Table of Contents
Steady Increase, Not Sudden Perfection
Faith in Islam grows over time. It is not a single moment that ends at saying the shahadah, but a lifelong journey of drawing closer to Allah with both heart and actions.
Allah describes true believers as people who grow when they hear His words:
“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts tremble, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith, and upon their Lord they rely.”
(Qur’an 8:2)
The Prophet ﷺ explained that faith has levels and branches, some greater than others:
“Faith has over seventy branches, or over sixty branches. The most excellent of them is the statement ‘Lā ilāha illa Allah,’ and the lowest of them is removing something harmful from the road. And modesty is a branch of faith.”
(Muslim)
From the beginning, a new Muslim or someone renewing their commitment should expect faith to strengthen gradually through learning, practicing, and purifying the heart, not through sudden perfection.
Faith increases with obedience and remembrance of Allah, and decreases with sin and heedlessness.
The Heart as the Center of Growth
Islam teaches that the heart is the center of a person’s spiritual state. External actions matter greatly, but they are most valuable when they come from a heart that believes, remembers, and turns to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Verily, there is a piece of flesh in the body, if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Growth in faith, therefore, is first about what happens inside. The tongue and limbs then follow the heart. A heart that remembers Allah, hopes in Him, and fears displeasing Him will find it easier to pray, to be honest, and to leave sin.
Allah joins the state of the heart with guidance:
“Whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart.”
(Qur’an 64:11)
Part of growing in faith is regularly asking Allah to keep the heart firm. The Prophet ﷺ often said:
“O Turner of the hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion.”
(at-Tirmidhi)
Knowledge as the Engine of Faith
Faith grows with knowledge. The more a person knows Allah, His names, His attributes, His promises, and His warnings, the more they love, fear, and hope in Him. This is why Allah links knowledge and awe:
“It is only those who have knowledge among His servants who truly fear Allah.”
(Qur’an 35:28)
Seeking knowledge of the basics of belief, worship, and good character is not just an intellectual activity. It is an act of worship that raises faith and rank:
“Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.”
(Qur’an 58:11)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever follows a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.”
(Muslim)
For faith to grow, knowledge must be taken seriously, even if only in small, regular portions. Learning how to pray correctly, what nullifies faith, what pleases Allah, and what He has forbidden, protects the believer from falling while they walk the path of faith.
Consistency in Small Deeds
Growth in faith is closely tied to consistency. Allah loves those who are constant, even if their action is small. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are few.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
This principle gives hope to the beginner. You do not need to do everything at once. You need to start with what is obligatory, then add small, regular voluntary acts that you can maintain.
Allah praises those who keep up their acts of worship:
“Those who are constant in their prayer.”
(Qur’an 70:23)
Consistent prayer, consistent Qur’an recitation, and consistent remembrance keep the heart alive. When the heart is alive, faith grows naturally, even if the person does not notice it immediately.
A small deed that you continue is better for your faith than a large deed you perform once, then abandon.
Using Worship to Strengthen Faith
Acts of worship are not only duties, they are also medicines for weak faith. When a believer prays, fasts, gives charity, or remembers Allah, these actions polish the heart and draw the person closer to their Lord.
Allah connects worship directly with remembering Him:
“Establish prayer for My remembrance.”
(Qur’an 20:14)
The Prophet ﷺ told us that worship is a sign of true servitude:
“The closest that a servant is to his Lord is while he is in prostration, so increase supplication in it.”
(Muslim)
The more a believer turns to Allah in prayer, particularly with humility and presence of heart, the more their faith is strengthened. Similarly, fasting helps train the soul to prefer Allah’s pleasure over desire.
Allah says about fasting:
“O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you, so that you may attain taqwā.”
(Qur’an 2:183)
Taqwā, or awareness and fear of Allah, is one of the clearest signs of growing faith.
Good Company as a Support for Faith
Faith is affected by the people around us. Good companions inspire and remind us, while bad ones pull us toward sin and heedlessness. Allah commands believers to keep the company of the truthful:
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are truthful.”
(Qur’an 9:119)
The Prophet ﷺ gave a vivid example:
“The example of a good companion and a bad companion is that of the seller of musk and the blacksmith’s bellows. As for the seller of musk, he will either give you some, or you will buy from him, or you will smell a pleasant scent from him. As for the blacksmith’s bellows, it will either burn your clothes, or you will smell an offensive odor from it.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
A believer who wants to grow in faith should seek out those who remind them of Allah, who pray, attend the masjid when possible, and avoid open sin. Such company helps protect and increase faith, especially in moments of weakness.
Trials, Struggles, and Faith
Faith does not grow only in comfort and ease. Allah sometimes uses tests as a means to purify and strengthen the believer. When a person remains patient and turns to Allah in hardship, their faith deepens and becomes more sincere.
Allah says:
“Do the people think that they will be left to say, ‘We believe’ and they will not be tested?”
(Qur’an 29:2)
He also promises that hardship is not meaningless:
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.’ Those