Īman

The worst of the worst (major) sins are: to associate partners with Allāh, to lose hope of the aid of Allāh, to despair of the mercy of Allāh, and to feel safe from the plans of Allāh.

Al-Ṭabarī, Al-Tafsīr (Qurān 4: 31). Graded ṣaḥīḥ by Ibn Kathīr in his tafsīr of the same verse.

Son of Ādam, you will never find the reality of īmān as long as you fault people for doing what you yourself are guilty of, until you clear yourself of that fault and correct it. Then, you will not correct a fault in yourself except that you will notice another, so your occupation will become correcting yourself, and this is the most beloved thing to Allāh, when you are like this.

Al-Khaṭīb Al-Baġdādī, Al-Muntakhab min Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqāʾiq, article 41.

A man once came to ʿAbdullāh [ibn Masʿūd] – Allāh be pleased with him – and said, “We were once travelling when we met another group of travellers, so we asked them, ‘Who are you?’ They replied, ‘We are the believers!'” So [Ibn Masʿūd] said, “So why didn’t they just say, ‘We are from the people of Jannah?!'”

Abū ʿUbayd Al-Qāsim b. Sallām, Kitāb Al-Īmān, article 11. Shaykh Al-Albānī graded the chain of transmission of this and the following narration ṣaḥīḥ according to the standard of Bukhārī and Muslim.

Beware of lying, for lying is far removed from īmān.

Abū Bakr Al-Ḵallāl, Al-Sunnah no. 1467, 1470; Al-Bayhaqī, Shuʿab Al-Īmān no. 4463.

Nifāq (hypocrisy) used to be something unusual amongst all the Īmān. Soon, Īmān will be something strange amongst all the nifāq.

Ibn Baṭṭah, Al-Ibānah 1:173 article 6.

It is part of sure belief (yaqīn) [in Allāh] that you do not please the people by angering Allāh, and do not praise anyone [else] for what Allāh has provided you, and do not blame anyone for what Allāh has not given you. For verily, the provision of Allāh is not gained by the keenness of those who are keen [for you to have it], nor is it prevented by the hatred of those who hate [for you to have it]. And verily Allāh, in His justice, made happiness and joy in being certain and content [with Allāh], and made worry and sadness in doubt and anger.

Hannād b. Al-Sarī, Al-Zuhd, article 535.

There will come upon the people a time when their hearts will be derelict of the Qurān; they will find neither sweetness nor pleasure by it. If they fall short of doing what they have been commanded to do, they will say: Allāh is most forgiving, merciful (He will forgive us), and if they do what they have been forbidden from doing, they will say: we will be forgiven, we haven’t committed any shirk with Allāh. Their affairs will all be based on [false] hope, having no truth and sincerity with it. They will wear the skins of lambs over hearts of wolves. The best of them in his religion will be someone who compromises.

Imām Aḥmad, Al-Zuhd article 1741.

Tawakkul (reliance and trust in Allah) comprehends all of Īmān.

Hunād b. Al-Sarī, Al-Zuhd #534.

Verily, you will find the believer (muʾmin) consistent time after time, upon one way, showing the same face; [whereas] you will find the hypocrite (munāfiq) changing colors, trying to be like everyone around him, running with every wind.

Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-ʿIlm #1936

Three things are from Imān: when a man has nocturnal emission during a cold night, so he gets up – only Allāh sees him – and he has a full wash (ghusl); when a person fasts on a hot day; and when a man prays in a barren land, where none but Allāh sees him.

Al-Bayhaqī, Shu’ab Al-Īmān article 51

There is not a person except he has four eyes: two in his head with which he sees the matters of this worldly life, and two in his heart with which he looks to the matters of the hereafter. So if Allāh wants good for his servant, He opens his heart’s eyes, and so he perceives what he has been promised in the unseen world. Thus he is saved from the unseen [punishment] through the unseen [reward for the obedient]. Al-Dhahabī, Siyar A’lām Al-Nubalā` 4: 543

Al-Dhahabī, Siyar A’lām Al-Nubalā` 4: 543

The Companions of Allāh’s Messenger – Allah’s praise and peace be upon him – did not consider the leaving of any action to be kufr (unbelief), except the prayer (ṣalāh). Al-Tirmidhī, Al-Sunan ḥadīth 2622. Graded ṣaḥīḥ by Al-Albānī in his edition of Sunan Al-Tirmidhī.

Al-Tirmidhī, Al-Sunan ḥadīth 2622. Graded ṣaḥīḥ by Al-Albānī in his edition of Sunan Al-Tirmidhī.

Faith (īmān) is not sound except with [correct] words. Faith and words are not sound except with [good] works. And faith, words and deeds are not sound except with [the correct] intentions in conformance to the Sunnah. Those who went before us of our Salaf did not separate faith from deeds: deeds are a part of faith, and faith is from [ones deeds]. īmān is a word that brings together these aspects of the religions [of Allāh] and is confirmed through [a person’s] works. So whoever believes in word, knows in his heart and confirms [his belief] through his works, then this is the strongest handhold that will never break. And whoever says [words of faith] but does not know [faith] in his heart nor confirms it with his works, it will never be accepted of him and he will be in the hereafter from those who suffer in loss. Ibn Ba tt ah, Al-Ibānah Al-Kubrā article 1097.

