QuranIqra: The word Imaan in the Quran

The word āmanū ( آمَنُوا ) in the Quran is generally translated as believed, as in the context of the phrase :

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا

yāayyuhā alladhīna āmanū

Examples:

O you who believe   [Shakir]
O you who have believed   [Sahih International]
You who Believe   [Abdel Halem]
O YOU who have attained to faith    [Muhammad Assad]

There is also another word being translated similar as believe, but with more assertion.

The word is from the triliteral root yā qāf nūn (ي ق ن)

ie; yaqīn (يَقِين)

In Corpus.Quran.com's Sahih international, the translations are as follows:

Imaan vs yaqin

It appears that the word yaqin is stronger than āmanū,

whereby yaqin is a belief with certainty, and conviction.

So why the word yaqin is not used instead since it is a stronger word than āmanū?

The word “certain” is more firm than “believe”,

so why do most translation choose the word “believe” or even “faith”?

Faith

What is Faith? Something we believe without evidence?

If there was evidence, it would have been a matter fact, without doubt,

and no longer something we have to believe.

By definition, Faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

A strong belief in doctrines of a religion, based on spriritual conviction, rather than proof.

Because when someone say to us to have faith, it is because evidence is absent.

We just have to believe and accept without question.

Believe

The word "believe" is bordering, or close to making assumptions without firm evidence.

So the word “believe” is problematic.

Because when we say we believe in something, often it is because we cannot support our opinion with clear evidence.

That is why we say “I believe in ghost, UFO’s, magic, myths etc…” and they are without any clear affirmation.

So when you say you believe in Allah, and another say, that they believe in flat earth, this is like saying believing in Allah is nothing more than just a belief.

Troublesome indeed.

Putting the belief of Allah or even Islam in the same breath as other religion.

Muslims will certainly not agree.

So in principle, we cannot use the word believe in relation to Allah.

because the word imaan cannot be attributed to believing of any beliefs.

Analysis of the word Imaan

We have to review this in order to find a more meaningful translation of Imaan.

We have to study the Arabic Lexicon again and all the derivatives of the word in the Quran and its context of usage, to really understand what is Imaan.

Basic meaning of hamza mīm nūn ( أ م ن )

He was, or became, or felt, secure, safe, or in a state of security or safety; originally, he was, or became, quiet, or tranquil, in heart, or mind; ( Tajool Urus, Misbah, Kamoos)

The triliteral root hamza mīm nūn (أ م ن) occurs 879 times in the Quran, and plays a very significant role in Quranic understanding. Once we recognise its true sense, it will give a fresh and different look to the Quranic narrative.

Form I verb: to feel secure [amina] (أَمِنَ)

[amin-tum]   أَمِنْتُمْ
2:239  And if you fear on foot or riding, but when you are secure [amin-tum], then remember Allah, as He has taught you that which you did not know.

[yamanūkum]    يَأْمَنُوكُمْ
[wayamanū]    وَيَأْمَنُوا
4:91  You will find others who wish to obtain security from you [yamanūkum] and [to] obtain security [wayamanū] from their people. Every time they are returned to [the influence of disbelief, they fall back into it. So if they do not withdraw from you or offer you peace or restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you overtake them. And those - We have made for you against them a clear authorization.

[awa-amina]    أَوَأَمِنَ
7:98  Or did the people of the cities feel secure [awa-amina]  from Our punishment coming to them in the morning while they were at play?

[afa-aminū]    أَفَأَمِنُوا
7:99  Then did they feel secure [afa-aminū]  from the plan of Allah ? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people.

[a-amintum]   أَأَمِنْتُمْ
67:16  Do you feel secure [a-amintum]   that He who in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?

[amintum]  أَمِنْتُمْ
67:17  Or do you feel secure [amintum] that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not send against you a storm of stones? Then you would know how [severe] was My warning.

The above translations expressed the word well in the context of the verse - about feeling secure and obtaining security.

Active participle [āminīn] (ءَامِنِين)

Noun (aminan) Secure

[āminan] آمِنًا
14:35 And when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this city secure [āminan] and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.

