Say, ‘You have not believed; rather, say, “We have submitted.”’” Up to His words:
“The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, then do not doubt, and strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is they who are truthful.”
Thus, He denied faith to anyone other than these. Allah Most High also says:
“They say, ‘We believe in Allah and the Messenger, and we obey.’ Then a group of them turns away after that. Those are not believers.”
“Turning away” means turning away from obedience, as Allah Most High says:
“You will be called to face a people of great military might, whom you will fight unless they submit. If you obey, Allah will grant you a good reward; but if you turn away as you turned away before, He will punish you with a painful punishment.”
Allah Most High also says:
“He neither believed nor prayed, but denied and turned away.”
And Allah Most High says:
“None will burn in it except the most wretched, who denied and turned away.”
Likewise, Moses and Aaron said:
“It has indeed been revealed to us that punishment will fall upon whoever denies and turns away.”
It is therefore clear that “turning away” is not denial; rather, it is turning away from obedience. People are required to believe the Messenger in what he conveys and obey him in what he commands. The opposite of believing is denying, and the opposite of obedience is turning away. Hence He says:
“He neither believed nor prayed, but denied and turned away.”
Allah Most High also says:
“They say, ‘We believe in Allah and the Messenger, and we obey.’ Then a group of them turns away after that. Those are not believers.”
Thus, He denied faith to those who turned away from acting, even though they had made the verbal profession. Allah Most High says:
“The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger and, when they are with him on a matter of common concern, do not leave until they have asked his permission.”
He also says:
“The believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned.”
There are therefore many passages in the Quran and Sunnah that deny faith to those who do not act, just as they deny faith to the hypocrite. As for someone who possesses knowledge in his heart while outwardly displaying hostility and opposition,