The Conclusive Argument — Page 90
90 THE CONCLUSIVE ARGUMENT 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 وكانوا يقولون من قبل إن رجلا لا يخرج من الإيمان باختلافات ليس فيها إنكار تعليم القرآن وإنما الحكم بالتكفير لمن صرّح بالكفر واختاره دينا، وأنكر دين الله القدير وجحد بالشهادتين كالأعداء اللئام، وخرج عن دين الإسلام، وصار من المرتدين وقالوا لو رأينا في هذا الرجل خيرا أو رائحة من الدين ما كفرنا وما كذبنا وما تصدينا للتوهين- كلا، بل قست قلوبهم من الإصرار على الإنكار، ودعاوى الرياء وفتاوى الاستكبار، فطبع عليها seal upon their hearts and they طابع وما وفقوا أن يرجعوا مع الراجعين ولو شاء الله لأصلح بالهم وطهر مقالهم، وجذبهم 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