Investigating the Idea of "Erjaʼ" and Its Effect on the Emergence of Murjiah

The inseparability of faith from action is one of the fundamental principles of Islam, and the separation of faith from action leads to the emptiness of religion, the abyss of antinomian and destruction. Some Muslims in the early days of Islam, by opinion-oriented interpretation and philosophical and theological justifications, were persuaded to deny the connection between faith and action, and to say that they did not have to carry the burden of duty. This attitude is known as "The Idea of Erjaʼ". This idea in Islam initially had a political approach and sought to unite Muslims by acknowledging all opposing sects, but in the second century it took a theological approach and, by separating action from faith, came to the belief that committing a sin or abandoning duties would not harm faith and salvation in the Hereafter. The present study seeks to study and critique the idea with an analytical approach and clarifies that the Murjiah's views including the ineffectiveness of action, lack of increase and decrease of faith, and the equality of believers in faith are in conflict with the philosophy of the sending the prophets and also with many explicit verses of the holy Quran.