iman according to ahlus sunnah wal jamaah and groups
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Abu Ammaar Saeed Ahmed This book is written on subject Iman an Islamic Faith defining the term Iman according to Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah in regards to Issues that clarifies some of the deviant ideas and misinterpretations of Iman by the deviant sects in early century. The groups contradicted Quran and Sunnah and innovated new philosophy in Islam concerning Iman. The Iman is to testify through the tongue, affirmation in heart and practical. Looking at this century we still find groups having similar ideas like the groups in early century during Prophet (pbuh) and Sahabas (ra). The evidences have been provided from Quran and Hadith. IRFNY Islamic Research Foundation New York www.irfny.comTRANSCRIPT
Iman According To
Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah
And Groups
Date: Safar 07, 1434, December 22, 2012
Edition: 2012
Author: Abu Ammaar Saeed Ahmed
Copyright: Free to republish with authorization
Islamic Research Foundation New York
www.irfny.com
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About Author
Abu Ammaar Saeed Ahmed Founder of IRFNY
Islamic Research Foundation New York
A businessman by profession and student of
international Dawah program and training who
choose to spread the word of Allah, who‟s
journey into the world of comparative religion
and Dawah started at the age of 30 started in
2007 as a participant of the Dawah Training
Programme conducted by several international
orators.
The desire within him in clarifying
misconceptions about Islam was kindled by
Sheikh Ahmed Deedat & Dr. Zakir Naik and
this exposure to these world renowned scholars
resulted in him choosing Dawah over business.
Being a passionate fulltime Daee since 2007,
specializing in inter-faith dialogues, Saeed has
participated in numerous one-on-one sessions &
group discussions with non-Muslims as well as
Muslims and, has clarified a number of
misconceptions about Islam with non-Muslims
as well as Muslims amongst television viewers
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as well as live audiences in various parts of the
USA.
He has been delivering talks on Islam and
Comparative Religion for the last couple of
years and some of his topics which are popular
amongst Muslims are Islamic Theology,
Tawheed, Imaan, Innovation and with non-
Muslims are Is Jesus God, Is the Bible Word of
God.
He is also an accomplished trainer with
experience in imparting Dawah training to
students of comparative religion and is a
founder of IRFNY Dawah training programme.
Over and above the numerous lecture tours,
talks, dialogues and discussions to his credit in
states in USA he has also delivered lectures
across over the internet in several Islamic
websites.
Saeed Ahmed became a founder of IRFNY
Islamic Research Foundation New York in
2010, to help other Muslims to join Dawah
training programme and learn doing Dawah
with non-Muslims as well as Muslims to
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remove misconceptions about Islam. Currently
Saeed is attending Islamic education
conferences and discussions from international
orators, to gain more knowledge and heading
towards higher education in Islam and
comparative religions.
Saeed has successfully completed studying
Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim,
Sunan Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawood, Ibn
Majah and Fiqh.
Currently Saeed is a student of Christianity on
the topics “Is Jesus God or Son Of God”, “Is
The Bible Word Of God”, “Was Jesus
Crucified”, “Trinity”.
Remember Saeed in your prayers, May Allah
increase our knowledge of Islam. Ameen
Abu Ammaar Saeed Ahmed
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حيم ه ٱش ـ حم بسم ٱهلل ٱش
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the
Merciful
Indeed, all praise is due to Allah. We praise
Him and seek His Help and forgiveness. We
seek refuge in Allah from our souls' evils and
our wrong doings. He whom Allah guides, no
one can misguide; and he whom He misguides,
no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no
god except Allah and I bear witness that
Muhammad (PBUH) is His Messenger.
Quran 20:25-28
أمشي )٥٢سب ٱششح صذسي ) ش ( ٥٢( ويس
ه ساو ) عقذة م (٥٢ )( يفقهىا قى ٥٢وٱح
"O my Lord! Expand me my breast;" (25) "Ease
my task for me; (26) "And remove the
impediment from my speech. (27) "So they may
understand what I say: (28)
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The word Iman was best defined at the time of
Muhammad (pbuh) and then Sahaba (ra) that
had best understanding of the Iman because it
was the time of direct revelation from Allah.
As the time moved on till next generations,
there were many groups appeared in parts of
Arabia and parts of the world where many
groups started having different opinions of Iman
and many differed among them in understand of
Iman.
Many groups differed in defining the term Iman
except Ahl us Sunnah, had misinterpreted the
word Iman that it should be defined through
linguistic perspective. Even we have clear
understanding of the term Iman from Quran and
Hadith.
