Explanation of al-Aqidah al-Wasitiyya – Lesson 65

Lesson 65:They do not divest the sinner who is on the path (of Islam) of Islam in its entirety, nor do they believe that he will stay in Hell forever as the Mu'tazilah state. Rather, the sinner falls under the banner of absolute Imaan (al-imaan al-mutlaq), as Allah, Most High, says: 'You should free a believing slave.' [al-Nisaa’: 92] It is also possible that they may not enter under the banner of absolute Imaan, as Allah, Most High, says: 'The believers are those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, and whose faith is increased when His Signs are recited to them.' [al-Anfaal: 2] The Prophet ﷺ also said: 'The adulterer, when committing adultery, is not a believer. The thief, when stealing, is not a believer. The person drinking alcohol, when drinking, is not a believer. The one who forcibly steals something of value, and people raise their eyes to look at him doing it, is not a believer when he steals.' [Bukhari, Muslim]We say that such a person is a believer with a deficiency in his Imaan, or he is a believer by virtue of his Imaan and a sinner by virtue of his sin. As such he is not granted the title in its absolute sense (al-ism al-mutlaq) and neither is he divested of the title in its essence (mutlaq al-ism). Lesson Notes: ⁠⁠sc.isb.org.au/aw-nts⁠Lesson Date: 20/11/2024