God said
True piety does not consist in turning your faces [in prayer] towards the east or the west but truly pious is he who believes in God, and the Last Day, and the angels, and the revelation, and prophets; and spends his substance- however much he himself may cherish it- upon his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and the beggars, and for the freeing of human beings from bondage; and is constant in prayer, and renders zakat; and (truly pious are) they who keep their promises whenever they promise, and are patient in misfortune and hardship and in time of peril: it is they that have proved themselves true, and it is they, they who are conscious of God. Q 2: 177
(Thus, the Qur’an stresses the principle that mere compliance with outward forms does not fulfill the requirements of piety.)
The bedouin say: ”We have attained to faith. ”Say [unto them O Muhammad]: “you have not (yet) attained the faith; you should [rather] say ‘we have [outwardly] surrendered’ – for [true] faith has not yet entered your hearts. But if you [truly] pay heed unto God and His Apostle, He will not let the least of your deeds go to waste: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, most gracious!” Q.49:14
The bedouin say: ”We have attained to faith. ”Say [unto them O Muhammad]: “you have not (yet) attained the faith; you should [rather] say ‘we have [outwardly] surrendered’ – for [true] faith has not yet entered your hearts. But if you [truly] pay heed unto God and His Apostle, He will not let the least of your deeds go to waste: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, most gracious!” Q.49:14
(The above verse connects with the preceding condemnation of all tribal preferences and prejudices, and with the call for their abandonment as a prerequisite of true faith. Primarily, it relates to the bedouin contemporaries of the Prophet, but its import is general and timeless.)
Behold, as for those who say, “Our Sustainer is God, “ and then steadfastly pursue the right way – upon them do angels often descend, [saying:] “Fear not and grieve not, but receive the glad tiding of that paradise which has been promised to you! We are close unto you in the life of this world and [will be so] in the life to come; and in that [life to come] you shall have all that your souls may desire, and in it you shall have all that you ever prayed for, as a ready welcome from Him who is much-forgiving, most gracious!” Q.41: 30 - 32
Prophet said
Behold, as for those who say, “Our Sustainer is God, “ and then steadfastly pursue the right way – upon them do angels often descend, [saying:] “Fear not and grieve not, but receive the glad tiding of that paradise which has been promised to you! We are close unto you in the life of this world and [will be so] in the life to come; and in that [life to come] you shall have all that your souls may desire, and in it you shall have all that you ever prayed for, as a ready welcome from Him who is much-forgiving, most gracious!” Q.41: 30 - 32
Prophet said
1. “O congregation! Whoever [of you] has accepted Islam has accepted by his tongue. It has not yet rooted in his heart” – H: Tirmizi. N: Ibn-e-Omar.
2. “A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hands other Muslims are safe, and a Believer is he in whom mankind has an asylum for their lives and property.” – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abdullah-b-Amr.
“Muslims and also the non-Muslims”. This can be seen in the verses from the Qur’an and the Traditions in topic 24: “Duty Towards Everyone.” As the environment in which Muslims stayed their interaction was generally with other Muslims, hence the reference to Muslims in the Tradition.
3. “…Islam is to testify that there is no deity but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, to perform the prayers, to pay Zakat (the compulsory benefit tax); to hold fasts in Ramadan, to perform pilgrimage to the House (for Hajj), provided you have the means…. -- Part of a long Tradition quoted by Muslim on the authority of Umar bin Khattab.
