The reasons for the increasing of Emaan

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The reasons for the increasing of Emaan are four:

1- Knowing Allaah with His Names and Attributes, for verily every time a person would increase knowledge of Allaah and His Names and Attributes, his Emaan would increase.

2- Looking into the proofs of Allaah, the universal and the legislated :

أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى الْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ

Do they not look at the camels, how they are created?

وَإِلَى السَّمَاءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ

And at the heaven, how it is raised?

وَإِلَى الْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ

And at the mountains, how they are rooted and fixed firm?

وَإِلَى الْأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ

And at the earth, how it is spread out?

قُلِ انظُرُوا مَاذَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَا تُغْنِي الْآيَاتُ وَالنُّذُرُ عَن قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Say: “Behold all that is in the heavens and the earth,” but neither Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) nor warners benefit those who believe not.

Every time a person increases knowledge with that which Allaah has placed in the universe from the marvels of creation and from the extensive wisdom, belief in Allaah aza wa jala would increase.

Also with the looking at the legislated proofs, and they are the rulings that came with the Messengers, you will find in that which would dazzle the intellect from extensive wisdom and great secrets which with you would know that this legislation came from Allaah and that it is build upon fairness and mercy, so there by Emaan would increase.

3- Performing a lot of obediences and performing them well.
That is because actions are within Emaan, and because it is from Emaan, it is bound that doing them would increase ones Emaan.

4- The leaving of sinning seeking nearness to Allaah aza wa jala, for verily a person would with that increase his belief with Allaah aza wa jala.

Reasons for the decreasing of Emaan are four :

1- The turning away from knowing Allaah by His Names and Attributes.

2- the turning away from looking into the universal and legislated proofs, because verily this would make incumbent heedlessness and the hardening of ones heart.

3- Shortage of righteous actions, and the statement of the Prophet ﷺ towards (the state of) the woman points to that.

(“I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you.”

They (the women) asked, “O Allah’s Messenger ﷺ What is deficient in our and religion?

Heﷺ said”Isn’t it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses.”)

Authority of Abu Saed Al Khudri -May Allaah be pleased with him.

Saheeh Bukhari and Muslim

4- The performing of sin.

كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ ۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِم مَّا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.

Taken from the book Aqeedatuwaasatiyyah 
By shaykh Al islaam ibnu Taymiyyah may Allaah have mercy upon him.

With the explanations of shaykh Al Utheymeen may Allaah have mercy upon him.

Page 234-235 volume 2

Translated by : Abdullah Ashingaani وفقه الله