967 - Sulayman ibn al-Ash'ath informed us, saying: I heard Ahmad [ibn Hanbal] when a man said to him: 'It was said to me, "Are you a believer?" I said: "Yes." Is there any [sin/consequence] upon me in that? Are people anything other than a believer or a disbeliever?' Ahmad became angry and said: 'This is the speech of the Murji'ah. Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, said: "And others deferred for the command of Allah [Quran 9:106]."
968 - Muhammad ibn al-Husayn informed me that al-Fadl spoke to them regarding this issue, on the authority of Abu 'Abd Allah, and added: "[...either He will punish them, or He will turn to them in forgiveness]" [At-Tawbah: 106].'
٩٦٧ - أَخْبَرَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ الْأَشْعَثِ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَحْمَدَ قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ: قِيلَ لِي مُؤْمِنٌ أَنْتَ؟ قُلْتُ: نَعَمْ، عَلَيَّ فِي ذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ؟ هَلْ النَّاسُ إِلَّا مُؤْمِنٌ وَكَافِرٌ؟ فَغَضِبَ أَحْمَدُ، وَقَالَ: «هَذَا كَلَامُ الْإِرْجَاءِ. قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَآخَرُونَ مُرْجَوْنَ لِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ» .
٩٦٨ - أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ، أَنَّ الْفَضْلَ حَدَّثَهُمْ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَسْأَلَةِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَزَادَ: {إِمَّا يُعَذِّبُهُمْ، وَإِمَّا يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ} [التوبة: ١٠٦]
