By: S.L.A.

© 2016 DawahMaterials.com

Need an Iman boost?

Many people tend to face a life struggle and get depressed, and as a result, stop practicing various parts of Islam, usually prayer, but don’t realize that this is a time when they need to INCREASE their practice, not decrease it!

Allah tells us "And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind." (Qur’an 20:124)

So, don’t turn off the source of your solution!

Many things lead people to have a decrease in Iman, and you must recognize the cause and work to correct it instead of just waiting for everything to change for you.

How to Increase Iman

First and foremost is to read, and ponder over the words of Allah by reading the Qur’an. When you read the Qur’an, you will be humbled and comforted by Allah, and as a result, you will try to always improve upon yourself. If you have Allah, hope is not lost, and nothing is impossible.

"When Allah decrees a matter in the heavens, the angels will gather their wings in humility for (the revealing of) His Decree, which is (sounds) just like the chain when it slides over a barren rock. Until when fear is banished from their hearts, they say, ‘What is it that your Lord has said?’ They say, ‘The Truth. And He s the Most High, the Most Great.’" (Bukhari)

Increase your dhikr (remembrance and praises glorifying Allah).  Recite supplications such as:

“laa ilaaha illallaah” (that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah), or saying “subhaanallaah wal-hamdulillaah wa laa ilaha illallaahu wallaahu akbar” (declaring Allah free from all imperfections, praising Him and declaring that none has the right to be worshipped except Him and that He is greater)

The remembrance of Allah increases iman and causes hearts to attain tranquility, as Allah said: "Indeed in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find tranquility." (Qur’an 13:28)

Preserve your five daily prayers, your fasting and the rest of your obligations - along with asking Allah for His mercy and forgiveness. Rely upon Allah for all your affairs.

"The Believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in the hearts, and when His Verses are recited to them, it increases their iman (faith), and they put their trust and rely upon Allah alone. They are those who perform the Prayer and spend out of that which We have given them, they are Believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity and nobility with their Lord, and also forgiveness and generous provisions." (Qur’an 8:2-4)

Learn the names of Allah and Attributes to fill your heart with their meanings, as it will show an effect on the heart, body and soul. When you speak from the heart, your heart then controls your mind and body, becoming stronger in every aspect.

Help others in need. Prophet Muhammad pbuh was the mercy sent to mankind, and we are to take him as our role model. Show mercy and help those around you. By helping and serving others, we are serving our Creator, and will find Him. By helping others, you will by default, be helping yourself. When you are feeling low, help someone. This will remind you of those that have less than you, in worse situations than you, and remind you of all the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon you that you failed to recognize.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger pbuh as saying:

“Verily, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, would say on the Day of Resurrection: O son of Adam, I was sick but you did not visit Me. He would say: O my Lord; how could I visit Thee whereas Thou art the Lord of the worlds? Thereupon He would say: Didn't you know that such and such servant of Mine was sick but you did not visit him and were you not aware of this that if you had visited him, you would have found Me by him? O son of Adam, I asked food from you but you did not feed Me. He would say: My Lord, how could I feed Thee whereas Thou art the Lord of the worlds? He said: Didn't you know that such and such servant of Mine asked food from you but you did not feed him, and were you not aware that if you had fed him you would have found him by My side? (The Lord would again say: ) O son of Adam, I asked drink from you but you did not provide Me. He would say: My Lord, how could I provide Thee whereas Thou art the Lord of the worlds? Thereupon He would say: Such and such of servant of Mine asked you for a drink but you did not provide him, and had you provided him drink you would have found him near Me.” (Muslim Book 32, Hadith 6232)

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Recommended Reading for Increasing Iman:

“Six Tips for a Closer Relationship with Allah” by Shannon Abulnasr

Download the e-book “Weakness of Faith” by Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid. It is 72 pages, and well worth the read masha’Allah.

Shaykh `Abdul `Aziz ibn Baz recommends books such as:

al-Kalimut-Tayyib by Ibn Taymiyyah

al-Waabilus-Sayyib by Ibn al-Qayyim

Riyaadhus-Saaliheen and al-Adhkaar both by Imam an-Nawawee, and their like.