PILLAR OF IMAN (1): BELIEF IN ALLAH
Generally, any feeling that can move one’s emotions and shape or direct his attitudes is regarded as faith or belief. Linguistically, it also means believing in that which is beyond one’s perception (Ghayb). Sholars have defined iman as “to believe with one’s heart, to confess with one’s tongue and to demonstrate in one’s physical actions.”
Iman comprises of 6 pillars that every Muslim has to believe in, accept wholeheartedly, and be fully convinced with. Rejecting even one of these renders one’s faith null and void. Consequently, these pillars are considered the fundamentals of the Authentic Islamic Aqheedah.
These six pillars as referred to in the Qur’an (Baqarah:185) and many prophetic traditions (ie – Hadith of Jibreel) are, to believe in:
- Allah (ṣubḥānahū wa ta’ālā);
- His Angels;
- His Messengers;
- His Books;
- The Last Day (Day of Resurrection and Judgement); and
- Fate and Destiny; whether it seems good or bad.
To believe in Allah consists of: believing in His existence, and singling Him out in regards to His Lordship, divinity and His names and attributes. Fulfilment of this first pillar requires the realisation of the declaration ‘La Illaha Illalah’ which is not just any mere verbal profession. It carries conditions and implications when one utters it:
7 CONDITIONS
1) Islam consists firstly of knowledge and then putting that knowledge into practice. No man becomes truly a Muslim without knowing the meaning of Islam and the Kalimah- one becomes a Muslim not by birth but by knowledge of it. One should know the meaning of the shaahadah and this includes negating what it negates and affirming what it affirms – that there is no object or deity worthy of worship (negation), other than Allah (affirmation)
2) One should have absolute certainty and conviction of the truth and meaning of the Kalimah and Islam without any doubt. How can one claim to be a true Muslim if he doesn’t believe with all his heart what he is saying?
As mentioned in last week’s broadcast, the first 2 conditions of the Kalimah, are: knowledge (knowing the true meaning of the kalimah), and certainty (not harbouring any doubts).
3) Thirdly, knowledge and certainty must be followed by absolute acceptance of the Kalimah’s implications (With the heart and tongue). One must wholeheartedly believe and accept in all that is stated in the Kalimah.
(Even Shaytan knows لا إله ألا الله but he rejected it instead of accepting it.)
4) The fourth condition is Submission, which is the physical implementation of لا إله إلا الله in our deeds. The Kalimah must be reflected in our hearts, tongues and actions. It is one of the meanings of Islam, “Total submission to the will and commands of Allah SWT.”
The whole distinction between believers and disbelievers is based around this kalimah. However, without truly understanding its meaning and fulfilling its conditions in every aspect of our lives, we cannot consider ourselves to be true believers.
5) The fifth condition is Truthfulness (Sidqh) which is to declare the Kalimah truthfully from one’s heart and to make one’s speech in accordance with what is in the heart. (The opposite being dishonesty and hypocrisy).
6) Sixth is IKHLĀS (Sincerity/Purity) which is the purification of one’s speech and action from all the stains of shirk. Here, it means that when we declare the Kalimah, we must do so solely for the sake of Allah (not for the sake of parents, family or for any other worldly benefits).
Islam is not a race or family in which membership is automatically passed down from father to son. The word ‘Muslim’ is not a title one inherits from his forefathers. Rather, one attains it by fulfilling the conditions of the Kalimah.
7) The 7th and final condition is having Love for the Kalimah, its implications, and loving those who who act upon it.
Loving Allah is to submit to what he loves, even if it opposes our desires and detesting that which He has prohibited even if our desires are inclined to it.
Another way of fulfilling this condition is to love our beloved prophet SAWS, by following his example and beautifying ourselves with his sublime mannerisms and characteristics.
The Prophet SAWS said: ‘There are three characteristics, whoever has them finds the sweetness of imān: that Allaah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than other than them; that when he loves a person he loves him only for Allaah’s sake and that he hates to return to disbelief after Allaah has saved him from it just as he hates to be thrown into the Hell-Fire’. (Bukhāri)
Love can be brought about when you fulfil the rights of other muslims upon you and also go beyond by meeting their needs and requirements. This is how the true spirit of brotherhood (Ukhuwwah) can be established which leads to a social cohesion and cooperation among brothers and sisters of faith.
The Messenger of Allah Said:
“There are six rights of a Muslim upon a Muslim: When you meet him, greet him; when he invites you, respond to him; when he seeks counsel, give him advice; when he sneezes and praises Allah, say to him: ‘May Allah have mercy on you (Yarhamuk-Allah)’; when he is sick, visit him; and when he dies, follow his funeral“.
حَقُّ اَلْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى اَلْمُسْلِمِ سِتٌّ: إِذَا لَقِيتَهُ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ, وَإِذَا دَعَاكَ فَأَجِبْهُ, وَإِذَا اِسْتَنْصَحَكَ فَانْصَحْهُ, وَإِذَا عَطَسَ فَحَمِدَ اَللَّهَ فَسَمِّتْهُ وَإِذَا مَرِضَ فَعُدْهُ, وَإِذَا مَاتَ فَاتْبَعْهُ}
To conclude
Unfortunately, many Muslims today simply profess belief but fail to carry out the obligations it imposes. They do not observe what Allah has commanded and do not avoid what He has prohibited. While failing to discharge fundamental obligations such as: The Five Daily Prayers, giving Zakat, observing Ramadan, avoiding indecency, they delude themselves into thinking that a mere verbal profession of faith in Allah will qualify them for a life of eternal bliss in Jannah.