Way to increase your Eeman..

The way to increase Iman

Second question from fatwa No. (10561):

Q 2: It is admittedly true that faith increases and decreases. However, I suffer from weakness of faith and harshness of the heart. How can I strengthen my faith and soften my heart, and submit my limbs humbly to Allah amidst the worlds temptations? Dear Shaykh! Kindly elaborate on this matter. May Allah reward you.

A: Faith indeed increases if a person obeys Allah and decreases if they disobey Him.

So, you should be keen to preserve offering the obligatory prayers in congregation, pay Zakah willingly as a means to expiate sins, be merciful to the poor and the needy. You should keep company of pious and righteous people who may prove helpful to you in applying the rulings of Shari`ah and guide you to attain happiness in life and the Hereafter. You should avoid innovators and sinners lest they should beguile you into temptations and weaken your enthusiastic nature of benevolence. Do as many voluntary acts of goodness as you are able to, resort to Allah, and ask him to grant you success.

Once you do this, Allah will increase your faith, reward you for the pious deeds you might have missed, grant you more favors and hold you firm on the straight path of Islam.

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, his family, and companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and 'Ifta
`Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz
`Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan
`Abdul-Razzaq `Afify

http://www.alifta.com/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?View=Page&PageID=870&PageNo=1&BookID=7

Fatwa No. (4323):

Q: First: In light of the proverb, "Wisdom is taught through men's eloquence', I ask you to advise me how to strengthen my Iman (faith).
Second: I want to acquire knowledge of religion but as this kind of knowledge is not well cared for in Algeria; only a few Muslim brothers are keen on acquiring it. May Allah reward them.
Third: I'm working as a builder. The people working with me are not good Muslims. They talk about silly and obscene subjects.
Fourth: I have a friend whose Iman is weak. He usually speaks ill of our pious brothers. I feel uncomfortable because of him. I need your advice in this regard.

A: First: We advise you to recite and listen to the Qur'an regularly attempting to contemplate its meanings as much as you can. If you find difficulty in understanding any Qur'anic Ayah (verse), you may refer to scholars in your country or you may ask the scholars of Sunnah. We also advise you to constantly remember Allah using the authentic formulas of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) like saying ' La Ilaha Illa Allah (there is no deity but Allah), Subhan Allah Wa Al-Hamdu Lillah Wa La Ilaha Illa Allah Wa Allahu Akbar (May Allah be Exalted, praise be to Allah, there is no deity but Allah, Allah is the Greatest). You may also refer to books such as (Al-Kalim Al-Tayyib), by Ibn Taymiyyah, (Al-Wabil Al-Sayyib) by Ibn Al-Qayyim (Riyad Al-Salihin) and (Al-Adhkar Al-Nawawiyyah) by Al-Nawawi. Faith increases and hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Allah (may He be Exalted) says:Surah Al-Ra`d, 13: 28 Verily, in the remembrance of Allýh do hearts find rest.

You should observe the five pillars of Islam while hoping for the mercy of Allah and putting your trust in Him with regard to all affairs. Allah (may He be Exalted) says:(Surah Al-Anfal, 8: 2-4) The believers are only those who, when Allýh is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qurýýn) are recited to them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone). Who perform As-Salýt (Iqýmat-as-Salýt) and spend out of that We have provided them. It is they who are the believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity with their Lord, and Forgiveness, and a generous provision (Paradise).

Second: Islamic books are available in public libraries and book shops everywhere in the Muslim world. They are available upon request. We advise you to refer to scholars of Shari`ah who will guide you to borrow or buy the kind of books that may benefit you. You should ask scholars about matters which you find difficult to understand. We do not mind answering any question you may ask concerning matters of the Islamic Shari`ah. We ask Allah to make us steadfast upon the truth. Allah alone is the One Whose help is sought.

Third and Fourth: You should keep company of righteous people who may provide you with beneficial knowledge that will be helpful to you in performing acts of obedience. You should avoid evil company who may affect your morals, deject your enthusiasm, weaken your resolution in performing the rites of your religion or fulfilling your family role and who may tarnish your reputation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised his Ummah to keep company of righteous people and warned them against evil company. He set the following noble parable in this regard saying: The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one blowing bellows, as for the owner of musk, you would buy from, or he would offer you free of charge, or you would smell its pleasant odour, and so far as one who blows the bellows is concerned, he would either burn your clothes or you shall have to smell its repugnant smell. Narrated by Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him).