Certainty is the highest degree of faith in Allah, and one of the most distinctive qualities of the people of piety and excellence. Allah describes the people who possess unwavering certainty in Him in Surah Luqman, saying:
”Those who establish regular Prayer, and give regular Charity, and have (in their hearts) the assurance of the Hereafter. (4) These are on (true) guidance from their Lord: and these are the ones who will prosper. (5)” (الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ. أُولَئِكَ عَلَى هُدًى مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ). Yaqeen is the firmness of knowledge in the heart—knowledge that does not shift, change, or waver. It is a tranquility that pacifies the heart to the seashore when waves wind fiercely. It is to believe in Allah with absolute certainty—believing that Allah is his Lord, the only true object of worship, that none deserves worship except Him, and that He is the Creator of all things. When certainty fills the heart of the believer, it acts upon what it truly believes, and becomes free from the whispers of Satan and untouched by fear.
Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned in Madarij As-Salikeen (The Stations of the Seekers) and said; ”Certainty holds the same place in faith as the soul does in the body. Through it the knowledgeable rise in rank, for it is what the competitors strive for, and toward it the diligent hasten. Together with love, it forms the two pillars of faith upon which it is built and by which it stands. These two nourish all deeds—of the heart and of the limbs—flowing from them; and when they weaken, deeds weaken, and when they strengthen, deeds become strong. All the stations of those journeying to Allah begin with love and certainty, for from them spring every righteous action, every beneficial knowledge, and every upright guidance.” For that reason, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ”O people, the people are not given anything better in this world than certainty of faith and well-being, so ask Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, for them.” And if certainty is among the degrees of faith, there is no doubt that it is subject to the same fluctuations of strength and weakness as faith itself. Therefore, a Muslim must know what strengthens his certainty in Allah and strive to pursue it, and know what weakens his certainty in his Lord and take care to avoid it.
How can a Muslim attain the level of certainty (Yaqeen)?
1) Contemplation of Allah’s creation: Contemplating the creation of Allah will inevitably lead Muslims to firm certainty in the existence of Allah, and will fill the heart with awe and reverence for Him. Therefore, Allah has commanded us to constantly reflect upon His creations. He has stated that those with sound intellects, and pure hearts are the ones who ponder His signs. Allah mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah:164; ”Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and the day; in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind; in the rain which Allah Sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth; in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they Trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth;- (Here) indeed are Signs for a people that are wise.” (إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنْفَعُ النَّاسَ وَمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِنْ كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ).
2) Reciting the Qur’an with reflection: The Qur’an is the speech of Allah Almighty to His creation, and His proof over His servants. Therefore, whoever seeks certainty in Allah should listen to His words and reflect upon His verses, Allah said in Surah Al-Jathiah:20; ”These are clear evidences to men and a Guidance and Mercy to those of assured Faith.” (هَذَا بَصَائِرُ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ). The Holy Quran brings glad tidings to the souls, opens the chests with joy, makes the skin shiver, and moves the hearts profoundly. The Qur’an is a light in the heart, causing faith and certainty to blossom within it.
3) Studying the life (Seerah) of the Prophet (ﷺ): The life of the Prophet (ﷺ) is filled with numerous events and narrations that reflect his deep and unwavering certainty in Allah. In the Seerah, we find how the Prophet ﷺ taught the companions about certainty. He taught Abdullah ibn Abbas about certainty by telling him; ”O boy! I will instruct you in some matters. Be watchful of Allah (Commandments of Allah), He will preserve you. Safeguard His Rights, He will be ever with you. If you beg, beg of Him Alone; and if you need assistance, supplicate to Allah for help. And remember that if all the people gather to benefit you, they will not be able to benefit you except that which Allah had foreordained (for you); and if all of them gather to do harm to you, they will not be able to afflict you with anything other than that which Allah had pre-destined against you. The pens had been lifted and the ink had dried up”.
Thus, certainty in Allah is the pinnacle of faith, guiding the believer through life with tranquility and trust. May Allah grant us firm certainty in Him and fill our hearts with His love and light.
