submission to Allah and acting for His sake do not depend on this particular faith. A person finds this distinction within himself and recognizes it in others. In general, when people embrace Islam after disbelief or are born into Islam, adhere to its laws, and obey Allah and His Messenger, they are Muslims and possess faith in a general sense. Yet the reality of faith enters their hearts only gradually, if Allah grants them this. Otherwise, many people never attain certainty or engage in jihad. Were doubts raised in their minds, they would doubt; were they commanded to engage in jihad, they would not do so. They are neither disbelievers nor hypocrites. Rather, their hearts lack the knowledge, understanding, and certainty needed to ward off doubt, and their love for Allah and His Messenger is not strong enough for them to give it precedence over family and wealth. If such people are spared trials and die, they will enter Paradise.

But if they are tested by someone who presents specious arguments that cause them to doubt, then unless Allah blesses them with what dispels that doubt, they become doubtful and pass into a form of hypocrisy. Likewise, if jihad becomes an individual obligation upon them and they do not undertake it, they become subject to the threatened punishment. Thus, when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, arrived in Medina, most of its inhabitants embraced Islam. Then, when trials and tribulations came, some fell into hypocrisy. Had these people died before being tested, they would have died as Muslims and entered Paradise, though they would not have been among the true believers who were tested and whose sincerity became manifest.

Allah Most High says:

“Alif. Lām. Mīm.”

“Do people think they will be left to say, ‘We believe,’ without being tested?”

“We certainly tested those before them, and Allah will surely know those who are truthful, and He will surely know the liars.”

Allah Most High also says:

“Allah would not leave the believers in the state you are in until He separates the evil from the good.”

And He says:

“Among people are those who worship Allah on the edge: if good befalls them, they are content with it; but if a trial befalls them, they turn their backs