he openly professed Islam, would harm him, or for a similar reason, then he may remain silent while retaining faith in his heart, like someone compelled to utter words of unbelief. Allah Most High says:

“Except for one who is compelled while his heart remains firm in faith. But those who open their hearts to unbelief—upon them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a tremendous punishment.”

This verse is among the proofs that the position of Jahm and his followers is false. For Allah includes everyone who utters words of unbelief among those subject to the punishment threatened against unbelievers, except someone who is compelled while his heart remains firm in faith.

If it is objected, “But Allah Most High says, ‘But those who open their hearts to unbelief,’” the response is: this agrees with the beginning of the verse, for whoever disbelieves without compulsion has opened his heart to unbelief. Otherwise, the beginning of the verse would contradict its end. If “whoever disbelieves” meant only someone who opens his heart to unbelief—which occurs without compulsion—the exception would not have been confined to someone who is compelled. Rather, it would have had to include both the compelled and the uncompelled, provided they had not opened their hearts to unbelief. When someone willingly utters words of unbelief, he has opened his heart to them, and that utterance is unbelief. This is also indicated by the words of Allah Most High:

“The hypocrites fear lest a surah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, ‘Go on mocking; Allah will surely bring out what you fear.’”

“If you ask them, they will surely say, ‘We were only talking idly and joking.’ Say, ‘Was it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking?’”

“Make no excuses; you have disbelieved after having believed. If We pardon a group of you, We will punish another group because they were evildoers.”

Thus, He states that they disbelieved after having believed, despite their saying, “We uttered words of unbelief without believing in them; we were only talking idly and joking.” He makes clear that mocking Allah’s verses is unbelief. This can only come from someone who has opened his heart to such speech. Had there been faith in his heart, it would have prevented him from speaking these words.