It is well known that disbelief and faith concern both the outward and the inward. In this respect, people fall into four categories:

The first category: a believer both outwardly and inwardly.

The second category: a disbeliever both outwardly and inwardly.

The third category: a believer outwardly but not inwardly—the hypocrite. These are the categories Allah mentions at the beginning of Sūrat al-Baqarah and elsewhere in the Quran.

As for the fourth category, it comprises those who outwardly express disbelief in word or deed under compulsion, while their hearts remain firm in faith. An example is the man from Pharaoh’s household who concealed his faith out of fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs, as are those concerning whom this verse was revealed:

“Whoever disbelieves in Allah after having believed—except one who is compelled while his heart remains firm in faith—but whoever opens his heart to disbelief, upon such people is Allah’s wrath, and for them is a tremendous punishment.” [al-Nahl: 106]

This exception therefore indicates that anyone who outwardly expresses disbelief in word or deed without being compelled, but rather in jest, to ingratiate himself with others, or in pursuit of some gain, is among those who have opened their hearts to disbelief. This is because he has freely chosen the disbelief he outwardly expressed, and such a choice can only be made when the heart is open to it. He is therefore among those who disbelieve both outwardly and inwardly. Hence Allah, Exalted is He, says: