Ziyadat al-Iman wa Nuqsanuhu wa Hukm al-Istithna Fihi
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- Maktabat Dār al-Qalam wa-al-Kitāb
Ziyadat al-Iman wa Nuqsanuhu wa Hukm al-Istithna Fihi (The Increase and Decrease of Faith and the Ruling on Making Exception in It) is a theological treatise on Islamic creed by Abd al-Razzaq ibn Abd al-Muhsin al-Badr, examining whether faith (iman) fluctuates and the validity of saying "I am a believer, if Allah wills" (al-istithna' fi al-iman).
Background and Publication
The work was completed on 23 Jumada al-Ula 1411 AH (10 December 1990 CE) as an academic thesis under the supervision of Ali ibn Nasir Faqihi. The author also read the work to his father, the hadith scholar Abd al-Muhsin al-Abbad, incorporating his remarks. Its first edition was published in Riyadh by Dar al-Qalam wa-l-Kitab in 1416 AH / 1996 CE.
Structure and Contents
The book consists of an introduction, a preliminary chapter (tamhid), three main parts (abwab), and a conclusion:
- Preliminary Chapter (Tamhid): Covers the linguistic and legal (shar'i) definitions of iman, reviewing the stances of theological sects, as well as the linguistic definitions of increase (ziyadah) and decrease (nuqsan).
- Part One: Explores the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jama'ah regarding the increase and decrease of faith. It spans four chapters: scriptural proofs from the Qur'an and Sunnah along with statements of early scholars; the aspects through which faith varies; the causes behind the increase and decrease of faith; and whether Islam itself increases and decreases.
- Part Two: Discusses dissenting doctrines concerning the variation of faith across four chapters: those who affirmed increase but withheld judgment on decrease; those who affirmed increase but denied decrease; those who rejected both increase and decrease (analyzing their arguments, doubts, and interpretations of texts); and the origins of this disagreement, addressing whether the dispute stems from differing definitions of faith and whether it is substantive or merely verbal.
- Part Three: Addresses the theological issue of istithna' (qualifying one's faith with in sha' Allah). It contains three chapters: the stance of Ahl al-Sunnah, their reconciling of early reports, their disapproval of asking "Are you a believer?", and making an exception regarding Islam; the arguments of those who held istithna' to be strictly obligatory; and the arguments of those who deemed it impermissible, providing refutations for both opposing views.
- Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and core theological deductions of the research.
Methodology and Doctrines
The author adopts the classical methodology of the early traditionalists (Ahl al-Hadith), drawing on the writings of Ibn Taymiyyah and classical heresiographers. Linguistically, the author favors defining iman as iqrar (affirmative acknowledgment) rather than mere tasdiq (assent), arguing that iqrar encompasses both the heart's belief in truth and its compliance. In Islamic law, the work defines faith as comprising five components: belief of the heart, speech of the tongue, actions of the heart, actions of the tongue, and physical deeds of the limbs.
The author argues that any text proving an increase in faith inherently implies its decrease by logical necessity. He critiques non-Sunni groups, distinguishing between the Murji'ah—who excluded actions from the essence of faith—and the Kharijites and Mu'tazila, who included actions but treated faith as an indivisible entity that completely vanishes if partially compromised.
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