denies what Allah has revealed has disbelieved; while whoever affirms it but does not judge by it is a wrongdoer and a sinner.” Ibn Jarir narrated it (12063). I say: Ibn Abi Talhah did not hear directly from Ibn Abbas, but his narration is sound as supporting evidence.
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He then narrated (12047–12051) from Ata ibn Abi Rabah, who said—mentioning the three verses: “Disbelief below disbelief, sinfulness below sinfulness, and wrongdoing below wrongdoing.” Its chain of transmission is authentic.
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He then narrated (12052) from Sa‘id al-Makki, from Tawus, who said—mentioning the verse: “It is not disbelief that takes one outside the religion.” Its chain of transmission is authentic. This Sa‘id was Sa‘id ibn Ziyad al-Shaybani al-Makki. Ibn Ma‘in, al-‘Ijli, Ibn Hibban, and others declared him trustworthy, and a number of scholars narrated from him.
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He also narrated (12025 and 12026), through two chains from Imran ibn Hudayr, who said: Some people from Banu ‘Amr ibn Sadus came to Abu Mijlaz (1)—in the other chain: a group of Ibadis (2)—and said: “What do you say about Allah’s statement: ‘And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—then they are the disbelievers’? Is it true?” He replied: “Yes.” They said: “And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—then they are the wrongdoers”—is it true?” He replied: “Yes.” They said: “And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—then they are the defiantly disobedient”—is it true?” He replied: “Yes.”
They then said: “Abu Mijlaz, do these people judge by what Allah has revealed?” He replied: “It is the religion they profess, uphold, and to which they call”—meaning the rulers—“and if they abandon any part of it, they know that they have committed a sin.” They said: “No, by Allah! Rather, you are making a distinction (3).” He replied: “You are more deserving of that than I am! I do not hold this view, whereas you do hold it and feel no compunction about it. Rather, these verses were revealed concerning the Jews, the Christians, and the polytheists,” or words to that effect. Its chain of transmission is authentic.
The scholars have differed over the interpretation of the disbelief in the first verse, advancing five views.