Imam al-Ash'ari his take on imaan: 'aml is not from the asl of imaan.
Here follows how he defended his view.
On p.150 of مجرد مقالات الأشعري:
[al-Ashari] used to say: "We, including our opponents, agree that imaan - prior to the coming of the Shariah - linguistically meant affirmation [التصديق]. We also agree that the Quran is revealed in their [Arabs] language. So it's compulsory that its meaning is ascertained based on it."
On p.152 it says:
[al-Ash`ari] used to say that actions are signs of imaan - like prayer, obligatory tax, purification and other pillars.
Now, the sign of something is other than the thing itself. However, it's permissible - by way extension - that the signs are labelled as imaan. In the sense that they are signs, indications and marks of imaan. Based on that we interpret the verse 《And Allah will not let your imaan go to waste》 by saying that what's intended with imaan is "your prayer."
Here follows how he defended his view.
On p.150 of مجرد مقالات الأشعري:
[al-Ashari] used to say: "We, including our opponents, agree that imaan - prior to the coming of the Shariah - linguistically meant affirmation [التصديق]. We also agree that the Quran is revealed in their [Arabs] language. So it's compulsory that its meaning is ascertained based on it."
On p.152 it says:
[al-Ash`ari] used to say that actions are signs of imaan - like prayer, obligatory tax, purification and other pillars.
Now, the sign of something is other than the thing itself. However, it's permissible - by way extension - that the signs are labelled as imaan. In the sense that they are signs, indications and marks of imaan. Based on that we interpret the verse 《And Allah will not let your imaan go to waste》 by saying that what's intended with imaan is "your prayer."