Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

The prophet (pbuh) told us that eventually our iman would run out of fuel and we would have to renew it with more good deeds.

In the past days i`ve had very weak iman and doubts about islam. But also today, my iman has been renewed and i`m confident in my religion.

Did i become a permament kafir?

I prayed to allah swt so many times to forgive this period of weak iman in my heart.

Inshallah you can answer my question quickly 

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Fluctuations in eman faith

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Respected brother in Islam, ‘emaan’ or faith is a state of one’s heart which never ever remains stable, but it either increases or decreases depending on how one chooses to live one’s life…..even the noblest of companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws) experienced this state of fluctuating ‘emaan’!

 

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6623     Narrated by Hanzalah Usayyidi,

I met Abu Bakr.  He said: ‘Who are you?’  He (Hanzalah) said: ‘Hanzalah has turned out to be a hypocrite.’  He (AbuBakr) said: ‘Hallowed be Allah, what are you saying?’  Thereupon he said: ‘I say that when we are in the company of Allah's Messenger (saws) we ponder over Hell-Fire and Paradise as if we are seeing them before our very eyes.  But when we are away from Allah's Messenger (saws) we attend to our wives, our children, our business; most of these things (pertaining to the After life) slip out of our minds.’  AbuBakr said: ‘By Allah, I also experience the same.’  So AbuBakr and I went to Allah's Messenger (saws) and I said to him: ‘O Allah's Messenger (saws), Hanzalah has turned to be a hypocrite.’  Thereupon Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘What has happened to you?’  I said: “O Messenger of Allah (saws), when we are in your company, we are reminded of Hell-Fire and Paradise as if we are seeing them with our own eyes, but whenever we go away from you and attend to our wives, children and business, many of these things go out of our minds.’  Thereupon Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if your state of mind remains the same as it is in my presence and you are always busy in remembrance (of Allah), the Angels will shake hands with you in your beds and on your paths. However, Hanzalah, time should be devoted (to the worldly affairs) and time (should be devoted to prayer and meditation).’  He (the holy Prophet (saws)) said this thrice.’

 

Just because one finds one’s ‘eman’ decreasing or increasing does not make one a ‘kaafir’ or disbeliever!!!  The very nature of ‘eman’ is that it will always fluctuate, and increase or decrease depending on how one chooses to live one’s life.

 

When one who believes looks, studies and sincerely ponders and contemplates the innumerable Signs of the Lord Most Majestic, with the ardent belief that it simply does not befit the Majesty of the Lord Most Supreme to create all these for naught, or sport, or play….it would increase their ‘emaan’ and faith.

 

When one constantly, while standing, sitting, and lying down strives to remember their Lord…..it would increase their ‘emaan’ and faith.

 

And the absolute best thing that builds the awe and reverence of their Lord Creator in ones hearts, increases one’s ‘emaan’, and brings one closer to their Lord Most Merciful is the recitation, comprehension, understanding, and the implementation of the Glorious Quran in each and every aspect of their lives.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 102:

102    Say the Holy Spirit (Hadrat Jibrael (a.s.)) has brought the Revelations from thy Lord in Truth, in order to strengthen (the faith of) those who believe and as a guide and glad tidings to the believers.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 8 Surah Anfaal verses 2-4:

2        For the (true) believers are those who when Allah is mentioned feel a tremor in their hearts, and when they hear His Signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened and put (all) their trust in their Lord.

3        Who establish regular prayers and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance:

4        Such in truth are the believers: they have grades of dignity with their Lord and forgiveness and generous sustenance.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verses 124-125:

124    Whenever there cometh down a Surah some of them say: "which of you has had his faith increased by it?  Yea those who believe, their faith is increased and they do rejoice.

125    But those in whose hearts is a disease it will add doubt to their doubt, and they will die in a state of unbelief.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verses 190-195:

190    Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.

191    Men who celebrate the praises of Allah standing sitting and lying down on their sides and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth (with the thought): "O Our Lord! Not for naught hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.

192    "O Our Lord! Any whom Thou dost admit to the fire truly Thou coverest with shame, and never will wrong-doers find any helpers!.

193    "O Our Lord! We have heard the call of one calling (us) to faith `Believe ye in the Lord' and we have believed.  O Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, blot out from us our iniquities, and take to Thyself our souls in the company of the righteous.

194    "O Our Lord! Grant us what Thou didst promise unto us through Thine Messengers, and save us from shame on the Day of Judgment: for Thou never breakest Thy promise."

195    And their Lord hath accepted of them and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan