Faith (Iman) is a central pillar of Islam, encompassing belief in the unseen, trust in Allah, and acting upon righteous deeds. It not only involves inner conviction but is also reflected through actions, behaviors, and adherence to Islamic principles. Here are several Hadiths that emphasize the significance and attributes of faith:
Hadiths on Faith (Iman)
Faith Has Branches:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"Faith has over seventy branches, or over sixty branches. The most excellent of these is the declaration that there is no God but Allah, and the humblest of them is the removal of what is injurious from the path. And modesty is a branch of faith."
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 35)
Perfecting Faith:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"The most complete of the believers in faith are those with the best character, and the best of you are those who are best to their families."
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1162)
Loving for Others:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 13; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 45)
Sweetness of Faith:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever possesses the following three qualities will taste the sweetness of faith: 1) The one to whom Allah and His Messenger are dearer than anything else, 2) The one who loves another only for Allah’s sake, and 3) The one who hates to revert to disbelief as he hates to be thrown into the fire."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 16; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 67)
Faith and Action:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Faith is not wishful thinking or outward appearances, but it is that which is firm in the heart and confirmed by deeds."
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 102)
Signs of a Hypocrite:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"The signs of a hypocrite are three: whenever he speaks, he lies; whenever he promises, he breaks it; and whenever he is entrusted, he betrays."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 33; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 59)
Iman in the Heart:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Verily, Allah does not look at your bodies or your appearances, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds."
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2564)
Iman and Good Deeds:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Faith consists of patience and gratitude."
(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 21805)
Shyness as Part of Faith:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Shyness does not bring anything but good." He also said, "Shyness is part of faith."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6117; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 37)
Faith and Love for Allah:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever loves for the sake of Allah, hates for the sake of Allah, gives for the sake of Allah, and withholds for the sake of Allah, has perfected faith."
(Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith 4681)
Faith with Sincerity:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever sincerely says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' will enter Paradise."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 128)
Increasing and Decreasing Faith:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Faith wears out in the heart of anyone of you just as clothes wear out, so ask Allah to renew the faith in your hearts."
(Mustadrak al-Hakim, Hadith 1/4)
Iman and Patience:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever is patient, Allah will bestow patience upon him, and no one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive than patience."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1469)
Iman and Gratitude:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"A believer who is grateful when granted with bounty, patient when afflicted, and repentant when sinful, is indeed a true believer."
(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 13144)
Iman and Humility:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"No one who has an atom’s weight of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise." A man said, "But a man likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good." The Prophet said, "Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people."
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 91)
These Hadiths collectively reflect the essence of faith in Islam: it is not merely belief, but a combination of inner conviction, outward actions, and an ethical lifestyle guided by the teachings of Islam. Faith encourages virtues like patience, humility, love for others, and sincerity.