Question

1) Explains- A
very
close and insperable relationship exist
between Iman and Islam.​

Answer 1

Answer:

The word ‘Iman’ means ‘belief’ or faith. In Islamic terminology, to believe the basic subjects of Islam is Iman. Iman includes three aspects:

1. To believe in heart
2. to admit or recognize verbally
3. to practice accordingly

So, Iman suggest to have faith in basic aspects sincerely, to have verbal confession and then to practice it accordingly. Islam is an Arabic word meaning “submission” and in the religious context means “submission to the will of Allah”.

Scholars conclude that if both Islam and Iman are mentioned in the same context, each has its distinctive meaning, as mentioned in the Hadeeth, whereas each term will have the meaning of both terms if mentioned independently in a context. Therefore, Islam and Iman (faith) are interrelated as well as inseparable. The deeds of the person who declares the two testimonies of faith, performs Salaah (prayers), gives Zakaah (obligatory almsgiving) etc. are of no significance unless he has innermost belief in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Hereafter etc. Otherwise, the person will be a hypocrite who says with his tongue what is not in his heart. Similarly, a person’s belief in Allah, His angels, His Books etc. will be useless and not avail him if he does not act according to the two testimonies of faith, perform his prayers etc.

Allah the almighty says:

“And they rejected them, while their [inner] selves were convinced thereof, out of injustice and haughtiness. So, see how was the end of the corrupters.” (Quran 27:14)

A Muslim may be described as a disbeliever if he practices Islamic rituals before people but his heart is not convinced about what he does or does not believe in what he does. This is similar to the case of the hypocrites and the Bedouins at the dawn of Islam who embraced Islam and said that they were believers just to gain protection for themselves and their wealth.

A person cannot be described as a believer unless he is originally a Muslim, because Iman is a special degree, whereas Islam is a general description for every person who declares the two testimonies of faith and applies the apparent ordinances of Islam. Furthermore, a Muslim may not be a believer, but a believer is certainly a Muslim.