Adjective (aminan) Secure

[āminan]   آمِنًا
2:126  And when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this a secure  [āminan] city and provide its people with fruits - whoever of them secures [āmana] in Allah and the Last Day." [Allah] said. "And whoever distrust [kafara] - I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will compel him to the suffering of the Fire, and wretched is the destination."

[āminan]   آمِنًا
28:57  And they say, "If we were to follow the guidance with you, we would be swept from our land." Have we not established for them a sanctuary secure [āminan]  to which are brought the fruits of all things as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.

Similarly, from the above samples, we can perceive the essence of the word of being secured.

**Noun (amni) Security**

[l-amni]   الْأَمْنِ
4:83 And when there comes to them a matter of security [l-amni] or fear [l-khawfi], they spread with it . But if they had referred it to the Messenger or to those of authority from them, surely would have known, those who draw correct conclusions about it from them. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed the evil, except for a few.

[bil-amni]   بِالْأَمْنِ
6:81 And how should I fear what you associate while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah that for which He has not sent down to you any authority? So which of the two parties has more right with security [bil-amni], if you should know?

[l-amnu]   الْأَمْنُ
6:82 They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice - those will have the security  [l-amnu] and they are guided.

Whereas the word amni, signify gaining security from being secured. To gain security means that we have attain trust in whatever that we hold as to be secured. Hence the word Trust is also found in the derivatives of the root word hamza mīm nūn ( ن م أ )

**Noun [amanat] Trust**

[l-amānāti] الْأَمَانَاتِ
4:58 Indeed, Allah commands you to return the trust [l-amānāti] to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.

So when a person is trusted, he is TRUSTWORTHY

أَمَانَةٌ, - (M, Mgh, Mṣb,) He was, or became, trusted in, or confided in: (M, Ḳ:) or he was, or became, trusty, trustworthy, trustful, confidential, or faithful: said of a man. (Mgh.)

**Adjective [aminun] Trustworthy**

[ amīnun ]    أَمِينٌ
7:68  I convey to you the messages of my Lord, and I am to you a trustworthy [amīnun] adviser.

12:54 And the king said, "Bring him to me; I will appoint him exclusively for myself." And when he spoke to him, he said, "Indeed, you are today established [in position] and trustworthy [amīnun]."

Verses 26:107 / 125 / 143 / 162 / 178
Indeed, I am to you Messenger [rasulan], Trustworthy [amīnun].

[ l-amīnu ]   الْأَمِينُ
26:193 has brought it down with it, The Spirit [Al-Ruhu] The Trustworthy [l-amīnu]

The word Mu’minin

This is an interesting word to analyse and make comparison.

The adjective Mu’min has been generally translated as believing, as in the following verses;

[l-mu'minīna]   الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
37:81  Indeed, he (Nuh) was of Our believing servants [ʿibādinā l-mu'minīna]

37:122  Indeed, they (Musa & Harun) were of Our believing servants [ʿibādinā l-mu'minīna]

However, in verse 59:23 Allah is mentioned as Al-mu'min.

59:23 He (is) Allah, the One Who, (there is) no god but He, the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Possessor of Peace [al-mu’minu], the Giver of Security, the Guardian, the All-Mighty, the Irresistible, the Supreme. Glory (be to) Allah from what they associate (with Him).

It would not make any sense to translate and define Allah as a believing God.

Some translators were very well aware of this mismatched meaning and had chosen the meaning of Al-Mu'min as follows:

Muhammad Asad	- the Giver of Faith
Pickthall	- The Keeper of the Faith
Yusuf Ali	- The Guardian of Faith
Syed Vickar Ahamed	- The Guardian of Faith
Wahiduddin Khan	- The Granter of Security
Abdel Haleem	- The Granter of Security
Shakir	- The Granter of Security
TB Irving	- The Secure
Abdul Hye	- The Giver of Security
Maududi	- The Giver of Security
Mohsin Khan	- The Giver of Security

From all of the above, The Granter of Security, and The Giver of Security are closer and captured the true sense of the meaning of the word - Possessor of Security

Possessor Of Security (Al-Mu’minina)

27:15  And We had certainly given to David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, "Praise to Allah , who has favored us over many of His servants, Possessor of security (l-mu’minina)."

