They may, moreover, neglect the obligations imposed upon them without having committed major sins for which they would be punished like those guilty of major sins; rather, they are punished for neglecting their obligations. Such people include the Bedouins mentioned in the verse and others like them. They said, “We believe,” without fulfilling what they were commanded to do, inwardly or outwardly. Neither had the reality of faith entered their hearts, nor had they striven in Allah’s cause, although the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had called them to strive.

Alternatively, they may be among those guilty of major sins who are liable to the threatened punishment, such as those who pray, pay zakat, and strive in Allah’s cause, yet commit major sins. These people do not leave Islam; rather, they are Muslims. There is, however, a terminological disagreement concerning them: may they be called believers? We shall discuss this, Allah willing.

As for the “Khawārij” and the “Mu‘tazilah,” they exclude them from the designations of both faith and Islam, since they regard faith and Islam as one and the same. Thus, in their view, whoever leaves faith also leaves Islam. The Khawārij, however, say that they are disbelievers, whereas the Mu‘tazilah say that they are neither Muslims nor disbelievers, placing them in an intermediate position between the two.

The evidence that the Islam mentioned in the verse is an Islam for which they are rewarded, and that they are not hypocrites, is His saying:

“The Bedouins say, ‘We believe.’ Say, ‘You have not believed; rather, say, “We have submitted,” for faith has not yet entered your hearts.’”

He then says:

“If you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not diminish the reward of your deeds in the least.”

This indicates that if they obey Allah and His Messenger while possessing this Islam, Allah will reward them for their obedience. The hypocrite’s deeds, however, are of no avail in the Hereafter.

Furthermore, He describes them in terms contrary to those used to describe the hypocrites. He describes the hypocrites as having disbelief in their hearts and concealing the opposite of what they outwardly display, as the Most High says:

“And among the people