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A chapter from Da ' aim al-Islam of Qadi al-Nu'man
On the difference between 'Islam' (submission) and 'Iman' (faith),
Allah the Most High says in the Holy Qur'an: "The Arabs of the desert declare: We are true believers'. Say (to them O Muhammad!): ' You are not. Rather say: We profess Islam, for faith has not yet found its way into your heart'." - Ch. 49 : v. 14.
And again Allah says:
"They regard it as a favor to you that they embraced Islam. Say (to them O Muhammad!): 'In accepting Islam you have conferred on me no favor. It was Allah Who bestowed a favor on you in guiding you to the true faith. Admit this, if you are men of truth'." - Ch. 49 : v.17
Yet in another verse, Allah says:
"We saved all the faithful in the town - We found but one household of true believers." - Ch. 51 : v.35.
It is obvious from the above verses that IMAN (faith) is a different thing altogether. To say, as some believe, that IMAN (faith) and Islam (submission) are one and the same is absolutely incorrect. It is related of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq as having said: "IMAN (faith) is contained within Islam (submission) but Islam does not imply IMAN. Islam is the outward profession of faith and work, whereas i _ is the hidden (basin) aspect of faith namely, the purity of heart (khulus-i- qalb)."When asked about the meaning of Islam and IMAN, Hazrat IMAN Ja'far al-Sadiq replied: "IMAN is the state within the heart and Islam is the keeping of the laws of marriage and inheritance. One who enters the fold of Islam is forbidden to shed blood for the reason that his life, honour, wealth, etc., are also safe and secure. IMAN comes within Islam but Islam does not mean IMAN."Imam Muhammed al-Baqir explained about Islam and IMAN with anillustration. He drew a small circle on his palm and said: "This represents IMAN." He then drew another circle outside the smaller one and said: This outer circle represents Islam. The inner circle is IMAN because IMAN is related to the knowledge of the heart which lies within the body." This illustration thus proves that IMAN (faith) is the inner spirit of Islam, but Islam (submission) which s the outer form is not IMAN. A person can be a Muslim without his being a mu'min (faithful) but he cannot be a mu'min (faithful) without being a Muslim. From this clarification on Islam and IMAN our discussion in the earlier chapter that IMAN (faith) depends on niyyat (intent of the heart), is further strengthened.
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