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Injil, Hebrews (to bani Israil) 11: 1-3

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will be accomplished, and being sure of what we do not see. Because of it, ancient people received the rida (approval, good report) of Allah. By faith, we perceive that Allah created the universe by a word from him. He created the visible world from what is not seen.

Nabi Isa (aws) about the Character of the Mu’uminun (people with genuine faith)

Injil, Matthew 5:3-11

Poor people who firmly hold the mercy of Allah in their spirit have a baraka. They have a portion in the kingdom of heaven.

Mourning people have a baraka, because they will be comforted.

Gentle people have a baraka, because they will inherit the land.

People who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness have a baraka, because they will be satisfied.

Merciful people have a baraka, because they will be shown mercy.

People who have pure hearts have a baraka. They will see Allah.

People who make peace have a baraka, because they will be called amirs to Allah.

People who are persecuted because of righteousness have a baraka. They have a portion in the kingdom of heaven.

You have a baraka when people insult you, persecute you, lie about you, and treat you unjustly because you are my followers.

The Heroes of Iman

Injil, Hebrews (to bani Israil) 11: 1-40

Faith (trust) is the confidence that what we hope for will be accomplished, and being sure of what we do not see. Because of it, ancient people received the rida (approval) of Allah. By faith, we perceive that Allah created the universe by a word from him. He created the visible world from what is not seen.

By faith Habil (Abel) offered a sacrifice greater than what Qabil (Kain) offered. Allah had rida in him and accepted his qarabin (offering) as a shahada (testimony) to his righteousness. And by faith Abel still speaks, even after he died.

By faith, Idris (Enoch) was not made to die. Instead, Allah raised him to himself. No trace was found of him after that, since Allah had raised him. But before he disappeared, Allah recorded him as receiving rida. Getting the rida of Allah is impossible without faith. The person who approaches Allah must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who earnestly seek his face.

By faith, Nuh (Noah) feared Allah when Allah warned him that things, that were not yet seen, were going to happen, and he built an ark so that his family would be saved. Thus, he executed the sentence of Allah on all people and He gave him righteousness because of his trust.

By faith, Ibrahim (Abraham) obeyed the call of Allah and left his homeland for his promised inheritance. He went out, being jahil of where he was heading. By faith, he moved about in the land of the promise, as if it were a foreign land. He lived in tents with Ishaq (Isaac) and Yacoub (Jacob), his two partners in the same promise. He was looking forward to the eternal city with foundations, which was created and built by Allah. By faith Sarah was given the power to have children despite being past childbearing age, because she considered the promise of Allah to be true. Thus, from one man, as good as dead, descendants were born like the number of stars in the sky or like the sand of the seashore, which cannot be counted.

All of those died in faith without receiving what Allah had promised them, but they saw it from afar and held it fast. They concurred that they were travelers and foreigners in this world. It is clear from their words that people like them seek a homeland. If they had been thinking of the homeland that they had gone out of, they would have had the opportunity to return. But they seek a better homeland in heaven, so Allah is proud to be called their Rabb. He has prepared a city for them.

By faith, Ibrahim offered Ishaq when Allah tested him. Thus, he who had promises offered his only son, about whom Allah had said, "Your seed will be accounted through Ishaq." Ibrahim considered that Allah was able to give life to the dead, and he received his son symbolically as returning from death.

By faith, Ishaq prayed baraka on Yacoub and Al-Is (Esau) for their future.

By faith, Yacoub, when he was dying, prayed baraka on the two sons of Yusif (Joseph), and he prostrated himself to Allah, leaning on his stick.

By faith, Yusif, when he was dying, prophesied about Bani Israil leaving Egypt, and he left commandments about burying his bones.

By faith, the parents of Musa (Moses) hid him for a period of three months after his birth, since they saw his handsomeness. They were not afraid of the command of the king. By faith, Musa, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Firaun (Pharaoh). He preferred suffering pains with the umma of Allah to temporarily enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sins. He considered that shame in the path of Al-Masih was more valuable wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was focusing his gaze on the reward from Allah. By faith, he left Egypt. He was not afraid of the anger of the king, so he continued as if he saw Him who is Invisible. By faith, he inaugurated the Eid of Pardon (the Passover) and sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice so that the angel of death would not touch any first-born of his people.

By faith, Bani Israil crossed in the middle of the Red Sea as if it were dry land. But the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith, the wall of Jericho fell down after the people walked around it for seven days.

By faith, Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the disbelievers, because she received the two spies in peace.

Shall I mention more? There would not be enough time if I told you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, Dawood (David), Samuel, and the other anbiya. By their faith, they conquered kingdoms, established justice, received what was promised them, closed the mouths of lions, and quenched the power of flames of fire. They escaped the edge of the sword, were strengthened with power in their weakness, became heroes in war, and conquered foreign armies. Women received back their dead who were resurrected from death. But others bore torture, and did not accept to be released, so that they would be blessed with a better life on Yawm Al-Qiyamah (the Ressurection Day). Others went through mocking, whipping, and even chains, prison, stoning, trials, and being killed with a saw or a sword. They went about, wearing skins of sheep or goats, deprived, tortured and treated unjustly. This world was not worthy of them. They wandered in the desert, mountains, caves and caverns. Allah had rida in all of them because of their trust, but they did not receive what they had been promised. Allah had destined us with better promises so that they would not be made complete without us.

What is Faith

Faith is trusting Allah - believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good. Thus, instead of our own, it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership and accepts its blessing. Truth, uprightness, purity, have been pointed out as secrets of life’s success. It is faith that puts us in possession of these principles.

Every good impulse or aspiration is the gift of Allah; faith receives from Allah the life that alone can produce true growth and efficiency.

How to exercise faith should be made very plain. To every promise of Allah there are conditions. If we are willing to do His will, all His strength is ours. Whatever gift He promises, is in the promise itself. The seeds are the word of Allah. (Injil, Luke 8:11). As surely as the oak is in the acorn, so surely is the gift of Allah in His promise. If we receive the promise, we have the gift.

Faith that enables us to receive gifts from Allah is itself a gift, of which some measure is imparted to every human being. It grows as exercised in appropriating the word of Allah. In order to strengthen faith, we must often bring it in contact with the word.

Faith is needed in the smaller no less than in the greater affairs of life. In all our daily interests and occupations, the sustaining strength of Allah becomes real to us through an abiding trust.