Faith, Belief and Action

Faith, belief and action are all irrevocably intertwined. You cannot have one of the three without the other. There are many who have strong religious beliefs but little faith. What is faith? It is a trust in a belief when put into practice. People very eagerly cling onto a long list of beliefs but this remains just mere information if there is lack of certainty to put it into practice. What is belief? Belief is a set of propositions. It is not meant just for mere information; it constitutes the code of life that we submitters are required to apply.

Some take belief and faith to mean one and the same thing whereas others do see a similarity but define them differently to suit their own lifestyle. Hence, they search for God unsuccessfully because they

lack conviction and reverence. The inevitable result is uncertainty, disappointment and frustration. If you do not act on your beliefs you cannot attain faith or God’s blessings and mercy.

Some of us are fortunate that we are born into a “Muslim” family and as a result our beliefs are by and large in built. But when it comes to faith there is something lacking. If our faith were firm in God’s omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence then our deeds and actions would have been in accord with the limits prescribed by the Quran.

What should we do? Go to the Quran which is straightforward, clear-cut and unequivocal. We all understand that Islam means a complete submission to God and His

injunctions. It is a complete code of life consisting of belief and faith on one hand and performance and actions on the other. If we do not act on every principle and instruction of Submission it is perhaps comparable to disbelief.

Performance is the link between belief and faith. Without performance this belief loses its credibility. Many of us do not realize that without enactment our beliefs cannot save our souls, as they do not attain accomplishment.

[9:105] Say, “Work righteousness; GOD will see your work, and so will His messenger and the believers. Ultimately, you will be returned to the Knower of all secrets and declarations, then He will inform you of everything you had done.”

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