Understanding 'People Of The Faith' In The Quran

what does people of the faith mean in the quran

In the Quran, the term people of the faith refers to those who follow the Islamic faith. The Arabic term for this is ahl al-iman, which translates to people of faith. In the Quran, the people of the faith are described as those who believe in God, the Last Day, angels, the Book, and prophets. They are also described as those who give of their substance to the needy and fulfill their covenants. Faith in Islam is not just abstract belief or thought but is dynamic and decisive in shaping one's life. It is associated with action and is considered a motivation for achieving one's desired destination.

The six pillars or articles of faith in Islam are:

1. Belief in the existence and oneness of God (Tawhid)

2. Belief in the existence of angels

3. Belief in the existence of the books of which God is the author, including the Quran, the Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospel

4. Belief in the existence of prophets, including Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, and Abraham

5. Belief in the existence of the Day of Judgment, when humanity will be divided into those who will go to paradise and those who will go to hell

6. Belief in the existence of God's predestination (qadar), or divine decree, due to God's omniscience

Characteristics Values
Definition of faith To affirm something and to comply with it
Faith in the Quran To believe in God, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets
Faith in the hadith To believe in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in providence, both its good and its bad
Faith in the principles and foundations of the religion To believe in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day
Faith arising from understanding, intellect and knowledge To believe in God, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, the prophets, to give of one's substance, to perform prayer, to pay the poor due
Faith as a motivation for action To bow down, prostrate, worship, do good, struggle for God, perform prayer, pay the poor due
Faith and its responsibilities To believe in God, His messenger, and to obey
Faith as a source of tranquility and security To remember God often, to glorify Him at dawn and in the evening
Faith as a source of guidance To follow the messenger
Faith as a source of success and victory To believe in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in providence, both its good and its bad
Faith as a source of light To follow the messenger, to hold fast to God
Faith as a source of forgiveness and pity To believe in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in providence, both its good and its bad
Faith as a source of prosperity To believe in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in providence, both its good and its bad
Faith as a source of power To believe in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in providence, both its good and its bad

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The six articles of faith

In Islam, the term "people of the faith" is a Persian term, "اهل ایمان", which means "people of faith". This term was founded in the Persian translation of the Quran by Mirza Mahdi Elahi Ghomshei.

  • Belief in Allah (One God): Muslims believe in the oneness of God, with "Allah" being the personal name of God, meaning "The One". God is all-knowing and omnipotent, with no parents or progeny.
  • Belief in the Angels of Allah: Angels are creations that worship and serve God. They are created from light and do not have free will; they follow God's commandments. The most well-known angel in Islam is Jibril (Gabriel), who brought the Quran and revelations from God to Prophet Muhammad.
  • Belief in the Books of Allah: Muslims believe that Allah revealed His laws in stages to mankind through prophets. They accept the Torah of Moses, the Psalms of David, the Gospel of Jesus, and the Quran of Muhammad as Holy Books, as well as the sacred scriptures of other messengers of Allah. However, they believe that these revelations were limited to specific times and peoples and are subject to distortions. The Holy Quran is considered the culmination and perfection of all Holy Scriptures.
  • Belief in the Prophets of Allah: Prophets of Allah are chosen from among human beings and set examples of moral and spiritual conduct. They lead mankind to Allah by conveying divine revelations and through their own purity and righteousness. Muhammad is considered the chief of the Prophets, bringing perfect guidance from Allah.
  • Belief in the Last Day or the Day of Judgment: This belief emphasizes that physical death is not the end of man's existence but rather the beginning of a higher form of life that can bring one closer to Allah, depending on their deeds. On the Day of Judgment, the universe will come to an end, the dead will be resurrected, and their deeds will be judged, with rewards or punishments in Heaven or Hell.
  • Belief in the Decree of Allah (Divine Decree or Predestination): This refers to the Will of Allah, which controls the eventual outcome of all actions in the universe. It is a universal law of Allah that operates through all of creation. Within the boundaries of Divine Decree, humans are given free will.

These six articles of faith are fundamental to the Islamic faith, providing a framework for Muslims' beliefs and practices.

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Faith and reason

The term "people of the faith" is a catch-all term used to refer to those who adhere to a religious tradition or doctrine, as opposed to those who do not publicly identify with or espouse a religious path. In Islam, the Persian term "ahl e-iman" is used to refer to "people of the faith".

In the Quran, faith and reason are closely intertwined. The Arabic word "iman" denotes a believer's recognition of faith and deeds in the religious aspects of Islam. It is derived from the verb "to have faith" or "to give recognition". Faith in Islam means to believe in Allah, to affirm His truth, and to submit to His commands.

The Quran and Hadith, a collection of the teachings and normative examples of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, provide a clear definition of faith and its role in the Islamic religion. According to the Quran, iman must be accompanied by righteous deeds, and together they are necessary for entry into Paradise. In the Hadith, iman, Islam (submission to God), and ihsan (excellence) form the three dimensions of the Islamic religion.

