zainab bala
Allah is sufficient.
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.
Here are some ways prescribed by Islam by means of which the Muslim can deal with his weakness of faith and hardness of heart, after he puts his trust in Allah and resigns himself to the fact that he faces a struggle to achieve his goal:
Shaikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid.
Here are some ways prescribed by Islam by means of which the Muslim can deal with his weakness of faith and hardness of heart, after he puts his trust in Allah and resigns himself to the fact that he faces a struggle to achieve his goal:
- Pondering the meanings of the Qur’an, which Allah has revealed to explain everything and as a light which He guides whomever He wills of His slaves.
- Trying to feel an awareness of the might of Allah, learning His names and attributes, pondering their meanings, trying to understand them and to establish these feelings in the heart so that they may have an effect on one’s actions.
- Seeking Islamic knowledge, which is knowledge that leads one to fear Allah and which increases one’s faith in Him.
- Regular attendance at gatherings of dhikr (remembrance of Allah). This leads to an increase in faith for a number of reasons, such as the mentioning of Allah, the descent of mercy and tranquility, the angels surrounding the people present.
- Doing a lot of righteous deeds and filling one’s time with them.
- Doing a variety of acts of worship. It is a part of the mercy and wisdom of Allah that He has given us a variety of acts of worship to do, some of which are physical, such as salah, some financial, such as zakah, and some combine both physical and financial aspects, such as Hajj.
- Fearing a bad end, because this will motivate the Muslims to worship Allah and will renew the faith in the heart.
- Remembering death often.
- Remembering the different levels of status in the Hereafter.
- Interacting with the signs of Allah that exist in the Universe.
- Confiding in Allah and humbling oneself before Him. The more the slave humbles himself before Allah, the closer he becomes to Him.
- Not hoping for a long life. This is a very important facet of renewing faith.
- Thinking of the insignificant of this world until the heart is detached from it.
- Respecting the limits set by Allah.
- Al-wala wa’l-bara (loyalty and enmity), i.e., loyalty towards the believers and disavowal of the disbelievers. When the heart is attached to the enemies of Allah, Faith grows very weak and the principles of faith recede, but if one devotes one’s loyalty towards Allah, then one will befriend and support the believing slaves of Allah and hate and oppose His enemies, and then faith will be revived.
- Modesty also has an active role to play in renewing faith and cleansing the heart from arrogance because modesty in speech and appearance is indicative of modesty in the heart towards Allah.
- There are deeds of the heart which are important for renewing iman, such as loving Allah, fearing Him, putting one’s hope in Him, thinking of Him in positive terms and putting one’s trust in Him, accepting His decree, giving thanks to Him, being sincere towards Him and having certain faith in Him, Trusting Him, repenting to Him, and other deeds of the heart.
- Self- evaluation also plays an important role in renewing faith.
- Finally, du’a, invoking on Allah, is one of the most efficient means which the slave must employ, as the Prophet said: ‘’Faith wears out in the heart of anyone of you as clothes wears out, so ask Allah to renew faith in your hearts.
O Allah, we ask You by Your Divine Best Names and Supreme Attributes to renew the faith in our hearts. O Allah, make faith appear beautiful to us and adorn our hearts with it, and make kufr, sin and disobedience abhorrent to us. Make us of those who are rightly guided. Glorified be the Rabb of Might above all that is negative they ascribe to Him. Peace be upon the Messengers and praise be to Allah, the Rabb of the Worlds.
Shaikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid.