Belief Is Inclusive of Islam but Islam Is Not Inclusive of Belief

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ الْإِيمَانِ أَ هُمَا مُخْتَلِفَانِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْإِيمَانَ يُشَارِكُ الْإِسْلَامَ وَ الْإِسْلَامَ لَا يُشَارِكُ الْإِيمَانَ فَقُلْتُ فَصِفْهُمَا لِي فَقَالَ- الْإِسْلَامُ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ التَّصْدِيقُ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص بِهِ حُقِنَتِ الدِّمَاءُ وَ عَلَيْهِ جَرَتِ الْمَنَاكِحُ وَ الْمَوَارِيثُ وَ عَلَى ظَاهِرِهِ جَمَاعَةُ ال

“I requested Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Teach me about Islam and belief. Are they different?’ He said, ‘Belief is inclusive of Islam but Islam is not inclusive of belief.’ I then asked, ‘Please describe them to me.’ He said, ‘Islam is to testify that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah and to affirm the truthfulne

الْإِيمَانُ يُشَارِكُ الْإِسْلَامَ وَ الْإِسْلَامُ لَا يُشَارِكُ الْإِيمَانَ.

“Belief is inclusive of Islam but Islam is not inclusive of belief.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْإِيمَانَ يُشَارِكُ الْإِسْلَامَ وَ لَا يُشَارِكُهُ الْإِسْلَامُ إِنَّ الْإِيمَانَ مَا وَقَرَ فِي الْقُلُوبِ‌[1] وَ الْإِسْلَامَ مَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَنَاكِحُ وَ الْمَوَارِيثُ وَ حَقْنُ الدِّمَاءِ وَ الْإِيمَانَ يَشْرَكُ الْإِسْلَامَ وَ الْإِسْلَامَ لَا يَشْرَكُ الْإِيمَانَ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Belief is inclusive of Islam but Islam is not inclusive of it. Belief is what sits in the heart and Islam is that which legalizes marriages and inheritance and protects lives. Belief is inclusive of Islam but Islam is not inclusive of belief.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ الْإِيمَانُ أَوِ الْإِسْلَامُ فَإِنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الْإِسْلَامَ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ فَقَالَ الْإِيمَانُ أَرْفَعُ مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ قُلْتُ فَأَوْجِدْنِي ذَلِكَ‌[2] قَالَ مَا تَقُولُ فِيمَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ مُتَعَمِّداً قَالَ قُلْتُ يُضْرَبُ ضَرْباً شَدِيداً قَالَ أَصَبْتَ قَالَ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِيمَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي الْكَعْبَة

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Which is better, belief or Islam? Certain people say Islam is better than belief.’ The Imam said, ‘Belief is higher than Islam.’ I then said, ‘Help me understand it.’ He said, ‘What do you say if one commits, purposely, an act of heresy in Masjid al-Haram (Sacred Mosque)?’ I said, ‘He sho

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ الْإِيمَانُ مَا اسْتَقَرَّ فِي الْقَلْبِ وَ أَفْضَى بِهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ صَدَّقَهُ الْعَمَلُ بِالطَّاعَةِ لِلَّهِ وَ التَّسْلِيمِ لِأَمْرِهِ وَ الْإِسْلَامُ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ فِعْلٍ وَ هُوَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ جَمَاعَةُ النَّاسِ مِنَ الْفِرَقِ كُلِّهَا وَ بِهِ حُقِنَتِ الدِّمَاءُ وَ عَلَيْهِ جَرَتِ الْمَوَارِيثُ وَ جَازَ النِّكَاحُ وَ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَا

“I heard from Abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Belief is what settles down in the heart and takes it to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy. One’s deeds testify to (its existence), (deeds) that come in the form of obedience to Allah and submission to His command. Islam is what appears through one’s words or deeds and tha