37:81  Indeed, he (Nuh) was from Our servants, Possessor of security (l-mu’minina).

37:122  Indeed, both of them (Musa & Harun) from Our servants, Possessor of security (l-mu’minina).

37:132  Indeed, he (Ilyas) was of Our servants, Possessor of security (l-mu’minina).

59:23  He is Allah , other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, The Possessor Of Security (l-mu’minu), the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.

What is meant by Possessor Of Security (Al-Mu’minina) ?

All human being need to feel safe, free from threats, and to have the trust and support they need to live in peace while ensuring their overall well-being is taken care of. In Quranic sense, we must have a firm foundation for our outlook in life based on true guidance from the Lord of the Universe. True guidance is from Allah, where we put our trust to His Signs in the Scripture (Al-Kitab), apart from the Messengers, the Nabi, And The Malaikah.

As explained previously, His Signs are all around us for us to decipher, read and comprehend. The sciences are perhaps the clearest example where we put our trust as the signs of Allah. Human beings, from one civilization to another, thrived on the material and human sciences, all with the goal of finding security to serve mankind.

We seek to find security in food, habitation, economy, etc against vulnerabilities that threaten societies. And this is why, successful nations turns to what is firm and dependable from the Most Beneficient and the Most Merciful – The Lord of the Universe – The Universe itself.

Whether someone has a religious background or not, as long as they follow the universe's signs, submit to it, and do good deeds for the benefit of humanity, they will undoubtedly reap the rewards.

When it comes to submitting and subscribing to the Laws of Allah, The Beneficient and Merciful, does not discriminate those who want to attain security by abiding to the Laws of the Universe.

2:62 Indeed, those who attained security [āmanū] and those of hādū and the naṣārā and the ṣābiīna - whoever attains security [āmana] with Allah and the Day [the] Final and did righteous deeds, so for them is their reward with their Lord and no fear on them and not they will grieve

Imaan is not exclusive to those in the religion of Islam. Anyone who trust the Laws of the Universe, will recognize it and will benefit from it, to increase their security.

[īmānan] إِيمَانًا
8:2 Only the Possessor of security [l-mu'minūna] are those who, when reminded of Allah, their hearts become fearful, and when are recited to them His signs, they increase in security [īmānan] ; and upon their Lord they put their awareness .

Only those who understand His Signs will put their trust in it. We see this in the works of scientists who studied the signs of the Universe. Their works have contributed hugely for the benefit of humanity. And we have attained security from it, in many aspects of our lives ensuring and safeguarding peace and safety of our future.

Possessor of Security are the ones that inform us the true guidance while providing all the resources to secure the wellbeing of others. In the context of today's world, a country that receive and hosts refugees can be considered as Al-Mu'min, when they provide security and all the basic necessity for shelter and life.

A community leader that guides his community towards security, with true guidance and mindfulness can be called Al-Mu'min, just like the Prophets mentioned in the Quran, guiding their community.

The Real Quran

Our Lord has granted to mankind, this glorious faculty of reading that we are able to decipher His Signs – The Reading (Al-Quran), of the embedded Script (Al-Kitab), inside and around us, as Guidance for those who are mindful.

Thus, we should turn to His Signs, in order to find security and be successful.

Now ponder this:

Today we can see that Muslims in general are constantly feeling insecure in many issues, that seems to threaten the Muslim Ummah and, strangely, the religion of Islam. There is so much fear instilled in Muslims today that ranges from petty issues like dress code, dietary, to the wider aspect in the context of globalization or even modernization. Muslims see threats coming from all angles.

The Mullahs were largely responsible for this constant fear, that has been instilled in the minds of ordinary Muslims, instead of experiencing peace and security.

By this, can we call Muslims as those who have attained Imaan?

If not, do we really know what is required to be a Mu’min, as provider of security to fellow humans ?

If Muslims are constantly reminded of the fear that surrounds them, attaining Imaan is far from achievement

QuranIqra

Monday, July 17, 2023

The word Imaan in the Quran