Fifth: If a person has not acquired a sincere belief in Usul...

Fifth: If a person has not acquired a sincere belief in Usul al-deen before attaining majority, - even by teaching of parents or others - and is oblivious of religion and its beliefs on attaining majority, he/she will not be treated as a Muslim; and it is difficult to say that he/she is tahir. It is the responsibility of parents or guardian to teach him/her necessary matters of faith and then guide him to recite Kalimah, in order that he/she should become Muslim and tahir.

Sixth: A person who knows and believes in all Usul al-deen, but is unable to explain them in his words - like many people in far-off rural areas who cannot describe why God is one, or many people in urban areas who cannot enumerate the positive and negative attributes of Allah - but if you ask them, whether God is Omnipotent, they would say 'Yes'; or whether God can be seen, they would say, No. Such people are mu'min, and this much knowledge and belief is enough.

Seventh: We know that a man recites Kalima and says that he believes in oneness of God and Messengership of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.). But we do not know whether he really believes so. We shall treat such a person as Muslim; we are not obligated to search inside his heart; and we may say about him: 'O Allah! We do not know about him except good, i.e. we know that he is a Muslim: But what is his own responsibility about himself? He should ascertain whether his belief is sincere.

Ifnot, then he is required to correct his belief and acquire sincere faith. Eighth : A man recites Kalimah; but he realizes that he has doubts about tawhid, nubuwwat of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) or qiyamat. If he expresses his doubt before the people, he shall be treated as Kafir and najis.

If such a man does not disclose his doubt in words, but his action and behavior show that he has doubt about existence or oneness of God, prophet hood of Muhammad (s.a.w.a) or the day of judgement, then - according to stronger proofs - it is unlawful for a Muslim woman to marry him. And it is ahwat to treat him as najis, and not to eat an animal slaughtered by him.

Ninth: A man does not have firm belief in existence and oneness of God or in prophet hood of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) or qiyamat; he has only strong inclination towards these things. The question arises what is his own duty in this respect, and what are other Muslims to do about him.