contrary to what is in their hearts, and Allah has declared in His Book that they are not denying what they know—that is, they are not denying it with their hearts, even though they are not believers who acknowledge and affirm it. (1) For with respect to a single matter a person may be devoid of both affirmation and denial, and kufr (disbelief) is broader than takdhib (denial): everyone who calls the Messenger a liar is an unbeliever, but not every unbeliever is a denier. Rather, the one who knows (2) his truthfulness and admits it, yet nonetheless hates him or opposes him, is an unbeliever; (3) and whoever turns away (4) so that he holds neither his truthfulness nor his falsehood as a conviction is also an unbeliever, (5) though he is not a denier. In the same way, someone who possesses knowledge of a thing may be free of denying it yet also lack the affirming that necessarily brings about the heart’s action, (6) even though he is not devoid of the mere cognitive recognition that is simply the heart’s awareness. (7)

As for the claim that a verbal attestation can arise in the heart independent of knowledge, this is precisely what those few who have deviated from the mainstream allege, and it is the very point under dispute.

For this reason al-Junayd ibn Muhammad (8) said, “Tawhid (affirmation of divine oneness) is the heart’s statement, and tawakkul (reliance on Allah) is the heart’s action.” (9)