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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Theological Instructions LESSON FIFTY-FIVE: THE INTER-RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAITH AND DEEDS Introduction We have realised so far that the main factors leading to eternal prosperity or adversity are faith and disbelief, and that secure faith guarantees eternal prosperity, but the committal of sins will result in limited punishment. On the other hand, constant disbelief will bring about eternal adversity and will cause good deeds to become obliterated.

Moreover, it was pointed out that faith and disbelief can be weakened or intensified and it is possible that the accumulation of sins will result in the destruction of faith; on the contrary, the performance of good deeds may weaken the root of disbelief and pave the way for the development of faith. This clarifies the importance of the question about the relationship between faith and deeds. This lesson attempts to answer such a question.

The relationship between faith and disbelief Our previous discussions clarified the point that faith is a spiritual state, originating from knowledge and an attitude that necessitates the believer to behave in accordance with the requisites of what he believes in. Therefore, one who is aware of a truth and decides not to behave according to its requisites does not have any belief in it.

Such a person, even in the case of doubting as whether to behave according to the requisites of that truth or not, will still be categorised as a disbeliever. The Holy Qur’an maintains: “The Bedouins say, ‘We have faith’.

Say, ‘You do not have faith yet; rather say, ‘we have embraced Islam,’ for faith has not yet entered into your hearts” (al- Hujurāt:14) Moreover, true faith is comprised of different stages; however, the accomplishment of each stage does not necessitate the performance of all its requisites.

It is probable that, in a weak believer, excitement due to lust or anger may causes rebellion; however, it might not necessarily cause him to rebel permanently and struggle against his faith and all its requisites. Nevertheless, the stronger and more complete the faith, the more effective it will be in committing deeds accordingly.

To sum up, having faith naturally necessitates behaving in accordance with its requisites; however, the extent of that depends on the weakness or intensity of one’s faith and finally this is the will and decision of the individual, which determines the performance, or abandonment of the deed.