FAITH AND ACTION TRADES IN ISLAMIC THEOLOGY

Abstract: one of the significant issues in Ilm Kilam (literally science of discourse) which has an important role in religious thoughts and as a result in the manner of Muslims is the place of “Practical Ahkam”, which is in direct relation with the topic of faith and disbelief. In this regard, we face various opinions ranges from “Khawarij” who had the extreme opinion and believed that doer of a capital sin is an infidel  to a party named “Murji'ah” which took the least extremist attitude; they were taken the least strict stance and along with the policy of “belief without action” -brought up by Bani Ommayah- holds the idea of non existence of any relationship between faith and action; they ignored role of action and its interaction with having faith. Muʿtazila , between these two attitudes, accepted “ منزله بین المنزلتین”; it means they neither regard a commitor of capital sins as a complete Kafir (infidel) nor a complete faithful person. This person was known as a فاسق . Shia was against all these three attitudes and was stepping outside of any realm filled with extremisms or politicization and (truly influenced by verses and traditions of infallible imams) welcomes the moderate attitude which emphasizes on the permanent accompany of faith and good deeds: الذین کفروا وصدوا عن سبیل الله اضل اعمالهم والذین آمنوا وعملوا الصالحات وآمنوا بما نزل علی محمد وهو الحق من ربهم کفر عنهم سیئاتهم واصلح بالهم ﴿2﴾ Those who disbelieve and bar from the way of Allah, Allah will cause their deeds go astray. As for the believers who do good works and believe in what is sent down to Muhammad which is the truth from their Lord He will acquit them of their sins and repair their condition.(47: 1-2) For Shia true faith is a combination of various factors of: a belief from inside, expressing that belief by tongue, knowing and practicing based on this knowledge. In another word, faith is placed in a hierarchical direction, a person can move towards the crest by doing more good deeds, and eventually the crest is salvation and prosperity. Discovering this relationship and the levels of good deed is what studied by the present article.

FAITH AND ACTION TRADES IN ISLAMIC THEOLOGY Keywords:

Faith , Kofr , good deed , Shia thinking , parties of ilm Kilam