Al-Furqān bayna Awliyāʾ al-Raḥmān wa-Awliyāʾ al-Shayṭān - Ibn Taimiya - (28)

making it clear that they were a mixed lot whose disbelief was predominant, while others may be a mixture in whom faith predominates.

Now, since the friends of Allah are the believers who fear Him, a servant’s share of that friendship is measured by the degree of his faith and piety. Whoever attains a more complete faith and greater piety enjoys a more perfect friendship with Allah. People therefore differ in their nearness to Allah in proportion to their differences in faith and piety, and they likewise differ in their enmity to Allah in proportion to their disbelief and hypocrisy.

Allah the Exalted says:

“When a surah is revealed, some of them ask, ‘Which of you has this increased in faith?’ As for those who believe, it increases them in faith and they rejoice. But as for those in whose hearts is a disease, it adds filth to their filth, and they die while they are disbelievers.” ⦗Q 9:124–125⦘

He also says: “Postponing the sacred months is but an increase in disbelief.” ⦗Q 9:37⦘

And He says: “Those who are guided—He increases them in guidance and grants them their God-consciousness.” ⦗Q 47:17⦘

Concerning the hypocrites He says: “In their hearts is a disease, so Allah increases their disease.” ⦗Q 2:10⦘

Thus the Almighty makes it clear that a single individual may possess a share of Allah’s friendship in proportion to his faith, and at the same time a share of Allah’s enmity in proportion to his disbelief and hypocrisy.

He says further: “That the believers may increase in faith.” ⦗Q 74:31⦘

And: “So that they may grow in faith along with the faith they already have.” ⦗Q 48:4⦘

فعلم أنهم مخلطون، وكفرهم أقوى، وغيرهم يكون مخلطا وإيمانه أقوى. وإذا كان أولياء الله هم المؤمنون المتقون، فبحسب إيمان العبد وتقواه تكون ولايته لله تعالى، فمن كن أكمل إيمانا وتقوى، كان أكمل ولاية لله، فالناس متفاضلون في ولاية الله عز وجل، بحسب تفاضلهم في الايمان والتقوى، وكذلك يتفاضلون في عداوة الله، بحسب تفاضلهم في الكفر والنفاق، قال الله تعالى: {وإذا ما أنزلت سورة فمنهم من يقول أيكم زادته هذه إيمانا فأما الذين آمنوا فزادتهم إيمانا وهم يستبشرون * وأما الذين في قلوبهم مرض فزادتهم رجسا إلى رجسهم وماتوا وهم كافرون} وقال تعالى: {إنما النسيء زيادة في الكفر} وقال تعالى: {والذين اهتدوا زادهم هدى وآتاهم تقواهم} ، وقال تعالى في المنافقين {في قلوبهم مرض فزادهم الله مرضا} ، فبين سبحانه وتعالى: أن الشخص الواحد، قد يكون فيه قسط من ولاية الله، بحسب إيمانه، وقد يكون فيه قسط من عداوة الله، بحسب كفره ونفاقه. وقال تعالى: {ويزداد الذين آمنوا إيمانا} ، وقال تعالى: {ليزدادوا إيمانا مع إيمانهم} .