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Levels
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Level 1 (23)
- The Testimony of Faith
- An Introduction to Pillars of Islam and Articles of Faith (part 1 of 2)
- An Introduction to Pillars of Islam and Articles of Faith (part 2 of 2)
- Some Common Questions by Recent Converts
- Importance of Seeking Knowledge
- Paradise (part 1 of 2)
- Paradise (part 2 of 2)
- The Night Journey
- How to Pray for a Recent Convert(part 1 of 2)
- How to Pray for a Recent Convert (part 2 of 2)
- Breaking the News to Family (part 1 of 2)
- Breaking the News to family (part 2 of 2)
- Getting Adjusted To the Muslim Community
- Keeping Good Company
- Belief in Allah (part 1 of 2): The Categories of Tawheed
- Belief in Allah (part 2 of 2): Shirk, the Opposite of Tawheed
- Belief in Prophets
- Belief in Scriptures
- Belief in Angels
- Belief in the Day of Judgment
- Belief in Divine Decree (part 1 of 2)
- Belief in Divine Decree (part 2 of 2)
- Study Methodology for a New Muslim
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Level 2 (25)
- Let’s Meet Muhammad (part 1 of 2)
- Let’s Meet Muhammad (part 2 of 2)
- Preservation of the Holy Quran
- The Importance of Prayer (Salah)
- Etiquette of the Ritual Bath (Ghusl)
- Ablution (Wudoo)
- Prayer for Beginners (part 1 of 2): Beforeyou Pray
- Prayer for Beginners (part 2 of 2): A Description ofthe Prayer
- Spiritual Benefits of Prayer
- Medical Benefits of Prayer
- Manners of Relieving Oneself
- Menstruation
- Introduction to Dietary Laws in Islam
- An Introduction To Muslim Family (part 1 of 2)
- An Introduction To Muslim Family (part 2 of 2)
- Love of God and How to achieve it (part 1 of 2)
- Love of God and How to achieve it (part 2 of 2)
- An Introduction to Fasting
- How to Fast
- Eid and End of Ramadan
- Where Is Allah?
- Abraham (part 1 of 2)
- Abraham (part 2 of 2)
- Simple Explanation of Surah Al-Fatiha
- Simple Explanation of Three Short Surahs of Quran
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Level 3 (30)
- Beginners Guide to the Quran (part 1 of 3)
- Beginners Guide to the Quran (part 2of 3)
- Beginners Guide to the Quran (part 3 of 3)
- Beginners Guide to Hadith & Sunnah
- The Importance of Prayer
- Pre-requisites of Prayer
- Hygiene in Islam
- Bathing (Ghusl)
- Ablution (Wudoo)
- Performing Two Units of Prayer
- Performing Three Units of Prayer
- Performing Four Units of Prayer
- General Points About Prayer
- A Day in the life of a Muslim (part 1 of 2): From Waking uptill late Morning
- A day in the life of a Muslim (part 2 of 2): From Noon to Bed
- Fate of Non-Muslims
- Repentance (part 1 of 3): Door to Salvation
- Repentance (part 2 of 3): Conditions of Repentance
- Repentance (part 3 of 3): Prayers of Repentance
- Can We See Allah?
