Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (part 105)
Educational Lessons from the Story of Luqman the Wise (AS)
Lesson Seventeen: Faith Is a Reality Established in the Heart and Confirmed by Righteous Deeds
In his counsel to his son, Luqman the Wise (AS) teaches that faith in Allah (SWT) is not confined to inward conviction alone. Rather, it must produce visible effects and practical consequences that manifest themselves through one’s actions.
Faith reaches its true perfection only when it extends beyond inner belief and is expressed through righteous deeds in all their forms and degrees, whether obligatory or recommended. Genuine faith is reflected in a life of obedience and devotion to Allah.
Among the most significant righteous deeds that demonstrate the depth of one’s faith are those that Luqman specifically instructed his son to uphold: establishing prayer, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong. These acts serve as practical evidence of sincere faith and embody true servitude to Allah in a believer’s daily life.
Righteous deeds strengthen and reinforce faith while increasing its spiritual light. The light of faith grows through obedience and submission to Allah and diminishes through sin and disobedience.
Allah the Almighty says: «إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ» Translation: “The believers are only those whose hearts tremble with awe whenever Allah is mentioned; when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith, and in their Lord they place their trust.” [1]
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) also taught that faith consists of numerous branches and levels and that its perfection depends upon the perfection of these branches. He said:
«لا إله إلا الله» “Faith has more than seventy (or more than sixty) branches. The highest of them is the declaration, ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,’ and the lowest of them is removing something harmful from the path. And modesty is a branch of faith. “Therefore, safeguarding these branches of faith is essential for preserving the strength and vitality of faith within a believer. A strong faith illuminates one’s path through life and protects a person from falling into trials, temptations, and deviations. [2]
If future generations are nurtured upon complete faith accompanied by righteous deeds, that faith will become a mighty fortress protecting them from trials, deviant ideologies, intellectual doubts, and the various temptations and attractions that threaten the religious beliefs of today’s youth and seek to extinguish the light of faith within their hearts.
For this reason, the mission of all the prophets (peace be upon them) and the reformers who followed them has always centered on calling people to righteous deeds. At the forefront of these deeds stands prayer (ṣalah), for it is the foremost means of cultivating faith and the clearest practical expression of sincere belief.
Prayer is not merely an outward ritual; it is a continuous bond between the servant and his Lord. It trains the believer in discipline, responsibility, self-purification, and constant remembrance of Allah the Almighty.
Accordingly, one whose heart is firmly rooted in true faith will diligently guard the prayer and never treat it lightly. Conversely, negligence and indifference toward prayer are signs of weakened faith and a diminished relationship with Allah.
Islam, therefore, does not ask a person merely to preserve faith as an abstract belief within the mind. Rather, it calls upon believers to transform faith into a comprehensive way of life—a practical program reflected in one’s speech, character, worship, social interactions, and personal responsibilities.
True faith is that which settles firmly in the heart, is professed by the tongue, and is confirmed and validated through righteous deeds.
To be continued…
References:
- The Qur’an, Surah Al-Anfāl (8:2).
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān (The Book of Faith), Hadith no. 152.
