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The_Foundations_of_the_Islamic_Belief, page : 187
they necessary for gaining the reward of Paradise. But if he should say that what he meant was that
the
person would remain eternally in Hell fire only if he had lived a long time without either praying
or
attempting any of the deeds prescribed by the Religion, we would say, exactly how long is that
period,
and how many are those good deeds through the neglect of which belief is rendered worthless?
How
many of the great sins would, if committed, annul belief?" Such a thing is impossible to determine
and
no one has ever done so.
The fourth degree is represented in the case of the person who accepts Islam inwardly with his mind
but dies before either confessing it verbally with his tongue or performing any of the deeds which
its
pillars prescribe. Would it be said that such a person died a believer? People differ on this
question.
Those who insist on verbal confession as a prerequisite of belief would say that he died before
the
person would remain eternally in Hell fire only if he had lived a long time without either praying
or
attempting any of the deeds prescribed by the Religion, we would say, exactly how long is that
period,
and how many are those good deeds through the neglect of which belief is rendered worthless?
How
many of the great sins would, if committed, annul belief?" Such a thing is impossible to determine
and
no one has ever done so.
The fourth degree is represented in the case of the person who accepts Islam inwardly with his mind
but dies before either confessing it verbally with his tongue or performing any of the deeds which
its
pillars prescribe. Would it be said that such a person died a believer? People differ on this
question.
Those who insist on verbal confession as a prerequisite of belief would say that he died before