Question:
If one has low imaan and feels nothing and wants to replenish it, and then tries to watch YouTube lectures or search on the internet on how to feel sincere again or replenish imaan or stop feeling empty, does this constitute as shirk since Allah is the Only One that could replenish faith? Does this apply to asking questions like what i am doing here? What if the intention is that they know that the lectures and sites are just means of achieving knowledge on how to regain imaan but the real source is Allah, and that they are only searching on what steps the person has to take in order to be bestowed faith by Allah? What if a person never had this intention/thought and just searched on solutions on the internet as first nature? Does this apply to anybody watching islamic lectures for similar personal problems or reminders or knowledge?
Answer
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh
It is the sunnah of Allah Ta’ala to give reminders, guidelines and modes of reconnecting with Allah.
We may travel on the road and may see scenic beauty, but it will remind of Allah. We may sit in company of parents and enjoy the comfort, but deep down we will be thanking Allah for giving us this blessing. All these mediums are Allah’s way of reminding us of Himself.
A good speech, reminder and discourse is also one of the means Allah has given to remind us of Allah. This reminder is nothing but the replenishing of the Imaan.
Ahadeeth are replete with encouragement to take guidance and reminder from all these avenues. It is Allah who gives tawfeeq and replenishing of the Imaan from such gatherings. Say thanks to Allah for Allah has made so many ways we can renew our Imaan.
May Allah Ta’ala keep you connected with Himself, and may Allah make these avenues, along with others, a means for you to gain that Imaan, Ameen.
With that being said, always remember that a heart to heart connection with Ahl Allah is always better than a generic guidance through internet searches in social and emotional imaaniyat. As for fiqhi aspects, you should always have a scholar of repute to ask instead of searching random websites to get your answers.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal bin Abdul Hameed al-Mahmudi
www.fatwa.ca