1798 — Muhammad ibn Ahmad informed us; Uthman informed us; Hanbal narrated to us: I heard Abu Abd Allah Ahmad being asked about faith, and he said: “It is statement, action, and intention.” He was asked, “If a man says, ‘Are you a believer?’” He replied, “This is an innovation.” He was asked, “Then how should one answer him?” He said, “He should say, ‘A believer, if Allah wills,’ except that he should make this qualification in this particular case.”

Then Abu Abd Allah said: “Faith increases and decreases: it increases through deeds and decreases through abandoning deeds. Allah, Exalted is He, says: ‘That they may increase in faith along with their faith’ [al-Fath 48:4]. Thus, it increases and decreases. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, came upon the people of the graves, he said: ‘And indeed, if Allah wills, we shall join you.’ Thus, he made an exception, even though the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, knew that he would die; yet he made the qualification.”