The relationship between faith and reason in Islam has been a subject of debate both within and outside the religion. Some scholars argue that faith and reason spring from the same source and must be harmonious. Others, like the early sect Murji’ah, claimed that deeds were not essential to faith, diluting its concept to a nearly meaningless level. On the other hand, the Kharijites, whose spiritual heirs are today called Takfirists, asserted that any deficiency in deeds would cause a Muslim to be excommunicated from Islam.

Islam stands between these two extremes, teaching that deeds are essential to faith but that a deficiency in deeds or sin does not nullify a Muslim's faith. True faith must manifest in the heart as sincerity, on the tongue as affirmation, and through the limbs as action.

The Quran emphasizes that faith is dynamic and decisive in shaping one's life. It associates faith with action and considers them together as motivation for reaching one's desired destination. The Quran promises salvation, prosperity, victory, and superiority to the faithful who are attentive to the responsibilities of faith.

In summary, the Quran and Hadith provide a clear framework for understanding the role of faith and reason in Islam. While there have been differing interpretations and debates throughout Islamic history, the core teachings emphasize the importance of both faith and righteous deeds for spiritual growth and salvation.

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Faith and deeds

In the Quran, the term 'people of the faith' refers to those who adhere to a religious doctrine or tradition. In Arabic, the term for 'people of the faith' is 'ahl al-iman', which literally translates to 'people of faith'.

In Islamic theology, faith (al-iman) is a recognition of religious aspects of Islam and is accompanied by righteous deeds. Faith is not merely belief in the existence of Allah, but also an affirmation of His truth and a submission to His commands.

The six articles of faith, or arkān al-īmān, are:

  • Belief in the existence and oneness of God (Tawhid)
  • Belief in the existence of angels such as Jibril (Gabriel), Mikail (Michael), and Israfil
  • Belief in the existence of the books of which God is the author, including the Quran, the Injeel (revealed to Jesus), the Torah, Psalms, the Scrolls of Moses, and the Scrolls of Abraham
  • Belief in the existence of prophets, including Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, Abraham, David, Joseph, and Jacob
  • Belief in the existence of the Day of Judgment, when humanity will be divided into two groups: those who will go to paradise and those who will go to hell
  • Belief in the existence of God's predestination (qadar), or 'Divine Decree', due to God's omniscience, whether involving good or bad

According to the Quran, iman must be accompanied by righteous deeds, and both are necessary for entry into Paradise. Faith without deeds is considered fruitless and stagnant, and deeds without faith are insufficient for entry into Paradise. Thus, in Islam, there must exist harmony and concord between faith and deeds.

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Faith and salvation

In the Quran, the term 'people of the faith' is a Persian term, اهل ایمان, which means 'people of faith'. It is founded in the Persian translation of the Quran by Mirza Mahdi Elahi Ghomshei.

In the Quran, faith (al-iman) is important to understand, as mistaken definitions have caused problems in early Islamic history. Faith in Islam means to believe in Allah, to affirm His truth, and to submit to His commands. It is not enough to simply believe in the existence of Allah. Faith must be accompanied by righteous deeds and the two together are necessary for entry into Paradise.

The Islamic creed (aqidah) requires belief in six articles: God, angels, revelation, prophets, the Day of Resurrection, and the divine predestination. The first four are mentioned in ayah 2:285 of the Quran, and all six appear in the first hadith of the collection Sahih Muslim.

The Quran lays emphasis on vast Islamic faith as the cause of man's salvation. According to the Quran, true faith is inseparable from action. The Quran promises salvation, prosperity, victory, and superiority to the faithful who, under all conditions, are attentive to the responsibilities of faith.

The strength of a Muslim's faith is proportional to the inward and outward good deeds they perform. A Muslim with weak faith is still considered a believer and their good qualities should not be dismissed.

The Islamic concept of Monotheism (tawhid) is usually thought of as a precise monotheism but is also panentheistic in Islamic mystical teachings. God is viewed as incomparable and without multiplicity of persons, and associating multiplicity to God or attributing God's attributes to others is seen as idolatry, called shirk.

Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times through earlier prophets and messengers, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.

Belief in the "Day of Resurrection" or Yawm al-Qiyamah is crucial for Muslims. It is believed that on this day, all humankind will be judged by their good and bad deeds and consigned to Jannah (paradise) or Jahannam (hell).

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Faith and prophethood

The Quran emphasizes the importance of faith and good deeds, promising salvation for those who believe and act righteously. This includes followers of Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Sabians. The Quran also highlights the necessity of prophethood, stating that there is no salvation without belief in the messenger of Allah and following the prophet's teachings.

The Quran provides guidance and instructions for believers, encouraging them to have faith and perform righteous deeds to attain paradise. It emphasizes the importance of following the prophet's example and obeying Allah's commands.

Additionally, the Quran addresses the relationship between faith and reason, with some scholars arguing that faith and reason spring from the same source and must be harmonious.

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