How are inward faith and outward deeds inseparably connected?
2026-09-21
T52 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Selected explanation · Selected source passage(s) — fully translated
Selected explanation of a formulation defining faith as speech, deeds and belief. The omitted subject of the opening verb is the person using that formulation. The English translates every displayed Arabic paragraph; this selection is not the complete surrounding work. Square brackets identify translator-supplied clarification.
النص العربي
المقتطف
جَعَلَ الْقَوْلَ وَالْعَمَلَ اسْمًا لِمَا يَظْهَرُ؛ فَاحْتَاجَ أَنْ يَضُمَّ إلَى ذَلِكَ اعْتِقَادَ الْقَلْبِ وَلَا بُدَّ أَنْ يُدْخِلَ فِي قَوْلِهِ: اعْتِقَادَ الْقَلْبِ أَعْمَالَ الْقَلْبِ الْمُقَارِنَةِ لِتَصْدِيقِهِ مِثْلُ حَبِّ اللَّهِ وَخَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ؛ وَالتَّوَكُّلِ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَنَحْوِ ذَلِكَ. فَإِنَّ دُخُولَ أَعْمَالِ الْقَلْبِ فِي الْإِيمَانِ أَوْلَى مِنْ دُخُولِ أَعْمَالِ الْجَوَارِحِ باتفاق الطَّوَائِفِ كُلِّهَا.
English translation
English translation reviewed against the displayed Arabic by SalafAlSalih editorial preparation (AI-assisted); explanatory additions appear in square brackets or separate notes.
Selected explanation
He used “speech and deeds” as a designation for what is outward, so he needed to add belief of the heart to this. Within his expression “belief of the heart,” he must include the deeds of the heart that accompany its acknowledgment, such as love of Allah, fear of Allah, reliance upon Allah, and similar matters. For the inclusion of deeds of the heart within faith has greater priority than the inclusion of deeds of the limbs, by agreement of all the groups.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 7/506
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Arabic passage checked against the cited volume and printed page. English reviewed against every displayed Arabic paragraph on 14 October 2026.