.
Likewise, people also differ in actions of the limbs.
Basic Level of Imaan The basic
level of Imaan is the minimum level of 'Tasdeeq - Affirmation (or Statement)'
and the minimum level of 'Inqiyaad Submission (or Action).' (a)
Tasdeeq (Affirmation) - Belief in everything that one knows from the
Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) and willingness to believe in
all the new information he acquires from him (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam).
Meaning to realize, accept and admit that he must believe in everything that
is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe
wa-sallam).
(b) Inqiyaad (Submission) - Adherence to everything known from the
Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam). Meaning to submit to all the
commands of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) and have a
willingness, desire and recognition that he is obliged to submit to every
command authentically known from him (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam). These are
the compulsory aspects for the validity of Imaan. If these are not fulfilled
then Imaan does not exist.
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