Belief Is Inclusive of Islam but Islam Is Not Inclusive of Belief

“I requested Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Teach me about Islam and belief. Are they different?’ He said, ‘Belief is inclusive of Islam but Islam is not inclusive of belief.’ I then asked, ‘Please describe them to me.’ He said, ‘Islam is to testify that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah and to affirm the truthfulness of the Messenger of Allah. With it lives are protected, marriages and inheritance become lawful and a group of people acknowledge this much. Belief is guidance and that which forms in the heart of the qualities of Islam and that which takes form from its practice. Belief is a degree higher than Islam. Belief is inclusive of Islam in appearance but Islam is not inclusive of belief esoterically even though they may both apply to words and in description.’”

“Belief is inclusive of Islam but Islam is not inclusive of belief.”

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Belief is inclusive of Islam but Islam is not inclusive of it. Belief is what sits in the heart and Islam is that which legalizes marriages and inheritance and protects lives. Belief is inclusive of Islam but Islam is not inclusive of belief.’”

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Which is better, belief or Islam? Certain people say Islam is better than belief.’ The Imam said, ‘Belief is higher than Islam.’ I then said, ‘Help me understand it.’ He said, ‘What do you say if one commits, purposely, an act of heresy in Masjid al-Haram (Sacred Mosque)?’ I said, ‘He should be made to suffer severe pains.’ The Imam responded, ‘You said the right thing. What if one commits such a thing, purposely, inside the Ka’ba?’ I said, ‘He must be put to death.’ The Imam responded, ‘You said the right thing again. Do you note that Ka’ba is better than the Sacred Mosque? The Ka’ba is inclusive of the Mosque (in excellence) but the Mosque is not inclusive of the Ka’ba in this respect. In the same way belief is inclusive of Islam but Islam is not inclusive of belief.’”

“I heard from Abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Belief is what settles down in the heart and takes it to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy. One’s deeds testify to (its existence), (deeds) that come in the form of obedience to Allah and submission to His command. Islam is what appears through one’s words or deeds and that is what a group of people of all the sects live by. Through Islam lives are protected, inheritance is settled thereby, marriages become lawful and they have the prayer, al-Zakat (charity), the fasting and al-Hajj in common. This takes them out of rejection of belief and they are ascribed to belief. Islam is not inclusive of belief while belief is inclusive of Islam, but words and deeds are common among them. Just as the case of Holy Ka’ba is in the Sacred Mosque but the Sacred Mosque is not in the Holy Ka’ba so is belief that is inclusive of Islam but Islam is not inclusive of belief. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “The Arabs have said, ‘We have established belief.’ Say, “You have not established belief but say, ‘We have accepted Islam.’ Belief has not yet entered your hearts.”” (49:14) Therefore, the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, are the most truthful ones.’ 1 then said, ‘Does a believer have any distinction over a Muslim in terms of excellence, rules and judicial matters and so forth?’ He said, ‘No, they both in this matter walk the same path. However, a believer has distinction over a Muslim in the form of deeds through which he seeks nearness to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’ I said, ‘Does Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, not say, “Whoever does a good deed for him the reward will be tenfold. . . .” (6:160) You just stated that they both accept the obligations of the prayer, al-Zakat (charity), the fasting and al-Hajj.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Has Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, not said, “. . . He will add to his reward many additions.” (2:245) Believers are the ones to whose good deeds Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, increases seventy times. Thus is the distinction of the believer. Allah increases to his (believer’s) good deeds, proportionate to the degree of the correctness of his belief, many additions. Allah does good to the believer as He wishes.’ I said, ‘Is it not that whoever enters in Islam has entered belief?’ He said, ‘No, but he is ascribed to belief and has come out of rejection, and I will give you an example that will help understand the distinction of belief over Islam. Consider, if you see a person in the Sacred Mosque, do you testify that you have seen him in the Holy Ka’ba?’ I said, ‘No, that is not permissible for me.’ He said, ‘If you see a person in the Holy Ka’ba will you testify that he has entered the Sacred Mosque?’ I said, ‘Yes, I will do so.’ He asked, ‘Why do you do so?’ I said, ‘He cannot reach the Holy Ka’aba without entering first the Sacred Mosque.’ He said, ‘You said the right thing and you did well.’ He then said, ‘Thus, are Islam and belief.’”