Does Faith Weaken Due to Committing Sins, and How Can It Be Renewed?
Answered by Shaykh Bassem Itani
Question
Does faith weaken due to committing sins? How can it be renewed afterward?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his Family, and all his Companions.
The Effect of Sin on Faith
Yes, faith indeed weakens when one commits sins. To renew your faith, start with sincere repentance and leaving the sin behind. Increase in remembrance of Allah (Most High), read and reflect upon the Quran, seek the company of the righteous, and avoid bad company, among other actions that will strengthen and renew your faith.
It is established in the noble hadith that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“When a servant commits a sin, a black mark appears on his heart. If he stops, seeks forgiveness, and repents, his heart is cleansed. But if he returns to the sin, the black mark increases until it eventually covers his entire heart. This is the rust mentioned by Allah in His saying, ‘But no! In fact, their hearts have been stained by all (the evil) they used to commit!’” [Quran, 83:14] [Tirmidhi]
This hadith shows that sins have a profound effect on the heart, darkening it, which signifies weakened faith.
Steps to Renew Faith After Sin
Renewing one’s faith after sins is possible through sincere repentance, as Allah (Most High) says:
“O believers! Turn to Allah in sincere repentance.” [Quran, 66:8]
Frequent seeking of forgiveness is also key, as Allah says:
“…saying, ‘Seek your Lord’s forgiveness, (for˺)He is truly Most Forgiving.” [Quran, 71:10]
Additionally, reflect upon Allah’s majesty, maintain a healthy fear of His punishment, observe prayers, read the Quran, and call upon Allah in supplication to aid you when faced with temptation.
Cleansing the Heart from the Effects of Sin
Imam Ghazali (Allah have mercy upon him) offered a beautiful example in this regard:
“The darkness of sins cannot withstand the light of good deeds, just as the darkness of night cannot withstand the light of day, or dirt on clothes the cleansing power of soap. A filthy garment is unfit for a king, just as a darkened heart is unfit to be near Allah. Just as soap and hot water can clean dirty clothes, tears of remorse and the heat of regret can cleanse and purify the heart. Every pure heart is accepted by Allah, just as every clean garment is acceptable to the king. Thus, purification is essential. Allah (Most High) says, ‘Successful indeed is the one who purifies their soul.’” [Quran, 91:9] [Ghazali, Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din]
Supplicating for Allah’s Assistance
Additionally, seek Allah’s help through supplication, for He is the Helper who assists in overcoming sin. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught this beneficial supplication: “O Allah, safeguard me by Your protection, provide for me from Your bounty, and make me steadfast in observing Your command.” [Ibn Abi Shayba]
May Allah protect us and you from both open and hidden sins.
[Shaykh] Bassem Itani
Shaykh Dr. Bassem Hussayn Itani was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1965. He earned his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies in 2005. Among his mentors were Shaykh Muhammad Taha Sukkar, Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, Shaykh Mulla Abdul ‘Alim al-Zinki, Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq al-Halabi, Shaykh Dr. Mustafa Dib al-Bugha, Shaykh Dr. Wahba al-Zuhayli, Dr. Muhammad al-Zuhayli, and others, may Allah have mercy on them all.
Shaykh Itani has a rich background in both academic and administrative fields. He has held significant positions in many governmental and non-governmental institutions in Lebanon and abroad. This includes his role as a member of the Academic Committee at SeekersGuidance and a senior teacher with the free online global seminary.
From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Dean of the College of Da‘wa – University for Islamic Studies (Lebanon) – Postgraduate Studies. He was the Director of Dar Iqra for Islamic Sciences from 1998 to 2018. Shaykh Itani is a well-versed teacher in several academic subjects, including Fiqh, Usul, Aqida, and Tafsir. He has supervised and examined numerous Master’s and Doctoral theses at various universities and colleges in Lebanon.
His contributions to Islamic sciences are also evident in his writings and research. His notable works include “The Relied-upon Statements of Imam Zufar in the Hanafi School,” “Collective Ijtihad: The Sublimity of Thought in the 21st Century,” and “Custom and its Impact in Islamic Jurisprudence.” Shaykh Itani has actively participated in numerous scientific conferences and seminars, both in Lebanon and internationally. He is linguistically adept, excelling in Arabic, proficient in French, and comfortably conversant in English.
