And the Quran explicitly affirms this increase in several verses, as in His words, Exalted is He:

“The believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, and whose faith increases when His verses are recited to them.”

This increase occurs whenever the verses are recited to them, at whatever time; it is not their assent to them when they were first revealed. This is something the believer experiences: when the verses are recited to him, his understanding of the Quran and knowledge of its meanings bring into his heart knowledge pertaining to faith that was not there before. It is as though he had never heard the verse until that moment. His heart also acquires a desire for good and a fear of evil that were not there before. Thus his knowledge of Allah and his love of obeying Him increase. This is an increase in faith.

Allah, Exalted is He, also says:

“Those to whom people said, ‘The people have gathered against you, so fear them,’ but this increased them in faith, and they said, ‘Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.’”

This increase occurred when they were threatened with the enemy, not when a verse was revealed. They increased in certainty, reliance upon Allah, steadfastness in jihad, and devotion to Allah alone, fearing not created beings but the Creator alone.

Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“Whenever a surah is revealed, some of them say, ‘Which of you has this increased in faith?’ As for those who believe, it increases them in faith, and they rejoice.”

“But as for those in whose hearts is a disease, it adds impurity to their impurity.”

This “increase” is not merely assent to the fact that Allah revealed the surah. Rather, it increases their faith according to what it entails. If it commands jihad or something else, their eagerness increases; if it prohibits something, they refrain from it and come to dislike it. Hence He says:

“And they rejoice.”

Rejoicing is something beyond mere assent. Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“Those to whom We have given the Scripture rejoice in what has been revealed to you, while among the factions are those who reject part of it.”

Rejoicing in this is part of the increase in faith. Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“Say, ‘In Allah’s bounty and His mercy—in that let them rejoice.’”

And He, Exalted is He, says:

“And on that Day