Thanks Aero for this discussion
Tbh I would have to ask you to explain the defensiveness part a bit more though.
In our worldview people can be under the category of Islam and be Muslims and not have faith or Eman.
Hence outwardly the profess and practice however inwardly they may not have belief. Belief in Islam is called Iman and believers have inward conviction and inward actions of the heart that only God knows or is a witness of.
(There is also a higher level of Islam after belief and this is called ihsan and these are believers who have perfected both their inward and outward deeds but that discussion is outside this one.)
We can not judge a person's faith all we can see is his Islam in the sense of his outward actions.
"The second degree is eemaan (faith), which in Arabic means belief which is committed to submission. In Islamic terminology its meaning varies according to usage and it may mean one of two things:
(i) When the word is used on its own and is not accompanied by the word Islam, it refers to the religion as a whole, as in the verses where Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allaah is the Wali (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light”
[al-Baqarah 2:257]
“and put your trust in Allaah if you are believers indeed”
[al-Maa’idah 5:23]
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No one will enter Paradise except the believers.” Narrated by Muslim, 114.
Hence the salaf (means pious predessors) were unanimously agreed that eemaan means “affirming in the heart – which includes actions of the heart – and saying with the tongue and acting with one’s physical faculties. It increases by doing acts of obedience and decreases by committing sin.”
Hence Allaah limited the word eemaan to those who adhere to His religion in full, inwardly and outwardly, when He said (interpretation of the meaning):
“The believers are only those who, when Allaah is mentioned, feel a fear (in the sense of God consciousness) in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur’aan) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone);
3. Who perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat‑as‑ Salaah) and spend out of that We have provided them.
4. It is they who are the believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness and a generous provision (Paradise)” [al-Anfaal 8:2-4]
Source:
https://islamqa.info/en/49023
Here is an interesting video on this: