The Second Issue
3 September 2024 • 1.26K views
Whoever asserts that Ēmān increases and decreases has left the Murji’ah
Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, may Allāh have mercy on him, was asked about the one who says, "Ēmān increases and decreases." He replied:
«هذا بَرئ من الإرجاء»
"This person has freed himself from Murji'ism" [As-Sunnah of Al-Khallāl (2/1009), and refer to As-Sunnah of ’Abdullāh (307/1/600)].
Al-Barbahāri, may Allāh have mercy on him, said:
«ومن قال: 'الإيمان قول وعمل، يزيد وينقص'؛ فقد خرج من الإرجاء كله، أوله وآخره»
"Whoever says, 'Ēmān is speech and action, and it increases and decreases,' has completely exited from the doctrine of the Murji'ah, from its beginning to its end." [Sharḥ As-Sunnah, p. 123, no. 161].
Below are some statements from the three scholars on this matter:
Ibn Bāz, may Allāh have mercy on him, commented on what is mentioned in the ’Aqīdah Aṭ-Ṭaḥāwiyyah:
«هذا فيه نظر، بل هو باطل، فليس أهل الإيمان فيه سواء؛ بل متفاوتون تفاوتاً عظيماً...وهو قول أهل السنة، خلافاً للمرجئة»
'Ēmān is one and its people are equal in its essence': "This statement is questionable; in fact, it is false. The people of Ēmān are not equal in this regard; rather, they vary greatly...This is the view of Ahlus--Sunnah, contrary to the Murji’ah." [Al-Fatāwā (2/83)]
Al-Albāni, may Allāh have mercy on him, said:
«فإنَّ الحنفية لو كانوا غير مخالفين للجماهير؛ مخالفة حقيقية في إنكارهم أن العمل من الإيمان؛ لاتفقوا معهم في أن الإيمان يزيد وينقص...مع تظافر أدلة الكتاب والسنة والآثار السلفية على ذلك»
"Had the Hanafis not truly opposed the majority by denying that actions are part of Ēmān, they would have agreed with them that Ēmān increases and decreases... despite the numerous evidences from the Qur'ān, Sunnah, and the sayings of the Salaf supporting this." [Aṭ-Ṭaḥāwiyyah (1/51)].
Ibn ’Uthaymīn, may Allāh have mercy on him, said:
«وقد جاء ذلك في القرآن والسنة، أعني إثبات الزيادة والنقصان؛ قال تعالى: {وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَبَ وَيَزْدَادَ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا إيمَانا}»
"This concept, I mean the affirmation of increase and decrease in Ēmān, is mentioned in the Qur'ān and Sunnah. Allāh, the Exalted, says: {And We did not make their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve, that those who were given the Scripture might have certainty and that those who have believed might increase in Ēmān.'" [Al-Muddathir: 31] [Al-Fatāwā (1/50)] .