Islam = Surrender to Allah (swt) with Tawheed, to Submit to Allah with complete obedience and to renounce shirk and the people of shirk
Tawheed (or Tauheed) commonly translated as “Islamic Monotheism” or “Oneness; of Allah” is the very purpose of our existence. Allah (or God) created us for one reason and that is to worship, obey and submit to Him exclusively, no one else. And this is the very reason for which the Quran was revealed to convey to us this reality.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
“I did not create the jinn (unseen beings) and humankind except to worship Me.”
[ Adh-Dhariyat 51:56]
Therefore, you were not created to obey your false desires and to work endlessly to satisfy these until you die. Rather, you were created in order to obey Allah. And no one can obey Allah exclusively unless they first reject all false gods that people follow, worship and obey besides Him.
Any person or thing that is worshipped, followed or obeyed besides Allah is called “Taghoot” or “Falsehood”. Rejecting Taghoot is the most important aspect of Tawheed because you cannot worship and obey Allah exclusively unless you first reject falsehood and anything that is worshipped besides Him.
Imam ibnu Hajj (an alim of ahl Sunnah wal jamaah) said in his Tafseer of the verse: “The bad scholars is what made the Shariyah of Isa(as) vanish, the people followed the rabbis and priest without any evidence indicating that their affairs were in the hands of the priest and rabbis, from the Friday till Sunday they (priest and rabbis) would renew the Deen for them (people) based upon what they think to be beneficial or harmful, or that which would be pleasing to the rulers. They (people) use to go out from the synagogues or churches saying they (priest and rabbis) had renewed the Deen for them and it is different from the week before. That was the disease which caused the disappearance of the Shariyah of Isa(as)” [Reported in Kitab al Madkhal volume 1 page 94]
Saturday was the beginning of the Sabbath for the Jews. After Friday they could not work till the end of the Sabbath. To resolve this dilemma their rabbis gave them the false fatwa to hook their fishing nets on Friday so when the Sabbath was over they find the nets filled fish. The Christians would do all forms of evil sins throughout the week and on Sunday they would meet the priest, confessing their sins and the priest would forgive them.
Imam Ibnu Hajj was explaining that the rabbis and priest would give religious verdicts without evidence and the people would blindly follow. This act is extremely dangerous as one would be violating the principle ‘not allowed to precede Allah and His prophet (saw).
Imam Shafi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “he who blindly follows anyone in making something forbidden or making it permissible, while there is an authentic Hadeeth opposing that and his blind following prevents him from acting upon the Sunnah, then he has taken the one whom he blindly follows as a Lord besides Allah, the Most High, by making lawful what Allah has made forbidden, Verily we are for Allah and will certainly return to Him.”
O Muslim know, that none has the exclusive right to be Obeyed but Allah and His Command is above the command of all creation. To follow an opinion that is opposed to the opinion of Muhammad (saw) is deviation and betrayal of the covenant of Ibaadah made with Allah (swt).
1. Imaan is to believe in the heart
Munaafiqeen (hypocrites) claim to be believers and publicly show Islam in their actions, but in their inner selves they conceal kufr and hatred for Islam and Sharee'ah law. Allah (SWT) informs us that the Munaafiqeen will be in the lowest depths of Hell, because they testify to that which they do not believe in:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّا أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
“And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day' while in fact they believe not. They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!”
(Al-Baqarah, 2:8–9)
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا
“Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them.”
(An-Nisaa’, 4:145)
It has been narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said: “He who testifies that, ‘There is none truly worthy of worship but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,’ sincerely from his heart, Allah will forbid upon him Hellfire.” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Book of Knowledge, Hadeeth no.128)
Therefore, there can be no doubt that one of the pillars of Imaanis to believe in the heart. The only people who say that Imaanis only to testify by the tongue are the Mu’tazilah (Rationalists).
Examples of actions of the heart: To have taqwa and to believe (in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Prophets. The Hereafter, Destiny), To love and hate for the sake of Allah, To be Sincere, to have patience/gratitude, to Repent after some bad deed, etc…
2. Imaan is to testify by the tongue
It has been narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar that the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said to his uncle Abu Taalib on his death bed: “Oh uncle, say: ‘Laa ilaaha illaa Allah’ and I will testify for you on the Day of Judgement that you are a believer.” (Saheeh Muslim, Book of Imaan, Hadeeth no.24)
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
Verily! You (O Muhammad SAW) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.
(Al-Qasas 28:56)
- His uncle, Abu Taalib,refused to testify the Kalimah, even though he believed in his heart and Allah revealed
Prophet said: “I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight the people until they say Laa ilaaha illallah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and (until they) establish Salaat, and pay Zakaat. So if they do these things, their blood and wealth are protected from me except by the rights of Islam. And their reckoning is with Allah.” (Saheeh Muslim, Book of Imaan, Chapter 8, hadeeth no.21)
Imaam an-Nawawi (RH) said in his Sharh (explanation) of the above hadeeth: "Verily the condition of Imaan is to testify the Shahaadatainverbally, (while) believing in them and all thatAllah’s Messenger (SAW) came with." (Sharh Saheeh Muslim, vol.1, p.212)
And Ibn Taymiyyah (RH) said in his book Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa, "The one who does not testify the two Shahaadahs (Kalimah) while having the capability (qudrah) to do so is a Kaafir (disbeliever), by the consensus of the Muslims. And he is a Kaafir both inwardly and outwardly – according to the Salaf of this Ummah, its Imaams and the majority (jumhoor) of the ‘ulamaa (scholars)." (Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa, vol.7, p.609)
Examples of actions of the tongue: reciting the Shahadah, reciting Qur’an/Dua/Dhikr, Calling ppl to Islam/Enjoining good and Forbidding evil
3. Imaan is to practise willingly with the limbs
إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“And Allah would never make your Imaan (Salaat, i.e. prayers) be lost (i.e. your prayers offered towards Jerusalem). Truly, Allah is full of kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind.”
