contains abundant evidence against those who say that Islam is merely the verbal profession. Numerous proofs show that deeds are part of Islam; indeed, all the texts indicate this. Whoever says that the prescribed outward deeds are not part of Islam holds a false view. This differs from the heart’s affirmation of truth: nothing in the texts indicates that this is part of Islam; rather, it is part of faith. Islam is religious submission, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, explained it: submitting one’s face and heart to Allah. Thus, devoting one’s religion sincerely to Allah is Islam. This differs from affirming the truth: the former belongs to the heart’s deeds, while the latter belongs to its knowledge.

Although Ahmad ibn Hanbal said on this occasion that Islam is the verbal profession, elsewhere he said that deeds are part of Islam. Here he followed al-Zuhrī, may Allah have mercy on him. If someone who says this means that a person enters Islam through the verbal profession without having fulfilled Islam completely, this is close to the truth. But if he means that the person has fulfilled Islam entirely even without performing any deeds, this is certainly mistaken. Indeed, following the hadith of Gabriel, Ahmad rejected this answer—the statement that the designation applies to a person even if he performs no deeds. He should therefore have quoted Ahmad’s statement in full.

Ismāʿīl ibn Saʿīd said:

“I asked Ahmad about Islam and faith. He replied: ‘Faith consists of speech and deeds, while Islam is acknowledgment.’”

He also said:

“I asked Ahmad about someone who made the following statement concerning Gabriel’s exchange with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he asked him about Islam—‘If I do that, am I a Muslim?’ to which he replied, ‘Yes.’ Someone then said: ‘Even if he does not do what Gabriel mentioned to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is he still a Muslim?’ Ahmad replied: ‘Such a person is contradicting the hadith.’”