Question
Does faith (īmān) increase and decrease?
Answer
Yes, faith increases and decreases. This is the unanimous belief of Ahl al-Ḥaqq (the people of truth).
Scholarly Consensus
❀ Ḥāfiẓ al-Baghawī (رحمه الله) said:
اتفقت الصحابة والتابعون، فمن بعدهم من علماء السنة على أن الأعمال من الإيمان وقالوا : إن الإيمان قول، وعمل، وعقيدة، يزيد بالطاعة، وينقص بالمعصية على ما نطق به القرآن فى الزيادة، وجاء فى الحديث
“The Companions, the Tābiʿīn, and the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah after them all agreed that deeds are part of faith. They said: faith consists of speech, action, and belief. It increases with obedience and decreases with sin, as the Qur’an has spoken of its increase, and as mentioned in the ḥadīth.”
(Sharḥ al-Sunnah 1/38)
Evidence from Aḥādīth
❀ Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
يخرج من النار من قال لا إله إلا الله، وفي قلبه وزن شعيرة من خير... وفي قلبه وزن برة من خير... وفي قلبه وزن ذرة من خير
“Whoever says Lā ilāha illā Allāh, and in his heart is goodness (īmān) equal to a grain of barley, he will come out of the Fire. Whoever says Lā ilāha illā Allāh, and in his heart is goodness equal to a grain of wheat, he will come out of the Fire. Whoever says Lā ilāha illā Allāh, and in his heart is goodness equal to a speck, he will come out of the Fire.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 44; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 193)
In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, the wording is “من إيمان” (of faith) instead of “من خير” (of goodness).
Scholarly Commentary
❀ ʿAllāmah al-Ṭībī (رحمه الله, d. 743H) said:
فيه دليل على زيادة الإيمان ونقصانه وهو مذهب أهل السنة
“This ḥadīth is proof that faith increases and decreases, and this is the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah.”
(Sharḥ al-Ṭībī 11/3531)
Conclusion:Faith is composed of belief, speech, and action. It increases through obedience and righteous deeds, and it decreases through sins and disobedience. This is established by Qur’ān, authentic ḥadīth, and the ijmāʿ of the Salaf and Khalaf.