Ibn Ba tt ah, Al-Ibānah Al-Kubrā article 1097.

Did the Companions of Allāh’s Messenger – Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon him – used to laugh? He replied, “Yes, and the īmān (faith) in their hearts was greater than the mountains.” ʿAbd Al-Razzāq Al-Ṣan’ānī, Al-Muṣannaf 11:327.

ʿAbd Al-Razzāq Al-Ṣan’ānī, Al-Muṣannaf 11:327.

It is perseverance (al-ṣabr) from the things that are forbidden by Allāh the Mighty and Majestic and acceptance. He was asked, “What is perseverance and acceptance?” He replied, “al-ṣabr is to persevere in holding back from what Allāh has forbidden, and [acceptance is] acceptance of what Allāh the Mighty and Majestic has commanded.” Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-‘Ilm 3:535.

Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-‘Ilm 3:535.

Ali on fear, hope, knowledge and patience

It is reported that ‘Alī b. Abī Ṭālib – Allāh be pleased with him – said, “The servant [of Allāh] should not fear except his sins, and should not hope except in his Lord. The ignorant should not be ashamed to ask, and the knowledgeable should not be ashamed to say – if he does not know something – ‘Allāh knows best.’ Patience (al-ṣabr) to faith (Al-Īmān) is like the head to the rest of the body: if the head is cut off, the body will rot. And one who has no patience, has no faith.”

Al-Baihaqī, Shu’ab Al-Īmān, Vol.12 p195.

Ibn Battah, Al-Ibānah Al-Kubrā Vol. 2 p498. Note The supplication mentioned above is as follows in Arabic:

The supplication mentioned above is as follows in Arabic:

Beneficial Brotherhood and Love

It is reported that ʿAbdullāh b. ‘Abbās – Allāh be pleased with him – said, “Love for Allāh and hate for Allāh, make your enmity because of Allāh and your allegiance because of Allāh; for indeed, the love and support of Allāh is not achieved save through this. And a man will never taste true faith (īmān) – though he may pray and fast much – except when he is like that. Today, the people’s brotherhood is based upon worldly considerations (dunyā), but this will not do anything for them on the Day of Resurrection.”

Ibn Al-Mubārak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā`iq article 353.

A believer might harbour any [bad] quality, except treachery and lying.

Ibn Abī Shaybah, Kitāb Al-Īmān article 80, where Al-Albānī grades its chain of narration ṣaḥīḥ; and others

I met thirty of the Prophet’s Companions – Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and every one of them feared falling into nifāq (hypocrisy); not one of them claimed he had the level of faith of Jibrīl or Mīkā`īl. Quoted by Al-Bukhārī, Al-Sahīh, Chapter on the believer fearing that his deeds will be nullified without him realizing. In this chapter and narration there is a refutation of the Murji`ah sect who claimed that īmān (faith) consists of belief in the heart and nothing else i.e. a person’s deeds are not part of his faith and do not affect it. This narration indicates that a person may perform deeds in which his intention may not be totally pure and sincere and because of which he falls into a type of practical hypocrisy. The fact that they feared hypocrisy does not mean they actually fell into it. Rather this was by way of them being very careful not to fall into it, and it is part of their taqwā – Allah be pleased with them. This narration also indicates that the Companions believed that people can have different levels of faith, contrary to the Murji`ah who claimed that the īmān of the most pious true believers is the same as everyone else. Nothing contrary to any of this has been related from the Companions, so it is as if there is a consensus (ijmā’) amongst them on this. The following are some of the illustrious Companions Ibn Abī Mulaykah met: · ‘Alī b. Abī Tālib · Sa’d b. Abī Waqqās · Mother of the Believers ‘Ā`ishah · Her sister Asmā` · Mother of the Believers Umm Salamah · ʿAbdullah b. Mas’ūd · ʿAbdullah b. ʿUmar · ʿAbdullah b. ‘Abbās · ʿAbdullah b. Al-Zubayr · Abū Hurayrah · ‘Uqbah b. Al-Hārith · Miswar b. Mikhramah Allah be pleased with them all. These notes have been summarized from Fath Al-Bārī.

These notes have been summarized from Fath Al-Bārī.

Marry, for if the servant of Allah commits fornication Allah snatches the light of īmān from him, and may or may not return it to him.

Ibn Sa’d, Al-Ṭabaqāt Al-Kubrā (Dār Ṣādir ed.), Vol.5 p287.

Faith (īmān) is not by embellishment or wishful thinking, but it is what settles in the heart and is verified through your works. Whoever says good but does not do good will have his words compared to his deeds by Allah. Whoever says good and does good will have his words raised by his deeds. This is because Allah ‘azza wa jalla said: To Him ascends the good word, and the righteous deed raises it. [Sūrah Fāṭir: 10] Ibn Battah in Al-Ibānah Al-Kubrā Vol. 3 p120, and Al-Khaṭīb Al-Baghdādī in Iqtiḍā’ Al-‘Ilm Al-‘Amal no.56.

Ibn Battah in Al-Ibānah Al-Kubrā Vol. 3 p120, and Al-Khaṭīb Al-Baghdādī in Iqtiḍā’ Al-‘Ilm Al-‘Amal no.56.

Sayings filed under this topic.