And therefore, we see that the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, differed regarding the disbelief of some hypocrites, due to some of them not knowing this religious ruling. They did not disbelieve because of that, may Allah be pleased with them. This was not from them equating disbelief with faith, nor them calling disbelief faith. For even if they did not declare them disbelievers, they disassociated themselves from their actions. Allah Almighty says: [Quran 4:88] Al-Tabari said (in his interpretation of this verse): "The most correct of these opinions in this regard is the opinion of those who said: This verse was revealed concerning a group of people from Mecca who had apostatized from Islam after their conversion, and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, differed about them."

Similarly, the Imams differed regarding the disbelief of one who abandons prayer out of laziness. Some considered him a disbeliever, while others did not. Does the fact that some did not consider the one who abandons prayer a disbeliever necessitate calling disbelief faith?!

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, sought forgiveness for his disbelieving uncle before the revelation of the Quran. Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib narrated from his father, may Allah be pleased with them both, that he said: "When Abu Talib was on his deathbed, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, came to him and found Abu Jahl and Abdullah ibn Abi Umayya ibn al-Mughira with him. He said: 'O uncle, say: There is no god but Allah, a word for which I will plead your case before Allah.' Abu Jahl and Abdullah ibn Abi Umayya said: 'Do you turn away from the religion of Abdul Muttalib?' The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, kept presenting it to him and they kept repeating that statement to him until Abu Talib said, the last thing he said to them was: 'On the religion of Abdul Muttalib,' and he refused to say: 'There is no god but Allah.'"