Who Are the Murji’ah?

Murji’ah is an active participle from ijrâ’. In the language, irjâ’ comes with two meanings. The first of them is with the meaning of delaying, just as in His statement, exalted is He, «They said, “Delay him and his brother”» (7:111), meaning give him time and delay him. The second is the presentation of hope.[1]

As for the Murji’ah in the terminology, then Imam Ahmad had defined them with his statement,

They are those who claim that faith is mere articulation with the tongue; that the people do not contend for precedence in faith; that their faith, the angels’ faith, the Prophets’ faith, may Allah’s salutations and peace be upon them, are one; that faith does not increase or diminish; that [making an] exception[2] is not in faith; and that whoever believed with his tongue and did not act is a believer in truth.[3]