Islam Is to Spare Lives (and to Keep the Trust) But Reward Comes From Belief

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Islam is to spare lives, protect the trust and make the marriage lawful, but reward comes from faith and belief.’”

“Faith or belief is to affirm and act accordingly. Islam is just an affirmation.”

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘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) The Imam said, ‘You must note that belief is something other than Islam’”

“Once a man asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘What is the difference between Islam and belief?’ The Imam then did not answer. Again he asked and the Imam did not answer. They then met each other on the road while the man was about to leave. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said, ‘It seems as if you are about to leave.’ He said, ‘Yes, I am about to leave.’ The Imam then said, ‘Come home for a meeting.’ He met the Imam and asked him about Islam and belief and about the difference between the two. The Imam said, ‘Islam is what people have publicly accepted, such as that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, Who has no partners. That Muhammad (a.s.) is His servant and His Messenger, that it is obligatory to perform prayer, pay al-Zakat (charity), to perform Hajj of the House and fast in the month of Ramadan. This is Islam.’ The Imam (also) said, ‘Belief is recognition of this issue (that the Imam possesses Divine Authority). In such a condition, if one affirms the other principles of Islam but does not recognize this issue (that the Imam possesses Divine Authority) he is a Muslim but is lost.’”

“I heard Abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘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) Whoever thinks that they (Arabs) had belief, his thoughts are false and whoever thinks that they had not accepted Islam he has lied.’”

he heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) say the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Islam is to protect life, return the trust and make marriages lawful. Reward, however, comes from belief.’”