Facsimile · p. 45
The assertion of *Irja'* (postponement of judgment on faith) has led to the corruption of Muslims' beliefs, morals, and thoughts. It emboldened hypocrites and apostates to violate the sanctity of Sharia and sacred matters, desecrating them in the name of innovation, freedom of opinion, cultural pluralism, or other justifications. *Irja'* served as a shield for them, preventing them from being accused of apostasy or heresy, as long as they uttered the two testimonies, even if their actions contradicted them. This corrupt view negates the laws of Islam, reducing it to a mere utterance of the two testimonies, and nullifies the numerous texts from the Quran and Sunnah that indicate that deeds are part of faith, and that disbelief can be through speech, action, or belief. The righteous predecessors rejected the innovation of *Irja'* just as they rejected the innovation of excessive excommunication, both equally. Al-Nakha'i, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "Indeed, the trial of the Murji'ah is more feared for this Ummah than the trial of the Azariqah." The Azariqah are a sect of the Khawarij. Similarly, the trial of excessive excommunication is the great trial because of which the inviolable blood of Muslims was shed, and their wealth and honor were plundered. It is what tore apart the body of the Muslim Ummah, and it is the first of innovations and trials to appear in Islam. It is the source of many doctrinal, behavioral, moral, and psychological deviations that the Muslim Ummah has suffered from over fourteen centuries, and continues to suffer from to this day. They are the Khawarij, the group that rebelled against Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him. The phenomenon of excessive excommunication is the origin of the Khawarij and the misguided sects and deviant contemporary groups that follow them, deviating from the methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah.