304 — Khalaf ibn ʿAmr al-Ukbarī informed us, saying: al-Humaydī narrated to us, saying: I heard Wakīʿ say, “Ahl al-Sunnah say, ‘Faith consists of profession and deeds.’ The Murji'ah say, ‘Faith consists of profession alone.’ The Jahmiyyah say, ‘Faith is knowledge.’”

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn said: Whoever says that faith consists of profession without deeds is told: “You have rejected the Quran and the sunnah, rejected the position held by all the scholars, departed from the position of the Muslims, and disbelieved in Almighty Allah.” If he asks, “How so?” ⦗685⦘ he is told: “After the believers had demonstrated the sincerity of their faith, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, commanded them to pray, give zakat, fast, perform Hajj, wage jihad, and fulfill many other obligations that would take too long to enumerate—all while they remain intensely fearful that neglecting them will bring the Fire and severe punishment. Thus, whoever claims that Allah Most High imposed upon the believers what we have mentioned but did not require them to act, and that He was satisfied with mere profession from them, has opposed Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and His Messenger—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him.

“When the religion of Islam was brought to completion through deeds, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said:

‘Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and approved Islam as your religion.’ [al-Mā'idah: 3]

The Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—said, ‘Islam is built upon five,’ and he—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—said, ‘Whoever abandons prayer has disbelieved.’”

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn—may Allah Most High have mercy upon him—said: Whoever says that faith is knowledge alone, without profession or deeds, has advanced a claim even graver than that of the person who says that faith is profession alone. His position necessarily entails that Iblīs was a believer, for Iblīs knew his Lord. He said:

‘My Lord, because You caused me to stray…’ [al-Hijr: 39]

And he said:

‘My Lord, then grant me respite…’ [al-Hijr: 36]

It also necessarily entails ⦗686⦘ that the Jews, because they know Allah and His Messenger, are believers. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said:

‘They recognize him as they recognize their own sons.’ [al-Baqarah: 146]

He, Mighty and Majestic, has thus informed us that they know Allah Most High and His Messenger. They are also asked: “What, then, is the distinction between Islam and disbelief?” We know that the disbelievers recognize through their reason that Allah created the heavens, the earth, and all that lies between them; that none but Allah, Mighty and Majestic, delivers them from the darknesses of land and sea; and that when hardships befall them, they call upon none but Allah. According to the position of those who say that faith is knowledge, all such people would therefore be believers. May Allah’s curse be upon whoever espouses this repugnant doctrine.

Rather, all praise is due to Allah, we affirm a position that accords with the Book, the sunnah, and the scholars of the Muslims—men whose names no one recoils from mentioning and whom we have already discussed: faith is knowledge in the heart, comprising certain affirmation; profession by the tongue; and deeds performed by the limbs. No one is a believer except through all ⦗687⦘ three of these, and none can take the place of another. All praise is due to Allah for this.