from them that by which they cause division between a man and his wife,” up to His words:
“And they certainly knew that whoever purchased it would have no share in the Hereafter.”
Those who followed what the devils recited during Solomon’s reign and cast Allah’s Book behind their backs as though they did not know, know that they will have no share in the Hereafter; yet they disbelieve nonetheless.
Likewise, if someone who believes in jibt and tāghūt knows how magic causes division between a man and his wife and other such effects of jibt, and knows the nature of Satan and the idols and the trials they bring about, that knowledge does not constitute his belief in them. It is well known that no one believed that they create things, do whatever they will, or possess other attributes exclusive to lordship. Rather, people believed that worshipping them would secure some of the things they sought. Thus, devils would speak to them from within the idols and inform them of certain matters. Similar things occur in these times with the idols worshipped by the people of India and China, the Turks, and others.
Their disbelief on account of these idols consisted in submitting to them, supplicating to them, worshipping them, taking them as intermediaries, and the like—not simply acknowledging the effects that occur in connection with such practices. A knowledgeable believer knows of these effects and acknowledges their existence, but he also knows the harm that follows in this world and the Hereafter, and therefore hates such practices. A disbeliever may also know that this harm exists, but his love of the present life drives him to disbelief.
This is made clear by His words:
“Those who disbelieve in Allah after having believed—not those who are compelled while their hearts remain firm in faith, but those who open their hearts to disbelief—will incur Allah’s wrath and have a tremendous punishment.”