so they said: “No one is a disbeliever unless the affirmation in his heart has disappeared.” They committed themselves to the view that anyone whom religious law judges to be a disbeliever has no knowledge whatsoever of Allah or His Messenger in his heart. For this reason, the vast majority of rational people rejected their view, saying: “This is obstinate denial and sophistry.”

They supported their position with Allah’s words:

“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day showing affection to those who oppose Allah and His Messenger,”

through His words:

“Those are the ones in whose hearts He has inscribed faith,” and the remainder of the verse.

They said: “This implies that those who do not act as faith requires have not had faith inscribed in their hearts.”

They said: “If it is said that this means they do not possess faith that suffices and is recognized as valid, or that it means they do not fulfil the obligations of faith or act as it requires, we reply: ‘This wording is general and cannot be restricted without evidence.’”

They should be answered as follows: This verse denies faith to those who show affection to those who oppose Allah and His Messenger. It also states that those who do not show affection to those who oppose Allah and His Messenger have had faith inscribed in their hearts by Allah, and that He has strengthened them with a spirit from Him. This supports the position of the Salaf: faith necessarily includes the heart’s love for Allah and His Messenger and hatred of those who oppose Allah and His Messenger.

Furthermore, the verse does not indicate that the knowledge in their hearts that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger disappears, leaving nothing of it. The faith inscribed in the heart is not merely knowledge and affirmation; rather, it comprises both the heart’s affirmation and the heart’s deeds. Hence He said:

“And He strengthened them with a spirit from Him and will admit them to gardens beneath which flow