the realities of faith. For if a man is fought until he accepts Islam—as the disbelievers used to be fought until they accepted Islam—or accepts Islam after being taken captive, or hears about Islam and comes to embrace it, he is a Muslim committed to obeying the Messenger, although knowledge of the realities of faith has not yet entered his heart. Such knowledge comes only to someone for whom its means have been made available: through understanding the Quran, through close association with people of faith and following their example in word and deed, or through special guidance that Allah grants him.
A person may perceive aspects of Islam’s excellence that draw him to embrace it. Even if he was born into it and raised among its people, he loves it because some of its merits and some of the faults of the disbelievers have become apparent to him. Yet many such people may fall into doubt when they hear objections that cast doubt upon Islam, and they do not strive in Allah’s cause. Such a person is therefore not included in His words:
“The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, then never doubt, and strive with their wealth and their lives in Allah’s cause.”
Yet he is not inwardly a hypocrite concealing disbelief. Thus, he is neither among those who are truly believers nor among the hypocrites. Nor is he among those who commit major sins. Rather, he performs outward acts of obedience but does not fulfil the realities of faith that would make him truly a believer.
Such a person possesses some faith, but he is not among those who are truly believers, and he is rewarded for the acts of obedience he performs. Hence Allah Most High says:
“Rather, say, ‘We have submitted.’”
Hence He also says:
“They regard their acceptance of Islam as a favour to you. Say, ‘Do not regard your acceptance of Islam as a favour to me. Rather, it is Allah who has favoured you by guiding you to faith, if you are truthful.’”
That is, truthful in your claim:
“We believe.”
He is saying: if you are truthful, then it is Allah who has favoured you by guiding you to faith; and this