Is the disagreement between the majority and the Hanafis regarding the definition of faith verbal?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, also, in the book *Al-Aqida al-Sahawiyyah* in the chapter on faith, it is stated that the disagreement between the majority and the Hanafis regarding the definition of faith is verbal and apparent. Is it verbal as mentioned, or is it a true verbal difference? And is there a disagreement among the Salaf? Please inform us. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
No, I do not accept this natural view which appears to be apparent rather than real, because the Hanafis say that faith is speech and belief. They say that belief is from the heart and the tongue, and speech is from the heart and the tongue, and so on. The Murji'ah generally say this, and some of the Murji'ah, like the Karramiyyah, say it is speech only, while some say it is belief from the heart only. This is not in accordance with the Sunnah, because it creates two categories: that if a person dies with belief in the heart and tongue, he enters Paradise and his sins will not harm him, because he died with complete faith. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that no soul enters Paradise except a believing soul, and perhaps Allah the Exalted said, "Allah has promised the believers Paradise." This creed makes him a complete believer in his belief with his heart and tongue.
The people of Paradise from the beginning did so, and the sins he died with did not harm him, except for specific issues. This is the implication of their statement, and they actually said it. If they say that sins harm him and prevent him from entering Paradise, they would retract their statement that faith is only speech and belief. If they say this, it means that a person is not a believer unless he performs the obligatory duties and avoids the prohibitions. They do not say that his faith is complete if he believes with his heart and tongue; rather, his faith is complete, and the actions are not part of faith, but he is only commanded to do them. However, they are not part of faith. But if one of them says that sins harm him and cause him to enter the Fire, this contradicts his statement that faith is speech and belief. It would be in two states, as he said: speech, action, and belief in the heart. The point is that the difference is not apparent but substantive and clear. It is established that whoever says faith is only belief in the heart and tongue must accept that one who dies with belief in the heart and tongue without performing the obligatory duties is a complete believer. A complete believer is entitled to Paradise, and the obligatory duties pose no danger to him. All of this is based on texts. The texts obligated prayer, zakah, fasting, and Hajj upon him, and obligated many prohibitions and sins upon him. Allah the Exalted said, "And if he has committed sins that harm him, and leaving the major sins harms you..." It is obligatory for him to say that he does not know what he does not know, and he errs before that. Yes.