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Fatwa CenterWhy does the Noble Quran address its followers by: O believers?
Question
Why did Allaah The Almighty not address Muslims in the Noble Quran by “O Muslims” but rather He called upon them by “O believers”? Which is more superior, Islam or Eemaan (faith)?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
If the words Islam and Eemaan are mentioned separately, then they will have the same meaning and refer to each other. However, if they are mentioned together, then they will have a different meaning. In any case, Eemaan is superior to Islam, as proved by the verse in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {The Bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have embraced Islam.} [Quran 49:14] and because faith is more specific than Islam, then every faithful believer is a Muslim but not every Muslim is a faithful believer.
Accordingly, the Noble Quran addressed its followers by “O believers” to encourage and motivate them. Therefore, Ibn Mas‘ood 
used to say: “If you hear Allaah The Almighty Say “O you who have believed,” then give it your full attention for this will be a good thing that you have to do or a bad thing that you have to avoid.” [Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab Al-Eemaan]
Allaah Knows best.
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