yet I do not know its interpretation nor its explanation.’ Such a person is not an unbeliever, for he believes in the revealed wording and is only mistaken in exegesis; a slip in interpretation does not remove a person from the faith. Likewise, one who is ignorant while living in a land of polytheism is not to be declared a disbeliever.

I then asked him, ‘If a man living among idolaters acknowledges Islam in general, yet is ignorant of all the obligatory acts and rulings, does not affirm the Book or any of the Islamic ordinances, but does affirm Allah Most High and belief in Him—without affirming any of the detailed tenets of faith—and he dies, is he a believer?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’

I said, ‘And if he knows absolutely nothing, acts upon none of it, and merely professes faith, and then dies?’ He answered, ‘He is a believer.’

Abu Ḥanīfa’s definition of faith, the consigning of deeds to Allah Most High, and the principle that each person is facilitated for that for which he was created:

I said to Abū Ḥanīfa, ‘Tell me about faith.’ He said, ‘It is to testify that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner; to testify to His angels, His scriptures, His messengers, His Paradise and His Fire, the Resurrection, and what it brings of good and evil.’