faith, an atom’s weight of faith.”

These texts establish that a person who commits a major sin does not become a disbeliever so long as he has faith, and that he will emerge from the Fire through intercession. The innovators among the Khawārij dispute the first point, and both they and the Mu‘tazilah dispute the second. These texts also establish that the faith through which they emerge from the Fire is a commanded good deed, and that no sin can counteract it. This is the fourth point:

Good deeds, which consist in doing what is commanded, remove the punishment for sins and evil deeds, which consist in doing what is forbidden. The guilt of someone who does what is forbidden is removed through repentance, which is a commanded good deed; through countervailing righteous deeds, which are commanded good deeds; through the Prophet’s supplication and intercession, peace and blessings be upon him; through the believers’ supplications and intercession; and through righteous deeds whose reward is gifted to him. All these are commanded good deeds.

Thus, every evil deed consisting in doing something forbidden has a good deed consisting in doing something commanded that can erase it. This applies even to disbelief, whether it consists in something present or something lacking: the good deed of faith erases it. As Allah Most High says:

“Tell those who disbelieve that if they desist, their past will be forgiven.”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Islam wipes away what came before it.”

In another narration: “demolishes what came before it.” Narrated by Muslim.

As for good deeds, sins do not invariably erase their reward, for the good deed of faith