Some scholars consider faith to be a total and indivisible concept, so they hold that a person has to be either a believer or an unbeliever: there can be no intermediate stage, and faith is therefore constant and neither increases nor decreases. But the majority of scholars link faith with good actions and consider it as varying in degrees, in proportion to these ‘actions. In fact, this is the view expressly stated in the Holy Qur’an: “… and when the revelations of God are recited unto them they increase their faith”(Qur’an;8:2); “As for those who believe, it has increased them in faith”(Qur’an;9:124); “… and all this but increased their faith and their readiness to surrender (themselves unto God)”(Qur’an;33:22).
Negligence and Belief:
Scholars of the traditional school of thought all agree that someone who commits a forbidden act but accepts it as forbidden, or he neglects some thing obligatory , but accepts it as obligatory, he is entitled for punishment in the Hereafter but he will not be deemed an infidel nor he be committed to hell for ever. It is with this significance and meaning that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that an adulterer is not a believer at the time he commits adultery. In other words, he fails to realize that God is watching him, for if he were aware of this he would refrain from such an act out of fear and modesty. Someone planning an adulterous affair may be caught by his father in the nick of time. In this case, will his sense of modesty stop him from fulfilling his plan? If his sense of modesty and respect for his father can prevent him from carrying out such an affair, it will become all the more imperative when he thinks of God.
Fruits of Faith:
Actions performed with sincerity are the fruits of faith. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) summed up this point eloquently and precisely in the following Hadith: “Worship God as though you see Him. If you do not see Him, He verily sees you.
Dhikr (Remembrance of God):
One of the fruits of faith is to remember Allah (Dhikr) at all times. To recollect, having read about a very pious man who asked his uncle, also a pious and God-fearing individual with whom he had spent his early years: “Uncle, what should I do in order to become like you?” “Say the following phrase three times a day: Verily God is looking at me; verily God is observing me!” his uncle told him. He did so for a week, and then his uncle asked him to repeat it three times after each prayer for another week, and finally he taught him to repeat it straight from his heart without physically pronouncing the words. Dhikr is the subject to which the Holy Qur’an most draws our attention, and no other subject has been emphasized so much, and no other person has been commended and praised by God in the Holy Book as the one who abides by Dhikr. Linguistically the word Dhikr has two meanings: Dhikr from the heart and Dhikr through speech, both of which have; been used in the Holy Qur’an. Therefore if you wish to be included among those who are constantly God-conscious, you should remember Him from the bottom of you heart and with the power of your intellect. Your efforts with regard to this should be reflected in your conduct and behaviour wherever you are: on your own, in the company of friends, in the street – and whatever mood you are in. You should only do what is acceptable to God.