Hadith #1212

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

Faith and action are twin brothers and companions who do not part ways; Allah does not accept one without its counterpart.

This wise utterance emphasizes the inseparable relationship between faith and action in the life of a Muslim.

Let us delve into the key words of this Hadith to gain a deeper understanding. The word (Iman) "إيمان" refers to faith or belief in Allah and His teachings. It encompasses the acceptance of the heart, the affirmation of the tongue, and the actions of the limbs. (Amal) "عمل" refers to righteous actions performed in accordance with the teachings of Islam. It includes acts of worship, such as prayer and fasting, as well as acts of kindness and justice towards others.

The Hadith highlights that faith and action are (twin brothers) "أخوانِ تَوْأمانِ" and (companions) "رَفيقانِ" that are inseparable. Just as twin brothers share a deep bond and companionship, faith and action are intertwined and interdependent. True faith is not merely a matter of belief in the heart, but it must be accompanied by righteous actions. Similarly, righteous actions are not complete without sincere faith as their foundation.

To support this concept, we can turn to the Quran. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:177),

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves.

This verse emphasizes the importance of both faith and action in attaining righteousness.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Asr (103:1-3), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states,

By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.

This verse highlights the necessity of combining faith with righteous actions and the importance of enjoining one another to truth and patience.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a reminder that true faith is not a passive state, but rather an active force that drives a believer to perform good deeds. It emphasizes that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) does not accept one without the other. This means that our faith will not be accepted by Allah if it is not accompanied by righteous actions, and our actions will not be accepted if they are not based on sincere faith.

This Hadith also carries profound implications for our daily lives as Muslims. It motivates us to strive for a balanced and holistic approach to our faith. We should not neglect our spiritual development by focusing solely on rituals, nor should we disregard the importance of righteous actions by relying solely on our faith. Instead, we should strive to cultivate a strong faith that is reflected in our actions and vice versa.

Moreover, this Hadith reminds us of the consequences of neglecting either faith or action. If we neglect our faith and focus solely on outward actions, we risk falling into the trap of hypocrisy. On the other hand, if we neglect our actions and rely solely on our faith, we risk becoming complacent and failing to fulfill our responsibilities towards Allah and our fellow human beings.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) beautifully encapsulates the inseparable relationship between faith and action. It serves as a profound reminder for Muslims to strive for a balanced and holistic approach to their faith. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the understanding and ability to embody this important teaching in our lives.