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ArticlesOfTheIslamicFaithByGhazali, page : 258
You may ask, "What then have the good, early generation meant
with the saying: 'Allah willing, I am a believer!'" A qualification
implies doubt, and to entertain doubts concerning the
veracity of belief amounts to unbelief. Yet all the good,
early generation used to refrain from giving a definite reply
concerning belief, and were extremely careful not to commit
themselves.
In this connection Sufyan al-Thawri said, "He who says, 'Before
Allah I am a believer, is a liar; and he who says, 'I a really
a believer', is an innovator." But how can he be a liar
when he himself knows that he is a believer? For he who is
a believer in himself is a believer before Allah, just as he
who is big and generous in himself and is aware of this fact,
will be big and generous before Allah.
with the saying: 'Allah willing, I am a believer!'" A qualification
implies doubt, and to entertain doubts concerning the
veracity of belief amounts to unbelief. Yet all the good,
early generation used to refrain from giving a definite reply
concerning belief, and were extremely careful not to commit
themselves.
In this connection Sufyan al-Thawri said, "He who says, 'Before
Allah I am a believer, is a liar; and he who says, 'I a really
a believer', is an innovator." But how can he be a liar
when he himself knows that he is a believer? For he who is
a believer in himself is a believer before Allah, just as he
who is big and generous in himself and is aware of this fact,
will be big and generous before Allah.