Iman means to accept truthfully, to be convinced, and to verify something, to rely upon or have confidence in something.
The Prophet (SAW) said that Iman is, “To believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, to believe in meeting Him, to believe in His Messengers, the Resurrection and the predestination”(Al-Bukhari)
The following 77 Branches of Faith is a collection compiled by Imam Al-Bayhaqi (r.a) in his work Shu`ab al-Iman.
Reported by Abu Hurairah (r.a): Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Iman(faith) has sixty odd or seventy odd branches. The uppermost of all these is the Testimony of Faith: La ilaha illallah’ (there is no true god except Allah) while the least of them is the removal of harmful object from the road. And shyness is a branch of Iman.” [Appears in Bukhari and Muslim]
THIRTY QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE HEART:
1. Belief in ALLAH (Testimony of Faith: La ilaha illallah’ (there is no true god except Allah)
2. To believe that everything other than ALLAH was non-existent. Thereafter, ALLAH
Ta’ala created these things and subsequently they came into existence.
3. To believe in the existence of angels (Malaaikah).
4. To believe that all the heavenly books (Kutub) that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore.
5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow Muhammad
(peace and blessings be upon him) alone.
6. To believe that ALLAH Ta’ala has knowledge of everything from before-hand and that only that which He sanctions or wishes will occur.
7. To believe that Qiyaamah (day of Resurrection) will definitely occur.
8. To believe in the existence of Jannah (Paradise).
9. To believe in the existence of Jahannam (Hellfire).
10. To have love for ALLAH Ta’ala.
11. To have love for Rasulullah (peace and blessings be upon him)
12. To love or hate someone solely because of ALLAH
13. To execute all actions with the intention of deen(sincerity to Allah ) alone.
14. To regret and express remorse when a sin is committed.
15. To fear ALLAH Ta’ala.
16. To hope for the mercy of ALLAH Ta’ala.
17. To be modest.
18. To express gratitude over a bounty or favour.
19. To fulfill promises.
20. To exercise patience (Sabr).
21. To consider yourself lower than others.
22. To have mercy on the creation.
23. To be pleased with whatever you experience (decree) from ALLAH Ta’ala.
24. To place your trust in ALLAH Ta’ala.
25. Not to boast or brag over any quality that you posses.
26. Not to have malice or hatred towards anybody.
27. Not to be envious of anyone.
28. Not to become angry.
29. Not to wish harm for anyone.
30. Not to have love for the world.
SEVEN QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE TONGUE
31. To recite the Kalimah with the tongue. 32. To recite the Quran. 33. To acquire knowledge. 34. To pass on Knowledge. 35. To make dua. 36. To make the zikr of ALLAH Ta’ala. 37. To abstain from the following: lies, gheebah, vulgar words, cursing, singing(indecent) that is contrary to the Shariah. FORTY QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE ENTIRE BODY
38. To make wudhu, ghusl, and keep one’s clothing clean.
39. To be steadfast in offering Salaat.
40. To pay zakaat and sadaqatul fitr.
41. To fast.
42. To perform the Hajj.
43. To make i’tikaaf.
44. To move away or migrate from that place which is harmful for one’s deen(religion).
45. To fulfill the vows that have been made to ALLAH
46. To fulfill the oaths that are not sinful.
47. To pay the kaffarah for unfulfilled oaths.
48. To cover those of the body that are fard to cover.
49. To make qurbaani(sacrifice for Allah).
50. To enshroud and bury the deceased.
51. To fulfill your debts.
52. To abstain from prohibited things when undertaking monetary transactions.
53. Not to conceal something true which you may have witnessed.
54. To get married when the Nafs desires to do so.
55. To fulfill the rights of those who are under you.
56. To provide comfort to one’s parents.
57. To rear children in the proper manner.
58. Not to sever relations with one’s friends and relatives.
59. To obey one’s master.
60. To be just.
61. Not to initiate any way that is contrary to that of the generality of the Muslims.
62. To obey the ruler, provided what he orders, is not contrary to the Shariah.
63. To make peace between two warring groups or individuals.
64. To assist in noble tasks.
65. To command the good and prohibit the evil (An Nahyi ‘Anil Munkar).
66. If it is the government, it should mete out punishments according to the Shariah.
67. To strive against the enemies of deen (if possible by hand if not by tongue(pen) if not by heart) whenever such an occasion presents itself.
68. To fulfill one’s trusts (amaanah).
69. To give loans to those who are in need.
70. To see to the needs of one’s neighbour.
71. To ensure that one’s income is pure.
72. To spend according to the Shariah.
73. To reply to one who has greeted you.
74. To say Yarhamukallah when anyone say Alhamdulillah after sneezing.
75. Not to cause harm to anyone unjustly.
76. To abstain from games and amusements that are contrary to the Shariah.
77. To remove pebbles, stones, thorns, stick etc. from the road.
Facts about Eman (faith)
Iman is not to accept it with the tongue but to accept it with the heart. (2:8-9)
To accept everything which the Qur’an says as truth is Iman. (2:26)
In order to acquire Iman in Allah, it is necessary to first reject every authority other than Allah. (2:25-26)
Iman will lead human beings from darkness towards light. (2:257)
Unless Iman enters the heart, it cannot be called Iman. One can only say that one has surrendered to Islam. (49:14)
Allah does not discard anyone’s Iman. (2:143)
As Muslims we have to be fully committed in what we do. We have to follow Allah’s commandments and stay away from his prohibitions. When one is doing business, he is committed to it, he advertises regularly, consistent updates on social media, gives out freebies. Likewise when someone is dedicated to lowering their cholesterol, they avoid oily and fatty foods, they take omega 3 pills, they do their regular exercises etc. This is exactly what is expected of us as Muslims, be fully committed in our Deen, Pray regularly, do dhikr, give sadaqah, enjoin good and forbid evil. It should reflect in our hearts(within), in what we say(speech) and what we do (actions). We have to rely on Allah and and have complete confidence in him.