Iman

Iman

Iman means to believe that all the messages brought by The Messenger of Allah are true. It is not mere moving of one’s lips with the testimony of لااله الا الله محمد رسول الله .But it has a wider sense. As the Messenger told Iman has seventy branches of which first and foremost is to testify the oneness of the divinity of Allah and the last is to remove the obstacles from the road.


From the teachings and the life of the messenger we can understand that Islam is not a mere declaration, but it covers all the spheres of human life.

A believer can not shut his eyes to his surroundings. He has a great responsibility towards the society in which he is living. As a social being he is responsible to his family, neighbours, organisation, nation and to the whole humanity. But all those responsibilities should be guarded and maintained by his responsibilities and duties to the supreme will of the Almighty Allah. All the moments one believer live on earth give him newer lessons. The shedding light of the Sun, the soft smile of the Moon, the glittering sparks of the stars, the blooming flowers, the murmuring of rivulets, the cleanliness of the blue sky, the patting of the breeze and all other aspects of universe continue to give him new messages of the wisdom of their Creator, thereby increasing the faith in his absolute power. Even no heartbeat is felt by a believer without being reminded of the grace of the Creator to the living beings.

The six important elements of Iman

The Messenger of Allah taught us six important elements which are considered to be the crux of Iman. They are described by a tradition reported in Saheeh Muslim. It is as follows:

Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them) said: Once we were sitting in the company of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) when there appeared a man dressed in very white clothes and having extraordinary black hair. No signs of fatigue of journey appeared on him and he was known to none of us. He sat down facing the Prophet (PBUH) leaning his knees against the knees of the Prophet (PBUH) and placing both of his palms over his two thighs and said, "O Muhammad (PBUH)! Tell me about Islam". He (PBUH)replied, "Islam is to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah; that you observe Salat (prayers), pay Zakat, observe Saum (fasting) of Ramadan and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) of the House, provided you have resources of making journey to it.'' He replied: "You have spoken the truth". We were surprised to see that he had asked him and confirmed the correctness of the answers. He then enquired: "Tell me about Iman". He (PBUH) said. "It is to believe in Allah, and His Angels, and His Books, and His Messengers and the Last Day and that you believe in foreordainment, its bad and good consequences.'' He said, "You have spoken the truth.'' He then enquired: "Tell me about Ihsan.'' He (PBUH) said, "It is to worship Allah as if you are seeing Him; and although you do not see Him, He sees you". He enquired: "Inform me about the Hour (i.e., the Day of Resurrection)". He (PBUH) replied, "I have no more knowledge thereof than you". He said, "Inform me about some of its signs". He (PBUH) said, "They are - that a bondswoman gives birth to her own master, and that you will find the barefooted, naked, poor shepherds competing one another in the construction of higher buildings". Then he departed. The Messenger of Allah kept silent for a while then he said to me, "O `Umar! Do you know who the questioner was?'' I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know better". The Prophet (PBUH) said, "He was Jibril (Gabriel); he came to you to teach you your religion".

[Muslim]

From the above tradition we understand Iman is to believe
1) in Allah

2) in His Angels


3) in His Books


4) in His Messengers


5) in the last Day


6) in the foreordainment, its good or bad consequences.