taking a fifth of his property indicated that he was a disbeliever, not merely a sinner. His disbelief lay in his failure to regard as forbidden what Allah and His Messenger had forbidden.

Likewise, when [Qudāmah ibn Mad‘ūn] (*)—who had fought at Badr—drank wine, he interpreted it as permissible for righteous believers and considered himself one of them, citing Allah’s words in the verse:

“There is no blame upon those who believe and do righteous deeds for what they have consumed, provided they fear Allah, believe, and do righteous deeds.”

The Companions, including ‘Umar, ‘Alī, and others, agreed that if he persisted, he was to be executed, but if he repented, he was to be flogged. He repented and was flogged.

As for sins, the Quran prescribes cutting off the thief’s hand and flogging the person who commits unlawful sexual intercourse, without declaring them disbelievers. Likewise, it mentions two groups fighting, with one transgressing against the other, while affirming their faith and brotherhood. It also describes the killer who is liable to retaliatory execution as a brother. Allah says concerning him:

“But whoever is granted any pardon by his brother…”

Thus, He calls him a brother even though he is a killer.

The two Sahīh collections reliably transmit the report of Abū Dharr in which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, told him, on Gabriel’s authority:

“Whoever says, ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,’ will enter Paradise, even if he commits unlawful sexual intercourse, steals, or drinks wine—despite Abū Dharr’s objections.”

The authentic hadith collections also transmit the report of Abū Sa‘īd and others concerning intercession for those who commit major sins, including the words: “Take out of the Fire anyone in whose heart is a wheat grain’s weight of faith, a grain’s weight of