Q & A, Explaining the degrees of the Deen of Islam.

By Shaykh Abdul Azeez bin Baz

Q: What is the degrees (different stages/levels) of the Deen of Islam?

A: the degrees are three: Islam and Iman (faith), and Ihsaan (Islamic perfection in deeds and actions) just as the Prophet sallahu wa alayhi wa salam explained.

The first degree: is Islam, this is the general degree (level) and its pillars are five: the Shahadah and that is la ilah ila allah (none has the right to be worship except  Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the five Prayers, giving the Zakat and, fasting in Ramadan and, Hajj and, all actions from what Allah legislative from actions (all which Allah and His Messenger sallahu wa alayhi wa salam tell us to do and to stay away from) is put forwards in Islam.

The second degree: Iman (faith) and its pillars are six: to believe in Allah and His angels, and His books, and His Messengers, and the day of Judgement, and the decree the good of it and the bad of it.

The third degree: al-Ihsaan: and it is one pillar and it means that you worship Allah such as you can see Him even though you can not see Him, but He sees you, and all the righteous actions (deeds) that is put forward in Islam. And al-Iman (the faith) so when the Muslim amassed between all deeds (what Allah and His Messenger tell us to do and stay away from, what is legislated ) of it that is done outwardly and inwardly he becomes a believing Muslim. So when he worships Allah as if he see Him but he does not see Him but He Allah sees him, he becomes a believing Muhsin (good-doer) Muslim. We ask Allah for all types of Tawfeeq (success).

(Fatwa from Nur 1/18) From Shaykh bin Baz may Allah have mercy upon him.

Translated by Abul Baraa Muhammad Amreeki.

بيان مراتب دين الإسلام

س: ما هي مراتب الدين، مع ذكر أركان كل مرتبة؟، جزاكم الله خيرًا؟.

ج: مراتبه ثلاث: الإسلام، والإيمان، والإحسان، كما بينه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم. المرتبة الأولى: الإسلام؛ المرتبة العامة، وأركانها خمسة: شهادة: أن لا إله إلا الله، وأن محمدًا رسول الله؛ وإقام الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، وصوم رمضان، وحج البيت، وكل عمل مما شرعه الله داخل في الإسلام. والمرتبة الثانية: الإيمان: وأركانها ستة: أن تؤمن بالله، وملائكته، وكتبه، ورسله، واليوم الآخر، وبالقدر خيره وشره. والمرتبة الثالثة: الإحسان: وهو ركن واحد، ومعناه: أن تعبد الله كأنك تراه، فإن لم تكن تراه، فإنه يراك، وجميع الأعمال الصالحة داخلة في الإسلام، والإيمان، فإذا جمع المؤمن بين الأعمال كلها الظاهرة، والباطنة صار مسلمًا مؤمنًا، وإذا عبد الله كأنه يراه، فإن لم يكن يراه، فإنه يراه، صار مسلمًا مؤمنًا محسنًا، نسأل الله للجميع التوفيق.(نور1/18). الفتوى للشيخ بن باز رحمه الله