Is it true that Imam Abu Hanifah rejected the increase and decrease of Iman?

Quran

Hadith

Islamic Text

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

No, it is not true that Imam Abu Hanifah rejected the increase and decrease of Iman. The correct understanding is that he rejected the discrepancy in the articles of faith. Meaning all Muslims must believe in the same things without doubt.

Explanation
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لِيَزْدَادُوا إِيمَانًا مَعَ إِيمَانِهِمْ

It is He who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers. So that they may increase in Iman (faith) along with their Iman. (Surah al-Fath, 4).

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

The believers are but those whose hearts tremble, when Allah is mentioned. And when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in Iman (faith). In their Lord, they put their trust. (Surah al-Anfal, 2).

The verses above are very clear regarding Iman (faith) increasing. Therefore, there can be no doubt in the increase and decrease of Iman. So why do we have statements from Imam Abu Hanifah rejecting such fluctuations in faith?

The Imams position

The commentators of Imam Abu Hanifah’s works have clarified that he only rejected the increase and decrease of Iman from the perspective of articles of faith. A Muslim cannot reject any of the articles of faith nor doubt them. This is an uncontroversial view. No genuine scholar would disagree with it.

As for the quality of faith, it certainly does fluctuate. And it is the quality of faith or certitude that the noble verses above are referring to. Therefore, no Muslim would be permitted to reject or doubt any of the articles of faith mentioned in the following Hadith. This is the position of Imam Abu Hanifah.

قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ، قَالَ: أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللهِ، وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ، وَكُتُبِهِ، وَرُسُلِهِ، وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ، وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ

He (Sayidina Jibril) said: Tell me about Iman. He (the Prophet ﷺ) said: That you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and that you believe in the decree, the good of it and the bad of it. (Sahih Muslim, 8 – 1).

 

Al-Fiqh al-Akbar

Imam Abu Hanifah’s view on the increase and decrease of Iman is found in his famous book, al-Fiqh al-Akbar. In recent times some people have taken to questioning whether this work is authentically attributed to him or not. However, leading Hanafi Imams had no such concerns. Rather they wrote commentaries upon the Imams book.

وَالْإِيمَان هُوَ الْإِقْرَار والتصديق وإيمان أهل السَّمَاء وَالْأَرْض لَا يزِيد وَلَا ينقص. (الفقه الأكبر)

Iman (faith) is acceptance and declaration. The faith of the people of heaven and earth does not increase or decrease. (Imam Abu Hanifah 150H, al-Fiqh al-Akbar). 

 

 (لا يزيد ولا ينقص)، أي من جهة المؤمن به نفسه، لأن التصديق إذا لم يكن على وجه التحقيق يكون في مرتبة الظن والترديد، والظن غير مفيد في مقام الاعتقاد عند أرباب التأييد، قال الله تعالى: {إِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا} [يونس: 36]، فالتحقيق أن الإيمان كما قال الإمام الرازي لا يقبل الزيادة والنقصان من حيثية أصل التصديق لا من جهة اليقين فإن مراتب أهلها مختلفة في كمال الدين. (منح الروض الأزهر في شرح الفقه الأكبر)

Does not increase or decrease. Meaning from the perspective of what is believed in. Because if belief is not absolute affirmation, then it is at the level of uncertainty and hesitation. And uncertainty is not useful in the arena of belief according to those who support it. Allah (Most High) said: Indeed, uncertainty is of no avail against the truth. (Yunus: 36). The truth is that Iman, as Imam al-Razi said, does not accept addition nor subtraction from the perspective of fundamental affirmation. Not from the standpoint of certainty. For indeed the ranks of its people are varied based upon religious devoutness. (Imam Ali al-Qari 1014H, Shahrh al-Fiqh al-Akbar).   

As we see in the Nass (text) above, Imam Ali al-Qari explained that Imam Abu Hanifah did not reject the increase and decrease of Iman from the perspective of levels of certainty. Rather he held that all Muslims must have basic certainty regarding articles of faith.

Imam al-Maghnisawi also has a commentary on al-Fiqh al-Akbar. He explains that Imam Abu Hanifah’s statement is understood to refer to the articles of faith. Meaning all Muslims must believe in the same articles of faith. We cannot have a situation were a Muslim does not accept particular articles or doubts them.

وإيمان أهل السَّمَاء وَالْأَرْض لَا يزِيد وَلَا ينقص. من جهة المؤمن به. بل يزيد وينقص من جهة اليقين والتصديق. (شرح الفقه الأكبر)

The faith of the people of heaven and earth does not increase or decrease. From the perspective of what is being believed. Rather it increases and decreases from the perspective of certitude and depth of conviction. (Imam al-Maghnisawi 1000H, Sharh al-Fqih al-Akbar).

Al-Wasiyah  

In a different work Imam Abu Hanifah made a similar statement. Once again, he was denying the increase and decrease of Iman. However, he alludes to the basic belief a person must have to be considered a Muslim. Not the quality of faith. This is elucidated in the commentary by Imam al-Babarti.

والإيمان لا يزيد ولا ينقص، لأنه لا يُتصوَّر نقصانه إلاّ بزيادة الكفر، ولا يُتصوَّر زيادته إلاّ بنقصان الكفر ، وكيف يجوز أن يكون الشخص الواحد في حالة واحدة مؤمنا وكافرا ، والمؤمن مؤمن حقا ، والكافر كافر حقا ، وليس في الإيمان شك ، كما أنه ليس في الكفر شك ، لقوله تعالى : أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا. (وصية الإمام أبي حنيفة)

Iman does not increase or decrease. Since its decrease is not conceivable except with the increase of Kufr. And its increase is not conceivable except with the decrease of Kufr. How can it be possible for one person in the same situation to be a believer and a Kafir? The believer is an absolute believer. And the unbeliever is an absolute unbeliever. There is no doubt in faith, just as there is no doubt in Kufr, according to the Almighty’s saying: Those are the true believers. (Imam Abu Hanifah 150H, al-Wasiyah). 

المرادُ الزيادة من حيث ثمراتُ الإيمان وإشراقُ نورِهِ وضيائِهِ في القلوب بالأعمال الصالحة، إذ الإيمانُ له نورٌ وضياءٌ، قال الله تعالى: أفَمَنْ شَرَحَ اللهُ صَدْرَهُ للإسلامِ فَهُوَ على نُورٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِ. [الزمر: 22]. (شرح وصية الإمام أبي حنيفة)

What is meant is increase in terms of the fruits of faith and the shining of its light and radiance in the hearts due to good deeds. Since faith has light and radiance. Allah (Most High) said: The one for whom Allah opens his heart to Islam is upon light from his Lord. (Surah al-Zumar: 22). (Imam Akmal al-Deen al-Babarti 786H, Sharh al-Wasiyah).

Conclusion

As seen from the explanation and Nusoos (texts) above it is not true that Imam Abu Hanifah rejected the increase and decrease of Iman from the perspective of quality. Rather he accepted that the light or strength of faith does fluctuate.

However, he rejected the possibility of inconsistency of Iman regarding the articles of faith. Meaning all Muslims must believe in the same articles without doubt.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (14.01.2025)