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In Islam, the relation of reason with faith is as the relation of mathematics with physics. In physics there are observation, communication of knowledge; but these are to be conform with mathematics. Just as Islam for which; observation(1), people who reason(2), use of reason(3) (as the use of mathematics in physics), communication (4) and the application of the knowledge(5) are indispensable.

Now for better understanding these in the perspective of the Qur'an, let us consider the above mentioned part of the 3rd chapter of Qur'an:

(1) Most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day there are signs:

The experience/observation is the source/starting point of reason. If there was no continuity and consistency in the things we observe/experience, then there would be no reason. Reason is to some extent the reflection of these two concepts in our minds. Thus, what we observe has a central place in Islamic faith/reasoning.

(2) Men of understanding:

Reasoning ability; everybody does not have this talent. For the time being a tautologistic and subjective concept, because every different or opposite group may argue that they have reasoning ability while others do not; this appears in the debates and will be real in the existence or the inexistence of the hereafter. However, some must be right and some wrong; some must be able to good reason; while some must not; because there are differences on many specific basic points. And those who can not, must be concluding according to things other than reasoning.

(3) And reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth:

Reflection is made by/for removing the disequilibria and deficiencies in the mind. Reasoning, reflecting is to build continuity between the concepts and relations and filling relevant gaps in one's mind.

(An example from general contemporary christianity) So, if according to the structure of one's mind;

1. G ----->U (God requires unity)

2.1. G ----->B (God requires book)

2.2. B----->-U, (Book requires trinity=refusal of unity in some way)

(2.G ----->-U) (God requires multiplicity-no unity [I know any christian will argue that trinity is not contradictory with unity, however my view is different.]),

he must try to eliminate the inconsistencies between 1 and 2 by reasoning; of course if the mind has its freedom. ( And in religions other than Islam, there are such persistent inconsistencies/gaps and the people who refuse them are considered as unfaithful people who are to be punished and threatened, and there, the role of faith appears mainly in this way and by this aspect- as dogma against reason)

Our Lord! Thou hast not created this in vain! Glory be to Thee; save us then from the chastisement of the fire:

We see the gap/inconsistencies at this stage of the reasoning process: The greatness of Allah and the universe, the non-reasonability of it without a goal, the impossibility of its existing for nothing, the inconsistency of the small place occupied by men in this universe with the ability to understand all of it, the equilibrium in this universe and the people who do good and the people who do bad and Allah's great power,...

(4) We have heard a crier calling unto Faith: "Believe ye in your Lord!" So we believed:

Here we see the meeting of reasoning and communication; and the filling of the above mentioned gap:

Seeing God and His great universe and His great benefactions, the person, concludes that there may/must be a reason for all this, and a requirement-payment is highly probable, but what is this payment or duty is unknown. What are the intentions of He Who created all this? At this stage, the messenger removes the gap; with the knowledge he brings, there remains no inconsistencies and no deficiencies in the reasoning elements.

Communication here plays the role of knowledge related in physics books. As nobody can do all experiments for finding out all the knowledge related in these books, to some extent one must trust in these knowledge when some conditions are fulfilled. And the Qur'an fulfills all relevant conditions that reasoning requires: Shortly: We know that the contents of The Holy Book (Qur'an) are parallel to our reasoning; there is no break in its historical existence which can make its authenticity doubtful, Allah (Who is proved outside communication, by reason) says that He protects it. So, there is also every reason for believing in the related knowledge as to things that we do not witness with our senses, as the angels or the djinns. And we see that belief in the communicated knowledge is also fully the result of reason.

(5)That I will not waste the work of a worker among you:

The role-result of faith in Islam is good actions. A good action is an action which is realized for gaining the love and pleasure of Allah; because Muhammed said:"Certainly, the actions are (considered) according to intentions". Faith results gratitude, and thereupon, must be accompanied by deeds that Allah wants, for gaining His Love (in the sense of loving Him and being loved by Him) and His Pleasure. These deeds begin with the uttering of the word "I witness that there is no god other than Allah; and I witness that Muhammed is His servant and His messenger" (the word of witnessing) and may be extended to the sacrifice of one's life. And in most situations, these deeds are not welcome, and violence against these deeds appears very soon; maybe at the beginning stage or at any later stage. The sincere faith gives the power to resist these. Therefore, faith's role is mainly its executive effect towards good actions; and its place in the consideration of these (by Allah and by the individual himself).

In the whole Qur'an, we see the emphasis given to this role of faith: A faith which produces no good actions is condemned; and in most places this situation is said to be the sign of hypocrisy.