Summary of a Debate on
“Praise and Gratitude”
A discussion between Shaykh al-Islām Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, and Ibn al-Murahhal
The discussion concerned praise and gratitude: gratitude is expressed through the heart, the tongue, and the limbs, whereas praise is expressed only through the tongue.
Ibn al-Murahhal said:
One author—whom he named—has reported that the position of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamāʿah is that gratitude consists only in belief, whereas the position of the Khawārij is that it consists in belief, speech, and deeds. On this basis, they concluded that whoever abandons deeds is a disbeliever, because disbelief is the opposite of gratitude: whoever is not grateful is therefore a disbeliever.
Shaykh Taqī al-Dīn said:
This position attributed to Ahl al-Sunnah is wrong, and its attribution to Ahl al-Sunnah is wrong. The position of Ahl al-Sunnah is that gratitude is expressed through belief, speech, and deeds. Allah Most High says:
“Work, O family of David,