02.03.25

The Three Levels of Islam

The three levels of faith in Islam describe the spiritual journey a Muslim undergoes, from basic submission to Allah to the highest level of excellence in worship.

  1. Islam – The outward actions of a Muslim, such as performing acts of worship (prayer, fasting, charity)

  2. Imaan – The inward faith in Allah and His attributes, which includes belief in the six pillars of Imaan.

  3. Ihsan – The highest level of worship

Islam Means To:

  • Submit and surrender to Allah upon Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah).

  • Act upon Allah's obedience and commands.

  • Avoid Shirk (associating partners with Allah) and distance oneself from those who engage in it.

The Relationship Between Islam & Imaan

When Islam and Imaan are mentioned together, they differ in meaning:

  • Islam refers to the outward actions a Muslim does.

  • Imaan, on the other hand, refers to the internal belief or faith in the heart.

When Islam is mentioned alone, it implicitly includes Imaan:

  • If you only say Islam without mentioning Imaan, Islam includes both the outward actions and the inner belief (Imaan) in the same concept. This means that to truly practice Islam, you need to believe in it deeply in your heart (Imaan) while also performing the actions of Islam (like prayer and fasting).

  • So, when Islam is mentioned on its own, it's understood to include both the physical acts of worship (Islam) and the faith (Imaan) behind those acts.

Example from the Qur'an:

In Surah Al-Hujurat (49:14), the Bedouin Arabs claimed to believe. However, Allah responded to them, saying, "Say, 'You do not have Imaan, but say, we have submitted (Islam)." This shows that submission (Islam) comes before belief (Imaan).

Key Differences:

  • Islam refers to outward actions, such as prayer, fasting, charity, etc.

  • Imaan refers to the inner belief, the faith that resides in the heart, such as belief in Allah, the angels, the books, the prophets, and the Day of Judgment.

Qur’anic Evidence:

“The Arab Bedouins have said ‘we believe.’ Say (Oh Muhammad), ‘You do not have Imaan, but say أسلمنا (we have submitted, Islam).’”
— Surah Al-Hujurat (49:14)

This verse indicates that Islam (submission) comes first, followed by Imaan (faith). If a person performs the outward acts of Islam but does not truly believe in them, they are considered a hypocrite.

Tawheed (Oneness of Allah)

Root Word: وحد يوحد — "To make something one."

Tawheed is the belief in the absolute Oneness of Allah.

The Three Categories of Tawheed

1. Tawheed Al-Uloohiyah (Oneness in Worship)

  • Meaning: This category refers to singling out Allah in all forms of worship.

  • Root Word: إله (God/Deity).

  • This means that only Allah deserves to be worshipped. Any act of worship directed to other than Allah is considered Shirk (associating partners with Allah).

Definition of Worship (العبادة):
Worship is defined as everything that Allah loves and is pleased with. This includes:

  • Speech (e.g., reciting the Qur'an, praising Allah)

  • Actions (e.g., prayer, fasting, giving charity)

  • Can be both public or private.

Conditions for Worship to Be Accepted:

  1. Sincerity (إخلاص): Worship must be done solely for Allah, without any intention of showing off or seeking praise from others.

  2. Following the Sunnah (متابعة): Worship must be performed in the manner prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, according to his teachings and practices.

2. Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyah (Oneness in Lordship)

  • Meaning: This category refers to recognizing that Allah alone is the Lord of the universe and everything within it.

  • Allah is the sole creator, sustainer, and controller of the entire creation.

Examples of Allah’s Lordship:

  • Creating and sustaining the heavens and the earth.

  • Giving life and taking it away.

  • Controlling all affairs of the world.

Root Word: رب (Lord/Sustainer).

Qur’anic Evidence:

"And if you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will definitely say, ‘Allah!’"
— Surah Luqman (31:25)

Even the polytheists of Makkah acknowledged Allah’s role as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, yet they still engaged in Shirk by worshipping idols. This highlights the distinction between recognizing Allah's Lordship and truly worshipping Him alone.

3. Tawheed Al-Asmaa’ wa-Sifaat (Oneness in Names & Attributes)

  • Meaning: This category involves affirming Allah’s names and attributes as unique and unmatched by any of His creation.

  • Examples of Allah’s names:

    • Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful)

    • Al-Khaliq (The Creator)

    • As-Sami’ (The All-Hearing)

    • Al-Baseer (The All-Seeing)

  • We affirm Allah's names without altering or distorting their meanings.

  • We do not compare Allah’s attributes with those of His creation.

  • We do not deny or add anything to Allah’s names and attributes.