The Relationship Between Īmān (Faith) And ʿAqīdah (Creed): A Foundational Study

العلاقة بين الإيمان والعقيدة: دراسة تأصيلية

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between the terms Īmān (faith) and ʿAqīdah (creed) in Islamic thought, two of the most widely used yet frequently conflated terms in Islamic religious discourse. The research clarifies both concepts linguistically and technically, traces their existence in the Qur'an and Sunnah, and presents the views of classical and contemporary scholars on the distinction between them. Using a descriptive-analytical method based on textual induction and comparative analysis, the study concludes that ʿAqīdah represents the organized cognitive content of what must be believed with certainty. In contrast, Īmān refers to the resulting heartfelt conviction expressed in speech and deed. Although closely intertwined, the two terms are not fully synonymous but rather stand in a relation of partial overlap, and the study recommends regulating their use in contemporary religious and educational discourse.