- Preservation of Sunnah (part 1 of 4)
- Preservation of Sunnah (part 2 of 4)
- Preservation of Sunnah (part 3 of 4)
- Preservation of Sunnah (part 4 of 4)
- Eating – The Islamic Way (part 1 of 2)
- Eating – The Islamic Way (part 2 of 2)
- Simple Explanation of Quran’s Greatest Verse: Aaya tul-Kursi
- Wiping Over Socks, Making Up Prayers, and Prayer of a Traveler
- Omens
- Charms and Amulets
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Level 4 (30)
- Adhan (part 1 of 2): The Call to Prayer
- Adhan (part 2 of 2): The Call to Prayer
- Shirk & its Types (part 1 of 3)
- Shirk & its Types (part 2 of 3)
- Shirk & its Types (part 3 of 3)
- Recommended Acts of Ritual Bath (Ghusl)
- Reflections on Surah al-Fatiha (part 1 of 3)
- Reflections on Surah al-Fatiha (part 2 of 3)
- Reflections on Surah al-Fatiha (part 3 of 3)
- Dry Ablution (Tayammum)
- Introduction to Sects (part 1 of 2)
- Introduction to Sects (part 2 of 2)
- Protection from Evil (part 1 of 2)
- Protection from Evil (part 2 of 2)
- Perfecting Our Character
- Introduction to the Purification of the Soul (part 1 of 2)
- Introduction to the Purification of the Soul (part 2 of 2)
- The Islamic Dress Code (part 1 of 3)
- The Islamic Dress Code (part 2 of 3): Awrah & Mahrams
- The Islamic Dress Code (part 3 of 3): Prayer & Wisdom
- Satan: Humankind’s Worst Enemy (part 1 of 2)
- Satan: Humankind’s Worst Enemy (part 2 of 2)
- Supplication (part 1 of 2)
- Supplication (part 2 of 2)
- The Mercy of Allah (part 1 of 2)
- The Mercy of Allah (part 2 of 2)
- Role Models in Islam (part 1 of 2): TheFirst Generation of Muslims
- Role Models in Islam (part 2 of 2)
- Trials and Tribulations after Conversion (part 1 of 2): Allah’smercy is embedded in the difficulties of life
- Trials and Tribulations after Conversion (part 2 of 2)
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Level 5 (29)
- Manners of Attending a Mosque (part 1 of 2)
- Manners of Attending a Mosque (part 2 of 2)
- Good Habits for New Muslims to Develop
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Noah
- Friday Prayer (part 1 of 2)
- Friday Prayer (part 2 of 2)
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Ibrahim
- Marriage Advice (part 1 of 2)
- Marriage Advice (part 2 of 2): Practical Steps
- Rights & Responsibilities of Husbands & Wives
- The Nuts & Bolts of an Islamic Marriage
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Lot
- How to Deal with Sadness and Worry (part 1 of 2): Patience, Gratitude and Trust
- How to Deal with Sadness and Worry (part 2 of 2): Establish a relationship with Allah
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Yusuf
- Istikharah Prayer
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Ayub
- Easy Guide to Zakah (part 1 of 2)
- Easy Guide to Zakah (part 2 of 2)
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Musa
- Should I Change My Name?
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Isa
- Dealing with Doubts
- A Brief Biography of Prophet Muhammad (part1 of 2): The Meccan Period
- A Brief Biography of Prophet Muhammad (part 2 of 2): TheMadinan Period
- Drugs, Alcohol, & Gambling (part 1 of 2)
- Drugs, Alcohol, & Gambling (part 2 of 2)
- World of Jinn (part 1 of 2)
- World of Jinn (part 2 of 2)
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Level 6 (27)
- Voluntary Prayers
- Treatment of Animals
- Lying, Backbiting and Slander (part 1 of 2)
- Lying, Backbiting and Slander (part 2 of 2)
- Increasing Faith (part 1 of 2): Why faith is not always at asteady level
- Increasing Faith (part 2 of 2): Increase your faith (Imaan)and earn rewards
- Voluntary Fasts
- Signs of the Day of Judgment (part 1 of 2): The Minor Signs
- Signs of the Day of Judgment (part 2 of 2): The Major Signs
- Adultery, Fornication, & Pornography (part 1 of 2)
- Adultery, Fornication, & Pornography (part 2 of 2)
- Islamic Guidelines for Gender Interactions(part 1 of 2)
- Islamic Guidelines for Gender Interactions (part 2 of 2)
- Introduction to Shariah (part 1 of 2)
- Introduction to Shariah (part 2 of 2)
- Acts that Correspond to Human Nature (Sunan ul-Fitrah)
- Eid ul-Adha from A to Z (part 1 of 3)
- Eid ul-Adha from A to Z (part 2 of 3)
- Eid ul-Adha from A to Z (part 3 of 3)
- Innovation in Islam (part 1 of 2): Two Types of Bidah
- Innovation in Islam (part 2 of 2): Is this a bidah?
- Ramadan: The Last Ten Nights
- Umrah (part 1 of 2)
- Umrah (part 2 of 2)
- Concept of Sins in Islam (part 1 of 3)
- Concept of Sins in Islam (part 2 of 3)
- Concept of Sins in Islam (part 3 of 3)
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Level 7 (30)
- Parenting in Islam (part 1 of 2)
- Parenting in Islam (part 2 of 2)
- Major Sins in Islam (part 1 of 2): What is aMajor Sin?
