A debate of Imam ash-Shafi’i with one of the Murji’a

Imam shafi’i said:

“On what basis do you say that actions do not enter into Iman (faith)?”

The Murji said: ‘from the statement of Allaah the Most High:

“Verily those who believe AND they do righteous actions”

‘Therefore the و (meaning AND) became a separator between Iman and actions (in this verse) so therefore Iman is a statement (being one thing) and actions are the legislations.'(being another)

So ash shafi’i said: “so you have the و AND which separates (the two)?”

The Murji said: Yes

So ash shafi’i said:

Then you worship two gods, a god in the east and a god in the west because Allaah said:

“Lord of the two easts AND Lord of the two wests”

So the man became upset and said: ‘SubhanaAllaah! You have made me an pagan.’

So ash shafi’i said: ‘No! Rather you have made yourself that.

The man said: How?

Ash shafi’i said: “with your own thinking that AND (in the verse) is a separator.(between the two statements)

So the man said: ‘I certainly ask Allaah for forgiveness for what I have said. Rather I worship only one Lord and I do not say after today that و AND is a separator, rather I say Iman is speech and action and it increases and decreases.’

المصدر : كتاب حلية الأولياء وطبقات الأصفياء لأبي نعيم الأصبهاني