Faith and the issues surrounding it are among the topics that Salih’s Salaf paid great attention to due to the special emphasis given to it by the Qur’an and the Sunnah. The word “faith” is mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah more than any other words. Because the principle of religion is based on it, and it is a means by which people are guided from darkness to light, it distinguishes between the people of prosperity and misfortune. Blessings and rebirths are formed based on it, and all the orders of religion are subject to it. Every Muslim is in dire need of knowledge about faith.
The emergence of new groups
Today, the Islamic society is affected by individuals and groups who have deviated from the teachings of the book, the Sunnah, and the understanding of Salaf Saleh. This has resulted in the appearance of differences among the Ummah.
Examples include the emergence of the Kharijite sect that excommunicates perpetrators of major sins, leading to fluctuations in the denial of faith and the allowance of the blood of Muslims. In response to the heresy of the Khawarij, the Arja heresy emerged, removing actions from the essence of faith and viewing transgressors and perpetrators of major sins as complete believers.
The scope of deviation in Arja continued to evolve, giving rise to numerous sects and groups branching out from it. Among these sects, some individuals claimed that faith is solely the knowledge and recognition of Allah, suggesting that disbelief signifies ignorance towards Him. In this article section, we aim to examine faith from the perspective of reference, which is deemed a crucial distinction of this sect from others. We also aim to express the viewpoint of Sunnis’.
Literary and terminological definition of faith
Faith in linguistic terms
“Iman” is derived from the words “Amen, Youman, Imana,” which are verbs with Mu’min as the subject noun.
Ibn Faris states that “Aman” (Hamzah, Mim, and Noon) holds two closely related meanings within the word.
Khalil Farahidi suggests that Al’amnata (الأمنة)is derived from Iman (faith), which indicates providing protection to prevent betrayal.
Zahri says: “The linguists and Scholars are of the opinion that faith literally means confirmation. Allah Almighty says: «قَالَتِ الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا قُلْ لَمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَكِنْ قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ» Some of the Bedouins said: We believe. Say you have not believed; But say that we have converted to Islam and faith has not yet entered your hearts.
Zahry references an Arab saying where faith involves more than just verbal declaration, emphasizing the importance of true faith in the heart.
Nazr bin Shamil considers faith as peace and tranquility.
Zajaj defines faith as the expression of submission and acceptance of the Prophet’s Sharia, involving belief in it and heartfelt acknowledgment.
But Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, has preferred that the best synonym for faith in the word is the word “confession” which includes two things: acknowledgment of the heart and submission of the heart and says: “The interpretation of faith is closer to the word confession than interpretation It is in the word confirmation, especially since there are differences in meaning between faith and confirmation.
And he explains his opinion as follows: Iman is derived from the word Aman, which means peace and tranquility, just as the word confession is derived from “Qar Yaqar(«قر یقر»)” and is close to the meaning of A’men, Ya’man.
A person who believes is safe, inside, just as a person who is in residence is inside in confession, and the word confession implies commitment and can be examined from two aspects: one means to inform that in this sense, confession is like confirmation and certification and the like, and this is what the jurists bring up in the chapters of confession in judicial matters; Its other meaning is: creating commitment and adherence to something, like this saying of Almighty Allah:«أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكُمْ إِصْرِي قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ».; “Did you confess and accept my agreement about this?” he said. They said: Yes, we confessed. He said: So be witnesses and I am one of the witnesses with you.
And he says: It is clear that faith is a confession, not just confirmation, and this confession includes two things: the word of the heart, which is confirmation, and the action of the heart, which means obedience.
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