Thus, both monotheism and associating partners with Allah can involve the heart’s affirmations and its actions. This is why al-Junayd said:

“Monotheism is the heart’s affirmation, and reliance upon Allah is the heart’s action.”

By this he meant monotheism in the sense of assent: when he coupled it with reliance upon Allah, he made it the foundation of that reliance. When the term “monotheism” is used on its own, however, it encompasses both the heart’s affirmations and its actions. Reliance upon Allah is part of the perfection of monotheism.

The term “faith” is similar. When used on its own, it includes both inward and outward actions. Hence the statement, “Faith consists of speech and action,” meaning the affirmations of the heart, the speech of the tongue, and the actions of the heart and limbs. An example is the saying of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the hadith recorded by both al-Bukhārī and Muslim:

“Faith has sixty-odd branches. The highest is saying, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,’ and the lowest is removing something harmful from the road. Modesty is a branch of faith.”

Another example is the saying of the Exalted:

“The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, then never doubt, and strive with their wealth and their lives in Allah’s cause. It is they who are truthful.”

And His words:

“The believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, whose faith increases when His verses are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Lord.”

“Those who establish prayer and spend out of what We have provided for them.”

“It is they who are truly believers.”

And His words:

“The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger and, when they are with him on a matter of common concern, do not leave until they have asked his permission.”

“Faith in its unrestricted sense” includes Islam, as reported in the two Sahīh collections, where the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to the delegation of ‘Abd al-Qays:

“I command you to believe in Allah. Do you know what it means to believe in Allah? It is to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah