What Does Renewing Faith (Tajdid al-Iman) Mean, and How Can It Be Achieved?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
What does renewing faith (tajdid al-iman) mean as mentioned in the Hadith, “Renew your faith,” and how can it be achieved?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
Meaning of Renewing Faith
Renewing faith means that a person’s faith can weaken over time due to heedlessness; therefore, it needs renewal to maintain its soundness and purity. This weakening often stems from committing sins, indulging in desires, or laziness in worship. Just as a new garment fades with wear and time, faith also “wears out” in the heart and requires renewal to maintain its purity and strength.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Indeed, faith wears out in the heart of one of you just as a garment wears out; so ask Allah to renew faith in your hearts.” [Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir]
‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz (Allah be pleased with him) wrote to a companion, saying:
“Faith has laws, boundaries, and practices. Whoever fulfills them has perfected their faith…” [Ibn Rajab, Fath al-Bari]
How to Renew Faith
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) provided guidance on how to renew faith. When he said, “Renew your faith,” the Companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah, how can we renew our faith?” He replied:
“Increase your recitation of ‘There is no god but Allah.’” [Ahmad]
Here are practical ways to renew faith:
- Frequently reciting La ilaha illa Allah (There is no deity but Allah), along with abundant remembrance (dhikr), seeking forgiveness (istighfar), and sending blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), helps renew faith in the heart.
- Repentance and returning to Allah (Most High), while avoiding trials, temptations, and sins—factors that must not be overlooked as causes for weakened faith.
- Performing obligatory acts of worship, voluntary prayers, and good deeds.
Summary
Renewing faith in the heart is, in truth, a continuous process that a believer must never abandon, regardless of circumstances. For whoever is not increasing in faith is inevitably decreasing.
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
