The phenomenon of weak Iman has become very widespread among Muslims, and many people complain about the hardness of their hearts.

So often we hear words like, I feel the hardness in my heart, I do not find any joy in worship, Reading Quran does not move me, and I fall into sin so easily.

The effects of this affliction can be seen in many people and this problem is the cause of every disaster and adversity, as mentioned in the Glorious Quran:

He (Allah) does not change the state of anyone till we change our state of goodness ourselves (Quran 13:11).

So it’s time for every believer to check his heart, find out the nature and cause of the problem, and start treating it straight away, before it overwhelms him and destroys him.

The matter is of the utmost seriousness, for Allah has warned us against the heart that is hardened, closed, sick, blind and sealed.

Below follows some of the symptoms of a weak Iman, what causes it and how it may be dealt with.

Falling into sins is a Sign of weak Iman

There are some sinners who commit a particular sin and prevail in it. And some who commit many kinds of sin. When you commit a sin or sins, it becomes a habit which you get used to, and then you no longer feel that it is Offensive to the mind. You gradually reach a stage at which you commit the sin openly, and thus, becomes one of those referred to in the hadith that:

“All of my Ummah will be fine except for those who commit sin openly, an example of which is a man who does something at night, and when morning comes and Allah has concealed his sin, he says, ‘O so and so, I did such and such yesterday.’ His Lord had covered his sin all night, but he has uncovered what Allah had concealed.” (Bukhari)

Not worshipping Allah properly

Is your mind wondering and fails to concentrate properly in Salah, reading the Quran, making du’a, or other acts of worship? This is a sign of a weak Iman.

When someone with a weak Iman worships, he doesn’t think or ponder about what is being said, he does everything as a matter of boring habit. Even if he worships at all, he does it with empty movement, devoid of any real feeling.

All that which is considered worship needs much attention. Are you praying a particular du’a at some particular times? Be serious about it; think about the meaning of what you are saying because the prophet says, “Allah does not accept the du’a of one whose heart is heedless of Him” (al-Tirmidhi)

This also includes neglecting to participate in special Islamic occasions and worships. This shows clearly that the person has no interest in earning rewards, so he may delay going for Hajj even though he is able to do so, or failing to go for congregational prayers or even Salaat al-Jumu’ah.

The Holy Prophet of Allah mentioned that “People will keep holding back from being in the first row of (congregational prayers) until Allah throws them into the Fire”. (Abu Dawood).

Did you find yourself missing obligatory prayers or Sunnah prayer that is strongly encouraged without feeling any guilt? If so, then it’s time to revise your faith.

Lack of patience

A little tiredness or depression makes the weak Muslim quick to complain about the slightest thing. He easily gets angry or upset with the people around him and no longer has any tolerance.

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) described faith when he said, “Eeman is patience and tolerance”, and he described the believer as being “one who makes friends and with whom others feel comfortable. There is no goodness in one who does not make friends and with whom others do not feel comfortable.”

Hard-hearted when it comes to the Holy Quran

Your Eeman is weak if you are not being moved by the Aayaats of the Holy Qur’an, by its promises of Paradise or its warnings of Hel, by its commands or by its prohibitions. Those who are weak in faith gets board when they hear the recitation of the Holy Quran.

Lack of focus in dhikr

Those with weak Eeman fail to focus on Allah when remembering Him (dhikr) or making du’a. The remembrance of Allah becomes difficult for such people, and when they raise their hands to make du’a, they quickly lower them again. Allah has described the hypocrites in the Holy Quran, He says: “… and they do not remember Allah but little.” (Quran 4:142)

Not feeling angry when sins are committed

The one with a weak Eeman doesn’t feel any anger when the limits set by Allah are violated because the flame of zeal has been extinguished in his heart, so he no longer takes action to stop any evil, or enjoins evildoers to do good, or denounces wrongdoing.

The weak Muslim never gets angry for the sake of Allah. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) described this by saying: “The heart will be subjected to trial after trial, and there will appear a black stain on any heart that is affected, which will spread until the heart is completely black and sealed, as it were, so that it will not recognize any good deed or denounce any evil, except whatever suits its own desires” (Muslim)

Love of good and hatred of evil have disappeared from a heart of the weak Muslim; all things are equal to such a person, and he has no motive to enjoin good or forbid evil.

Not practising what one preaches

Allah says: “O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful is it with Allah that you say that which you do not do.. (Quran 61:2-3].

No doubt this is a kind of hypocrisy, and the person whose deeds do not match his words is blameworthy before Allah and despicable in the eyes of his fellow man. The people of Hellfire will soon discover the reality of the one who enjoins good but does not do it, and forbids evil but does it himself.

Happy to see others down

Malicious enjoyment of the failures, losses or disasters suffered by one’s brothers in Islam, when the blessings that they had enjoyed are taken away, or when the thing that made another person appear more distinguished than him is gone.

Fear and panic when disaster strikes or problems arise.

So you will see such a person shaking and losing his equilibrium, with no focus, staring wild-eyed and having no idea what to do when faced with calamity. He is ruled by his fears and can see no way out; he cannot face reality with a strong and steady heart. All of this is the result of weak faith, or if his faith was strong he would be steadfast and he would face the worst disasters with calmness and strength.

Love of fame and prominence

The desire for leadership without understanding the responsibility involved. This is what the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) warned us against when he said, “You will be very keen to be leaders, but you will regret it on the Day of Resurrection, for although it seems easy in the beginning, it becomes a hardship later on. (The meaning is that at the beginning, leadership brings wealth, power and enjoyment, but later it brings the risk of being assassinated or deposed, and one will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection).” (Reported by al-Bukhari, no. 6729).

The Prophet (pbuh) also said: If you wish, I could tell you about leadership and what it is. Firstly, it is blame; secondly, it is regret; and thirdly, it is punishment on the Day of Resurrection. Except for one who is just… (Reported by al- Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 18/72; Saheeh al-Jaami., 1420).

If it was the case that a man wanted to carry out duties and responsibilities, where there is no one better for the job than him, with the intention of doing his best and being sincere and just, as Yusuf (peace be upon him) did, then we could say that this is fair enough. But in most cases it is the matter of a strong desire to lead and put oneself forward although there is a better person, denying the opportunity of leadership to those who are qualified and want to be the only one to issue instructions and prohibitions.

Excessive arguing and disputing.

The Prophet (pbuh) said in a Sahih hadith: “No people will go astray after having being guided except that they become argumentative… (Reported by Ahmad in al-Musnad, 5/252; Saheeh al-Jaami., 5633).

Arguing with no proof and for no good reason leads one far away from the Straight Path, and most people’s futile arguments nowadays are conducted without knowledge or guidance or (reference to) a Book giving light (i.e., the Qur’an). We have sufficient motive to avoid futile arguments in the words of the Prophet (pbuh): “I guarantee a house in the outskirts of Paradise to the one who forsakes argument even when he is on the right.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, 5/150; Sahih al-Jami., 1464).

Attachment to this world and rejoicing in it

A person may be so attached to this world that he feels pain if he misses out on some share of it, such as money, power, authority, or housing. He feels that he is unfairly treated because he has not got what others have. He feels more stress when he sees a brother in Islam who has something of this world that he does not have, so he envies him (hasad) and wishes that he will lose that blessing.

See Also: Love for Dunya and Neglect of Aakhirah

This goes against Eeman, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Eeman and hasad do not exist together in the heart of the true slave.. (Reported by Abu Dawood, 5/150; Sahih al-Jami., 1464).

Alhamdulillah, the above are some of the sings of a weak Iman. If you know of any, please share it in the comments below.

And Allah knows best.