Haqiqat al-Iman

Haqiqat al-Iman (The Reality of Faith) is a theological treatise on the Sunni definition of faith and related creedal questions by the contemporary Egyptian-born scholar Tariq Abd al-Halim (Abd Allah Muhammad Tariq ibn Ahmad Abd al-Halim al-Qana'i) Haqiqat al-Iman. First published in 1979 CE (1399 AH) by Matba'at al-Madani in Cairo, the work examines the definition of faith (iman), its composite nature, and its relationship with outward deeds (a'mal) Haqiqat al-Iman+1.

Background and Purpose

The treatise begins with an epigraph from Ibn Taymiyyah highlighting the necessity of relying strictly on verified proofs when assessing doctrinal differences, while maintaining patience and justice toward critics Haqiqat al-Iman+1. In the introduction, the author discusses the religious obligation of adhering to the main body of Muslims (al-jama'ah) and warns against factionalism and erroneous hermeneutical methods Haqiqat al-Iman+1. He identifies two historical extremes regarding the concept of faith: the negligence (tafrit) of the Murji'ah and the excessive severity (ifrat) of the Khawarij Haqiqat al-Iman.

The author frames the primary purpose of the book around addressing contemporary confusion among young Islamic activists regarding the definition of Islam and faith Haqiqat al-Iman+1. He specifically investigates whether outward actions enter into the essence of faith, the requirement of the genus of physical deeds (jins al-'amal) for its validity, and the necessary baseline of speech and conduct required to establish a person's Muslim identity both outwardly and inwardly Haqiqat al-Iman.

Structure and Content

The text is organized into chapters addressing essential creedal definitions and classical disputes:

• Islam and Iman: The book explores the relationship between the terms Islam and Iman, reviewing textual occurrences where they are used synonymously and where they are distinguished Haqiqat al-Iman+1. Relying on formulations by Ibn Rajab and Al-Baghawi, it explains that when mentioned together, Islam refers to outward deeds and Iman to inward belief, whereas when either term is used alone, it encompasses the entirety of the religion Haqiqat al-Iman+1.
• Faith as Speech and Action: The author establishes that Sunni consensus defines faith as a composite of speech and action that increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience Haqiqat al-Iman+1. This is broken down into four essential components: the speech of the heart (belief and affirmation), the action of the heart (intent, sincerity, submission, and love), the speech of the tongue (the testimony of faith), and the actions of the limbs (obligatory and recommended deeds) Haqiqat al-Iman+1.
• Analysis of Murji'at al-Fuqaha: The book examines the distinction between the mainstream Sunni position and the view held by Juristic Murji'ites such as Abu Hanifa and Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman Haqiqat al-Iman. The author argues that while Hanafi jurists linguistically excluded outward actions from the definition of faith and held that faith itself does not increase or decrease, they still required compliance with the sacred law (iltizam al-ta'ah) and agreed that individuals are subject to divine threats and punishment for sins, making the disagreement primarily semantic or methodological rather than substantive regarding salvation Haqiqat al-Iman.

Method and Sources

The book's methodology relies on reconciling scriptural texts from the Quran and the Sunnah with the consensus and explanations of classical Sunni scholars Haqiqat al-Iman+1. Key references extensively cited throughout the work include Al-Shatibi's al-I'tisam for hermeneutics, Al-Ajurri's al-Shari'ah, Ibn Abi al-Izz's commentary on al-Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim's Kitab al-Salat and Madarij al-Salikin, and Anwar Shah al-Kashmiri's Fayd al-Bari Haqiqat al-Iman+3.