Belief, Religion and People

بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

Belief sets the outlook and approach one would take in course of an action. For example, a person who believes that there is no hope left in life commits suicide. Religion on the other hand, is typically set of beliefs and rituals which define it. It is common for people to ascribe to a religion but not believe in some or all of it's belief. Religion identifies perhaps the pool of people you are likely to interact with, although belief when openly expressed forces stronger identity among its adherents and defines their collective course of action. This emphasizes importance of having correct belief, as it determines the goal a person would pursue, approach one would take and ultimately determine success and failure.

Belief which distinguishes people, essentially relates to unseen and the greatest unseen, which none can deny is Allah سبحانه و تعالى, Creator of heavens and the earth; other one being life after death. Correct belief about these causes a person to strive in prayer and charity. But if belief in Allah and life after death is corrupt or lacking, then corresponding actions will also be corrupt. In order for belief in unseen to be correct, information about it must be coming from Allah سبحانه و تعالى, One Who knows all things - seen and unseen.

People are broadly of three types with regards to the correct belief:

First are those who believe in Allah, pray to Him and give from their wealth, believe in all the revelations sent by Allah to mankind and believe in life after death. These are one are rightly guided and will be successful.

Second are those who reject it and disbelieve in it. It is as if their hearts and ears are sealed, and have been blinded by glitters of life - now they don't understand. These are promised great torment.

And last are those who profess belief in Allah and life after death, but in reality they do not believe in it. They lie and try to deceive those around them, but they deceive none save themselves. For them is a painful torment.

May Allah make us of the rightly guided and successful.