“Belief” and “Faith” in the View of the Leaders of the Islamic Revolution

Investigating the difference between faith and belief, it was found that in the view of Imam Khomeini “belief” is the level of knowledge, insight and understanding about everything while “faith” is the level at which belief is confirmed by heart and put into practice. In other words, belief and faith are different concepts. According to Imam Khomeini, belief and knowledge is different from faith because after acquiring knowledge, it is required to undergo religious mortification, think and remember God in abundance, suffer isolation and bring truth into heart to make heart divine and then belief is changed into faith. The supreme leader, Imam Khamenei, also holds the same distinction and believes that acquiring religious knowledge and level of belief is the second priority while faith is more important and is acquired through resorting to holy Quran and the household of the prophet. He also believes that “faith” informed with knowledge is enduring, productive, deliverer and the ideal one in Islam which, in addition to heartily confirmation, brings about commitment and practice. He adds that such a faith denies imitating and dogmatic faith. The only difference between Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenei is that the former believes in faith as confirmation by heart while the latter believes that further on than confirmation, commitment and practice is required.