Some among those who hold this view say that Islam consists merely of the verbal declaration, and that deeds are not part of Islam.

The correct view is that Islam comprises all outward deeds. Ahmad ruled out qualifying one’s profession of Islam with “if Allah wills” only on the basis of al-Zuhrī’s statement that Islam is the declaration of faith. This is how al-Athram, al-Maymūnī, and others transmitted his position.

According to his other response, however, in which he did not adopt the view that Islam is the declaration alone, one qualifies one’s profession of Islam just as one qualifies one’s profession of faith. A person cannot assert with certainty that he has fulfilled everything commanded of him in Islam. Since the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe,”

and:

“Islam is built upon five pillars,”

asserting with certainty that one has fulfilled all five without deficiency, as commanded, is like asserting with certainty that one possesses faith.

Allah Most High has said:

“Enter into Islam completely.”

That is, enter into Islam in its entirety—into all its prescribed duties.

The reasoning Ahmad and other early scholars gave concerning the designation of faith also applies to the designation of Islam. If Islam means the declaration of faith, no qualification is made, as Ahmad and others explicitly stated. If it means performing all outward obligations, then qualifying one’s profession of Islam is like qualifying one’s profession of faith.

Everyone who pronounces the two testimonies of faith becomes a Muslim, distinct from Jews and Christians, and subject to the rulings of Islam that apply to Muslims. This, therefore, is something that can be affirmed with certainty, without qualification. It was for this reason that al-Zuhrī said, “Islam is the declaration of faith.” Ahmad and others agreed with him on that point. In agreeing with him, Ahmad did not mean that the Islam required of a person consists of the declaration alone: al-Zuhrī was far too learned to be unaware of this. Accordingly, Ahmad did not give this answer in his second response, lest it be thought that Islam consists of nothing but the declaration. Thus, when al-Athram said