What is the difference between a Muslim and a believer? And how does a person know that he has reached the level of faith?
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The questioner : What is the difference between a Muslim and a believer? And how does a person know that he has reached the level of faith, because one of my sisters says: “I am a believer and my faith is strong.” How does a person know that his faith is strong? What are the conditions that make a believer’s faith strong? And does a person know if his faith is strong or weak? I ask for clarification, and may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Islam and faith are mentioned together, and one of them is mentioned separately from the other. When they are mentioned together, their meanings differ: faith refers to the inner actions, and Islam refers to the outward actions. The evidence for this is the hadith of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) when Jibril came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked him about Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:Sahih Muslim 8a. Then he asked him about faith. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: Sahih Muslim 8a. Thus, he distinguished between faith and Islam, making Islam the outward actions, which are the speech of the tongue and the deeds of the limbs, and making faith the inner actions, which are the affirmation of the heart, its acknowledgment, and its belief.
For this reason, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said regarding the Bedouins:[Al-Hujurat 49:14]. Thus, Allah the Exalted placed faith in the heart, and in this noble verse, He made clear that faith is a higher rank than Islam, because Islam can be from the hypocrite and from the true believer. In this case, we say that faith is a higher rank than Islam.
However, if one of them is mentioned separately from the other, they have the same meaning. So a person’s saying “I am a believer” is like his saying “I am a Muslim,” and there is no difference. But if he says “I am a believer,” it is obligatory for him that the motive for this statement be the mention of the blessings of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) or pure, unadorned reporting, and not that what drives him to it be self-praise, self-admiration, and boasting over others. For that is among the forbidden matters, and the rest of the answer to this questioner’s question will come, if Allah wills, in a future session.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
The Shaykh : Islam and faith are mentioned together, and one of them is mentioned separately from the other. When they are mentioned together, their meanings differ: faith refers to the inner actions, and Islam refers to the outward actions. The evidence for this is the hadith of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) when Jibril came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked him about Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
Al-Islam implies that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and you establish prayer, pay Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the (House)
أن تشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمداً رسول الله، وتقيم الصلاة، وتؤتي الزكاة، وتصوم رمضان، وتحج البيت الحرامThat you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil.
الإيمان أن تؤمن بالله، وملائكته، وكتبه، ورسله، واليوم الآخر، وتؤمن بالقدر خيره وشرهFor this reason, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said regarding the Bedouins:
The bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts.
قَالَتِ الأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا قُلْ لَمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَكِنْ قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الإِيمَانُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْHowever, if one of them is mentioned separately from the other, they have the same meaning. So a person’s saying “I am a believer” is like his saying “I am a Muslim,” and there is no difference. But if he says “I am a believer,” it is obligatory for him that the motive for this statement be the mention of the blessings of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) or pure, unadorned reporting, and not that what drives him to it be self-praise, self-admiration, and boasting over others. For that is among the forbidden matters, and the rest of the answer to this questioner’s question will come, if Allah wills, in a future session.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.