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al-isl§m and al-Êm§n 53what is righteous’. Muslims all over this world, including Christians,Jews, New Age groups, and followers of MuÈammad (ß)and so forth, practise this type of piety. The second type is thepiety of faith ( al-Êm§n), expressed as belief in a specific messengerand the book that was revealed to him; the ‘Muslim-Believers’embody this type of piety. The third type is a combination ofthe first and second types of piety ( al-isl§m + al-Êm§n) that canbe practised through al-iÈs§n (particular ethics), because the Bookstates Allah’s love for those who practise the piety of ‘doingwhat is fair and just’:On those who believe and do deeds of righteousness there is noblame for what they ate (in the past), when they guard themselvesfrom evil, and believe, and do deeds of righteousness, (or) again,guard themselves from evil and believe, (or) again, guard themselvesfrom evil and do good. For God loves those who do good[All§h u yuÈibb u al-muÈsinÊn a ]. ( Al-M§"ida 5:93)The Pillars of al-Êm§nThe tenets al-Êm§n (faith in MuÈammad (ß) and in his messengerhood)allow a gradual growth of piety from the fundaments of al-isl§m toa higher form of belief. The Book reflects upon the spiritual developmentof those who already have a firm belief in Allah, the Hereafterand ‘doing what is righteous’, in sum, al-isl§m. The following pillarsof al-Êm§n are built—perhaps similar to the sublime top floor of amassive building—upon the pillars of al-isl§m:1. The witness ( al-shah§da) that MuÈammad (ß) is Allah’s apostle:2.But those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and believein the (revelation) sent down to Muhammad… (MuÈammad47:2)Only those are believers who have believed in God and His apostle,and have never since doubted, but have striven with theirbelongings and their persons in the cause of God: such are thesincere ones… (MuÈammad 47:15)The prayer ‘at stated times’:For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times. ( Al-Nis§"4:103)The giving of alms tax (spending). Note that spending (3. al-inf§q)is a pillar common to both al-isl§m and al-Êm§n because spending