- Major Sins in Islam (part 2 of 2): Major Sins and How toRepent from Them
- The Pilgrimage (Hajj) (part 1 of 3)
- The Pilgrimage (Hajj) (part 2 of 3)
- The Pilgrimage (Hajj) (part 3 of 3)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr (part 1 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr (part 2 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Umar ibn Al-Khattab (part 1 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Umar ibn Al-Khattab (part 2 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Uthman ibn Affan (Part 1 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Uthman ibn Affan (part 2 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Ali ibn AbiTalib (part 1 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Ali ibn Abi Talib (part 2 of 2)
- Events on the Day of Judgment (part 1 of 3): The Day Begins
- Events on the Day of Judgment (part 2 of 3):Before the Judgment
- Events on the Day of Judgment (part 3 of 3): Judgment Begins
- Interest in Islam (part 1 of 2)
- Interest in Islam (part 2 of 2)
- An Explanation of Surah Al-Asr
- The Questioning in the Grave (part 1 of 2): Death is not theEnd
- The Questioning in the Grave (part 2 of 2): Your Place untilthe Day of Judgment
- The Fruits of Taqwa (part 1 of 2)
- The Fruits of Taqwa (part 2 of 2)
- An Explanation of Surah Al-Ikhlas
- The Rights of Neighbours in Islam (part 1 of 2): The KindTreatment of Neighbours
- The Rights of Neighbours in Islam (part 2 of 2): Neighbours -Good and Bad
- Those Shaded when there is no Shade (part 1 of 2): Allah’sMercy made Manifest
- Those Shaded when there is no Shade (part 2 of 2): Strivingto be Shaded
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Level 8 (29)
- Sincerity in Worship: What is Ikhlas? (part 1 of 2)
- Sincerity in Worship: Ikhlas vs. Riyaa(part 2 of 2)
- Lawful Earning
- The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Salman Al-Farsi
- The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Bilal ibn Rabah
- The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Ammar ibn Yassir
- The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Zayd ibn Thabit
- The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Abu Hurayrah
- Islamic Terms (part 1 of 2)
- Islamic Terms (part 2 of 2)
- Khushoo in Prayer
- Inviting Non-Muslims to the Right Path (part 1 of 3): Deliverthe Message in the Best Way Possible
- Inviting Non-Muslims to the Right Path (part 2 of 3): Tawheed First
- Inviting Non-Muslims to the Right Path (part 3 of 3): Inviting Family, Friends and Colleagues
- Trust & Reliance in Allah
- Who Is a Good Friend? (part 1 of 2)
- Who Is a Good Friend? (Part 2 of 2)
- Pride and Arrogance
- The Mothers of the Believers (part 1 of 2): Who are theMothers of the Believers?
- The Mothers of the Believers (part 2 of 2): Altruism & Alliances
- Getting Involved in the Muslim Community
- Ummah: The Muslim Nation
- Simplified Rules of Islamic Divorce (part 1 of 2)
- Simplified Rules of Islamic Divorce (part 2 of 2)
- The Role of a Muslim Scholar (part 1 of 2)
- The Role of a Muslim Scholar (part 2 of 2)
- The Benefits of Being a Muslim
- Sacred Cities; Mecca, Medina, & Jerusalem (part 1 of 2)
- Sacred Cities; Mecca, Medina, & Jerusalem (part 2 of 2)
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Level 9 (30)
- Prayers – Advanced (part 1 of 2)
- Prayers - Advanced (part 2 of 2)
- The Purpose of Life
- Why & How to Learn the Quran (part 1 of 2)
- Why & How to Learn the Quran (part 2 of 2)
- Miracles of the Prophets
- Meat of the People of the Book (part 1 of 2)
- Meat of the People of the Book (part 2 of 2)
- Dhikr (Remembering Allah): Meaning & Blessings (part1 of 2)
- Dhikr (Remembering Allah): Meaning & Blessings (part 2 of2)
- Intercession on Judgment Day (part 1 of 2)
- Intercession on Judgment Day (part 2 of 2)
- Virtues of the Quran (part 1 of 2)
- Virtues of the Quran (part 2 of 2)
- Good Morals (part 1 of 2)
- Good Morals (part 2 of 2)
- The Islamic Golden Age (part 1 of 2)
- The Islamic Golden Age (part 2 of 2)
- Social Media in Islam
- Leisure, Fun and Entertainment
- Astrology and Fortune-telling
- Miracles of Prophet Muhammad (part 1 of 2)
- Miracles of Prophet Muhammad (part 2 of 2)
- Bad Morals to Stay Away From (part 1 of 2)
- Bad Morals to Stay Away From (part 2 of 2)
- The Spiritual Benefits of Fasting and Charity
- Dream Interpretation
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Meccan Period (part 1 of 3)
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Meccan Period (part 2of 3)
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Meccan Period (part3 of 3)
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Level 10 (26)
- What is Jihad?
