What is faith - Answer by Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam (May Allah sanctify his secret)

Iman Is The Testification Of Tauheed And Prophethood   Linguistically, there is a slight difference between Iman and Islam, but in the terminology of the Shariah, there is no difference.  The word “Islam,” means obedience and following of rules.  The person who outwardly follows (the commandments of) Almighty Allah , performs Islamic actions (a’amaal) and does not do anything anti-Islamic is called a Muslim.  The Shariah does not give the order to determine his/her emotions.  If any act is attributed to the person who looks anti Islamic, then that person will be declared a Kafir.  After a highly scholarly argument Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam says:   Translation: To summarize, it is not necessary to find out what goes on inside the heart of a person to declare him/her as a Muslim.  If it were necessary, then nobody could be called a Muslim which would create problems for Muslims.  For this reason, the Shariah says that whoever expresses Islam through words and actions, that person should be considered a Muslim and treated as one, as Almighty Allah says in Surah Nisa.   In the same way, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) says that whoever declares the Tauhid of Almighty Allah and the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and performs Salaat, etc. should be considered a Muslim and there is no claim against that person.  Thus, based on the actions, words etc.  the Iman of a person would be decided.  In the same way the Kufr (denial) of a person will also be declared based on the actions and words of a person; as Ibn Taimiyya writes in As Sarim ul Maslool.  It is written in Sharh Maqasid, etc. that some sins have been declared by the Law-giver as indications of rejection of faith, such as harboring enmity against the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), throwing the Holy Quran in dirt and filth, prostrating to a idol, etc.   Through this the Muslims can understand that if any person says that those matters in the Holy Quran and the Hadith, which cannot be understood logically (i. e.  using the present corpus of knowledge), they need to be explained away (tawil), which only means that they should not be understood as they are, then what we should think about such a person?   Shaykh Imam Taqiuddin writes in As Saif Ul Maslool that a consensus has been achieved on this that any Muslim who diminishes the honor and glory of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), or abuses Him, the execution of that person is Compulsory (Wajib) and writes that Hadhrat Umar (May Almighty Allah be well pleased with him) has explicitly ordered that the person who abuses Almighty Almighty Allah or the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) should be killed. ” (Maqasid Ul Islam, Pg No: 137, 138)   Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam writes after describing the signs and the Wahhabi ordeal in the light of the Hadith:   Translation: It can’t be doubted that this faction is suffering from some deep-seated deprivation because of which the True Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said that they will never return to the religion; but one reason which seems obvious is that in their zeal for defending Tauheed, eliminating ascribing partners to Allah Most High and innovations, they not only disrespect the beloved of Almighty Allah, but also learn it and teach it to others as if they are teaching the principles of Deen, which Allah’s sense of honor cannot bear and it destroys them.  (Anwaar e Ahmadi, 324, 325)   Shaykh Ul Islam advises the Wahhabis to give up disrespect and to follow the manners of the Companions   The Wahhabis should fear Almighty Allah that they see the grandeur and superiority of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in the Holy Quran and the Hadith, they hear it from the Muslims but ignore them and search for such Hadith, which outwardly diminish the superiority of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Will such Salaat, such fasts and such belief in the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) be of any benefit?  We have an example of a large group of people that these things will not benefit; so we give them well-meaning advice to leave this way and adopt the manners of the Companions.  (Maqasid Ul Islam, Vol 11, Pg No.  23)

Dr. Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri

Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia; Founder - Director

Mufti Maulana Syed Zia Uddin Naqshbandi Quadri

Shaik-ul-Fiqh - Jamia Nizamia

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What is faith - Answer by Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam (May Allah sanctify his secret)