What Are The 'Branches of Faith'? And: A Good Tafsir in English...
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Question
Please describe what is 'iman'? Is ones actions part of iman? I read an article that talks about how there are 77 parts of iman. Does that mean if one is lacking in one of those 77 parts, he/she doesn't have iman?
Second, what is a good English tafsir?
Answer
Walaikum assalam,
Iman is one’s firm conviction in everything that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) came with that is necessarily known to be of the deen.
In itself, iman is just this firm conviction; its place is the heart. It is like the trunk of the tree of deen. Actions are the branches that manifest the soundness of the trunk. Sincerity and spiritual excellence are the fruits.
These 77 branches are some of the essential actions that a true believer should have or strive towards having. However, their presence is not a condition for the validity of one’s belief (iman).
As for the best tafsir available in English, it is Maariful Qur’an by Shaykh Muhammad Shafi` Usmani, the father of Mufti Taqi Usmani. Five large volumes (or 7) have been published. It is a good translation of a truly brilliant, accessible commentary. See: http://www.alrashad.com/books/quran.htm
Wassalam,
Faraz
This answer was published by SunniPath and is preserved as written. Rulings can depend on circumstances; for your own situation, consult a qualified scholar.
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