Fatwaa ID: 1230

Question:
Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatahu Mufti saab,

1. As per the Maturidi/Ashari, iman doesn’t increase nor decrease. Would it be bad to ask Allah then “oh Allah increase me in iman”?
2. If you have nalayn or any sacred relics of RasulAllah(pbuh) in your house as a means of protection while believing ofc that Allah is the one protecting, is this considered bidah?

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

1. The Maturidi theological school opines that imaan itself does not increase or decrease but rather the effects and strength of one’s imaan increase and decrease. The other theological schools including the Ash’ari schools hold the position that imaan increases and decreases. In reality, this is a semantic difference. The outcome of both views are the same, just a difference in expression. Accordingly, it is permissible to make du’aa to Allaah Ta’aala to increase you in imaan. A similar du’aa has been narrated from Sayyiduna ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood (R). You may supplicate with that.
   اللَّهُمَّ زِدْنِي إِيمَانًا وَيَقِينًا وَفِقْهًا وَفَهْمًا وَعِلْمًا
   “O Allaah! Increase me in faith, conviction, understanding, comprehension and knowledge.” [Mu’jam al-Kabeer 8549, Shu’ab al-Imaan 45]
2. It is firstly important to understand that the depiction of the blessed sandals of Nabi ﷺ is probabilistic. Secondly, protection is from Allaah Ta’aala alone. These depictions or alleged relics do not have the ability to protect a person. Often times, they lead to incorrect beliefs and even shirk. At most, such things may be kept for barakah. That too is presumptive. One should seek protection through the masnoon method, as shown to us by Nabi ﷺ.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

11/10/1444 AH – 05/30/2023 CE | AMG1-3116

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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