of the Fire; rather, they enter Islam and obedience without harbouring rejection of the Messenger or hostility towards him in their hearts. Yet their hearts have neither been illuminated by the light of faith nor gained clear insight into it. Such a person’s Islam may improve until he becomes one of the believers, as happened with most of those set free after the conquest. He may instead remain among the sinful members of the Muslim community. Among them is one who becomes a doubting hypocrite:
“When Munkar and Nakīr ask him, ‘What do you say about this man who was sent among you?’ he replies, ‘Ah, ah! I do not know. I heard people saying something, so I said it too.’”
The statement of those who said that they embraced Islam without fighting has already been mentioned: their Islam was better than that of others; Allah condemned them only because they presented their acceptance of Islam as a favour, and revealed concerning them, “Do not invalidate your deeds”; and they belong to the category of those guilty of major sins.
Furthermore, He says:
“But say, ‘We have submitted,’ for faith has not yet entered your hearts.”
The expression “not yet” is used only to negate something whose occurrence is expected and anticipated, as in His words:
“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise when Allah has not yet made evident those among you who strive and those who are steadfast?”
And His words:
“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise when the like of what befell those who passed away before you has not yet come upon you?”
Thus, His words, “Faith has not yet entered your hearts,” indicate that faith is expected to enter their hearts. A person who initially enters Islam may not yet have faith in his heart, but it develops later, as stated in the hadith:
“A man would embrace Islam at the beginning of the day out of desire for worldly gain, yet before the day ended, Islam would be dearer to him than everything upon which the sun rises.”
For this reason, faith subsequently entered the hearts of most of those who embraced Islam out of hope and fear. And His words, “But say, ‘We have submitted’”