Hadith 57

Commentary

The likeness of Imân (faith) is as the likeness of a tree. Faith in Oneness of Allâh and the institution of prophethood is the root, virtuous deeds the branches, and the benefits of this world and of the Hereafter are its fruits. So, if you pull out the root, the tree is gone. As regards the branches, even if you cut them, the tree still remains although in a depleted form. Similarly, sins do harm our faith while good deeds lead to its perfection and growth. All good deeds are but the branches of faith, but the most important of them all is the affirmation by word of mouth of the Oneness of Allâh, namely Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh) since it is this by which accrue other benefits of faith. Modesty is an important branch of faith, since it protects man from numerous acts of sin. It does not, however, imply that misplaced sense of shame, which prevents man from asking about religious matters, or forbids him from the acquisition of knowledge, or doing a good deed. d. Faith includes deeds of the tongue, of the heart and of other parts of the body. Affirmation of the formula "Lâ ilâha illallâh" is thus the deed of the tongue. To believe in it is the deed of the heart, and removing a harmful thing from the road is the deed of other parts of the body. All these deeds are thus the parts and branches of faith.