a disbeliever both inwardly and outwardly, and that anyone who says, “Such a person may inwardly be a believer in Allah and be a disbeliever only outwardly,” has made a claim whose falsity is necessarily known from the religion.

Allah has mentioned the disbelievers’ statements in the Quran and, on account of them, declared them disbelievers deserving of the threatened punishment. If their statements of disbelief were merely like witnesses’ testimony against them, or like an admission in which the person making it is mistaken, Allah would not have deemed them deserving of the threatened punishment on the basis of testimony that might be true or false. Rather, He would have punished them only on condition that the testimony was true. Examples include His words, Most High:

“Those who say, ‘Allah is the third of three,’ have certainly disbelieved.”

“Those who say, ‘Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary,’ have certainly disbelieved.”

And there are other such passages.

As for the second established fact: if a person believes in his heart that the Messenger is truthful and that he is Allah’s Messenger, and loves and reveres him, it is impossible for him, while in that state, to curse and revile him. Such conduct is inconceivable without some measure of disregard for him and his sanctity. It is therefore clear that merely believing him to be truthful does not constitute faith unless accompanied by love and reverence for him in the heart.

Furthermore, Allah, glorified is He, says:

“Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, who believe in jibt and tāghūt?”

And He says:

“Whoever rejects tāghūt and believes in Allah has grasped the firmest handhold.”

This makes clear that tāghūt can be believed in or rejected. It is well known that believers and disbelievers alike may affirm its existence and the attributes it possesses. Both believers and disbelievers know the nature of idols, Satan, and magic.

Allah, Most High, has said concerning magic:

“Until they both say, ‘We are only a trial, so do not disbelieve.’ Yet they learn