20 July 2013

8 signs of weak imaan (faith)

It is incredibly easy to become complacent when it comes to faith; being able to recognise when our faith is sliding is crucial so that we can take steps to increase it. After all, our reason for living is to worship Allah (swt), be that through direct religious acts or through acts which have a positive impact on the world around us. In order to worship we must possess and maintain a strong imaan in Allah (swt).  

I did some research and have compiled a list below of things that we should look out for in our characters to make sure that our imaan is not weakening due to the everyday diversions of life. I hope it helps :)

1. Being heedless of prayers (salah)

Source

It is important that we take steps to properly concentrate during our prayers. Altogether, the 5 prayers take max 50 minutes out of a 24 hour day - Allah (swt) is not asking for much, plus it only benefits us if we concentrate.

"Behold, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is they who are being deluded by Him. When they rise to Prayer, they rise reluctantly, and only to be seen by men. They remember Allah but little." 
[Surat Al Nisa: 142]

2. Feeling envious of others


Envy is self-destructive and a hated characteristic in all the Abrahamic religions. If you find you feel any sort of negative thought towards someone because of what they have, try and turn that into motivation to better yourself and be happy for the person. Also remember the transient reality of this world and the true meaning of happiness - it is certainly not in worldly gains. Be content with what you have by looking at the person with less than you, not more. Be genuinely happy for others when something good happens to them.

"Beware of envy because indeed envy destroys good deeds in the same manner as fire destroys wood." - Prophet Muhammed (s)

"None of you are true believers until you want for you brother that which you want for yourself." - Prophet Muhammed (s)

'Hassed' includes feeling happy when things are not going well for other people. 

3. Not feeling guilty about sinning...


This is a clear sign of someone lacking either knowledge or faith. If it is the first, that is easily rectified through reading. If the second - you need to analyse what you have been doing, saying and thinking recently in your life to be able to pinpoint the reason for this disregard to committing sin. It is often because you have been doing it regularly and so it has become normal to you. This is dangerous territory, so we must constantly analyse our actions and motives to make sure that we are not allowing the shaytan to trick us into wrong-doing.

"The greatest of sins is the one that the sinner considers to be ordinary" - Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a)

4. ...openly sinning & telling people about it

One of the mercies of Allah (swt) is allowing (and encouraging) us to conceal our sins from others and repent in private. We do not have to "confess" our sins to people and actually bragging about them is a hated thing to do in Islam.

"Allah (swt) will cover up on the Day of Resurrection the faults of the one who covers up the faults of the others in this world" 
- Prophet Muhammed (s)

There also are other hadiths that tell of a person being less likely to receive forgiveness for their sins if they openly tell people about them.

5. Being miserly :(

"Stinginess and faith do not exist together in the heart of a believer" 
- Prophet Muhammed (s)

Remember that people aren't just stingy with material things, we can be stingy with a kind word, a helping hand or simply in returning a smile.

6. Not concerning oneself with the suffering of fellow Muslims and innocent people

Self explanatory. I would say that this goes along with actually contributing to the suffering of others.

“The likeness of the believers in their mutual love, mercy and compassion is that of the body; when one part of it is in pain, the rest of the body joins it in restlessness and fever.” 
- Prophet Muhammed (s)

7. Not feeling anything when reading or hearing the Quran, or remembering Allah (swt)

Source
"Is he whose breast Allah has expanded to Islam, so he (walks) in a Light from his Lord (like the disbeliever)? Then woe to the ones whose hearts are hardened against the Remembrance of Allah! Those are in evident error." 
[Surat Al-Zumar: 22]

8. Seeing oneself as better than others

I've noticed that when some Muslims become religious they adopt this painfully snobbish holier-than-thou attitude where they believe that they are right, and anyone that may hold slightly varying opinions to them are deeply misguided and should go to hell for eternity. This is never a sign of strong faith. The Prophet (saw) was better than all of us and he did not act in this manner towards non-Muslims, let alone to people within the ummah. 

I know that these people may be enthusiastic about Islam but they should probably channel their zeal into working on bettering themselves as opposed to calling everyone out on every tiny thing that they do.

"O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having Faith. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.)."

[Surat Al-Hujurat: 11]


There are many other signs but these are the ones I wanted to discuss. Hope you found it beneficial. Insha'Allah everyone is having a fulfilling Ramadan.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

dang it :/ better go polish myself up....

Ange said...

A great post that can help so many of us. ISA <3

StylishMuslimah said...

Anon: Ahh that's what I thought when I was compiling the list..

Ange: Glad you like it! :)

Salam x

Unknown said...

I am Christian, but really really like your this post. Is good for all people, not only for Muslin.

Great post :)
Liuba
x

StylishMuslimah said...

I'm happy you liked it Liuba! :D x

Kak nad said...

nice.. pohon untuk di share ea...

Noor said...

A very good list jazakAllah Khair :)

Jafrina Jasmin said...

Salam. I think it's normal for our imaan to get a little weak now and then. But, it's important that we immediately polish our faith and try to get back to God. Anyway, this is a lovely article sister. Do checkout my blog insya' Allah http://thinkusnotme.blogspot.com/

Shudun. . . said...

As-Salaamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu!!

Jazakillahu Khairan Katheeran Katheera Sis for this beautiful post!! Allahu Akbarr!!

And may Ar-Rahmaan Ar-Raheem Bless you in abundance for your work, especially the articles about Hijab!! Allahu akbarr!! :)

Love You Fillahi!!

Jenna said...

Nice post! But how'd you narrow it down to only eight? :D

StylishMuslimah said...

Shudun: Thank you! I'm glad you like it :)

Jenna: Thanks :) These are the ones that I thought would be the most common, there are many many more of course!

Salam x

Al-salaam alaikum said...

Salaam.

Regarding #4, I remember a hadith that says something similar. The Prophet was quoted as saying:

"If a person discloses their sins in the daytime, after Allah(swt) has cloaked it at night, then he is not one of us"

Reading that was weird at first, but I understand it a lot better now. Alhamdulillah.

Anonymous said...

What about trying to fashion up, to try and be " accepted " by the none muslims!

Its funny how u plukk hadiths which ur happy with,

StylishMuslimah said...

Anonymous, can you please do you following for me:

a) show me where on my blog how I am trying to be "accepted" by anyone

b) bring me a hadith/daleel that suggests that liking fashion is a sign of weak imaan

c) chill out :)

Salam

Unknown said...

All 8 are true,jazakALLAH for sharing it

Hopes said...

Wow. Another lovely post from you as usual! Yet surprising too.
As for being heedless during prayer...funny it's the only time million thoughts, mostly worries race in my mind. :/ It's hard to control that sometimes. -_-

StylishMuslimah said...

Hopes: Aw thank you :) You're so right, I wish it was easier to maintain concentration during prayer!

Salam

ahmed said...

a very nice post MashALLAH

Nadda said...

this is so insightful and i love the references to the prophet (pbuh)sayings and also the Quran.
thank you for such a wonderful post, may Allah swt reward you greatly