TAFSIR IBN KATHIR: Sura # 2, Al-Baqrah
SUBS:
Meaing of Taqwa
Meaning of Iman
PC controller: Syed Ahmad Masood Ali
Meaning of Taqwa
The root meaning of Taqwa is to avoid what one dislikes. It was reported that
`Umar bin Al-Khattab asked Ubayy bin Ka`b about Taqwa. Ubayy said, "Have you
ever walked on a path that has thorns on it'' `Umar said, "Yes.'' Ubayy said,
"What did you do then'' He said, "I rolled up my sleeves and struggled.'' Ubayy
said, "That is Taqwa.''
﴿الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ﴾
(3.Those Who have faith in the Ghayb).
The Meaning of Iman
Abu Ja`far Ar-Razi said that Al-`Ala' bin Al-Musayyib bin Rafi` narrated from
Abu Ishaq that Abu Al-Ahwas said that `Abdullah said, "Iman is to trust.''.
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said,
﴿يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾
(who have faith) means they trust. Also, Ma`mar said that Az-Zuhri said, "Iman
is the deeds.'' In addition, Abu Ja`far Ar-Razi said that Ar-Rabi` bin Anas
said that, `They have faith', means, they fear (Allah).
Ibn Jarir (At-Tabari) commented, "The prefered view is that they be described
as having faith in the Unseen by the tongue, deed and creed. In this case, fear
of Allah is included in the general meaning of Iman, which necessitates
following deeds of the tongue by implementation. Hence, Iman is a general term
that includes affirming and believing in Allah, His Books and His Messengers,
and realizing this affirmation through adhering to the implications of what the
tongue utters and affirms.''
Linguistically, in the absolute sense, Iman merely means trust, and it is used
to mean that sometimes in the Qur'an, for instance, Allah the Exalted said,
﴿يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾
(He trusts (yu'minu) in Allah, and trusts (yu'minu) in the believers.) (9: 61)
Prophet Yusuf's brothers said to their father,
﴿وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَـدِقِينَ﴾
(But you will never believe us even when we speak the truth) (12:17).
Further, the word Iman is sometimes mentioned along with deeds, such as Allah
said,
﴿إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ﴾
(Save those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous deeds) (95:6).
However, when Iman is used in an unrestricted manner, it includes beliefs,
deeds, and statements of the tongue.We should state here that Iman increases
and decreases.
There are many narrations and Hadiths on this subject, and we discussed them in
the beginning of our explanation of Sahih Al-Bukhari, all favors are from
Allah. Some scholars explained that Iman means Khashyah (fear of Allah). For
instance, Allah said;
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَيْبِ﴾
(Verily, those who fear their Lord unseen (i.e. they do not see Him, nor His
punishment in the Hereafter)) (67:12), and,
﴿مَّنْ خَشِىَ الرَّحْمَـنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَآءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُّنِيبٍ ﴾
(Who feared the Most Gracious (Allah) in the Ghayb (unseen) and brought a heart
turned in repentance (to Him and absolutely free from every kind of
polytheism)) (50: 33).
Fear is the core of Iman and knowledge, just as Allah the Exalted said,
﴿إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ﴾
(It is only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah)
(35:28).
