Nevertheless...

Nevertheless, knowledge or awareness does not suffice, because the subject of one’s knowledge or its requisites might be contrary or against one’s desires, and therefore, he may decide not to behave accordingly or even to function against it. As the Holy Qur’an with respect to the followers of Pharaoh maintains: “They impugned them -though they were convinced in their hearts- wrongfully and defiantly.

So observe how was the fate of the agents of corruption!” (al-Naml:14) Moses (a) addressed Pharaoh and said: “You certainly know that no one has sent these [signs] except the Lord of the heavens and the earth as eye-openers” (al- Isrā’:102). Although he (Pharaoh) did not believe in God, he said to the people: “I do not know of any God that you may have other than me” (al-Qasas:38).

Only when he was about to drown, he said: “I believe that there is no god except Him in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of those who submit [to Him]!” (Yūnus: 90) However, we found earlier that such compulsory faith, if it can be called so, is not accepted by God (See lesson 9). Therefore, the essence of faith is in one’s inner tendency, and willingness; this is contrary to the acquisition of knowledge and awareness, which can be achieved unwillingly.

Thus, faith can be called a ‘cordially force-free act’ (i.e. expansion of the meaning of the word ‘act’) in this way faith can also be regarded as a type of action. On the other hand, the term disbelief is sometimes employed as lack of the ‘faculty of faith’ (malakat-al-Īmān). Lack of faith is a result of doubt and ignorance or due to compound ignorance, or even as a result of a contradictory tendency. This is manifested in the form of intentional rejection and enmity, is called ‘disbelief’.

It may, nevertheless, in some cases amount to enmity - an observable phenomenon considered as anti-faith. The norm of faith and disbelief Our understanding from the Holy Qur’an and traditions makes us believe that the minimum amount of faith necessary for eternal prosperity is belief in: God, reward and punishment in the Hereafter, and in the rightfulness of whatever has been revealed to the prophets.

Such a belief also necessitates one’s decision to behave accordingly with the orders of God; however, the highest level of faith is specific to the prophets and Imams.