Spread the greeting of peace among yourselves.”
In the hadith recorded by both al-Bukhārī and Muslim from Abū Hurayrah, and also reported by al-Bukhārī from Ibn ‘Abbās, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“No one who commits unlawful sexual intercourse is a believer while committing it; no one who drinks wine is a believer while drinking it; no thief is a believer while stealing; and no one who seizes plunder, causing people to raise their eyes towards him, is a believer while doing so.”
Thus, the term “faith” is sometimes mentioned on its own, without being coupled with the term “Islam,” righteous deeds, or anything else. At other times it is mentioned alongside something else: either Islam, as in the questions in the hadith of Gabriel:
“What is Islam, and what is faith?”
And as in the words of the Most High:
“Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women.”
And His words, mighty and majestic:
“The Bedouins say, ‘We believe.’ Say, ‘You have not believed; rather, say, “We have submitted.”’”
And the words of the Most High:
“So We brought out the believers who were there.”
“But We found there only one household of Muslims.”
Likewise, faith is mentioned alongside righteous deeds in various passages of the Quran, as in the words of the Most High:
“Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds.”
Or it is mentioned alongside those who have been given knowledge, as in the words of the Most High:
“And those who were given knowledge and faith said.”
And His words:
“Allah will raise those of you who believe and those who have been given knowledge by degrees.”
Wherever those who believe are mentioned, those who have been given knowledge are included among them, for they are the best of them. The Most High says:
“And those firmly grounded in knowledge say, ‘We believe in it; all of it is from our Lord.’”
And He says:
“But those among them who are firmly grounded in knowledge, and the believers, believe in what has been sent down to you and what was sent down before you.”