According to Oxford Dictionary, they translated
the word “Iman” to English word “faith or
Belief” which is considered as general meaning
according to English Dictionary. If we realize
every religion do believes that God exist and
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messengers came with revelations. But
according to Islamic meanings of the term Iman
means agree to a commitment of action, a life-
changing commitment after believing whatever
The Prophet (pbuh) had told us through Hadith.
Having Iman resulted in Arabic word Aman
English meaning Safety and leads the individual
towards Peace which is complete Islam. Iman
can be stated as acknowledging God with full
sincerity of heart whilst accepting all His
attributes.
There are three basic levels of Iman.
1. Tongue
2. Heart
3. Practical
Testifying through the tongue is not enough if
there are no actions according to what an
individual testifies through the tongue. It goes in
order, First a person has to testifies through the
tongue and acceptance in the heart and do
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actions according to statements. Practicing more
good deeds increases Iman and doing less goods
and committing any sins decreases Iman,
depending on the levels of the sins from major
to minor. In Surah Baqarah Chapter two, Allah
is giving statements about His Messenger.
Quran 2:285
مؤمىىن بهۦ وٱ إيه مه س بما أوض سى ءامه ٱش
ه ق بيه أحذ م خبهۦ وسسهۦ ل وفش خهۦ و ٮ ـ وم ءامه بٲهلل
سهۦ ى س ىا وأ يش ا وقاىا سم م ٱ سبىا وإي فشاو
(٥٢٢)
The Messenger believeth in what hath been
revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of
faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His
angels, His books, and His Messengers "We
make no distinction (they say) between one and
another of His Messengers." And they say: "We
hear and we obey; (We seek) Thy forgiveness,
Our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all
journeys." (285)
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There were some groups came up with their
philosophy depending on just the linguistic
meaning of the word Iman.
There was group called Jahmite, the founder of
the group was “Jahm ibn Safwan”. He was the
first person to talk about creedness of Quran.
They believed the speech of God is created.
According to them Pharoah and his people were
believers because they knew Moses and Aaron
(as) were true prophets even though they denied
them. They also deny about Ibrahim friendship
with Allah and Moses (as) spoke to Allah. The
only attributes the groups accepted was creating
and power, they knew the sole creating power is
from Allah alone and all power witnessed
among the creatures is metaphorically theirs, not
literally. They come up with another philosophy
regarding Iman that Iman is just a basic
knowledge only.
Many orthodox Muslim scholars of Hadith
wrote refutations of Jahm ibn Safwan's
doctrines, particularly Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-
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Bukhari, and al-Darimi and declared this group
as disbeliever.
Ibn Taymiyyah identified the jurists who
excommunicated Jahmites as follows: “As for
Ahmad ibn Hambal, Wakee„, and others, they
declared all who supported Jahm‟s and al-
Ash„aree‟s views of belief to be unbelievers. To
Ahmad ibn Hambal and his followers, Jahm‟s
view on belief was even more abhorrent than
that of the Murji‟ites.”(Kitab Al-Iman, p. 133)
Ibn Taymiyyah (ra) said in his book "Sarim ul
Maslool" that linguistically Iman means
Tasdeeq wal Iqrar. And in the Istalah (the
terminology of Islam) it is utterance by the
tongue; believe in the hearth and actions with
the limbs. Except if someone is Murjiyyah or
Jahmiyyah because the Jahmiyyah says indeed
the Iman is only Ma'rifah (knowledge or
awareness), so this is the definition of Iman to
Jahmiyyah as for Muslims there must be
conditions for Iman to be fulfilled.
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Quran 2:208
ىا ول حخبم ڪافت أيها ٱزيه ءامىىا ٱدخىا ف ٱس ـ ي
ه ـ يط بيه ) خطىٳث ٱش (٥٠٢ إوه م عذو م
O ye who believe! Come, all of you, into
submission (unto Him); and follow not the
footsteps of the devil. Lo! he is an open enemy
for you. (208)
From the above verse we can understand in
order to be complete Muslims one has to submit
his will to Allah completely not partially and
don‟t leave any gap for shaitan to whisper in
heart with new philosophy about Islam
Quran 5:92
وٱحزسوا سى ىا ٱش ي وأ ىا ٱهلل ي فئن حىيخم وأ
مبيه ) غ ٱ ـ ب سسىىا ٱ (٢٥فٲعمىا أوما ع
Obey Allah and obey the messenger, and
beware! But if ye turn away, then know that the
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duty of Our messenger is only plain conveyance
(of the message). (92)
That we have to believe whatever the
Messenger commands us or preach His message
from Allah. A Muslim is not considered a
Muslim until he believes whatever the Prophet
(pbuh) talks about regardless of any confusion.