- Prophet Adam: Beginning of Humankind (part 1 of 2)
- Prophet Adam: Beginning of Humankind (part 2 of 2)
- An Explanation of Surah Az-Zalzalah
- Morals of Prophet Muhammad (part 1 of 2)
- Morals of Prophet Muhammad (part 2 of 2)
- Preserving the Environment
- Crime and Punishment in Islam (part 1 of 2)
- Crime and Punishment in Islam (part 2 of 2)
- Prostration of Forgetfulness
- Introduction to Hadith Terminology
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Madinan Period (part1 of 3)
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Madinan Period (part2 of 3)
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Madinan Period (part 3 of 3)
- Story of Creation (part 1 of 2)
- Story of Creation (part 2 of 2)
- Funeral Rites (part 1 of 2)
- Funeral Rites (part 2 of 2)
- Islamic Wills and Inheritance (part 1 of 2)
- Islamic Wills and Inheritance (part 2 of 2)
- Prophetic Narrations: Sincerity
- Understanding Media Stereotyping
- Health and Fitness (part 1 of 2)
- Health and Fitness (part 2 of 2)
- Intimate Issues
- Islam Began as Something Strange
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Increasing Faith (part 1 of 2): Why faith is not always at asteady level
Description: An introduction to increasing one’s level of faith (Imaan). Here we begin by examining the meaning of the word faith and discover that faith increases and decreases primarily due to the nature of the human being and the different circumstances encountered in our everyday lives.
By Aisha Stacey (© 2013 NewMuslims.com)
Published on 11 Mar 2013 - Last modified on 12 Dec 2016
Printed: 364 - Emailed: 0 - Viewed: 22,198 (daily average: 5)
Objectives
·To discover what the word faith means, particularly in Islam.
·To understand how and why a person’s level of faith is not stable, but increases and decreases according to a number of factors.
Arabic Terms
·Imaan - faith, belief or conviction.
·Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the month in which the obligatory fasting has been prescribed.
·Shaytan - sometimes spelled Shaitan or Shaytaan. It is the word used in Islam and the Arabic language to denote the devil or Satan, the personification of evil.
·Shahadah - Testimony of Faith.
·Salah - the Arabic word to denote a direct connection between the believer and Allah. More specifically, in Islam it refers to the formal five daily prayers and is the most important form of worship.
·Sawm - Fasting
·Hajj - A pilgrimage to Mecca where the pilgrim performs a set of rituals. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, which every adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their life if they can afford it and are physically able.
·Zakah - obligatory charity.
What is faith?
In its definition of the word faith the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary includes the following: Belief and trust in and loyalty to God, belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion, and something that is believed especially with strong conviction.
Faith in Islam means to consider, without doubt, something to be true. It can only be bestowed upon a person by Allah and includes the belief and acknowledgement of Allah as the One and Only God. A person with faith understands and accepts his or her position as Allah’s slave and acknowledges Allah’s right to be obeyed and thanked. Faith also involves knowing that Allah’s promises to His faithful slave are true and will come to pass.
Faith or Imaan is something to be spoken in words, to be believed in within the heart, and to be put into action.
Prophet Muhammad said that faith had seventy-odd branches, the greatest of which is to say ‘There is no (true) god but Allah’ and the lowest of which is to remove an obstacle from the road.”[1]
Faith is expressed with the words “La ilaha illa Allah wa Mohammad rasulullah”, meaning: There is no true deity but Allah and Mohammad is His messenger. Faith is put into action by following the five pillars of Islam and resides in the heart with belief in the six pillars of faith.
The Five pillars of Islam
·Shahadah: sincerely reciting the Testimony of Faith.
·Salah: performing the prayer in the proper way five times each day.
