Faith enjoys a higher degree than mere accepting Islam, for one who accepts Islam faith may not have entered his heart yet. This distinction is acknowledged in the Quran when Allah reprimands some Muslims for claiming to be faithful:
The Bedouins say, ‘We have faith.’ Say, ‘You do not have faith yet; rather, say, ‘‘We have embraced Islam,’’ for faith has not yet entered into your hearts.1
Thus, it is necessary that we get to know the components of faith and its conditions so as to tell the difference between faith and Islam and also strive to acquire the conditions necessary for having faith in Allah and His religion. In this regard, the Prophet (s) is reported to have said:
Faith is inner knowledge by means of the heart, attestation with the tongue, and action with the limbs.2
Faith and Action
One of the most important characteristics of faith is that it is always accompanied by action; just as sweetness cannot be removed from sugar, likewise, faith cannot be imagined without action.
In the Qur'an, whenever Allah addresses those who have faith, He usually mentions righteous deeds as a characteristic of the believers:
Man is indeed in loss, except those who have faith and do righteous deeds.3
The fact that Faith and action are inseparable is also alluded to in the words of the Ahl al-Bayt (as). The Prophet (s) is reported to have said,
Faith and action are two brothers, bound together with a single rope. Allah will not accept either one without the other.4
The peak of Faith
Another important fact about faith is that not all faithful believers are equal in terms of their rank and status; Faith itself has different degrees and stages. The peak of faith is when one reaches such a level of conviction that he completely submits to the will of Allah and is totally satisfied with His decree, because his trust in Allah has led him to believe that "In every decree of Allah's, Mighty and Exalted, there is good for the believer."
Imam Ali al-Rida (as) said:
Faith rests upon four pillars: reliance upon Allah, entrusting one's affairs to Allah, submission to the will of Allah, and contentment with Allah's decree.
In conclusion, he who truly has faith in Allah is the one who sincerely believes in all the articles of faith, confesses to his belief with his tongue, and his belief is also manifested through his action. If these three conditions are met, then his faith will lead him to a state where he will only rely upon Allah, entrust his affairs to Him, submit to His will, and feel content with Allah's decree.
References:
1. The Holy Quran, [49:14]
2. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 2
3. The Holy Quran, [103:2/3]
4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 59
5. 'Uyun Akhbar al-Rida (as), vol. 1, p. 141, no. 42
6. Ghurb al-Isnad, no. 1268