What is Faith?

Sometimes the obscure are more amply rewarded than the famous One day when Umar was sitting with a group of people, he asked them, “Who will gain the greatest reward?” Some said it would be those who fasted, while others thought it would be those who prayed. Some said that the reward of the Commander of the Faithful would be the greatest. Everyone made different suggestions, but Umar dismissed them all. “Shall I tell you who will have the greater even than that of the Commander of the Faithful?” They all asked him to explain who he meant. “It is one who, clinging on to the reins of his horse, and watching over the Muslim army in the far off land of Syria, has no idea whether he will be devoured by some wild beast, bitten by some poisonous insect or attacked by some foe. Such a man will receive a greater reward than any of those you mentioned, greater even than the Commander of the Faithful. (IBN ‘ASAKIR)