Why are the actions of the heart essential to Iman?
2026-09-21
T49 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Selected explanation · Selected source passage(s) — fully translated
Selected passage discussing theological positions. Acknowledging a proposition inwardly is distinguished here from the deeds of the heart, such as love and submission. The English translates every displayed Arabic paragraph; this selection is not the complete surrounding work. Square brackets identify translator-supplied clarification.
النص العربي
المقتطف
وَعَرَفُوا أَنَّ إبْلِيسَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَغَيْرَهُمَا كُفَّارٌ مَعَ تَصْدِيقِ قُلُوبِهِمْ لَكِنَّهُمْ إذَا لَمْ يُدْخِلُوا أَعْمَالَ الْقُلُوبِ فِي الْإِيمَانِ لَزِمَهُمْ قَوْلُ جَهْمٍ وَإِنْ أَدْخَلُوهَا فِي الْإِيمَانِ لَزِمَهُمْ دُخُولُ أَعْمَالِ الْجَوَارِحِ أَيْضًا فَإِنَّهَا لَازِمَةٌ لَهَا وَلَكِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ لَهُمْ حُجَجٌ شَرْعِيَّةٌ بِسَبَبِهَا اشْتَبَهَ الْأَمْرُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ رَأَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ فَرَّقَ فِي كِتَابِهِ بَيْنَ الْإِيمَانِ وَالْعَمَلِ
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
They knew that Iblīs, Pharaoh, and others were unbelievers despite the acknowledgment in their hearts. However, if they do not include the deeds of the heart within faith, Jahm’s position follows necessarily for them. If they include them within faith, they must also include deeds of the limbs, for these necessarily accompany them. Yet these people have arguments from the religious texts because of which the matter became confused for them: they saw that Allah distinguished in His Book between faith and deeds.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 7/194
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.