to resort to hypocrisy. Rather, some believers concealed their faith from many people. Others uttered words of disbelief under compulsion while their hearts remained firm in faith. Such a person is a believer both inwardly and outwardly. Although he outwardly professes disbelief before certain people under compulsion, or conceals his faith from them, he professes faith in private and among those he trusts, and fulfils whatever duties he can. Whatever he is unable to fulfil is waived for him.

For this reason, scholars, including Ahmad ibn Hanbal, said that hypocrisy was not possible for them; hypocrisy arose only in Medina. There were, however, people in Mecca whose hearts were diseased, as He says in the Meccan surah:

“And so that those given the Scripture and the believers may have no doubt, and so that those in whose hearts is disease and the disbelievers may say, ‘What does Allah intend by this as an example?’”

He—glorified is He—has stated that He would not leave those who profess faith without distinguishing the wicked from the good and testing them. As He, the Exalted, says:

“Allah would not leave the believers in the state you are in until He distinguishes the wicked from the good.”

He also says:

“Or do you think that you will be left alone before Allah has made evident those among you who strive and take no confidants other than Allah, His Messenger, and the believers? And Allah is fully aware of what you do.”

And He, the Exalted, says:

“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise without experiencing the like of what befell those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with poverty and hardship and were so shaken that the messenger and those who believed with him said, ‘When will Allah’s help come?’ Indeed, Allah’s help is near.”

And there are other passages to the same effect.