What is ‘Imān’ and how many pillars does it have?

 Q: *What is ‘Imān’ and how many pillars does it have?*

A: ‘Imān’ is: Belief and conviction in the heart, Speech of the tongue. Action of the limbs.

Imān increases by performing good deeds and decreases by commiting sins. Allah عزوجل said: *“Verily, We have sent you (O Muhammad) as a witness, as a bearer of glad tidings, and as a warner.”* [48:8], The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ```“Imān is seventy odd branches: the highest is to say that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Laa ilaaha ill- Allah), the lowest is to remove harm from the path; and modesty is a branch of imān (faith).”``` [reported by Muslim], what supports this fact is the enthusiasm which a Muslim feels in seasons of good deeds [such as Ramadān and Hajj] and the slackening a Muslim feels upon committing sins. Allah (عزوجل) says: *“Indeed good deeds do away with the evil ones.”* [11:114]

Imān has six pillars, as mentioned in the Hadith of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم): ```“Imān is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Day of judgment, and Qadar (Divine Measure) and what it brings of good or evil.”``` [Related by al- Bukhārī]

Allah knows best!