Iman Increases and Decreases
يسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا يَزْنِي الزَّانِي حِينَ يَزْنِي وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ، وَلَا يَسْرِقُ السَّارِقُ حِينَ يَسْرِقُ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ، وَلَا يَشْرَبُ الْخَمْرَ حِينَ يَشْرَبُهَا وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ»
The one committing adultery/fornication isn’t a believer while he’s committing these acts. Also, while a thief is stealing something then he isn’t a believer and while a person is drinking intoxicants then he isn’t a believer as well.[1]
Benefits for this subject:
- This hadith is proof that Iman(faith) increases and decreases and leaves the servant of Allah and returns back to him.[2]
- Ahlus Sunnah are all in agreement that Iman (faith ) is speech on the tongue, actions on the body parts and belief in the heart. It increases when one is obedient and decreases when one isn’t.
- It evident from the wording in the hadith, “While he’s committing…” to show that the ruling applies to one who does these acts by his own free will, for his own satisfaction; and isn’t being forced to, or is doing them out of forgetfulness. [3]
- This hadith is proof that fornication, adultery, theft, and drinking intoxicants are among the canonical sins. Reason being, the Prophet (ﷺ) denied faith to person committing them.
- The (( لا ) in this hadith has been interpreted to mean negation while others have said it’s a prohibition. The reading with it as prohibition is very weak position. [4]
- Imam An-Nawawi said this hadith has been placed among those that the scholars differ over its meaning. However, those who have studied it in detail came to the conclusion that it means, while a person is doing one of these acts of disobedience then he isn’t a complete believer, rather his faith is deficient. This is similar to the saying, “There is no knowledge except which benefits.” i.e he has knowledge, but what doesn’t practice and act by is like its nonexistent.[5]
- One reason this hadith has caused of doubt and controversy among people; as it outwardly contradicts another hadith with the wording.
عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «قَالَ لِي جِبْرِيلُ مَنْ مَاتَ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا دَخَلَ الجَنَّةَ، أَوْ لَمْ يَدْخُلِ النَّارَ»، قَالَ: وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ؟ قَالَ ” وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ
Abu Dharr narrating it from the Apostle (ﷺ) that he observed: Jibril came to me and gave me the tidings: Verily he who died amongst your Ummah without associating anything with Allah would enter Paradise. I (the narrator) said: Even if he committed adultery and theft. He (the Holy Prophet) said: (Yes), even if he committed adultery and theft.[6]
Since this hadith apparently contradicts the previous hadith, “The one committing adultery/fornication isn’t a believer while he’s committing these acts…” There have been many interpretations. Some have said it means that Iman is lifted from him while he’s engaging in these sins and placed above his head like shadow and it returns back to him after he’s done. This is the strongest of the opinions. The 2nd view is the person committing these sins has deficiency in his faith and is therefore, a sinning believer with incomplete Iman.[7] Although, to still be considered a sinning believer he must believe in his heart that these acts are Haraam, however if he believes they permissible then he is a disbeliever. [8]
- Although, fornication, adultery, and drinking alcohol are mentioned in this hadith it serves as a warning against committing all sins. Zina is mentioned as it applies to all the sins one does to satisfy his desires. Theft is mentioned as it refers to all the acts of disobedience one commits in pursuit of this worldly life. Drinking alcohol implies all the wickedness one does that turns a person away from Allah’s remembrance and thus becomes heedless about His rights.[9]
- Complete faith means one truly loves Allah what Allah loves and hates everything He hates. Therefore, person doing one of these actions, or leaving an obligation, has placed his desires over the love of Allah.[10]
- The three things mentioned in this hadith carry a punishment in this life, and for adultery then its capital punishment.
- This hadith teaches us that Iman remains in tact when sins are abandoned. When sins are done then Iman decreases or leaves. Sinning results in Iman weaking and its light going dim. This is something that is evitable between sins and Iman.
prepared by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah Dwight Battle
Doha, Qatar 1442H
[1] Al-Bukhari 6782/Muslim 114
[2] Ibn Hubayrah -Ifsah 3/209
[3] مصابيح الجامع vol 5/ pg 380
[4] مطالع الانوار vol 3/pg 474
[5] Explanation of Sahih Muslim, vol2/pg 41 imam An-Nawawi
[6] Sahih Muslim 94
[7] مرقاة المفاتيح vol 1/pg 124 shaykh Al-Mubarakpuri
[8] Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari , Ibn Battal vol 8, pg 389
[9] طرح التثريب في شرح التقريب vol 7/pg 261 Al-Iraqi
[10] اختيار الأولى في شرح حديث اختصام الملأ الأعلى vol 1/ pg 127