The Structure of Faith
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following was adapted from “ Nahj al-Balaghah , Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib ( k.w. ) and translated by Ustadz Askari Jafri. When Sayyidina ‘Ali ( k.w. ) was asked about faith in religion, he replied that the structure of faith is supported by four pillars endurance, conviction, justice and jihad . Endurance is composed of four attributes: eagerness, fear, piety and anticipation of death. So whoever is eager for Paradise will ignore temptations; whoever fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practices piety will easily bear the difficulties of life and whoever anticipates death will hasten towards good deeds. Conviction has also four aspects to guard oneself against infatuations of sin; to search for explanation of truth through knowledge; to gain lessons from instructive things and to follow the precedent of the past people, because whoever wants to guard himself against vices and sins...