Awareness
\r\nSurrender (Islam) is a designation attained by all who testify with their tongues that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. It pertains to this worldly life, and to ruling and interactions which have to do with its adherent’s connection to the rest of the Muslims: he may marry from them, inherit from them, be prayed over and buried in their graveyards, and so on the for the rest of the outward laws. It also requires adherence to the other pillars: prayer, the alms, fasting, and the pilgrimage.
\r\nBut the reality of this, and its fruits in the heart and in the Hereafter, depend on this adherence to the pillars being sincerely devoted to God Almighty, without any ostentation, hypocrisy, pretention, self-satisfaction or arrogance. This can only be attained when the Muslim adheres to the pillars of Islam whilst being in a state of awareness of God Almighty with love, desire, fear and hope. This is the meaning of excellence (Ihsan).
\r\nFaith (Iman) is belief; and this belief might be knowledge, witnessing, or true certainty. Certainty has three degrees and levels: the knowledge of certainty (`ilm al-yaqin), the vision of certainty (`ayn al-yaqin) and the truth of certainty (haqq al-yaqin). Yet faith on the level of the knowledge of certainty is itself dependable and acceptable; for knowledge pertains to the mind’s perception, and its certainty is attained by the heart’s assurance and firm belief.
\r\nTo have knowledge of the articles of faith, and for the mind to accept them, is the lowest level of faith, and is enough to make the morally responsible person a believer (mumin); yet faith at this level is exposed to disturbances, and could be beset by the gales of doubt, disturbed by the winds of uncertainty, or uprooted by the hurricanes of trial and misfortune. To ascend, however, to a higher level than the knowledge of certainty makes faith firm and stable so that it is impervious to backsliding. This can only be attained through a feeling of awareness of God’s signs which are manifest in existence; and one of the clearest of these signs are those that exist in the soul of man. It can also be through awareness of how God is watching over the believer’s heart. This is the level of excellence, which is to worship God as though you see Him; for if you see him not, He assuredly sees you. Assuredness is a state of the heart which has to do with certainty and awareness of God’s presence. Consequently, when excellence is actualized it brings perfection to the realm of action. In this way, the connection between surrender, faith and excellence can be clearly seen.
\r\nCompiled From:
\r\n "The Concept of Faith in Islam" - Habib Ali al-Jifri, pp. 23-25