[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Faith increases, decreases, and vanish

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Jamil Al Matary



Faith increases by obligatory and voluntary obedience and decreases by sins: Minor and major; and faith vanishes by disbelief and polytheism.


Allah (may He be Exalted) says (which means): "The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Quran) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith." [Surat Al Anfal: 2].


Allah says (which means): "And that the believers may increase in Faith (as this Qur'ân is the truth)." [Surat Al Muddathir: 31].


Allah also says (which means): "He it is Who sent down As-Sakînah (calmness and tranquillity) into the hearts of the believers, that they may grow more in Faith along with their (present) Faith." [Surat Al Fath: 4].


It was reported in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Sa`id Al Khudry (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: "Whoever amongst you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand; if he is unable to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is unable to do so, then with his heart; and that is the weakest form of Faith."