According to Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) had
been to “Isra” and “Miraj”. So if the Prophet
(pbuh) explained the whole story on Night
journey and Ascension it duty of every Muslim
to believe it 100% without any new philosophy
or searching for logical answers, like how,
when, what.
There are about 85 verses in The Quran where
Allah called upon believers.
أيها ٱزيه ءامىىا ـ ي
O ye who believe!
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These verses are especially for the believers
who truly believe and have practices according
to commandments of Allah and Prophet (pbuh).
There are six pillars of Iman to believe in.
Belief in Allah
Belief in the angels
Belief in the revealed books
Belief in the Messengers (pbu them)
Belief in the resurrection and the events of
Qiyamah
Belief in the predestination by Allah of all
things, both the good and the bad
Leaving anything outside of the list does not
make a individual complete Muslim and it
effects Aqeedah of a person and that individual
could be a unfortunate person could belong to
groups of 72 as it said in Hadith, 72 groups
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among the 73 groups in Islam will be entered
into hell only one will be accepted.
Hadith
Narrated Anas:
The Prophet said, "Whoever said "None has the
right to be worshipped but Allah and has in his
heart good (faith) equal to the weight of a barley
grain will be taken out of Hell. And whoever
said: "None has the right to be worshipped but
Allah and has in his heart good (faith) equal to
the weight of a wheat grain will be taken out of
Hell. And whoever said, "None has the right to
be worshipped but Allah and has in his heart
good (faith) equal to the weight of an atom will
be taken out of Hell." (Bukhari Vol 2, No 42)
There was another group called Karraamites
founded by “Abdullah Muhammad ibn Karram”
was from Banu Nazar. They belief was through
the tongue only but affirming in the heart. His
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teachings was based on “Ahmad ibn Abdillah
Jawbaaree” and “Muhammad ibn Tameem
Faryaanaanee” who were the fabricators of the
Hadith. He spread his doctrines in Khurasan and
Naysabur. Theyhave many false doctrines
clearly contradics Quran and Hadith, among
them was that is constituted by a single
utterance of the two declarations of faith, and
involves neither conviction nor works.
Their philosophy was like a hypocrite and
according them the hypocrite is the perfect
believer which still doesn‟t satisfy the
requirements of the Iman. They also believe that
the hypocrite will be punished on judgment day,
their statements regarding Iman contradicts
themselves.
Quran 4:60
إي أم حش إ ٱزيه يضعمىن أوهم ءامىىا بما أوض
غىث ـ مىا إ ٱط يشيذون أن يخحا مه قب وما أوض
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ه أن يضهم وقذ أمشوا أن ـ يط فشوا بهۦ ويشيذ ٱش ي
ا ) يذ ل ب ـ (٢٠ض
Have you seen those (hyprocrites) who claim
that they believe in that which has been sent
down to you, and that which was sent down
before you, and they wish to go for judgement
(in their disputes) to the Tâghût (false judges)
while they have been ordered to reject them. But
Shaitân (Satan) wishes to lead them far astray.
(60)
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Allah chastises those who claim to believe in
what Allah has sent down to His Messenger and
to the earlier Prophets, yet they refer to other
than the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His
Messenger for judgment in various disputes.
Hadith
It was reported that the reason behind revealing
this Ayah was that; a man from the Ansar and a
Jew had a dispute, and the Jew said, "Let us
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refer to Muhammad to judge between
us.''However, the Muslim man said, "Let us
refer to Ka`b bin Al-Ashraf (a Jew) to judge
between us.
''It was also reported that; the Ayah was
revealed about some hypocrites who pretended
to be Muslims, yet they sought to refer to the
judgment of Jahiliyyah. Other reasons were also
reported behind the revelation of the Ayah.
However, the Ayah has a general meaning, as it
chastises all those who refrain from referring to
the Qur'an and Sunnah for judgment and prefer
the judgment of whatever they chose of
falsehood, which befits the description of
Taghut here. This is why Allah said, (and they
wish to go for judgment to the Taghut) until the
end of the Ayah.
There was another group called Murjia and
followers and the movement was called
Murjites. They testify on tongue, and accepted
in their hearts but have removed good deeds
from the requirement of Iman to be completed.
Their philosophy concerning Islamic Creed and
Iman that only God has the authority to judge
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who is a true Muslim. Murjites doctines stress
on more on belief and submitting to God rather
than stressing on acts of piety and good deeds.
They believed Muslims committing grave sins
would remain Muslim and be eligible for
paradise if they remained faithful. The Murjite
opinion on the issue of whether one committing
a grave sin remains a believer was adapted with
modifications by later theological schools.
According to their philosophy Ibless, Pharoah
and other disbelievers even though they believe
in their hearts,they have been obliged to
adoptthe view of Jahm.
Quran 98:5
يه حى يه ه ٱذ مخ بذوا ٱهلل فاء وما أمشوا إل ي
ىة ىة ويؤحىا ٱض قيمت ) ويقيمىا ٱ ديه ٱ (٢ ورٳ
And they were commanded not, but that they
should worship Allâh, and worship none but
Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners
to Him), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât)
and give Zakât: and that is the right religion. (5)
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In the above verse word perform is used to
prove that it is obligated to every Muslim, other
than testifying through the tongue, and
affirming in heart there should be practical done
to complete one‟s Iman.
Hadith
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira
that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and
blessings be upon him) said: faith has over
seventy branches or over sixty branches, the
most excellent of which is the declaration that
there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of
which is the, removal of what is injurious from
the path: and modesty is the branch of faith.
(Muslim, Vol 1, No. 56)
Increasing and Decreasing in Iman is a
fundamental positions of Ahl us Sunnah because
we all experience every day and every moment
of our life.
Quran 8:2
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وجج قىبہم وإرا ش ٱهلل مؤمىىن ٱزيه إرا ر إوما ٱ
ىن سبهم يخى ا وع ى ـ خه صادحہم إيم ـ حيج عيہم ءاي
(٥) For, believers are those who, when Allah is
mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and
when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their
faith strengthened, and put (all) their trust in
their Lord. (2)
Hadith
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira: A
fornicator who fornicates is not a believer as
long as he commits fornication, and no one who
steals is a believer as long as he commits theft,
and no one who drinks wine is a believer as long
as he drinks it, and repentance may be accepted
after that. (Muslim, Vol 1, No. 109)
Quran 48:4
مؤمىيه يضدادوا يىت ف قىب ٱ ٱس هى ٱزي أوض
ىہم ـ ع إيم ا م ى ـ إيم س ىٳث وٱ ـ م جىىد ٱس ان وهلل و
ا ) يم ا ح عيم (٤ٱهلل
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He it is Who sent down As-Sakinah (calmness
and tranquillity) into the hearts of the believers,
that they may grow more in Faith along with
their (present) Faith. And to Allâh belong the
hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allâh is
Ever All-Knower, All-Wise. (4)
Hadith
He who amongst you sees something
abominable should modify it with the help of his
hand( activism, organization, movement ); and
if he has not strength enough to do it, then he
should do it with his tongue( by seeking out
against it ), and if he has not strength enough to
do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his
heart( by always disliking what is evil or
harmful ), and that is the least of faith(Muslim,
Book 1, No 79).
Ibn Taymiyyah clarified how Iman increases
and decreases in Book of Iman.
1. The details of what believers have been
commanded varied from time to place. The
details varies with knowledge.
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2. The level of commitment and action that
believers undertake, those who do bare min is
not same as those who do more Nawafil Ibaadah
3. Actual affirmation of truth is in fact of
various levels. There are decimal points
between 0 and 1. Abu Bakr given title of Sideeq
in the incident of Isra and Miraj, one who
witnesses and sees is not the same as one who
hears, he gives an interesting story, after Moses
(as) spending 40 days and Allah says his people
worshipped calf – but his anger exploded when
he saw the golden calf.
4. Detailed knowledge of a matter adds levels of
perception and certainty that summarized
knowledge does not.
5. A belief that causes one to act upon it is
necessarily stronger than a belief that does not
cause any action. How many believes in Jannah
and Hell but how many struggles to achieve it or
stay away.
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6. The actions of the heart (humility, love,
modesty etc), which are an integral part of Iman,
very widely between people.
7. The outward actions vary widely between
people. This is similar to point 2.
8. States of Ghafila ( heedlessness, lapse of
Iman) are more frequent for some than others.
Ihsan is absence of Ghafila. A Tabeyeen said to
be conscious of Allah increases Iman and
neglecting Dhikr decreases Iman.
9. It is possible that a matter or belief is denied
because of ignorance, and when someone learns
of its truth, he accepts it. This shows something
has changed in him internally.
Quran 1:6
مسخقيم )... شٳ ٱ (٢ٱ
…straight path (6)
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Straight path is the path to Jannah by holding
Quran and Sunnah without making any exit
towards any new innovation in Islam.
And Allah Knows Best
May Allah give us understanding of Quran and
increase our knowledge of Allah‟s Deen Islam.
May Allah remove our problems and worries
and send His blessings.
May Allah accept my work and increase our
knowledge, Ameen
Quran 2:127
مىا يم ) سبىا حقب ميع ٱ أوج ٱس (٧٥٢إو ..…
"Our Lord!accept (this service) from us, for
thou art the All-Hearing the All-Knowing.”
Ameen