rivers, abiding therein forever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. Those are the party of Allah. Indeed, the party of Allah are the successful.”

Thus, He has promised them Paradise. All agree that the promise of Paradise applies only when one fulfils what is commanded and refrains from what is prohibited. It follows that those in whose hearts He has inscribed faith and whom He has strengthened with a spirit from Him have fulfilled the obligations by which they merit what Allah has promised the righteous and God-fearing. This indicates that the sinful are not included in this promise. This verse also indicates that no believer shows affection to the disbelievers. Yet it is well known that many people know within themselves that affirmation remains in their hearts and that they have not disbelieved the Messenger, while nevertheless showing affection to some disbelievers.

The Salaf therefore say that abandoning outward obligations is evidence that the required faith is absent from the heart. This may, however, be due to the loss of the heart’s deeds—such as love for Allah and His Messenger, fear of Allah, and the like—and does not entail that no affirmation whatsoever remains in the heart. According to these people, however, whenever religious law denies someone’s faith, this indicates that there is absolutely no affirmation in his heart. The vast majority of rational people regard this as sophistry.

Likewise, Ibn Fūrak reported that Abū al-Hasan al-Ashʿarī said:

“Faith is the belief that the one conveying a report is truthful in what he reports—a belief that constitutes knowledge. There is also belief that does not constitute knowledge. Faith in Allah—which is belief in His truthfulness—is valid only when one knows that He is truthful in what He reports. This is possible only when one knows that He speaks. Knowledge that He speaks follows knowledge that He is living; knowledge that He is living follows knowledge that He acts; and knowledge that He acts follows knowledge of the act, namely, that the world is His act.”

He also said:

“Likewise, it entails knowing that He is powerful and possesses power, and that He is knowing and possesses