❖ Question:
Does Īmān (faith) increase and decrease? Kindly explain with authentic evidences.
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
It is the unanimous belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamāʿah that Īmān increases and decreases.
In contrast, some schools—such as Deobandis and Barelvis—believe that Īmān neither increases nor decreases.
Allah says:
﴿فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا﴾
“As for those who believe, it increases them in faith.”
→ (Sūrah al-Tawbah: 124)
Other verses with similar meanings also exist.
→ (See: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Īmān, Bāb 1, Before Ḥadīth 8)
Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Īmān has over sixty branches. And modesty is one of the branches of Īmān.”
→ (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 9, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 35/57, Dār al-Salām: 152)
Sayyidunā Abū Umāmah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever loves for Allah’s sake, hates for Allah’s sake, gives for Allah’s sake, and withholds for Allah’s sake, has perfected his faith.”
→ (Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 4681 – Ḥasan)
Imām Ibn Abī Shaybah (رحمه الله) said:
“Al-Īmān yazīdu wa yanquṣ – Īmān increases and decreases.”
→ (Kitāb al-Īmān, Ibn Abī Shaybah, p. 14 – Authentic)
The belief that faith increases and decreases is affirmed by the major Imāms of Ahl al-Sunnah, including:
According to "ʿAqāʾid al-Nasafiyyah" (p. 92), a key text in Deobandi and Barelvi circles:
“Al-Īmān lā yazīdu wa lā yanquṣ.”
“Faith neither increases nor decreases.”
This belief is echoed in “Ḥaqānī ʿAqāʾid al-Islām” (p. 123) by ʿAbdul Ḥaqq Ḥaqānī, a work endorsed by Maulānā Qāsim Nānotwī.
According to this view, Īmān is only the affirmation of the heart, not inclusive of actions or varying degrees.
Imām al-Bukhārī (رحمه الله) cited:
“Whoever says that Īmān does not increase or decrease is an innovator (mubtadiʿ), and you must avoid him.”
→ (Juzʾ Rafʿ al-Yadayn, ḥadīth 108, manuscript, p. 129 – Ḥasan)
Imām al-Awzāʿī (d. 157 AH) made it clear that denying the fluctuation of Īmān is an innovation (bidʿah).
◈ The Qur’an, authentic Hadiths, and unanimous views of the Salaf confirm that Īmān increases with obedience and decreases with sin.
◈ Denying the increase and decrease of faith is contrary to the Ahl al-Sunnah creed.
◈ According to Imām al-Awzāʿī, such denial is a bidʿah, and its adherents should be warned against.
(Reference: al-Ḥadīth, Issue 2, Shahādat, June 2004)
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Does Īmān (faith) increase and decrease? Kindly explain with authentic evidences.
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
It is the unanimous belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamāʿah that Īmān increases and decreases.
In contrast, some schools—such as Deobandis and Barelvis—believe that Īmān neither increases nor decreases.
✿ Qur’anic Evidence: Īmān Increases
Allah says:﴿فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا﴾
“As for those who believe, it increases them in faith.”
→ (Sūrah al-Tawbah: 124)
Other verses with similar meanings also exist.→ (See: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Īmān, Bāb 1, Before Ḥadīth 8)
✿ Prophetic Hadith: Faith Has Levels and Can Be Complete
Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:“Īmān has over sixty branches. And modesty is one of the branches of Īmān.”
→ (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 9, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 35/57, Dār al-Salām: 152)
Sayyidunā Abū Umāmah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:“Whoever loves for Allah’s sake, hates for Allah’s sake, gives for Allah’s sake, and withholds for Allah’s sake, has perfected his faith.”
→ (Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 4681 – Ḥasan)
Imām Ibn Abī Shaybah (رحمه الله) said:“Al-Īmān yazīdu wa yanquṣ – Īmān increases and decreases.”
→ (Kitāb al-Īmān, Ibn Abī Shaybah, p. 14 – Authentic)
✿ Consensus of the Salaf: Faith Increases and Decreases
The belief that faith increases and decreases is affirmed by the major Imāms of Ahl al-Sunnah, including:
- Imām Mālik
- Imām al-Shāfiʿī
- Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal
- Imām Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Ājurrī → (al-Sharīʿah, p. 116–118)
- Imām al-Lālakāʾī → (Sharḥ Uṣūl Iʿtiqād Ahl al-Sunnah, 5/890–964)
✿ Contrasting Belief: Deobandi and Barelvi Position
According to "ʿAqāʾid al-Nasafiyyah" (p. 92), a key text in Deobandi and Barelvi circles:
“Al-Īmān lā yazīdu wa lā yanquṣ.”
“Faith neither increases nor decreases.”
This belief is echoed in “Ḥaqānī ʿAqāʾid al-Islām” (p. 123) by ʿAbdul Ḥaqq Ḥaqānī, a work endorsed by Maulānā Qāsim Nānotwī.
According to this view, Īmān is only the affirmation of the heart, not inclusive of actions or varying degrees.
✿ Imām al-Awzāʿī’s Ruling: Denial Is a Bidʿah
Imām al-Bukhārī (رحمه الله) cited:“Whoever says that Īmān does not increase or decrease is an innovator (mubtadiʿ), and you must avoid him.”
→ (Juzʾ Rafʿ al-Yadayn, ḥadīth 108, manuscript, p. 129 – Ḥasan)
Imām al-Awzāʿī (d. 157 AH) made it clear that denying the fluctuation of Īmān is an innovation (bidʿah).
Conclusion:
◈ The Qur’an, authentic Hadiths, and unanimous views of the Salaf confirm that Īmān increases with obedience and decreases with sin.
◈ Denying the increase and decrease of faith is contrary to the Ahl al-Sunnah creed.
◈ According to Imām al-Awzāʿī, such denial is a bidʿah, and its adherents should be warned against.
(Reference: al-Ḥadīth, Issue 2, Shahādat, June 2004)وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
