Brighten up our Iman

We can brighten up our Iman >>>InsyaAllah!!

1. Recognise and Repent

As humans we all commit sins no matter how hard we try to avoid them because were created to be imperfect. Engaging in evil deeds decreases our Iman.

Actions like lying, cheating and stealing, to name only a few, take a toll on the human heart and soul which makes us more susceptible to being lead astray from the Path of Allah.

It is important for us to reflect upon our deeds and weed out the ones that are contrary to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (S). Allah has gifted us with an innate sense of justice and the ability to reason and make sound judgements.

Our fitrah (natural disposition) necessitates that we all know when we are committing a sin. And if we don't know, we certainly have a bevy of resources to find out from!

• Conditions for the acceptance of repentance

The word tauba which is rendered as repentance in English, is not a simple term as most people believe. It is very rich in meaning and implication, and is not simply a word of mouth after which the sinner continues in his sins.

Says Allah, Glorified be He:

"Seek forgiveness of your Lord and then turn to Him in repentance." (Hud: 3).

Do you notice how turning to the Lord in repentance has been added to the search for His forgiveness?

It is quite in keeping with its importance, therefore, that repentance should have, as the scholars have stated, conditions attached to it for its acceptance.

They are as follows:

• First: Giving up of the sin itself.
• Second: Remorse over what has been committed.
• Third: A resolve not to repeat it,
...and, Fourth: Compensating those who have been wronged or obtaining their forgiveness.


2. Perform Salah Regularly

Completing the five daily prayers, on time and according to the Sunnah, is an excellent way to increase our Iman.

Not only are we performing an obligatory deed when praying, but by doing so we have a standing audience with the Creator of this world where we can ask for help and mercy. The effect of the salah on the human soul is cooling as Muhammad (S) once said that it cooled his eyes.

The salah connects us with our Creator and, along with obedience to Allah, helps us to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil.

The Prophet Muhammad (S) said:

"Faith wears out in the heart of any one of you just as clothes wear out, so ask Allah to renew the faith in your hearts” (Mustadrak al-Haakim).

Our Iman is not always as sound and strong as we want it to be as it often fluctuates according to life circumstances.

There are several causes for weakening Iman such as deficiencies in our prayers or the insinuating whispers from the Shaytan.

Regardless of the cause, it is crucial for all of us to keep a check on our Iman and if we feel it is faltering in any way then we should take measures to restore it. It is our responsibility to know which things decrease our Iman and how to avoid them and those that increase our Iman and how to embrace them.



What are signs of a weak imaan?

Signs of weak imaan:

• Committing sins and not feeling any guilt.

• Having a hard heart and no desire to read the Quran.

• Feeling too lazy to do good deeds, e.g. being late for salat

• Neglecting the Sunnah.

• Having mood swings, for instance being upset about petty things and bothered and irritated most of the time.

• Not feeling anything when hearing verses from the Quran, for example when Allah warns us of punishments and His promise of glad tidings.

• Finding difficulty in remembering Allah and making dhikr.

• Not feeling bad when things are done against the Shariah.

• Desiring status and wealth.

• Being mean and miserly, i.e. not wanting to part with wealth.

• Ordering others to do good deeds when not practising them ourselves.

• Feeling pleased when things are not progressing for others.

• Being concerned with whether something is haram or halal only; and not avoiding makroo (not recommended) things.

• Making fun of people who do simple good deeds, like cleaning the mosque.

• Not feeling concerned about the situation of Muslims.

• Not feeling the responsibility to do something to promote Islam.

• Being unable to deal with calamities, for instance crying and yelling in funerals.

• Liking to argue just for the sake of arguing without any proof.

• Becoming engrossed and very involved with dunya, worldly things, i.e. feeling bad only when losing something in terms of material wealth.

• Becoming engrossed and obsessive about ourselves.

End with "Alhamdulillah rabbil alameen"