(Al-Baqarah, 2:143)
"’Your Imaan’ in this verse means ‘your Salaat’. Salaat was called Imaan (in this verse) because it (Salaat) requires niyyah (intention), sayings and actions. Whenever I remember this verse I remember the saying of the Murji'ah, who say: 'Indeed Salaah is not part of Imaan.’” (Tafseer ul-Qurtubi, vol.2, p.157)
“Which action is the best? He (SAW) replied: ‘Imaanun Billahi wa-Rasoolihi (to believe in Allah and His Messenger).’ He was then asked, ‘What next?’ He answered: ‘Jihaad (fighting) in the way of Allah.’ He was then asked, ‘What next?’ He replied: ‘To perform Hajj Mabroor.’” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Book of Hajj, Hadeeth no.1519)
In this hadeeth, the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) was asked about the best action which one can do. He (SAW) replied, "To have Imaan in Allah and His Messenger." Hence, Imaan entails actions. It is also narrated that the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said:
“Imaan is over sixty branches. The highest is to say Laa ilaaha illaa Allah, and the lowest is to remove harm from street.” (Saheeh Muslim, Book of Imaan, Hadeeth no.35)
"Do you know what is meant by having Imaan in Allah alone? They (the delegation) said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He (SAW) said, "It means to bear witness to Laa ilaaha illallah Muhammadur Rasool-Allah; establishing the Salaah; paying the Zakaat; fasting in Ramadaan; and giving one fifth of the spoils of war." (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Book of Imaan, Hadeeth no.53)
“There is no Imaan for the one who has no Amaanah, and there is no Deen for the one who has no covenant.”(Musnad al-Imaam Ahmad, Volume 3, Musnad Anas bin Maalik)
Amaanah means trust. The Prophet of Allah (SAW) informed us that if you betray your trusts (or the Muslims), you have no Imaan. And if you do not honour and respect your covenants and contracts, you have no Deen. If actions were not part of Imaan, betraying your trusts would have no effect on your Imaan. In another hadeeth, the Prophet (SAW) said:
“By Allah he is not a believer (Mu’min), by Allah he is not a believer, by Allah he is not a believer: the one whose neighbour is not safe from his bad actions.” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Book of Manners, Chapter 29, hadeeth no.6016)
“The fornicator is not a believer (Mu’min) while he is fornicating; and the thief is not a believer while he is stealing; and the one who drinks alcohol is not a believer while he is drinking it.” (Saheeh Muslim, Book of Imaan, Chapter 24, Hadeeth no.57)
Imaan is taken away from the heart of a fornicator while he is fornicating, but it returns when it has ended and he repents. Even though committing any one the above actions does not immediately take you outside the fold of Islam (unless you deem it to be lawful), it nonetheless has a huge effect on your Imaan. In another hadeeth it is reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said:
“The one who has the most complete (or perfect) Imaan from the believers is the one with the best akhlaaq (manners, character, etiquettes, etc.) among them…” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Hadeeth no.1162)
One’s akhlaaq is their demeanor, behavior, manners, personality and character – that is to say, their apparent sayings and actions. Therefore, according to this hadeeth, one’s Imaan can become more complete and perfect by their sayings and actions. Moreover, the Prophet (SAW) said:
“Performing wudoo’ (ablution) is half of Imaan…” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications, Chapter 85, Hadeeth no.3517)
Examples of actions of the limbs: [doing good deds, salat/zakat/fasting/ hajj, jihad/implementing Sharia
Imaan does not mean 'faith' , Imaan is Belief, Sayings and Actions
Statements from 'ulamaa
Imaam ash-Shaafi’ie (d.204 Hijri) said: “There is consensus among the Sahaabah, the Taabi’een, and those who met them, who all said: Imaan is (1) sayings, (2) actions and (3) intentions, and none of these three can exist without the others.” (Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa, vol.7, p.209)
According to Imaam ash-Shaafi’ie, Imaan is not valid or complete unless all components/pillars are present in a believer. In other words, one cannot have Imaan in the heart unless they have Imaan in their sayings and actions. It is reported that
Imaam ash-Shaafi'ie (RH) also said: "Imaan is (made up of) words, actions and belief in the heart. Have you not seen the statement of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, 'And never would Allah have caused you to lose your Imaan.' It means their prayers towards Bait ul-Maqdis (Jerusalem), so He named their prayers Imaan, while it (prayer) is made up of words, actions and beliefs." (Al-Intiqaa', by Imaam Ibnu ‘Abdil-Barr, p.81)
Imam ash-Shaafi’ie said: “If this Imaan had been one thing, neither increasing nor decreasing, then no one could have any more than another, and the people would all be the same, and any superiority (of one over another) would be nullified. However, the believers enter Paradise due to complete Imaan, and the believers attain different ranks with Allah in Paradise due to their various levels of Imaan. The negligent ones will enter the Fire due to deficient Imaan.” (Manaaqib ash-Shaafi’ie, by Imaam al-Bayhaqee, vol.1, p.393)
Imam Malik bin Anas said: "Imaan is (composed of) words and actions; it increases and decreases." (Al-Intiqaa', by Imaam Ibnu ‘Abdil-Barr, p.34)