Acknowledgments............................................................................................ xii
Introduction: Ibn Taymiyyah and Kitab A l-lm an............................................ 1
lbn Taymiyyah: His Life and Character.................................................... 1
The Mihan, Trials, of Ibn Taymiyyah ...................................................... 4
The Objectives of Kitab Al-lman ............................................................ 7
Major Concepts and Themes of Kitab Al-lman ...................................... 9
The Concepts of Iman, Islam, and Ihsan ............................................ 9
Iman Is Both Saying and Work ........................................................ 10
The Increase and Decrease of Iman .................................................. 11
Literal and Figurative M eanings........................................................ 12
The Semantic Theory of Absolute and Conditioned ....................... 14
The Concept of Exception................................................................... 14
Editions of Kitab Al-lman ....................................................................... 15
Chapter One: The Difference Between Iman, Islam, and Ih san................... 18
The Three Ranks of Religion: Islam, Iman and Ihsan....................... 20
Explicit Deeds Are Part of Iman ........................................................ 23
Iman and Islam as Cited in the Qur’an .............................................. 27
Chapter Two: Adherence to the Words of Allah and His Messenger ........ 48
Dispute Concerning the Authenticity of Certain H adiths................. 48
The Consensus of the Believers Is Used as a Proof ......................... 53
Connotation of the Book, the Sunnah and Ijmac as O n e ................... 54
Some of the Signs of Iman ................................................................. 55
The Relationship Between Obedience and Disobedience
With Regard to Iman ..................................................................... 56
Chapter Three: The Meanings of The Terms Unbelief, Hypocrisy
and Polytheism ............................................................................................ 65

viii CONTENTS
Chapter Four: The Meanings of the Terms Righteous, the Witness
and the Sincere ........................................................................................... 70
Chapter Five: The Meanings of Disobedience, Sin and Unbelief................. 72
Chapter Six: Wrong: its’ Kind and Meaning ................................................ 75
Chapter Seven: The Meanings of the Terms Righteousness
and Corruption ........................................................................................... 94
Chapter Eight: Literal Meaning and Figurative Meaning............................. 98
Chapter Nine: The AslTarites’ and Other Sects’ Opinion of Iman and
a Refutation by the Author ..................................................................... 132
The Ash'arites’ Opinion of lman as Stated by Al-BaqillanI ........ 133
The Reply of Orthodox Muslims to the A sh'arites......................... 134
Ibn Taymiyyah’s Refutation of the Ash'arites’ Opinion................. 135
Chapter Ten: The Opinion of Al-Baqillan! On Iman and Islam ................. 165
Chapter Eleven: Absolute Iman Requires W orks........................................ 170
Chapter Twelve: The Meaning of Conditioned Iman When Associated
with Other Terms ..................................................................................... 172
Chapter Thirteen: Association of Words and Phrases ............................... 182
Chapter Fourteen: Connotations of Absolute Iman .................................... 189
Chapter Fifteen: Attributes and Terms With Specific Connotations ........ 195
The Invalidity of the Idea That Iman Is Mere Assent
And Knowledge of the Heart ........................................................ 198
The Two Basic Errors of the Murji’ite s .............................................. 200
The Murji’ites Opinion of Im an............................................................ 203
The Murjrites Errors in Understanding Iman .................................... 204

This volume is the first complete English translation of the important and well-
known Kitab al-lman by the renowned thirteenth-century Muslim scholar Ibn

Taymiyyah. The Book of Faith was an attempt to explain the concept of Iman
which, throughout its history, has been one of the cornerstone aspects of Islam.
Iman has served to define the nature of Muslim life and the essence of the religion
as a whole. During Ibn Taymiyyah’s lifetime, and for a few centuries before, the
concept of Iman became a major point of controversy among rival Islamic sects,
each of which advocated their own interpretation of its nature. Ibn Taymiyyah’s
own deep conviction and understanding of this concept is based on the true
interpretation of the Qur’an, hadith, sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad
peace be upon him (pbuh) and the conduct of the pious ancestors of the first three
Islamic centuries. Throughout history the concept of Iman developed into a major
undertaking theologically, linguistically, and even politically. From the beginning
Ibn Taymiyyah stated that he did not want to be involved in the dispute
concerning the concept of Iman that was raised and discussed by the various
Islamic sects. This introduction intends to give a brief and precise biography of
Ibn Taymiyyah to highlight the principle ideas presented in Kitab al-lman, and to
identify its various recensions.

Book of Faith represents the first complete English translation of the important and wellknown work Kitab AlIman, written by the renowned scholar Ibn Taymiyyah. The concept of Iman, faith, is fundamental to Islam. Iman has served to define the nature of Muslim life and the essence of the religion as a whole.