What are the 77 branches of iman?

This short guide answers the question “what are the 70 branches of Iman?”. We will also decipher what Iman truly means and what are its pillars in Islam. Continue reading to find out.

What are the 77 branches of iman?

The 70 branches of Iman are the following:

• Belief in ALLAH
• To believe that everything other than ALLAH was non-existent. Thereafter, ALLAH Ta’ala created these things and subsequently, they came into existence.
• To believe in the existence of angels.
• To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore.
• To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow Muhammad ( Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam ) alone.
• To believe that ALLAH Ta’ala has knowledge of everything from beforehand and that only that which He sanctions or wishes will occur.
• To believe that Qiyaamah will definitely occur.
• To believe in the existence of Jannah.
• To believe in the existence of Jahannam.
• To have a love for ALLAH Ta’ala.
• To have love for Rasulullah ( sallallahu alayhi wasallam )
• To love or hate someone solely because of ALLAH.
• To execute all actions with the intention of deen alone.
• To regret and express remorse when a sin is committed.
• To fear ALLAH Ta’ala.
• To hope for the mercy of ALLAH Ta’ala.
• To be modest.
• To express gratitude over a bounty or favor.
• To fulfill promises.
• To exercise patience.
• To consider yourself lower than others
• To have mercy on the creation.
• To be pleased with whatever you experience from ALLAH Ta’ala.
• To place your trust in ALLAH Ta’ala.
• Not to boast or brag over any quality that you possess.
• Not to have malice or hatred towards anybody.
• Not to be envious of anyone.
• Not to become angry.
• Not to wish harm to anyone
• Not to have a love for the world.
• To recite the Kalimah with the tongue
• To recite the Quran.
• To acquire knowledge
• To pass on Knowledge.
• To make dua.
• To make the zikr of ALLAH Ta’ala.
• To abstain from the following: lies, backbiting(gheebah), vulgar words, cursing, and singing that is contrary to the shariah.
• To make wudu, ghusl, and keep one’s clothing clean.
• To be steadfast in offering salaat.
• To pay zakaat and sadaqatul fitr.
• To fast.
• To perform the Hajj.
• To make i’tikaaf.
• To move away or migrate from that place is harmful to one’s deen.
• To fulfill the vows that have been made to ALLAH.
• To fulfill the oaths that are not sinful.
• To pay the kaffarah for unfulfilled oaths.
• To cover those parts of the body that are hard to cover.
• To make Qurbani.
• To enshroud and bury the deceased.
• To fulfill your debts.
• To abstain from prohibited things when undertaking monetary transactions.
• Not to conceal something true that you may have witnessed.
• To get married when the nafs desires to do so.
• To fulfill the rights of those who are under you.
• To provide comfort to one’s parents.
• To rear children in the proper manner.
• Not to sever relations with one’s friends and relatives.
• To obey one’s master.
• To be just,
• Not to initiate any way that is contrary to that of the generality of the Muslims.
• To obey the ruler, provided what he orders is not contrary to the shariah.
• To make peace between two warring groups or individuals.
• To assist in noble tasks.
• To command the good and prohibit the evil.
• If it is the government. it should mete out punishments according to the shariah.
• To fight the enemies of deen whenever such an occasion presents itself.
• To fulfill one’s trust ( amaanah )
• To give loans to those who are in need.
• To see to the needs of one’s neighbor.
• To ensure that one’s income is pure.
• To spend according to the shariah.
• To reply to one who has greeted you.
• To say Yarhamukallah when anyone say alhamdulillah after sneezing.
• Not to cause harm to anyone unjustly.
• To abstain from games and amusements that are contrary to the shariah.
• To remove pebbles, stones, thorns, sticks, etc. from the road.

The ‘Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith’ are a collection of Quranic verses and Prophetic narrations compiled by Imām al-Bayhaqī (Allah be pleased with him) in 458 A.H., explaining the essential virtues that reflect true faith (imān).

The first 30 qualities are connected to the heart, while the 31st to 37th branches are connected to the tongue and the remaining 40 branches are qualities connected to the whole body. 

What is Iman?

There has been a lot of confusion with regard to the English translation of the word Iman. Iman came from the root word a-m-n which means: to be calm and quiet (in one’s heart); to be protected from fear; trustworthy, and truthfulness [Taj-al-Urus]. 

Iman means to accept truthfully, to be convinced, to verify something, to rely upon or have confidence in something. It doesn’t have a direct English translation opposing to the one word that has been used to explain it, which is Faith. 

Faith as explained by the oxford dictionary is the complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Faith does not specify that there is a reason behind the belief, it just believes.

Iman according to Quran, on the contrary, is a conviction based on reason and knowledge. A conviction that results in assurance and dependence and acceptance which in turn gives satisfaction and inner peace.

Iman, unlike faith, requires commitment because it creates an “Amana” or trust in Allah. Enveloped in this trust is the commitment to learn about Islam, practice Islam, and teach Islam to others.

In summary, Iman in Islam is not blind faith. Instead, it is a conviction, commitment, and trust that give one’s heart satisfaction, confidence, and peace because it heavily relies on foundations of reasons and objectives that are tangible and performed through actions.

What are the pillars of Iman?

The six pillars of Iman are the following:

• Belief in the oneness of Allah
• Belief in Angels existence
• Belief in the books of Allah
• Belief in the messengers of Allah
• Belief in the last day of judgement
• Belief in the divine decree of Allah

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Faith means to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and the Divine Decree, both good and bad.” These six pillars of Iman are the foundation on which faith in Islam stands and has been taught to the Muslims.

Conclusion:

Iman as the Muslim conviction and “Amana” to Allah must be completed in confirmation of all the essentials by the heart, by the tongue, and by the whole body. The highest of these branches is the testimony of Faith that there is no true god except Allah and the lowest is the removal of pebbles, stones, thorns, sticks, etc. from the road, which means there is faith in being modest.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What are the 77 branches of Iman?

What are the 3 types of Islam?

• Sunnī Islam.
• Shīʿa Islam.
• Kharijite Islam.

Who are the 4 Imams in Islam?

Because of their immense dedication and intellectual capacity. Islamic Law is held up by four foundation figures of the early middle ages. These 4 Imams are Abu Hanifa, Malik, al-Shafi i, and Ibn Hanbal., these men are recognized up to this day as Islam’s most influential scholars.

What are the 10 obligatory acts?

• Salah – daily prayers.
• Sawm – fasting
• Zakah – help the poor.
• Hajj – pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca).
• Jihad – follow the Five Pillars of Islam successfully and defend Islam.
• Khums – 20 percent annual tax. 
• Amr-bil-Maroof – encourage people to do what is good
• Nahil Anril Munkar – discouraging people from doing what is wrong.
• Tawalia – showing love. 
• Tabarra – disassociation with God’s enemies.

Reference

What is Iman? by Asad Jaleel https://www.virtualmosque.com/personaldvlpt/purification-heart/what-is-iman/ 

al-Qazwīnī, 1300. Mukhtasar Shu’ab al-Imān. Translated from Arabic by TJ Winter, 1990. India: The Quilliam Press.

AA al-Tahanawi. The 77 Branches of Faith. F. Rabbani on Sunni Path website [Online] Available from: http://spa.qibla.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=103&CATE=24. 

Jalali. The 77 Branches of Faith. [Online] Available from: http://taqwa.sg/v/articles/77-branches-of-faith/. 

Practices in Islam https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zhnhsrd 

The Six Pillars of Faith (Iman) in Islam Jan 2017 https://madrasatelquran.com/the-six-pillars-of-faith-iman-in-islam/