faith in Him is obligatory.

Al-Kalbi said: “Faith” means the word of tawhid (the declaration of Allah’s oneness), namely the testimony that there is no god but Allah.

Muqatil said: It means what was sent down to Muhammad—namely, the Quran. It was also said: “Whoever rejects faith” means whoever declares unlawful what is lawful and lawful what is unlawful; his deeds have then come to nothing, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers. Ibn Abbas said: He has lost the reward.