The story of Jamal Ibn Daraj: The difference between Islam and Iman The question Jamal Ibn Daraj asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the meaning of the verse: "The Bedouins said, 'We believe.' Say, 'You don't believe,' but say, 'We believe,' and when faith has entered your heart." Surah Al-Khughar 49:14 "The Bedouins say, 'We believed. ' Say, 'You did not believe; But they said: 'We planned,' because the faith did not arise in your hearts. The Imams answer Imam Sadiq (a. Q.) replied: "Don't you see that faith is different from Islam? " "Don't you see that Iman (faith) is different from Islam (submission)? " Explanation The imam uses the verse as a proof. The Bedouins claimed Iman (faith), but Allah corrected them, telling them to claim Islam (submission), because faith had not yet entered their hearts. If Iman and Islam were the same, Allah would not distinguish between them. This narration lesson is the basic proof that Islam is the external declaration (the first step), while Iman is the deeper reality that resides in the heart (the highest step). This is why the Prophet (s) did not reject the Bedouins. He accepted their external Islam so that they could be given the opportunity to eventually attain Iman. The source is Hadith 3 from the chapter "Islam is the one by which blood is spared... "Al-Kafi, volume 2, page 24. Read the full narration here: Practical Islam - Saeed Samer Hakim.