The Iman (Faith) That Makes One a Believer

True believers are those whose Iman (faith) compels them to act and drives them to hasten toward good deeds. There is a difference between Iman as a mere foundation and Iman in practice — the kind of Iman that transforms the heart and becomes a constant force of motivation in a person’s life.

Iman manifests itself through the inner conscience it plants within the believer’s soul. This inner restraint becomes a powerful drive that awakens concern, attentiveness, eagerness to do good, fear of Allah, and continual remembrance of Him, the Exalted. It is like what has been said about Taqwa (piety): it is as though a person were walking through a land filled with thorns, carefully guarding oneself so as not to be pricked by any of them.

Who, then, is the true believer? He/she is the one who embodies this spirit, this drive, this zeal. As for the heedless one – who neglects prayer, delays attending Friday prayer, and disregards the commands of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) – such a person shows little concern for their faith, their Hereafter, or the path laid down by the Lord of Might, Glorious and Exalted. Can such a person truly be called a believer? They are Muslims, but are they believers? As Allah (swt) says: “The Bedouins say, ‘We have believed.’ Say, ‘You have not [yet] believed;' but say [instead], ‘We have submitted,’ for faith has not yet entered your hearts” (49:14).

For Muslims to remain upon the path of success, they must first reflect on the impact of true Iman upon both the soul and conduct. They must consider the inner concern and preoccupation that awaken a person to the reality of life and the destiny that awaits every servant of Allah (swt). This inner state manifests as a light and a yearning that drive one to hasten toward good deeds and to fulfill divine commands. Such concern and aspiration are born of faith – faith firmly rooted in the conviction that what Allah and His Messenger call to is the very essence of life itself. As the Quran declares: “O you who believe! Respond to Allah and to the Messenger when He calls you to that which gives you life” (8:24).

True and sincere Iman is nurtured, strengthened, and brought to life through the certainty that within Allah’s commands lies the fullness of life, with all its defining qualities: goodness, tranquility, dignity, inner repose, and joy of the heart – the foundation of which is the delight of meeting Allah (swt) and finding closeness in His remembrance. On the other hand, it must be realized that a human being is spiritually dead if he/she does not submit to Allah’s commands, even if outward appearances suggest otherwise. A person devoid of faith or estranged from it, in truth, possesses a lifeless heart. Thus, whoever fails to comply with the commands of Allah, exalted be He, is no different from the dead – despite the illusion of life in their outward form. Allah (swt) affirms this reality in His words: “Do not let the movement of those who disbelieve throughout the land delude you; it is but a small enjoyment” (3:196-197). And again: “Is he whose evil deed has been made attractive to him so that he sees it as good [like one rightly guided]?” (35:8). These verses teach that when the light of faith is extinguished – the very power that inspires righteous action – the soul begins to seek vitality in outward, material matters born of the surrender to base desires. Yet in truth, the joy and fulfillment of the soul can only be found in divine guidance.

Among the other causes that extinguish the light of Iman are ignorance and heedlessness, both of which pose a constant threat to its endurance. Preserving the light of Iman, however, lies in fulfilling God’s will in creation: establishing worship upon the foundation of sincerity, and establishing reform upon reliance and turning to Him. This raises an important question: Why reform? It is because the supreme objective of human stewardship (Istikhlaf) on earth is reform. For this reason, God taught the believers, in the concluding verse of Surat Al-Baqarah, to supplicate: “Pardon us, forgive us, have mercy upon us. You are our Protector, so grant us victory over the disbelieving people” (2:286). And this victory over the disbelievers, in essence, is the restraint of their hands from spreading corruption upon the earth.

The next inquiry concerns the means of cultivating a lofty aspiration that nurtures and strengthens spiritual motivation, resolve, and determination. Allah (swt) has placed all good within high aspiration and has attached to it powerful incentives – so much so that He grants reward for intention and resolve, even before the deed itself is carried out. To this end, the Quran instructs: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and seek the means (wasilah) to Him” (5:35).

Accordingly, the believer should strive through three essential steps:

• Enticing the soul by motivating it with divine incentives – namely, the immense reward from Allah – so that it is subdued, disciplined, and directed toward what is pleasing to Him,

• Forming righteous habits by consistently practicing good deeds once the soul has been stirred by promises of reward, and

• Gradually cultivating the presence of the heart, such that through habituation and continued practice, the heart becomes engaged, reverence descends, and the servant begins to taste the sweetness of faith.

An example of this can be seen in the Friday prayer: at first, attending early may arise from a sense of obligation or habit, but with time, it blossoms into genuine love for Allah’s remembrance, gratitude for His blessings, and joy in His weekly gift – the renewal of Iman.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever dies without having fought, or without even intending to fight, dies upon a branch of hypocrisy.” This shows that noble aspiration includes nurturing within oneself the desire for martyrdom in the path of Allah (swt). In another narration, the Prophet said: “The majority of the martyrs of my community are those who die upon their beds; and perhaps one slain between the ranks, Allah knows best his intention.” Thus, the very intention for righteous action is itself a righteous deed, rewarded even if the action itself is never brought to completion.

The very first step in cultivating a lofty aspiration that sustains Iman is to form a sincere intention and a genuine will to attain it. This should be preceded by self-reflection: examining how much certainty one has in meeting Allah (swt) and how much trust one places in Him. To set out upon this endeavor, one must begin by remaining mindful of the reality of life and hastening to perform good deeds, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed: “Hasten to perform deeds before seven things come upon you: Do you await anything but overwhelming poverty, or corrupting wealth, or a debilitating illness, or weakening old age, or sudden death, or the Dajjal – the great evil whose arrival is awaited – or the Hour? Indeed, the Hour is more severe and more bitter.”