The Definition of Faith According to the People of the Sunnah and the Community
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Q16: The questioner asks: What is the definition of faith according to the people of the Sunnah and the community? Does it increase and decrease? And how does faith increase if it weakens in some people?
A16: Faith according to the people of the Sunnah and the community is: speech with the tongue, belief in the heart, and action with the limbs. It increases and decreases; it increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience. Allah the Exalted said:[At-Tawbah 9:124]
This indicates that acting upon the Qur'an and rejoicing in the Qur'an increases faith. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Anfal 8:2], and He the Exalted said: [Maryam 19:76]. So righteous deeds increase faith, and evil deeds decrease faith, until perhaps only the weight of a mustard seed remains of it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 50a, meaning the one who does not deny what is wrong in his heart; for he is not a believer. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 49a. This indicates that faith can be weak and can be strong.
In another hadith, it is stated that Allah the Exalted says on the Day of Resurrection:. And He the Exalted said regarding the hypocrites: [Ali 'Imran 3:167], so faith becomes weak, until it is close to disbelief.
A16: Faith according to the people of the Sunnah and the community is: speech with the tongue, belief in the heart, and action with the limbs. It increases and decreases; it increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience. Allah the Exalted said:
And whenever a surah is revealed, there are among the hypocrites those who say, "Which of you has this increased faith?" As for those who believed, it has increased them in faith, while they are rejoicing.
وَإِذَا مَا أُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَذِهِ إِيمَانًا فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَThis indicates that acting upon the Qur'an and rejoicing in the Qur'an increases faith. Allah the Exalted said:
The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely -
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَAnd Allah increases those who were guided, in guidance,
وَيَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا هُدًىand beyond that there is no faith even to the extent of a mustard seed
وليس وراء ذلك من الإيمان حبة خردلHe who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.
من رأى منكم منكرا فليغيره بيده، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه، فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه، و ذلك أضعف الإيمانIn another hadith, it is stated that Allah the Exalted says on the Day of Resurrection:
Take out of the Fire whoever has in his heart the least weight of a mustard seed of faith
أخرجوا من النار من كان في قلبه أدنى مثقال حبة من خردل من إيمانThey were nearer to disbelief that day than to faith
هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلْإِيمَانِ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.