The first chapter of the book al-Iman is entitled "chapter on the definition of faith in its perfection (istikmdl) and its degrees". Here, Abu Ubayd states that the ulama are divided into two groups.
- The position of the first group is, the Iman/faith consists in "sincere devotion (ikhlas) to God in the hearts, testimony of the tongues, and work of the limbs". (Position 1)
- The other party maintains that faith "is in the hearts and tongues". Works or actions are not part of the faith. (Position 2)
Abu 'Ubayd stated that the first position is supported by the Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. He added that Islam rejects the second position. The second position is represented by the Sunni Imam Abu Hanifah or Hanafi Murji'ism. He argued that many Islamic rituals were reinstated in Medina beginning with the change in the direction of the Qiblah. And had the people not follow the new direction of the Qibla,
"this would have availed them nothing and would have amounted to a repudiation of their confession, since their first act of obedience was no better entitled to the name of faith than their second one"
Abu 'Ubayd maintain that the Murjiyyah and the earlier Hanafis were wrong because they did not include the Islamic acts and rituals (many that were established in Medina) as part of the faith.
On the other hand, the Murjiyyah reasoned that since the Quran already referred to the people in the early days of the Prophet mission (in Makkah) as Muslim, so all the newly established ritual would not have any effects on their Iman/faith. They also argued that if the ritualistic part of Islam was so fundamental or if it was crucial to completing the faith/Iman, then Allah swt should have not called the earlier folks Muslims!
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