Al-Kāfi 2, narration 79

Translation

8. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from certain individuals of our people from al-Ash’ath ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Hafs ibn Kharija who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying - when a man asked him about the words of al-Murji’a, a religious sect, about rejection (disbelief) and belief -, ‘They argue against us and say, “Just as to us one who disbelieves is a rejecter of belief, so also is he in the sight of Allah. The same applies to a believer. We find a believer that when he affirms his belief he is a believer in the sight of Allah.” He (a.s.) said, “Glory belongs to Allah. How can these two be equal? Rejection of belief is an affirmation and confession of a servant, and thereafter he is not required to present any witness to prove his case. (On the other hand) belief is a claim, which is not accepted without the testimony of a witness. Witness to prove his case is his deed and intention. If they (deed and intention) agree, a servant is a believer in the sight of Allah. Rejection of belief exists in all the three things; word, deed and intention and rules of law apply to both word and deed. In of favor many persons believers testify to prove them to be believers and the rules of law applicable to believers are applied to them, but in the sight of Allah they are rejecters of belief. In certain conditions one’s applying rules of law, applicable to believers, to such unbelievers is also correct according to the apparent condition of his deed and words.’””

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.