and others—agree that whoever does not believe after the proof has been established against him through the message is a disbeliever, whether he denies the truth, harbors doubts, turns away, acts arrogantly, remains undecided, or otherwise.

Since the foundation of faith—the greatest of acts of drawing near to Allah, good deeds, and acts of obedience—is commanded, while disbelief—the greatest of sins, evil deeds, and acts of disobedience—consists in abandoning this command, whether accompanied by a prohibited act such as denying the truth or by nothing else beyond abandoning faith, it follows that performing what is commanded is, as a category, greater than refraining from what is prohibited.

Know that some forms of disbelief are more severe than others. A disbeliever who denies the truth bears greater guilt than one who does not deny it, for he combines abandoning the faith that is commanded with committing the denial that is prohibited. Whoever disbelieves, denies the truth, and wages war against Allah, His Messenger, and the believers through his actions or words bears greater guilt than someone who confines himself to disbelief and denial alone. Whoever disbelieves, kills, commits adultery or fornication, steals, bars the way, and wages war bears still greater guilt.

Likewise, some forms of faith are superior to others, and believers differ enormously in their degrees of faith. They occupy ascending ranks before Allah, just as those others occupy descending ranks. Thus, those who are moderate in faith are better than those who wrong themselves, and those foremost in good deeds are better than