and the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“so long as they neither act upon them nor speak of them.”

This man had indeed spoken. Much has been said concerning this question, and a lengthy, clear, and comprehensive explanation is needed.

Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah—may Allah sanctify his soul and illuminate his grave—replied:

Praise be to Allah. This question and others like it require a sound understanding before their ruling can be discussed. Most of the confusion people have experienced concerning these matters has arisen from two causes:

First, failing to understand precisely the states and qualities of the heart that are under discussion.

Second, failing to give the scriptural evidence its due. Consequently, many people have become so confused in this area that anyone examining their statements finds them claiming scholarly consensuses that appear to contradict one another.

It should therefore be understood that each attribute of a living being—knowledge, power, will, and the like—has degrees, from its lowest to its highest, that human beings cannot fully encompass: doubt, then conjecture, then knowledge, then certainty with its various degrees. The same applies to intention, will, firm resolve, and so forth. Thus, the correct view according to the great majority of Ahl al-Sunnah—which is also