“Verily,
the Muslims: men and women, the believers (Mu’min): men and women, the Qanit:
men and the women, the men and women who are truthful, the men and the women
who are patient, the Khashi`: men and the women, the men and the women who give
Sadaqat, the men and the women who fast, the men and the women who guard their
chastity and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts
and tongues, Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.”
Surah
Al-Ahzab (33:35)
Interpretation of the meaning (Tafsir Ibn Kathir):
“Verily, the Muslims: men and women, the believers (Mu’min): men and women…” indicates that Iman (of Mu’min) is something other than Islam (of Muslim), and that it is more specific.
“the Qanit: men and the women,” Al-Qunut means obedience during quite time. As explained by
“Is
one who is (Qanit,) prostrating himself or standing in the middle of the night,
fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord…” (39:9)
“To
Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are Uqnuti (Qanitun)
to Him.” (30:26)
“O
Maryam! “Uqnuti to your Lord and prostrate, and bow with Ar-Raki`in (those who
bow).” (3:43)
“And stand before Allah Qanitin” (2: 238).
So, beyond Islam there is a higher level to be reached, which is Iman, and Qunut stems from them both.
“the men and women who are truthful,” – This refers to their speech, for truthfulness is a praiseworthy attribute. Some of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were never known to have lied even once, neither during Jahiliyyah nor in Islam. Truthfulness is a sign of faith (Iman), just as lying is a sign of hypocrisy.
“the men and the women who are patient,” – This is the attribute of those who are steadfast, which is patience in the face of adversity and knowing that what is decreed will inevitably come to pass. So, they face it with patience and steadfastness. Patience is the most difficult when disaster first strikes, then after that it becomes easier, and this is true steadfastness.
“the Khashi`: men and the women,” – Khushu` means serenity and tranquillity, deliberation and dignity and humility. What motivates a person to be like this is the fear of Allah and the awareness that He is constantly watching.
“the men and the women who give Sadaqat,” – As-Sadaqah (charity) means doing good to people who are in need or who are weak and have no means of earning a living and none to financially support them. They give them from the excess of their wealth in obedience to Allah and as a good deed to His creation.
“the men and the women who fast” – it purifies it and cleanses it of things that are bad in both physical and Shar`i terms. Fasting is also one of the greatest means of overcoming one’s desires.
“and
the men and the women who remember Allah much” – an example of a hadith that
the Messenger of Allah said: “If a man wakes his wife at night and they pray
two Rak`ahs, they will recorded that night as being among the men and the women
who remember Allah much.”
“Allah
has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.” Here Allah tells us that
for all of those mentioned in this Ayah, He has prepared for them forgiveness
of their sins and a great reward, meaning, Paradise.
So,
beyond Islam there is a higher level to be reached, which is Iman.
The Reason for Revelation:
Imam Ahmad recorded that Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of the Prophet said, “I said to the Prophet , `Why is it that we are not mentioned in the Qur’an as men are’ Then one day without my realizing it, he was calling from the Minbar and I was combing my hair, so I tied my hair back then I went out to my chamber in my house, and I started listening out, and he was saying from the Minbar: “O people! Verily Allah says: (Verily, the Muslims: men and women, the believers: men and women…) to the end of the Ayah.” This was also recorded by An-Nasa’i and Ibn Jarir.
Islam
means total obedience and submission to Allah, observance of His orders and
avoidance of His prohibition; bringing one's likes and dislikes into harmony
with the Divine Will.
As
for Iman, it is related to heart. It is the belief of the heart in Allah; He is
the Lord of the worlds; no one deserves to be worshipped except Him.
Allah's
Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Islam (means what a Muslim
acts) in public and al-Iman is (what one believes) in the heart" .
[Reported by Ahmad from Anas Ibn Malik (Radiya Allahu Anhu)]. al-Sheikh Shakir
, while commenting on the book of al-Tahawiyah creed, said: 'This Hadith has
authentic narration'.
Thus,
a person has to know that there is no true Iman without Islam, and vice versa.
In other words, belief without action is of no use, nor is action without
belief of any value.
Allah's
Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "al-Iman consists of more
than seventy parts, the best of which is the acknowledgement of the fact that
"La Ilaha Illa Allah", and the lowest of them is removal of a thing
causing harm from a thoroughfare" . [Reported by Imam Muslim ].
In
Sunan Tirmidhi, Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said:
“The
Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand Muslims are safe, and the believer
is the one with whom the people trust their blood and their wealth.”
In
other words; a Mu’min is a level higher than a Muslim.
A Muslim is by definition one who
submits his will to Allah and adheres to the principles of Allah’s religion. We
therefore believe that all Prophets were by definition Muslim.
When his Lord said to him (Abraham),
“Submit”, he said “I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds.”
[Quran 2:131]
A Muslim is the one who
accepts Allah as the One and Only God who is worthy of worship and that
Muhammad (pbuh) is the last and Final Messenger.
There is also however a difference
between a Muslim (One who submits) and a Mu’min (One who believes). As Allah
states in the Quran:
“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. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger,
He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving
and Merciful.” [Quran 49:14]
To attain the status of a true believer
in Islam one must strive to attain true faith. This is exemplified through the
Quran and many of the Hadith ( Narrations) of Muhammad (pbuh).
“The believers are only those who, when
Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are
recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely,The
ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend.
Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees [of high position] with
their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision.” [Quran 8:2-4]
In the Hadith of Muhammad (pbuh) we
also find
“No one of you becomes a true believer
until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself”. [Al-Bukhari and
Muslim].
“The most perfect believer in faith is
the one who is best in moral character. The best of you are those who are the
best to their spouses in manners.” [Al-Tirmidhi 1082].
“A true Muslim is one from [the
transgressions of whose tongue and hands, all other Muslims are safe; And a
true Mu’min is one from whom people’s lives and wealth are secured;”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
“None
of you will truly believe until I am more beloved to him than his father, his
son and all of mankind.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
