Did you know that there are Muslims who claim to have the same level of faith as the angels and prophets?

Yes, there are. They are a group of innovators called the Murji'ah. The Murji'ah claim that Eemaan (faith) is one level, it does not increase or decrease. Based on this, they claim that a person either has eemaan or not; so whoever has it, he has the same amount of eemaan as the angels and the prophets!

Of course, the Murji'ah's beliefs are rejected by many Verses in the Qur'aan and narrations from the Messenger that prove that eemaan has levels and it fluxuates due to a person's obedience or disobedience. For example, Allaah says [5]:

( Verily the believers are only those whose hearts tremble at the mention of Allaah, and when His Verses are recited they are increased in eemaan, and they put their trust in Allaah )

So the Qur'aan proves clearly that eemaan increases. As for the decrease of eemaan, Sufyaan ibn 'Uyaynah was asked, "Does eemaan increase and decrease?"

He replied, "Don't you read the Qur'aan: ( So their eemaan was increased ) in so many places?"

Then it was said, "But does it decrease?"

He replied, "Nothing increases except that it also decreases!" [6]

This shows how ridiculous it is to believe that eemaan does not increase or decrease, which implies that the drunk, fornicating Muslim has the same level of eemaan as the righteous Muslims, the Prophets, and even the Angels!

[5] the meaning of Soorah Al-Anfaal (8:3)
[6] It was collected by Al-Aajurree in his book Ash-Sharee'ah (#240).

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