that does not take him out of Islam, but is disbelief less than outright disbelief, as Ibn ‘Abbās and his companions said concerning His words:
“Those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are the disbelievers.”
They said: “Disbelief that does not take one out of Islam; disbelief less than outright disbelief, wickedness less than outright wickedness, and wrongdoing less than outright wrongdoing.”
This is also among the evidence al-Bukhārī cited in his Sahīh. In the “Book of Faith,” with which he opened his Sahīh, he established the position of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamā‘ah and included a refutation of the Murji’ah. He was among those who championed the Sunnah and the community—the way of the Companions and those who followed them in righteousness.
The scholars agree that the designation “Muslims” applies outwardly to the hypocrites, because they outwardly submitted and performed outward deeds: prayer, zakat, pilgrimage, and jihad in their outward forms. Thus, the Prophet applied the outward rulings of Islam to them. They also agree that whoever possesses no faith whatsoever falls under the words of Allah Most High:
“Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.”
The word has two readings: dark and darak. Abū al-Husayn ibn Fāris said: “Paradise has ascending ranks, and the Fire has descending depths.” Al-Dahhāk said: “Daraj refers to levels one above another, while dark refers to levels one below another.”
Thus, among those who outwardly profess Islam is one who occupies the highest rank in Paradise: the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. As he said in the authentic hadith:
“When you hear the caller to prayer, say what he says. Then ask Allah to grant me al-wasīlah, for it is a rank in Paradise reserved for only one of Allah’s servants, and I hope to be that servant. Whoever asks Allah to grant me al-wasīlah will be entitled to my intercession on the Day of