Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 32344 — Those who said: I am a believer

Tha'labah (may Allah have mercy on him) said that Abu Qilabah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The messenger who questioned Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) told me that he asked in this way: "I ask you by Allah: do you know that in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) people were of three kinds: one who was a believer inwardly and outwardly, one who was a disbeliever inwardly and outwardly, and one who was a believer outwardly and a disbeliever inwardly?" The narrator said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "It was certainly so." He said: "Then I ask you by Allah: which of these three kinds were you?" The narrator said: He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Certainly a believer inwardly and outwardly; I am a believer."