Fundamentals of Eemaan

Eemaan is named so because it is connected to the inner affairs; and Allaah, the Majestic and High, knows them. Hence, it is called Eemaan because it is connected to the truthful heart. There are, for this truthful heart, outward affairs as an indication of one’s sincerity and the soundness of its faith. If the true Muslim displays them, is upright upon them, and performs them then this is proof for the soundness of his Eemaan. He who is not upright, that is an indication of the lack of Eemaan or weakness in his Eemaan. Eemaan—in its general sense—Islaam enters into it, and vice-versa. This is according to Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah. As Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, has said:

“Truly, the religion with Allaah is Islaam.”

[Soorah Aali Imran 3:19]

Eemaan enters into it, according to Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah; for there is no Islaam except with Eemaan. So the religion with Allaah is Islaam; it is Eemaan; it is guidance, Taqwaa, and righteousness. These titles, although their wordings differ, they all go back to the same meaning, and that is Eemaan in Allaah and His Messengers and being guided by Allaah, and uprightness upon the religion of Allaah. It is all called righteousness, Eemaan, Islaam, Taqwaa, and guidance. Similarly, if the term Al-Ihsaan is used generally then the two affairs—Islaam and Eemaan—enter into it, because it specifically denotes perfection of some of the slaves of Allaah. So if it is general then the first two matters—Islaam and Eemaan—enter into it. When one of the three is used generally then the other two enter into it.