beriman

Beriman is a verb in Indonesian and Malay that means to have faith or to believe in something. In religious contexts, it refers specifically to belief in God and, more broadly, to the tenets of a religion. The term can describe a person's inner conviction as well as their outward attitudes and conduct. The noun form keimanan denotes the state or quality of faith, while keimanan can be contrasted with keraguan (doubt) in discussions of belief.

Etymology: Beriman derives from the prefix ber- meaning 'to have' plus iman, from Arabic iman meaning faith or belief. The usage is common in Indonesian and Malay, reflecting the influence of Islamic theology on everyday language.

Usage: In Islamic discourse, beriman to God includes belief in the oneness of God, the prophets, the revealed books, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree; the concept is central to many formulations of faith in both Indonesia and Malaysia. The phrase orang beriman is used to describe a believer, and beriman kepada Tuhan is a common expression. The term also appears in non-literal contexts to signify confidence or trust, such as beriman kepada kemampuan diri.

Related terms: iman (faith), keimanan (the state or extent of faith), beragama (to be religious), taqwa (devoutness).