الم ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾
Alif-Lam-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qurʾān and none but Allāh (Alone) knows their meanings]. This is the Book (the Qurʾān), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allāh much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allāh much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]. Who believe in the Ghayb and perform al-Ṣalāt (Iqamat-as-Salat), and spend out of what we have provided for them [i.e. give Zakāt, spend on themselves, their parents, their children, their wives, etc., and also give charity to the poor and also in Allāh’s Cause – Jihad, etc.].
[Al-Baqarah, 2:1-3]
From the issues addressed:
The people are of three types as mentioned in the Qurʾān:
- The individuals who implement and practise this guidance inwardly and outwardly (the believers)
- Those who reject and disbelieve, inwardly and outwardly (the disbelievers)
- Those who inwardly reject (not having īmān) but outwardly demonstrate faith (munāfiqūn)
How do we determine what is the path of the believers?
A description of the believers, their belief in Allāh and conformity to the Book and the Sunnah ensues.
