Levels of Iman

[zaijaffar]

Can anyone elaborate/enlighten me regarding levels of Iman?

There must be a difference between layman's iman and the scholars.

Type of iman that perseveres the toughes of test.

I wish to gauge where my iman is standing on now, at the bottom, middle?

[poolsclosed]

there isnt necessarily a difference between the commoner and the scholar's iman. i have met trained an alim who doesnt even pray, and listens to music and rarely visit the masjid.

their knowledge doesnt necessarily indicate a high level of iman.

[jacki]

Iman is something fluid -- it moves -- increases and decreases at different times. I suspect that is true regardless if one is a scholar or not.

What kinds of things do you do to increase your iman?

[Abu Suliman]

Iman is something fluid -- it moves -- increases and decreases at different times. I suspect that is true regardless if one is a scholar or not.

What kinds of things do you do to increase your iman?

Signs of weak imaan:
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1. Committing sins and not feeling any guilt.
2. Having a hard heart and no desire to read the Quran.
3. Feeling too lazy to do good deeds, e.g. being late for salat
4. Neglecting the Sunnah.
5. Having mood swings, for instance being upset about petty things and bothered and irritated most of the time.
6. Not feeling anything when hearing verses from the Quran, for example when Allah warns us of punishments and His promise of glad tidings.
7. Finding difficulty in remembering Allah and making dhikr.
8. Not feeling bad when things are done against the Shariah.
9. Desiring status and wealth.
10. Being mean and miserly, i.e. not wanting to part with wealth.
11. Ordering others to do good deeds when not practising them ourselves.
12. Feeling pleased when things are not progressing for others.
13. Being concerned with whether something is haram or halal only; and not avoiding makroo (not recommended) things.
14. Making fun of people who do simple good deeds, like cleaning the mosque.
15. Not feeling concerned about the situation of Muslims.
16. Not feeling the responsibility to do something to promote Islam.
17. Being unable to deal with calamities, for instance crying and yelling in funerals.
18. Liking to argue just for the sake of arguing without any proof.
19. Becoming engrossed and very involved with dunya, worldly things, i.e. feeling bad only when losing something in terms of material wealth.
20. Becoming engrossed and obsessive about ourselves.

LISTED BELOW ARE WAYS TO INCREASE OUR IMAAN:
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1. Recite and ponder on the meanings of the Quran. Tranquility then descends and our hearts become soft. To get optimum benefit, remind yourself that Allah is speaking to you. People are described in different categories in the Quran; think of which one you find yourself in.
2. Realize the greatness of Allah. Everything is under His control. There are signs in everything we see that points us to His greatness. Everything happens according to His permission. Allah keeps track and looks after everything, even a black ant on a black rock on a black moonless night.
3. Make an effort to gain knowledge, for at least the basic things in daily life e.g. how to make wudu properly. Know the meanings behind Allah's names and attributes. People who have taqwa are those who have knowledge.
4. Attend gatherings where Allah is remembered. In such gatherings we are surrounded by angels.
5. We have to increase our good deeds. One good deed leads to another good deed. Allah will make the way easy for someone who gives charity and also make it easy for him or her to do good deeds. Good deeds must be done continuously, not in spurts.
6. We must fear the miserable end to our lives; the remembrance of death is the destroyer of pleasures.
7. Remember the different levels of akhirah, for instance when we are put in our graves, when we are judged, whether we will be in paradise or hell.
8. Make dua, realize that we need Allah. Be humble. Don't covet material things in this life.
9. Our love for Subhana Wa Ta'Ala must be shown in actions. We must hope Allah will accept our prayers, and be in constant fear that we do wrong. At night before going to sleep, we must think about what good we did during that day.
10. Realize the effects of sins and disobedience- one's imaan is increased with good deeds and our imaan is decreased by bad deeds. Everything that happens is because Allah wanted it. When calamity befalls us- it is also from Allah. It is a direct result of our disobedience to Allah.

[zaijaffar]

Thank you Abu Sulaiman for your simple and loaded post.

Now I'm worried that with all the signs of weak iman in me, i might fall to next unthinkable level - the munafiqun, nauzubillah,

I have not push the panic button yet, learning and practicing what I know slowly and surely. But I'm quite doubtful if we can ever attained the level of our elders and the sahaba - rock solid and unmoveable like the mountains. *sigh* I can only hope and try

[Abu Suliman]

Thank you Abu Sulaiman for your simple and loaded post.

Now I'm worried that with all the signs of weak iman in me, i might fall to next unthinkable level - the munafiqun, nauzubillah,

I have not push the panic button yet, learning and practicing what I know slowly and surely. But I'm quite doubtful if we can ever attained the level of our elders and the sahaba - rock solid and unmoveable like the mountains. *sigh* I can only hope and try

No do not worry do as much as you can all the good deeds Insha'Allah you will notice that your imaan is increasing.