What Is the Evidence That Faith (Iman), According to Ahl al-Sunnah, Consists of Belief, Speech, and Actions?

Ahl al-Sunnah Unanimously Agree That Faith Consists of Speech, Belief, and Actions

Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah unanimously agree that faith (Iman) consists of the speech of the tongue, the belief of the heart, and the actions of the limbs, and that it increases through obedience and decreases through disobedience. This principle is established by numerous texts from the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and many scholars have transmitted the consensus (Ijma') regarding this fundamental creed.

What Is the Definition of Faith According to Ahl al-Sunnah?

Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah believe that faith includes:

• The belief and conviction of the heart.
• The speech of the tongue, including the testimony of faith (Shahada) and all righteous verbal acts.
• The actions of the limbs, such as prayer, fasting, Zakah, and all other righteous deeds.

For this reason, the early generations (al-Salaf) said:

"Faith consists of speech, belief, and actions."

What Is the Evidence That the Speech of the Tongue Is Part of Faith?

Among the proofs is Allah's statement:

"Say, 'We believe in Allah and in what has been revealed to us...'"
(Qur'an 2:136)

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

"I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah."

He also described the greatest branch of faith as:

"Saying: 'There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.'"

These texts clearly show that the speech of the tongue is an essential part of faith.

What Is the Evidence That the Belief of the Heart Is Part of Faith?

Allah says:

"It is they in whose hearts Allah has inscribed faith."
(Qur'an 58:22)

In the famous Hadith of Jibril, the Prophet ﷺ said:

"Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day..."

Belief in Allah and all the pillars of faith are inward acts of the heart founded upon certainty and conviction.

What Is the Evidence That the Actions of the Heart Are Part of Faith?

The actions of the heart include:

• Love.
• Fear.
• Hope.
• Reliance upon Allah (Tawakkul).
• Sincerity (Ikhlas).

Allah says:

"The true believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned..."
(Qur'an 8:2)

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

"There are three qualities; whoever possesses them will taste the sweetness of faith..."

He thus counted love for Allah and His Messenger among the characteristics of faith.

What Is the Evidence That the Actions of the Limbs Are Part of Faith?

Allah says:

"The true believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, then have no doubt, and strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah."
(Qur'an 49:15)

Allah also says:

"Allah would never cause your faith to be lost."
(Qur'an 2:143)

The early scholars explained that "faith" in this verse refers to prayer, demonstrating that prayer is included within faith.

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

"Faith has over seventy branches..."

He then mentioned removing harmful objects from the road, which is an action performed by the limbs.

Does Faith Increase and Decrease?

Yes.

Faith increases through obedience and decreases through disobedience.

Allah says:

"...and it increased them in faith."
(Qur'an 9:124; see also 8:2)

For this reason, the early generations unanimously agreed that people's faith differs in strength and weakness.

Conclusion

• According to Ahl al-Sunnah, faith consists of speech, belief, and actions.
• It includes both the actions of the heart and the actions of the limbs.
• The Qur'an and the Sunnah clearly establish that all these elements are part of faith.
• Faith increases through obedience and decreases through disobedience.
• The scholars transmitted the consensus of the Companions, the Successors, and the Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah on this fundamental principle.

And Allah knows best.