Question(27):
Does Eemaan increase or decrease? What are the things that make it increase or decrease?
Answer:
As to the increase and decrease of Eemaan, it is established that Faith, according to Ahlus-Sunnah wal- Jammaa’ah, comprises three matters: iqraar 49 with the heart, speech with the tongue and actions of the limbs. And so if it is as such, then it will increase and decrease, since the [degree] of iqraar with the heart differs in respect of excellence. Indeed, the attestation to a report is not the same as attestation by actual examination. Similarly, the attestation to the narration of one reporter is not the same as in the case of two, and so on. For this reason, Ibraaheem () said:
So, faith increases as far as iqraar –the attestation of the heart and its tranquility and peace is concerned; and a person experiences this of himself. When he attends a circle of knowledge, where admonition and remembrance of al-Jannah and an-Naar is presented, he will increase in faith, as if he sees this with his own eyes. And when, at times of negligence, he leaves such circle, the degree of certainty of faith in his heart diminishes. Similarly, faith increases because of utterance, for the one who celebrate the praises of Allaah ten times is not as the one who remembers Him a hundred-times. Hence, the latter’s degree of faith is far more greater. Likewise, whoever performs the worship in the perfected manner, his faith is greater than the one who comes up with it imperfectly. Equally is the action, for if a person does more [righteous] deeds with his limbs than another person, then the former has greater faith than the one who did less. The increase and decrease of faith is already affirmed in the Book [Qur’aan] and in the Sunnah. Allaah, The Blessed and The Most High, Says:
And We have set none but angels as guardians of the Fire.
And He, The Most High, also Says:
And in an authentic narration, the Prophet () said:
“I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion and who would lead astray the cautious sensible man than you.” 51 (Meaning the woman). Eemaan (Faith), therefore, increases and decrease, but what is the reason of its increase and decrease? As for the causes of increase of Eemaan, they include the following:
The First Cause: Knowledge of Allaah, The Most High, by His Names and Attributes. Verily, there is no doubt that the more a person’s knowledge of Allaah’s Names and Attributes increase, there is no doubt that he increases in faith. For this reason you find that the people of knowledge who know of Allaah’s Names and Attributes that which is not known by others, you find them, in this respect, stronger in faith than the
others. The Second Cause: Reflecting upon the legislative and universal verses and signs. Indeed, whenever a person reflects upon the universal signs (i.e. the creation)–the heavens, the earth, man, animals, and so forth–(except that) he increases in faith. Allaah, The Most High, Says:
Verily, the signs signifying this matter are many and prove that man, through his contemplation of, and reflection about this universe, increases in faith. The Third Cause: Abundant acts of obedience. Thus, the more man’s actions of obedience are, the more he increases in faith, regardless whether such actions are of the uttered or practical forms. Hence, ath-Thikr increases faith in quantity and quality, and the same is true with Salaat, Siyaam, andHajj. As regard to the causes of decrease of faith, they are to the contrary of those causing its increase. [They include the following]:
[First]: Ignorance of Allaah’s Names and Attributes necessitates decrease in faith. This is because if a person does not know of Allaah’s Names and Attributes, then he lacks the knowledge that will increase his faith.
[Second]: Turning away from reflecting upon Allaah’s Universal and Legislative sign, something that causes the decrease in faith, or at least its stagnancy and lack of growth.
[Third]: Committing sin. Indeed, the committing of sin has a great influence on the heart and on faith. That is why the Prophet said:
“The one who commits fornication does not do so while he is in perfect state of faith.” 52
[Fourth]: Abandoning Obedience: Indeed, the abandoning of obedience [to Allaah] is a cause for decrease in faith. However, if the act of obedience is obligatory and he [the believer] abandons it without being legally exempted, then it is a kind of decrease upon which he deserves to be blamed and punished. In case, however, an act of obedience was not obligatory, or that it is obligatory but he abandoned it because
he was legally excused, then it is a decrease for which he is not to be blamed. That is why the Prophet () described women as, “deficient in intelligence and religion.”53
He () explained the cause for woman’s deficiency in religion by the fact that she “can neither pray nor fast during her menses,”54 even though she is not held blameworthy for abandoning the prayers and fasting during the state of menses. Rather, she is commanded to do so [i.e. to abandon prayers and fasting]. However, since she missed doing these same acts that man is commanded to perform, she became deficient than man from this perspective.
49 Iqraar: Attestation that necessitates acceptance and submission.
50 That this Qur’aan is the truth as it agrees with their Books regarding the number (19) which is written in the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)
51 Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, vol.1, no.301, and Saheeh Muslim, vol.1, no.143
52 Reported by Al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh, vol. 7, no.484, and by Muslim.
53 Reported by Al-Bukhaaree, vol.1, no.301, Muslim, and others.
54 Ibid.