True Believers

What is 'emaan', who are believers?

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWING AND BELIEVING: To know something and to believe in something are two separate things. We are born in a Muslim family, therefore we know there is One God, we know there were prophets and imams and we know that there will be a Day of Judgement. But knowing all these facts does not make us a believer. Let us understand it in this way: there are experts so-called Middle Eastern Experts who have done extensive research and who know more about Islam then most of us, but does that knowledge of Islam make them believers? No. So, it is clear that the knowledge of something does not make you a believer in that thing. Another example would be of Shaitaan. When God created Adam and asked Shaitaan to prostrate to him, he said that You have created me from fire and Adam from dust ...; he knew that God was the Creator. Then he says that he will mislead the people until the day of judgement...; which means he knew that there was a 'qiamah' but this does not make him a believer otherwise he would have obeyed God. Another simple example and this has been given by Imam Khomeini (r.a.): Imagine there is a dead body in a room and you are asked to stay with the body in darkness, alone; you might be scared to do that. Although you know that logically, it is a motionless body and it will not sit up and come towards you but since this knowledge has not been accepted by your heart, you will not do it.
Surah Hujuraat(49), verse 14: قَالَتِ الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَكِن قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَإِن تُطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَا يَلِتْكُم مِّنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ [Pickthal 49:14] The wandering Arabs say: We believe. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Ye believe not, but rather say "We submit," for the faith hath not yet entered into your hearts. Yet, if ye obey Allah and His messenger, He will not withhold from you aught of (the reward of) your deeds. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. What we understand from this ayah is the fact that there is a difference between emaan and islam. Islam is an outward expression, you become a Muslim when you say the shahadatain with your lips, you are considered a Muslim and all the rules and laws of Islam apply to you but emaan is an internal state and the truth that is in the heart. In Islamic teachings we see that there are Aqaid (Usul-e-Deen) and there are Ahkaam (Furu'-e-Deen). In Ahkam you either become a Mujtahid yourself or follow another faqih who is the best. Here you do not have to worry about why is something the way it is prescribed, just accept it. But in Usul, you cannot follow, or believe because you were told to do so but you have to logically get convinced and accept the fact with your mind only. Now there are two things that are expected of us: a) If you want to believe in something, then first be convinced that it is the truth b) If you want to reject something then bring evidence. How do we believe? To believe in something is to be convinced that it is the truth and reality and then settle it in our hearts. How do we do that? An analogy has been narrated from Imam Khomeini (R.A.) that heart is like a young child who is taught how to speak. You repeat the words that you want it to learn again and again until one day the child speaks and says that word. Similarly, after your mind has accepted something your hearts should be taught by repetition until the belief settles down. TRUE BELIEVERS According to Qur'an, true believers are those who when Allah is mentioned, they tremble, and when the signs of God are recited, their 'emaan' increases (the effect is already there). As opposed to this, there are those whose hearts have been blinded due to vain talk (like music, novels, movies). When Qur'an is recided in front of them they turn their faces away in arrogance. They behave as if they have not heard and their ears have a heaviness. There is a dreadful 'azaab' for them. God has created us pure and it is our sins, negative feelings, that draws curtains over our spiritual ears. Those who believe, do good with what has been given to them in the form of knowledge, talent, skills, wealth. These people have been promised an eternal abode. When Imam Hussain (a.s.) left Makkah for Kufa, he met Farazdaq on his who was coming towards Makkah for hajj. THere was a long conversation but the part which is relevent her is when Imam asked him about the current affairs of Kufa. Farazdaq said that the hearts of the people of Kufa are with you but their swords are against you. We see here that the people of Kufa knew that Imam Husain was the true successor of the Holy Prophet and he is on Haqq but thsis knowledge had not entered their hearts hterefore they did not support him in actions.