(b) A verbal declaration of that heartfelt knowledge.

(b) A verbal declaration of that heartfelt knowledge. (c) Acting in accord with that knowledge. The believer in his life must work in harmony with that knowledge he has, otherwise there would be no benefit in that knowledge.

When Imam Ali (A) was asked about belief, he said: “Faith involves appreciation with heart, acknowledgement with tongue and actions with limbs.”19 Thus, faith is a voluntary act for which knowledge is a pre-requisite) and should imply declaration with tongue and practice with limbs. Faith is a reality that might decrease or increase.

Taking into account all the above aspects of faith and based on the Qur'an and the Sunnah, I believe that faith consists in submission to certain truths, such as existence of God (God exists).20 Therefore, faith is neither “belief that” nor “belief in”. One may believe that something is true and at the same time deny or reject it.

Among those who believe in basic religious truths and commit themselves to those truths, some people may be prepared to commit and submit themselves just in declaration of faith, some may be prepared to fully or partly practice their faith and some may be prepared to submit their entire reality including acts, heart and mind to God. Faith may also have degrees according to different degrees of the required knowledge or different degrees of the consequent acts. Previous…