in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of faith.” This shows that faith can shrink until, within the heart, it weighs no more than a mustard seed. In the same vein, the Almighty says, “On that day they were closer to disbelief than to faith” (Qur’an 3:167), demonstrating that faith can decrease until a person stands nearer to disbelief. Likewise, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever among you witnesses an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.” This indicates that faith can weaken, that is, decline. Thus faith rises through obedience and falls through disobedience.

His words “Its pillars are six” mean the essential supports upon which it stands; if they are lost—or even one of them is lost—faith collapses. The six pillars are:

1. To believe in Allah. This first pillar—faith in Allah—embraces all three categories of monotheism: affirming that Allah, exalted is He, is One, Unique, Absolute, having no partner in His lordship, none in His right to be worshipped, and none in His names and attributes.