How do the Murji’ah (Murjites) interpret Deen, Islam and Eemaan?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

According to Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah the Murji’ah sect differentiate between the terms Deen and Eemaan, and between Islam and Eemaan. Some prominent scholars mentioned that the Murji’ah do not differentiate between Deen and Eemaan. Shaykhul-Islam pointed out that most of them hold that prayer and Zakah (obligatory charity) are not parts of Eemaan. It was also said that they hold that prayer and Zakah are not parts of Deen and they do not differentiate between Eemaan and Deen. Others among them say that they are parts of Deen and differentiate between the words Eemaan and Deen; this opinion is the well-known among their other opinions. Shaykhul-Islam clarified that they say that religion consists of three parts: Eemaan, obligatory acts of worship and voluntary acts of worship.  He also mentioned that some scholars refuted their claim of differentiation between Eemaan and Deen and their claim that acts of worship are not included in the religion, citing as evidence the verse (which means): {And they were not commanded except to worship Allaah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, being upright, and to establish prayer and to give Zakah. And that is the correct religion.} [Quran 98:5]

With respect to the difference between Islam and Eemaan, the Murji’ah hold that Islam is better and that Eeman is part of it. Shaykhul-Islam stated that Sharee'ah texts, as well as the opinions of the Companions as well as their successors all state that Eemaan is superior to Islam.   

Allaah Knows best.