·Zakah: paying a fixed percentage in alms or charity to benefit the poor and the needy.
·Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan.
·Hajj: A pilgrimage to Mecca (situated in present day Saudi Arabia) where the pilgrim performs a set of rituals.
The Six Pillars of Faith
·Belief in Allah.
·Belief in the angels.
·Belief in the revealed books.
·Belief in the Messengers and Prophets of Allah.
·Belief in the Last Day.
·Belief in the predestination or divine decree.
Faith (Imaan) Increases and Decreases
Prophet Muhammad said, “… The likeness of the heart is that of a feather at the root of a tree, being turned over and over by the wind.”[2]
It is faith, complete reliance on Allah, that makes us feel safe, secure and close to Allah - faith however is not stable, it increases and decreases. Faith often fluctuates according to life’s circumstances, but whatever the reason for the fluctuations faith increases with obedience to Allah and decreases with disobedience. As believers we should try to learn what things, such as deficiencies in our prayer or whispers from Shaytan, decrease our faith. Next we must take appropriate steps to avoid those things or situations, and at the same time try to increase our faith by doing the deeds that Allah loves. We all have moments when we feel the need or necessity of performing acts of worship and this is natural and it will happen many times throughout our lives. Thus securing our faith is one of the most important things a believer can do. The starting point to increasing the level of faith in one’s heart is to recognise there is a problem.
Things that reduce our level of faith (Imaan)
·Neglecting acts of worship.
·Committing sins. Especially small sins committed continuously.
·Ignorance of the Names and Attributes of Allah.
·Failing to ponder on the signs of Allah’s greatness. Particularly those that we experience every day such as the sun, moon and the stars, or the ability to breathe or procreate.
·Neglecting to be grateful to Allah for even the most menial of abilities or possessions.
·Failing to seek adequate knowledge.
·Failing to perform good deeds, even the smallest things such as smiling.
·Wasting time by doing things that have no use in either this world or the next.
·Forgetting that our ultimate purpose is to worship Allah.
·Being excessive with the necessities of life. For example, eating too much, sleeping away the day, staying up late for no purpose, talking for no good reason and being preoccupied with wealth.
At times many people feel that they are trying as hard as possible and cannot understand why their faith seems to be decreasing. At this point it is important to remember that humankind’s worst enemy, Shaytan, loves causing people to forget what is in their best interest. Shaytan encourages negligence and laziness, both traits that cause a decrease in faith.
Fluctuating levels of faith are normal. Everyone experiences them. At such times it is important to do all the obligatory acts of worship thus never leaving the path of Allah completely. For where there is the tiniest piece of faith, hope abides.
In the following lesson we will discover that there are a myriad of ways in which to increase faith.
- Voluntary Prayers
- Treatment of Animals
- Lying, Backbiting and Slander (part 1 of 2)
- Lying, Backbiting and Slander (part 2 of 2)
- Increasing Faith (part 1 of 2): Why faith is not always at asteady level
- Increasing Faith (part 2 of 2): Increase your faith (Imaan)and earn rewards
- Voluntary Fasts
- Signs of the Day of Judgment (part 1 of 2): The Minor Signs
- Signs of the Day of Judgment (part 2 of 2): The Major Signs
- Adultery, Fornication, & Pornography (part 1 of 2)
- Adultery, Fornication, & Pornography (part 2 of 2)
- Islamic Guidelines for Gender Interactions(part 1 of 2)
- Islamic Guidelines for Gender Interactions (part 2 of 2)
- Introduction to Shariah (part 1 of 2)
- Introduction to Shariah (part 2 of 2)
- Acts that Correspond to Human Nature (Sunan ul-Fitrah)
- Eid ul-Adha from A to Z (part 1 of 3)
- Eid ul-Adha from A to Z (part 2 of 3)
- Eid ul-Adha from A to Z (part 3 of 3)
- Innovation in Islam (part 1 of 2): Two Types of Bidah
- Innovation in Islam (part 2 of 2): Is this a bidah?
- Ramadan: The Last Ten Nights
- Umrah (part 1 of 2)
- Umrah (part 2 of 2)
- Concept of Sins in Islam (part 1 of 3)
- Concept of Sins in Islam (part 2 of 3)
- Concept of Sins in Islam (part 3 of 3)
Increasing Faith (part 1 of 2): Why faith is not always at asteady level
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