Are Doubts About Islam a Natural Part of One’s Faith Journey?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question

Are doubts about Islam a natural part of one’s faith journey?

Answer

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Faith itself is to confirm as true what the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) has come with. A believer is one who affirms the message brought by the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), including belief in Allah Most High, belief in His Messenger, and belief in those matters that are necessarily known to be part of the religion.

The Cultivation and Increase of Faith

Faith is cultivated through good deeds. Acts of obedience, submission to Allah, servitude to Him, turning to Him, and seeking His pleasure all nurture faith.

This includes one’s worship, remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Quran, reflection, and the good deeds one performs in life. It also includes one’s conduct in social relationships, one’s work, and all aspects of life that are carried out with the intention of seeking the sake of Allah.

The journey of faith is therefore a journey of increase. The believer seeks continual growth in faith. This is reflected in the supplication that believers recite in the Quran:

“Guide us to the path that is straight.” [Quran, 1:6]

Although the believer is already guided, scholars explain that this request seeks greater guidance and greater faith.

This increase occurs by turning more fully to Allah, cultivating the qualities of faith, and striving to submit more completely in accordance with the sunnah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), both in worship and in one’s conduct in life.

The scholars also said:

“Whoever’s today is like their yesterday, they are in loss.”

Imam Ibrahim al-Laqani explained that faith increases with whatever increases a person’s obedience to Allah in all aspects of life, including prayer, devotion, acts of worship, relationships, conduct, character, work, and striving for the public good.

Causes of the Diminishing of Faith

Faith can also diminish. One cause is wrongdoing. Wrongdoing includes transgressing the rights of others or failing to fulfill those rights.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Wrongdoing becomes many layers of darkness on the Day of Resurrection.”

Faith also diminishes through sin and disobedience to Allah. Some sins are obvious, such as lying, cheating, deception, and other acts of disobedience. Other sins become widespread and easy to overlook, such as what one chooses to watch or expose oneself to through entertainment or social media.

Another cause is heedlessness and worldliness, which involve forgetting Allah. When people become heedless of Allah over time, their hearts can become hardened.

Stumbling and Returning to Allah

At times, a person may stumble in life through weakness, desires, or difficulties in relationships. These moments can become opportunities for a return to Allah.

The Andalusian sage, Abu Madyan, said that the brokenheartedness of the sinner is more precious with Allah than the self-satisfaction of the pious. A person who sins and then returns to Allah with humility and repentance may attain a state beloved to Allah.

Similarly, Ibn ‘Ata’illah said that it may be that a sin which leads one to humility and brokenness before Allah is better than an act of obedience that leads one to pride.

What matters is not only what a person does, but what they do after what they do. When a person slips and then returns to Allah with urgency and repentance, this return can be a blessing.

Understanding the Nature of Doubts

When faith diminishes, doubts may increase. One type of doubt arises from weakness of faith.

Another source of doubts is the complexity of the human being. People have emotions, fears, insecurities, desires, worldly inclinations, and the whisperings of Shaytan. In this inner world, thoughts and questions may arise.

Some doubts are merely fleeting thoughts. These passing thoughts do not require attention and can simply be ignored.

However, some doubts persist or arise because of a lack of knowledge regarding what Muslims believe, why they believe it, and how those beliefs are understood.

Such doubts are addressed in two ways: by seeking knowledge and by asking questions.

Strengthening Faith Through Practice and Environment

If a person finds weakness in their faith, they should repent and return to Allah. They should also keep good company.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Keep the close companionship only of a true believer, and let your eating companions be the people of mindfulness of Allah.”

One should also frequent circles of knowledge and remembrance, attend the mosque regularly, and involve oneself in beneficial activities. At the same time, one should identify the influences that harm one’s consciousness and remove them.

A scholar once explained this with the example of painting a wall. Before painting, the wall must first be treated to remove mold or moisture. If one simply paints over the damage, the paint will not last. But if the wall is properly prepared, even a light coat of paint will endure.

Likewise, believers should fully commit themselves to their faith and remove influences that weaken it.

Allah Most High calls the believers to enter fully into faith and to live the meanings of faith by acting upon divine guidance, seeking the pleasure of Allah, seeking the Hereafter, and striving for closeness to Allah.

Related

• How Do I Overcome Doubts in Faith and Submit to Allah? – Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
• How Do We Achieve Such Faith That No Doubts Can Ever Shake It?
• How Should One Deal With Doubts in Matters of Faith?
• How Do I Deal with Doubts in My Faith?

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.

Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.

In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.

Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.

Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School,” which was published by White Thread Press in 2004 and is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.

His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.