The Conclusive Argument — Page 90
90 them. Earlier, they used to say that no one is excluded from the cir- cle of Faith because of differences that do not expressly entail the rejection of Quranic teachings; and that the decree of disbelief applies only to the one who openly declares his disbelief and adopts it as his faith, rejects the religion of God the Omnipotent, repudiates the Islamic profession of faith like wicked enemies, and who departs from the religion of Islam and becomes an apostate. They said if they had seen any good in this person or found any trace of faith, they would not have declared him a disbeliever, nor rejected him, nor sought to humiliate him. Nay, but their hearts have become hard- ened on account of their insistent rejection, hypocritical claims, and prideful fatwas. So, He has set a seal upon their hearts and they were not able to repent alongside those who repent. Had God so willed, He would have reformed them, purified their words, pulled them towards Himself, and ٍ وكانوا یقولون من قبل إن ّ رجال إ یمان باختالفات ال ال یخرج من ا لیس فیها إنكار تعلیم القرآن، وإنما الحُكم بالتكفیر لمن صرّح بالكفر واختاره دینا، وأنكر دین الل ّٰ القدیر وجحد بالشهادتین كاالٔعداء اللئام، وخرؔج عن دین إ سالم، وصار من المرتدّین. ال ا وقالوا لو رأینا فی هذا الرجل خیرا أو رائحۃ ً من الدّین ما كفّرنا وما كذّبنا وما تصدّینا للتوهین. إ صرار ال الك، بل قسَت ۡ قلوبهم من ا إ نكار، ودعاوی الریاء ال علی ا وفتاوی االستكبار، فطبع علیها طابع وما وُفِّقوا أن یرجعوا مع الراجعین. ولو شاء الل ّٰ الٔصلح وجذبهم مقالهم، وطهّر بالهم