Can one be called Murji if he believes that Iman increases and decreases, and that actions are a part of Iman, yet he also believes actions do not nullify one’s Iman

Question:

If there is a man who says: “Imaan increases and decreases”, and that, “Actions are from Iman” then can he be called a Murji if he says that actions do not take a person outside Islam?

Answer:

We know that the Murji’ah are (different) sects. From them are those who say that the Iman is sayings and beliefs without actions. And from them are those who say that Iman is sayings and actions and beliefs; however, the one who abandons Jins Al-‘Amal (type of actions) does not disbelieve – meaning that the one who leaves the actions of the body, does not disbelieve. And this is the saying of al-Djahm Ibn Safwan, as Imam Ibn Hazm may Allah be merciful to him, mentioned that from him. And it is attributed to the Ghulaat al-Murji’ah (extremists amonst the Murji’ah).

So if this person who said it is from the people of Ijtihaad, then his saying is rejected but he is not attributed to the people of Irjaa’, even if his words are from the words of the Murji’ah, because not everyone who falls into Irjaa’ becomes a Murji. But there is no doubt his saying that Iman is sayings and beliefs and actions does not intercede for him because it is a must that he makes Takfeer to the one who abandons the Jins Al-‘Amal just as it is Ijmaa (consensus) from Ahlus Sunnah. Their Ijmaa was narrated by Al-Ajooree in “Ash-Sharee’ah” and Imam Ibn Battah in “Al-Ibaanah” and Sheikh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah be merciful to him, in “Kitaab Al Imaan” within the seventh volume of the Fataawa.