Iman (Islam)

Iman (Arabic: إِيمَان, romanized: ʾīmān, lit. 'faith' or 'belief', also 'recognition') in Islamic theology denotes a believer's recognition of faith and deeds in the religious aspects of Islam. Its most simple definition is the belief in the six Pillars of faith, known as arkān al-īmān. Shiite theologians have proposed several theories regarding faith (or in its Arabic form, "Iman"). Some assert that faith consists of a single pillar: the belief held in the heart (the most inner and honest part of human being). Consequently, faith is defined as the affirmation of the heart, with verbal confession and actions playing no role in its actualization.

The term iman has been delineated in both the Quran and hadith. According to the Quran, iman must be accompanied by righteous deeds and the two together are necessary for entry into Paradise. According to the Quran, the seat of faith is the inner heart, the innermost part of human perception, while the seat of "Islam" is the intellect. In the hadith, iman in addition to Islam and ihsan form the three dimensions of the Islamic religion.

There exists a debate both within and outside Islam on the link between faith and reason in religion, and the relative importance of either. Some scholars contend that faith and reason spring from the same source and must be harmonious.

In a hadith, the Islamic prophet Muhammad defined iman as "an acknowledgement in the heart, a voicing with the tongue, and an activity with the limbs."^{[citation needed]} Faith is confidence in a real truth. When people have confidence, they submit themselves to that truth. It is not sufficient just to know the truth, but the recognition of the heart should be expressed by the tongue which is the manifestation of intelligence and at last to reflect this confidence in their activities.

Hamiduddin Farahi, while explaining the meaning of iman in his exegesis, wrote:

The root of imān is ‘amana. It is used in various shades of meaning. One of its derivatives is mu'min, which is among the noble names of Allah because He gives peace to those who seek His refuge. This word is also an ancient religious term. Hence the certitude which exists with humility, trust and all the conditions and corollaries of adherence to a view is called imān and he who professes faith in Allah, in His signs and His directives and submits himself to Him and is pleased with all His decisions is a mu'min.

The definition of iman according to Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah is:

Giving recognition with the heart, saying with the tongue, and doing with the limbs; it increases with obedience and decreases with sins.