SIGNS AND FRUITS OF FAITH

1. Who is called a Muslim?
A Muslim is he who believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day and Fate – good and evil.

2. What are the Five Pillars of Islam?
Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Saum and Hajj are the Five Pillars of Islam.

3. Can anyone become a true Muslim if he does not submit to what the Prophet has brought?
As believing in and following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is necessary, no one can become a true Muslim if he does not submit to what the Prophet has brought.

4. What should be the ideal of a Muslim?
In the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a Muslim has high ideals of conduct to follow.

5. Mention some of the personal traits of a good Muslim.
Offering Salah regularly, obeying one’s parents and elders, helping the poor, speaking the truth, not speaking ill of others, reciting the Qur’an daily, removing harmful things from the way – these are some of the personal traits of a good Muslim.

6. In what various ways has the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us. What is Hadith?
Hadith is the teaching of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who has taught us in three different ways:
1. by what he said
2. by what he did
3. by what he approved of.

7. In Hadith the word ‘Iman’ has been used in its wide sense. Explain.
Iman is not only to have faith or belief in Allah but it is also to do good deeds. It is not only to do the Zikr of Allah through one’s tongue but also to obey His commands in one’s life. Iman is not only to declare the Shahadah, it is also to remove harmful things from the way.

8. What is the highest branch of Iman?
The highest branch of Iman is to bear witness to the fact that there is none worthy of worship except Allah ,and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

9. What is the lowest branch of Iman?
The lowest branch of Iman is to remove harmful things from the way.

Further Questions:

1. ‘He is not a truthful believer who eats his fill and lets his neighbour go hungry’. What does this meaning of a Hadith teach us?
It teaches us that we should not be unmindful of our neighbour’s difficulties. We should share our food with neighbours who are poor.

2. Mention the various ways in which one can deepen one’s faith.
One can deepen one’s faith by constantly remembering Allah, offering Salah, reciting the Qur’an and following the teachings of our Prophet, Muhammad (Peace be upon him)

3. What is sin? What happens when one continues to sin without feeling sorry?
Sin is to disobey Allah. When one continues to sin without feeling sorry, his Iman becomes weaker and weaker.  Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “When a man sins, it forms a black spot on his heart, if he repents, the spot is removed, but if he continues to sin, the spots multiply and cover the whole heart”.

4. What are the fruits of Faith?
Faith makes man conscious of Allah. It makes him truthful and honest. It makes him brave and fearless. He fears no one but Allah. He knows whatever happens to him, happens because Allah wants that to happen. He trusts Allah completely.

5. If he, therefore, asks; asks of Allah, if he seeks help; seeks help of Allah. Explain why?
A true believer knows that Allah alone is the Real Giver, so he asks from Allah only.
He has firm faith that Allah alone is the Real Provider and Real Helper, so he seeks help from Allah only.

6. While he was in the Prophet’s bed, Ali ibn Abi Talib remained quite calm and fearless. Why was he able to be like this?
Ali ibn Abi Talib was aware of the danger to his life when he accepted to sleep in the Prophet’s bed. In spite of this, he remained quite calm and fearless because his faith in Allah was strongest and he had firm believe in the fact that when Allah protects someone, none can harm him.

7. Does having faith benefit people in troubles?
Yes, of course! In times of troubles, Allah helps all those who truly believe in Him by removing their worries and providing them with something better.