26.5 AL ISTITHNAA - TO SAY "I AM A BELIEVER [MU-MIN] IF ALLAAH HAS WILLED".

The people have three different rulings concerning this:

26.5.1 THAT AL ISTITHNAA IS PROHIBITED.

This is what the Muji-ah, Jahmeeyah and others say. The source for this is explained in 25.4.

26.5.2 THAT AL ISTITHNAA IS OBLIGATORY.

26.5.2.1 Some explain this by saying that Eemaan is what one dies upon, and no one knows this except Allaah, so al Istithnaa is obligatory. This false reason is given by the Kullaabeeyah and others, but it's not known that the Salaf used this reason.

26.5.2.2 Others explain this by saying that complete Eemaan comprises of acting upon all the ordered deeds and abondoning every prohibited deed, and no one can be certain of this. And if some was certain of this he'd be basically claiming to be a person of Paradise - and that is not correct. And some of the Salaf did give this as a reason for making al Istithnaa obligatory.

26.5.3 THAT DETAIL IS FIRST NEEDED.

26.5.3.1 If the Phrase is Said Due to Having Doubt in the Very Presence of the Basis of Eemaan, then this prohibited, and indeed is Kufr, for Eemaan is something to be certain about.

26.5.3.2 If the Phrase is Said from Fear that One's Heart is Not Pure and that one's testification has not reached the reality of complete Eemaan in terms of speech, action and beleief, then this is correct and obligatory.

26.5.3.3 If the Phrase is Said to Seek Blessings by Mentioning Allaah's Will and that it's a way of entertaining hope in being a Mu-min and that it's a way of saying that whatever exists of Eemaan is dependant on Allaah's Will, then this is permitted.