has also attained the level immediately below it. Thus, a person of excellence is a believer, and a believer is a Muslim; a Muslim, however, is not necessarily a believer. The Quran likewise divides the community into these three categories. Allah Most High says:

“Then We granted the Book as an inheritance to those We chose from among Our servants. Among them are those who wrong themselves, those who follow a middle course, and those who, by Allah’s permission, are foremost in good deeds. That is the great bounty.”

The Muslim who has not fulfilled the obligations of faith is the one who wrongs himself. The one who follows a middle course is a believer without qualification: he fulfils his obligations and avoids what is forbidden. The one foremost in good deeds is the person of excellence, who worships Allah as though he sees Him. Allah, glorified be He, also mentions this threefold division of people in the Hereafter in Surahs al-Wāqi'ah, al-Mutaffifīn, and Hal Atā, mentioning the disbelievers as well. Here, however, He confines the division to those chosen from among His servants.

Abū Sulaymān al-Khattābī said:

“This question is among those on which people most often err. Al-Zuhrī said, ‘Islam is the declaration of faith, while faith is deeds,’ citing the verse as evidence. Others held that Islam and faith are one and the same, citing His words:

‘So We brought out whoever was there of the believers. But We found there only one household of Muslims.’”

Al-Khattābī said: “Two scholars discussed this matter, each adopting one of these two views. The later of them refuted his predecessor and wrote a book against him extending to two hundred leaves.”

Al-Khattābī said: “The correct approach is to qualify what is said on this matter rather than speak without qualification. A Muslim may be a believer in some circumstances but not in others, whereas a believer