are those who say, ‘We believe in Allah and the Last Day,’ but they are not believers. They seek to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive none but themselves, though they do not realize it. In their hearts is a disease, and Allah has increased their disease”—and the following verses.

He also says:

“When the hypocrites come to you, they say, ‘We testify that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.’ Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger, and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars.”

Thus, in the Quran, He describes the hypocrites as liars who say with their mouths what is not in their hearts, and as having disbelief in their hearts for which they will be punished. He does not describe these people in any such terms. Rather, when they claimed to believe, He said to the Messenger:

“Say, ‘You have not believed; rather, say, “We have submitted,” for faith has not yet entered your hearts. If you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not diminish the reward of your deeds in the least.’”

Denying them the unqualified designation of faith does not entail that they are hypocrites, as illustrated by His saying:

“They ask you about the spoils of war. Say, ‘The spoils belong to Allah and the Messenger.’ So fear Allah, set matters right among yourselves, and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you are believers.”

Then He says:

“The believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, whose faith increases when His verses are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Lord; those who establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them. It is they who are truly believers.”

It is well known that not everyone who lacks these qualities is thereby a hypocrite destined for the lowest depths of the Fire. Rather, such a person has not fulfilled the requirements of obligatory faith, and so the designation is denied to him, just as other designations are denied to someone who neglects some of what is required of him. Likewise, the Bedouins had not fulfilled the requirements of obligatory faith, so the designation was denied to them for that reason, even though they were Muslims possessing a measure of faith for which they would be rewarded. This is the condition of most people when they first enter Islam; indeed, it is the condition of most of those who have not come to know