outward faith, on which rulings in this world are based, does not necessarily entail the inward faith that makes a person among the blessed in the Hereafter. For the hypocrites referred to in the words:
“‘We believe in Allah and the Last Day,’ but they are not believers,”
are outwardly believers: they pray with the people, fast, perform Hajj, and fight in military campaigns. Muslims intermarry with them and inherit from them, and they inherit from Muslims, as was the case with the hypocrites during the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not apply to the hypocrites the rulings applicable to those who openly professed disbelief, whether regarding marriage, inheritance, or similar matters. Indeed, when ‘Abd Allāh ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl—one of the most notorious hypocrites—died, his son ‘Abd Allāh, one of the finest believers, inherited from him. Likewise, whenever any of them died, their believing heirs inherited from them; and when an heir of one of them died, they inherited from him alongside the Muslims.
The jurists have differed over whether the hypocritical unbeliever who conceals his unbelief may inherit and be inherited from, holding two views. The correct view is that he may inherit and be inherited from, even if he is known to be inwardly a hypocrite, as was the practice of the Companions during the Prophet’s lifetime, peace and blessings be upon him. This is because inheritance is based on outward allegiance, not on the love within people’s hearts. If it depended on that, there would be no way to ascertain it. When the rationale underlying a ruling is hidden or variable, the ruling is attached to its presumed indicator: here, the allegiance to Muslims that a person outwardly displays. Thus, the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him:
“A Muslim does not inherit from a disbeliever, nor does a disbeliever inherit from a Muslim,”
did not include the hypocrites, even though in the Hereafter they will be in the lowest depths of the Fire. Rather, they inherited and were inherited from. Likewise, in matters of rights and prescribed punishments, they were treated like other Muslims. Allah has stated that they pray and give zakah, yet despite this,