and the Holy Qur’ān puts it in very clear words: “So he who has done an atom’s weight of good will see it; and he who has done an atom’s weight of evil will see it” (99:7,8). A believer is capable of doing evil and an unbeliever is capable of doing good, and each shall be requited for what he does. But no one has the right to expel any one from the brotherhood of Islām so long as he confesses the Unity of God and the prophethood of Muḥammad. The Holy Qur’ān and the Ḥadīth are quite clear on this point. Thus in the Holy Qur’ān we have: “And say not to anyone who offers you salutation, Thou art not a believer” (4:94). The Muslim form of salutation — al-salāmu‘alaikum, or peace be to you — is thus considered a sufficient indication that the man who offers it is a Muslim, and no one has the right to say to him that he is not a believer, even though he may be insincere. The Holy Qur’ān speaks of two parties of Muslims fighting with each other, and yet of both as believers (mu’min): “And if two parties of the believers (mu’minīn) fight with each other, make peace between them” (49:9). It then goes on to say: “The believers are but brethren; so, make peace between your brethren” (49:10).

Even those who were known to be hypocrites were treated as Muslims by the Holy Prophet and his Companions, though they refused to join the Muslims in the struggle in which the latter had to engage in self-defence, and when the reputed chief of these hypocrites, the notorious ‘Abd Allāh ibn Ubayy, died, the Holy Prophet offered funeral prayers on his grave and treated him as a Muslim. Ḥadīth is equally clear on this point. According to one ḥadīth the Holy Prophet is reported to have said: “Whoever offers prayers as we do and turns his face to our Qiblah and eats the animal slaughtered by us, he is a Muslim for whom is the covenant of Allāh and His Messenger, so do not violate Allāh’s covenant” (Bu. 8:28). In another report we are told: “Three things are the basis of faith: to with-hold from one who confesses faith in lā ilāha ill-Allāh,7 you should not call him kāfir for any sin, nor expel him from Islām for any deed …” (AD. 15:33). And according to a third, reported by Ibn ‘Umar, he said: “Whoever calls the people of lā ilāha ill-Allāh unbeliever ( kāfir ) is himself nearer to unbelief (Kufr)” (Tb.). By the ‘people of lā ilāha ill-Allāh’, or the upholders of the Unity, are clearly meant the Muslims, and it is made quite evident that any one who makes a confession