1743 — Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Warraq narrated to us. He said: Ahmad ibn Khalaf narrated to us. He said: Abu Ismaʿil—that is, al-Tirmidhi—narrated to us. He said: I heard Ishaq ibn Muhammad say:

“I was with Malik ibn Anas when I heard Hammad ibn Abu Hanifah say to Malik, ‘O Abu Abdullah, we hold a view which we wish to present to you. If you consider it sound, we shall proceed upon it; but if you consider otherwise, we shall refrain from it.’

He said, ‘What is it?’

He said, ‘O Abu Abdullah, we do not declare anyone an unbeliever on account of a sin; all people are Muslims in our view.’

He said, ‘How excellent this is! There is no harm in it.’

Then Dawud ibn Abu Zanbar, Ibrahim ibn Habib, and some of his companions rose and approached him. They said, ‘O Abu Abdullah, this man holds the doctrine of irjaʾ [postponing judgment regarding sinners].’

He said, ‘My religion is like the religion of the angels brought near; my religion is like the religion of Gabriel, Michael, and the angels brought near.’

He said, ‘No, by Allah! Faith increases and decreases: “That they may increase in faith along with their faith” [al-Fath: 4]. And Abraham said, “My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead.” He said, “Do you not believe?” He said, “Yes, but so that my heart may be reassured” [al-Baqarah: 260]. Thus, the reassurance of his heart was an increase in his faith.’”