Does Islam increase and decrease?


Islam - when viewed from the aspect of it including all the various levels of the religion, or the outward apparent actions – increases and decreases. Ibn Taymiyyah said in his debating of Muhammad ibn Nasr al-Marwazee regarding his claim that Islam and Imaan are in tandem in every case, “As for what he has mentioned that Islam decreases in the same manner that Imaan decreases, then this also is correct, as has been indicated by authentic hadeeths, for whoever decreases in something from their prayer, zakat, fasting, or pilgrimage, then they have decreased in their Islam accordingly.” [178] “Majmoo’ al-Fataawa” (7/414) And whoever perfects these matters and comes with them in the correct manner then their Islam has been increased and perfected. As for whoever says that “Islam is the statement” and they intend by that the foundation of Islam or the Two Testimonies of Islam or the speech, then in this there is no room for increase or decrease. “The Islam in which there are no exception made, is the Two Testimonies of Islam upon the tongue only, for it does not increase nor decrease, thus there can be no exceptions made in it.” [179] “Majmoo’ al-Fataawa” (7/259) | “Ziyaadatul-Imaan wa Nuqsaanihi wa Hukm al-Istithnaa’ feeh” – ‘Abd ar-Razzaaq al-Badr (p.267 and what follows it)