- published: 02 Jan 2016
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Iman in Islamic theology denotes a believer's faith in the metaphysical aspects of Islam. However, Iman is different from Faith in the sense that it should not be blind belief, and should be accompanied by reason. Its most simple definition is the belief in the six articles of faith, known as arkān al-īmān.
The term Iman has been delineated in both the Quran as well as the Hadith of Gabriel. According to the Quran, Iman must be accompanied by righteous deeds and the two together are necessary for entry into Paradise. In the Hadith of Gabriel, Iman in addition to Islam and Ihsan form the three dimensions of the Islamic religion.
There exists a debate both within and outside Islam on the link between faith and reason in religion, and the relative importance of either. Several scholars contend that faith and reason spring from the same source and hence must be harmonious.
In the Arabic language, Iman (Arabic: إِيمَان ‘īmān), pronounced [ˈʔiː.maːn], denotes "faith". It is the verbal noun of the triconsonantal root ‘-M-N, "to believe."
Iman, also spelled Imaan or Eman, may refer to:
Hamza Yusuf (born Mark Hanson, January 1, 1960) is an American Islamic scholar, and is co-founder of Zaytuna College. He is a proponent of classical learning in Islam and has promoted Islamic sciences and classical teaching methodologies throughout the world.
He is an advisor to the Center for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He also serves as a member of the board of advisors of George Russell's One Nation, a national philanthropic initiative that promotes pluralism and inclusion in America. In addition, he serves as vice-president for the Global Center for Guidance and Renewal, which was founded and is currently presided over by Abdallah bin Bayyah.
He is one of the signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding. The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom reported that "Hamza Yusuf is arguably the west's most influential Islamic scholar." Similarly, The New Yorker magazine reported that Yusuf is "perhaps the most influential Islamic scholar in the Western world".