Islam is distinct from faith. These people have introduced opposition and difference between them, and this is close to the position of the Ibādiyyah. This is a difficult question requiring explanation and elaboration. The relationship of Islam to faith resembles that between the two testimonies of faith: each is connected to the other in meaning and ruling. The testimony to the Messenger’s prophethood differs from the testimony to Allah’s oneness; they are two distinct things in themselves. Yet each is bound to the other in meaning and ruling, as though they were one thing. Likewise, faith and Islam are bound together, as though they were one thing. Whoever has no Islam has no faith, and whoever has no faith has no Islam. A Muslim necessarily possesses faith through which his Islam is valid, and a believer necessarily possesses Islam through which he gives effect to his faith. For Allah has made faith a condition of righteous deeds, and righteous deeds a condition of faith. Affirming this, He says:

“Whoever does righteous deeds while being a believer—his effort will not be denied.”

And concerning giving effect to faith through deeds, He says:

“But whoever comes to Him as a believer, having done righteous deeds—for them will be the highest ranks.”

Someone whose outward conduct consists of the deeds of Islam, but who has no underlying firm belief in the unseen, is a hypocrite whose hypocrisy takes him outside the religion. Someone whose conviction is belief in the unseen, but who does not act according to the requirements of faith and the ordinances of Islam, is a disbeliever whose disbelief is incompatible with monotheism. Whoever believes in the unseen matters that the messengers have conveyed from Allah and acts upon Allah’s commands is both a believer and a Muslim. Were this not so, it would be possible for a believer not to be called a Muslim, and for a Muslim not to be called a believer in Allah. Those who face the qiblah have unanimously agreed that every believer is a Muslim, and every Muslim believes in Allah, His angels, and His books.”

He said:

“Faith in relation to deeds is like the heart in relation to the body: neither can be separated from the other. There can be no living body without a heart, nor anyone possessing a heart without a