al-irjāʾ (الْإِرْجَاء)
العقيدة
التعريف :
Postponing action as later than what constitutes belief. It is considered as a lower rank than faith and not part of it. Faith means to believe, and it incorporates action only in an allegorical way, if it is considered to be part of it.
المعنى الاصطلاحي :
Postponing deeds and excluding them from the definition of faith.
الشرح المختصر :
"Irjā’" (postponing deeds) is to delay the performance of good deeds and to place it in a rank subordinate to faith; that is to say, to not consider it as part of faith. The Murji’ah is an Islamic sect whose advocates believe that sinning does not undermine the faith of a believer, just as acts of obedience are of no benefit to the disbeliever. They were given the name "Murji’ah" because they postponed doing deeds and made it separate from faith. It was also said that they were given this name due to their belief that Allah has postponed the punishment of the sinners. There are many categories of Murji’ah, including "Murji’at al-Fuqahā’" (Murji’ah from among the scholars of Fiqh), "Murji’at al-Ghulāh" (the extremist Murji’ah), and others.
التعريف اللغوي المختصر :
"Irjā’": delaying, postponing, granting respite. Other meanings: giving "rajā’" (hope).