A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
The Murji'ah.
They are a sect that emerged as a reactionary counter-movement to the Khawarij and their positions.
Just as the Khawarij adopted a path of extremism through excess,
The Murji'ah adopted a path of extremism through negligence.
They countered the methodology of the Khawarij—who declared people disbelievers for committing sins—
With a methodology of dilution in defining the meaning of faith.
They claimed that faith is merely inward affirmation.
They excluded deeds from the reality of faith.
The Murji'ah were given this name
Because they "postponed" (arja'a) deeds from the definition of faith.
The influence of the Murji'ah has reached some who claim to follow the creed of the salaf in our current time,
As they restrict disbelief and apostasy solely to declaring the forbidden as lawful or outright denial.
They do not consider actions that demonstrate defiance and arrogance to be disbelief,
Nor do they consider mockery or hatred of Allah and His law to be disbelief.
Based on their belief regarding faith and its definition, the Murji'ah
Do not acknowledge that faith increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience.
Nor do they accept making an exception (istithna') regarding one's faith.
They are of various types.
Among them are the extremists who claim that faith is merely knowledge.
Others restrict it to affirmation alone.
Others claim it is the affirmation of the heart and the speech of the tongue only,
Without including deeds within it.
Among them are those who say:
Whoever says "There is no god but Allah" is a believer, no matter what deeds he commits, provided he does not declare the forbidden as lawful.
Even though declaring the forbidden as lawful is a condition for some sins—not all—to judge the perpetrator as a disbeliever.
The tribulation of the Murji'ah has led to the dilution of the religion and the spread of corruption,
As well as the weakening of the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil,
And the duty of jihad in the path of Allah.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
"Others among the Murji'ah and the wicked
May see fit to abandon enjoining good and forbidding evil,
Thinking that this is a way to avoid discord."
Among their most severe tribulations is that they do not consider one who rejects the law of Allah to be an apostate,
Nor one who supports the enemies of Allah against the Muslims.
Thus, the atmosphere was cleared for heretics and tyrants by these fatwas from the leaders of the Murji'ah,
And they spread corruption on earth and legislated disbelief for the people in the name of public interest and other excuses.
Yet, they remained believers in the view of the Murji'ah,
Because they say "There is no god but Allah."
How happy the tyrants are with this school of thought!
Therefore, it was said that the Murji'ah follow the religion of kings.
The Murji'ah of the jurists are those who say that deeds are obligatory and that people vary in them,
But they do not include deeds in the definition and reality of faith.
This view is attributed to the school of Abu Hanifah, may Allah have mercy on him,
And it is the mildest form of Irja'.
A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.