Iman (Islam)

Iman (Arabic: إِيمَان, romanizedʾīmān, lit.'faith' or 'belief', also 'recognition') in Islamic theology denotes a believer's recognition of faith and deeds in the religious aspects of Islam.[1][2] Its most simple definition is the belief in the six articles of faith, known as arkān al-īmān.

The term iman has been delineated in both the Quran and hadith.[3] According to the Quran, iman must be accompanied by righteous deeds and the two together are necessary for entry into Paradise.[4] In the hadith, iman in addition to Islam and ihsan form the three dimensions of the Islamic religion.

There exists a debate both within and outside Islam on the link between faith and reason in religion, and the relative importance of either. Some scholars contend that faith and reason spring from the same source and must be harmonious.[5][page needed]

  1. ^ Farāhī, Majmū'ah Tafāsīr, 2nd ed. (Faran Foundation, 1998), 347.
  2. ^ Frederick M. Denny, An Introduction to Islam, 3rd ed., hp. 405
  3. ^ Quran 2:285
  4. ^ Quran 95:6
  5. ^ Islahi, Amin Ahsan. Mabadi Tadabbur-i-Hadith (translated: Fundamentals of Hadith Interpretation)