The Four Phases of Belief According to Islam are:
1. Knowledge, that is, knowing Allah, His Prophet, and the religion of Islam. 2. Application of this knowledge.
3. Preaching the knowledge.
4. Enduring with patience whatever such application and preaching may entail.
In the Qur’an we read::
“(I swear) by the time. Surely, man is in (a state of) loss. Except those who believe and do good deeds, and exhort one another to accept the truth, and who exhort one another to endure with patience.” [Q 103:1-3]
Also, knowledge must precede both application and deeds, as signified by the words of Allah:
“And know there is no God but Allah, and seek forgiveness for your sins, and for the believers.” [Q 47:19]
Imam al-Bukahri commented the above verse, saying: “Thus Allah opened the verse with command of acquiring knowledge and followed it with the command of application.” To give an example, one cannot pray before learning how to pray...
