Faith and Obedience

Q1 What is the first fact man must have firm faith in?

Q2 What is the second fact man must have firm faith in?

Q1 What is the first fact man must have firm faith in?
First of all, one should have an unshakable belief in the existence of God; without this, obedience to Him is clearly impossible. Then, one must know the attributes of God. It is the knowledge of the attributes of God that enables man to cultivate the noblest of human qualities and to fashion his life in virtue and godliness.

Q2 What is the second fact man must have firm faith in?
One must know in detail that particular way of living, which when adopted, can lead to gaining the pleasure of God. Unless a man knows the likes and dislikes of God, how can he choose one and reject the other? If a man has no knowledge of the Divine Law how can he follow it? Thus knowledge of the Divine Law and the Revealed Code of life is essential.

Q3 What else must one have faith in?
Man must also know the consequences of both belief and obedience, and disbelief and disobedience. He must know what blessings will be showered upon him if he chooses God's way and leads a life of purity, virtue and obedience, and he must also know what consequences follow if he adopts the way of disobedience and revolt.

Q4 What is 'belief in the unknown'?
It is an everyday experience that when you do not know about something, you look for somebody who does know. If you get ill and cannot treat and cure yourself, you go to a doctor and follow his instructions without question. In educational matters you trust your teacher. When you want to go to a place and do not know the way, you ask someone who does know about it and follow the way he points out. In short, regarding matters that pertain to your daily life, you approach someone who does know, accept his advice and act accordingly. This kind of belief is called " belief in the unknown" (Iman-bil-ghayb). Iman-bil-ghayb signifies that you get knowledge of what was not known to you from one who knows. You do not know God and His real attributes. You are not aware that His angels are directing the machinery of the whole Universe according to His orders and that they surround you on all sides.