Furu al-Din
Furu al-Din refers to the practical precepts of religion. If Usul al-Din are the roots of the religious tree, then Furu al-Din are the branches that grow from those roots. In other words, a person first accepts faith in Allah, His justice, prophethood, Imamate, and the Hereafter, and then expresses that faith in practical life through actions and conduct.
Furu al-Din is traditionally divided into ten fundamental principles. However, the practical precepts of Islam encompass a much broader range of issues; only the most important of them are presented here.
1. Salah
Salah is the principal daily act of worship, performed in remembrance of Allah and as an expression of devotion to Him. Prayer contributes to a person’s spiritual development and restrains them from wrongful actions. It is also an expression of gratitude to one’s Lord for the blessings He has bestowed.
2. Sawm
Sawm is the observance of fasting throughout the month of Ramadan in obedience to the command of Allah. Fasting cultivates patience, self-discipline, and God-consciousness in a person.
3. Khums
Khums is the allocation of a specified share from that portion of income which, under Islamic law and in the circumstances prescribed by the Sharia, is subject to such an obligation. Khums is a financial obligation connected with social and religious purposes.
4. Zakat
Zakat is the allocation of a prescribed portion of certain types of wealth and property, as established by the Sharia, for the benefit of those in need and for designated religious purposes. Zakat reinforces the principles of social responsibility and economic justice.
5. Hajj
Hajj is the pilgrimage of a Muslim who has the means and ability to travel to Mecca to visit the Kaaba and perform the prescribed religious rites. Hajj is one of the greatest expressions of the unity and equality of Muslims.
6. Jihad
The fundamental meaning of the word “jihad” is striving, exerting effort, and struggling in the way of Allah. The concept includes, among other things, the struggle against one’s own passions and efforts to defend the truth. Jihad is traditionally divided into two principal forms.
The first is the lesser jihad, referring to armed defense against aggression and invaders, including the defense of one’s country, land, religion, honor, and other values.
The second is the greater jihad, which is regarded as the more difficult form of struggle. It consists of striving against one’s own passions, forbidden desires, and sinful inclinations.
7. Enjoining What Is Right
Calling people toward goodness, righteous deeds, and proper conduct. It is not sufficient for a person to be virtuous themselves; they should also strive to promote goodness and moral conduct within society.
8. Forbidding What Is Wrong
Preventing people from evil, injustice, and wrongful actions. Its purpose is not to humiliate or condemn people, but to preserve goodness within society and prevent the spread of evil.
9. Tawalla
Tawalla is love for Allah, the Prophet, the Ahl al-Bayt, and those who follow the path of truth; it also means loyalty to them and following their path.
10. Tabarra
Tabarra means distancing oneself from oppression, falsehood, and everything that contradicts the path of Allah, the Prophet, the Ahl al-Bayt, and the truth.
In Islamic sources, Tawalla and Tabarra are regarded as two complementary principles: the first expresses commitment to the truth and those who represent it, while the second expresses disassociation from evil and from phenomena that oppose the truth.
Thus, faith is the root, while practice is its branches. The root is faith that has taken root in a person’s heart, while the branches are the outward manifestations of that faith in everyday life. This relationship is precisely what is emphasized through the image of a tree, which Islamic scholars use to explain the relationship between faith and practice.