Hadrat [1] Imam-i Rabbani says in the 17th letter of the third volume of his Maktubat:
Each religion which Allahu ta’ala revealed is of two parts: I’tiqad (belief) and ’amal (worship); that is, iman (belief) and rules. Of them, i’tiqad is the same in every religion. I’tiqad is the essence and the basis of the religion. It is the trunk of the tree of religion. And ’amal is like the branches and leaves of the tree.
The i’tiqads communicated in ancient religions were defiled in the course of time. The only righteous i’tiqad today is the i’tiqad which is communicated by the Islamic religion. He who does not have this correct i’tiqad will not be saved from Hell. It will be impossible for him to escape the torment of the next world.
There is hope for those without ’amal to be saved. They depend on the mercy of Allahu ta’ala, who may forgive them, if He wants, or He may subject them as much torment as they deserve on account of their sins, if He wants, and then take them out of Hell. Staying eternally in Hell is for those who do not have the correct i’tiqad as communicated by the Islamic religion, that is, those who do not believe the tenets that are of the Islamic religion, which were communicated by Muhammad (alaihissalam). Those who have the i’tiqad, but who do not have ’amal, that is, who do not carry out the rules with their heart and body, will not stay in Hell eternally, though they may go there.
Since the tenets that must be believed are the essentials, the absolutely indispensable basis of Islam, it is necessary for everybody to teach and to learn them. [It is everybody’s first duty to learn them. He who does not learn correct iman and its rules and who does not teach them to their children has not done their duty as a human being. Everybody has the right to learn them. It is the first of all human rights.
GLOSSARY:
[1] Hadrat: title of respect used before the names of great people like and Islamic scholars.
