When Faith Starts to Fade

Thekabarnews.com – As-Syaikh Abdurrahman bin Nashir As-Sa’di rahimahullah once said that the Prophet’s companions were highly aware of how their faith was doing. Some of them would say to the others, “Sit with us for a bit; let us rekindle our faith,” when they thought their faith was weak or fading. When faith starts to fade, it is an invitation to come to events where people share what they know and remember.

They remembered God at that gathering and thought about all the beneficial things He had done for them, both religious and worldly. This brought their faith back to life. It also made it stronger. (At-Taudhih wal Bayan, p. 80).

Faith Can Go Up and Down

The faith that is in the heart of a person is not always the same. It can go up or down. There is a lot of proof for this, and the Prophet ﷺ even said that religion might get “worn out” like old clothes.

The Prophet ﷺ stated in a hadith, “Indeed, religion can actually grow worn out in one of you, just as garments become worn out.” So pray to Allah to provide you new faith when your faith starts to fade. Al-Hakim and Ath-Thabrani told this story with a solid chain of narration.

In another hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that the heart is like the moon when it is shrouded by clouds. The light went out when the clouds came. But the moon shined again when the clouds went away. Faith, too, can be dark or bright at times. (Narrated by Abu Nu’aim, verified by Sheik Al-Albani) These hadiths emphasize the necessity to always protect, improve, and renew one’s religion.

The Prophet ﷺ said that every action has a time when you are excited about it and a time when you are tired of it. A lucky person is one who follows the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ even when they are bored. But anyone who becomes bored and stops following the Sunnah is in a dangerous place. (Hadith Narrated by Ahmad). Therefore, when a Muslim starts to feel lazy and their faith starts to fade, they should correct themselves right away.

How to Restore Faith

One of the best ways to strengthen your faith is to contemplate God a lot. There are many different ways to do this, such as going to gatherings of knowledge and remembrance. Reading and thinking about the Quran are also beneficial. Studying the Prophet’s ﷺ interpretation and hadiths is another way. Additionally, reading the Prophet’s and his Companions’ biographies can help. Moreover, such activities are crucial when faith starts to fade. Lastly, it is recommended to study the works of scholars and to engage in more voluntary prayers and fasting.

The early Muslims’ companions and thinkers often gave advice on how to rekindle faith. Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Come sit with us for a bit; let us refresh our faith.” Mu’adh bin Jabal and Abu Darda’ also stressed the importance of monitoring one’s faith. This was seen as a sign of thorough comprehension of religion.

Al-Hasan Al-Bashri, may Allah have mercy on him, even said that remembering Allah is a way to bring back hearts that are starting to die. When faith starts to fade, remembrance becomes even more essential.

Conclusion

Faith is not fixed; it can change. The main ways to revitalize your faith are via gatherings of knowledge and remembering. The Salaf have always taken time to commemorate Allah; thus, this is not a new idea. Such an activity is a really significant way to learn about faith.

I hope this short talk might help and remind all of us. May Allah Ta’ala always renew our faith, make us stronger in our worship, and give us a good end. Aamiin.