Because
Allah is our Creator and He knows the nature of the human being He has
provided us with guidance that both makes sense to humankind and is easy
for us to carry out. Inherently we find our level of faith (Imaan) and
devotion rising and falling often without a pattern or a discernible
reason. On the other hand engaging in sinful behaviour will lower our
Imaan sometimes quite rapidly. In response to our needs, Allah has
given us several means to increasing our faith, and in line with our
different abilities they are varied. One person might have the ability
to increase his voluntary prayers, another might find it easy to fast
and yet another might have the means to give more in charity.
Eight Ways to Increase a Weakening Faith
1. Learning about Allah through His Names and Attributes
Believers
are encouraged to remember Allah and be grateful to Him at all times
and one easy, yet beneficial way of doing this, is to contemplate and
understand His Beautiful Names. Through these Names, we are able to
know our Creator and learn how to praise and worship Him, and to call on
Him by the Names that are indicative of our needs. “Say, 'Call upon
Allah, or call upon Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful). Whichever [name] you
call – to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names'...” (Quran 17:110)
2. Pondering His signs in the Universe
“And on the earth are signs for those who have Faith with certainty. And also in your ownselves. Will you not then see?”(Quran
51:20-21) The entire universe bears witness to Allah’s Oneness. When
contemplating the universe, from the finest grain of sand to the mighty
and majestic mountains, a person is able to see the Magnificence of
Allah. This vast universe is running according to a precise system,
everything in its correct place, created in the right proportions.
3. Making du'a at every opportunity
Du'a
is uplifting, empowering, liberating and transforming and it is one of
the most powerful and effective acts of worship a human being can engage
in. Du'a has been called the weapon of the believer. It affirms a
person’s belief in Allah and by shunning all forms of idolatry or
polytheism it affirms and increases faith. “And when My slaves ask
you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to
them by My Knowledge). I respond to the supplications of the supplicant
when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them
obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” (Quran 2:186)
4. Remembering Allah
Quran is filled with verses advising us to remember Allah as often as possible.
"…Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest."(Quran 13:28)
"O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah..."(Quran 63:10)
" O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. And exalt Him morning and afternoon."(Quran 33:41-42)
Remembering Allah through acts of remembrance brings peace and tranquillity. Some beneficial phrases include:
SubhanAllah- How Perfect is Allah!
Al-hamdu-lillah- All praise and thanks are for Allah.
Allahu Akbar- Allah is the Greatest.
La ilaha il-lal-lah- There is no worthy of worship except Allah.
5. Reciting, Reading or Listening to the Quran
Quran
is a healing for the body and the soul. Whenever life becomes too
difficult or we are beset by injury, illness or unhappiness, Quran will
light our way and lighten our burdens. It is a source of solace and
ease. In the world today many people have untold wealth and luxury but
little contentment. Quran fills our hearts, minds and souls and
increases our faith. Prophet Muhammad sent teachers of Quran to the
outlying tribes and far away cities and said the best of his followers
were those who learnt the Quran and then taught it to others.[1]
6. Gaining correct knowledge of Islam
Gaining
knowledge allows the believer to look at the world around him and
contemplate the wonders of creation. Correct and authentic knowledge
strengthens faith and implementing that knowledge allows one to worship
with submission and certainty. “And that those who have been given
knowledge may know that it (this Quran) is the truth from your Lord, and
that they may believe therein, and their hearts may submit to it with
humility. And verily, God is the Guide of those who believe, to the
Straight Path.” (Quran 22:54)
7. Increasing voluntary acts such as doing good deeds, and giving sadaqah
One of the best ways of increasing faith is by performing good deeds. “Whoever
works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a
true believer verily, to him We will give a good life and We shall pay
them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to
do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)” (Quran 16:97)
The
more we increase in good deeds, the more we increase our Imaan and
thus, expect Allah's rewards both in this world and the Hereafter.
8. Seeking out good companions
Friendship
and companionship are important in Islam. A good friend is one who
accommodates your faults but corrects them where possible. It is easy to
be influenced by the people around us and take on their mannerisms and
qualities without even being aware of it. If these are good qualities
then it is a good thing but what if the people you consider are helping
to decrease your Imaan? This could be a disaster, and God warns about
it in the Quran. “And (remember) the Day when the wrong-doer will
bite on his hand [in regret], he will say: ‘Oh! Would that I had taken a
path with the Messenger. Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken
so-and-so as a friend! He indeed led me astray from the Reminder (the
Quran) after it had come to me...’” (Quran 25:27
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