A reflection on Surah Al-Qasas 28:67 - why belief and righteous action are described together, never as substitutes for one another.
It can be tempting to treat belief and action as separate categories, as though sincere faith alone is enough, or as though good deeds could stand in for a weak connection to Allah (SWT). The Qur'an consistently rejects that separation, a point worth returning to before Ramadan at Darus Saulieghien Quraan Academy.
Three Things Named Together
فَأَمَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُفْلِحِينَ ٦٧
"But as for one who had repented, believed, and done righteousness, it is expected [i.e., promised by Allah] that he will be among the successful." (Surah Al-Qasas 28:67)
The ayah names three things in sequence: tawbah (repentance), iman (belief), and 'amal salih (righteous action). Success is attached to the combination, not to any one alone. Repentance without change in action falls short, just as action without sincere belief loses its foundation.
Living the Combination
This is a helpful checkpoint before Ramadan: not only intending to worship more, but pairing that intention with consistent, righteous action once the month begins, and repentance whenever either falls short.
We remind our students that their daily effort in Qur'an memorisation is itself part of this combination, righteous action growing out of sincere belief, hopefully drawing them nearer to being among "the successful" this ayah describes.
May Allah (SWT) accept our repentance, strengthen our belief, and make our deeds righteous, and may He make our students among the successful. Ameen.