| The Aqeedah of Ahlis-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah |
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Author : Shaykh Salih al-Uthaimeen Source : Aqeedah Ahlis-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah[1] Translated by: Kashif bin Hazoor Khan As Salafi & Abu Ahmad[2] |
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OurAqeedah Our Aqeedah is to believe in Allah, His Angles, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day and we believe in Qadr (Pre Decree), the good and the bad of it, and that it is from Allah. We believe in the Ruboobiyyah of Allah, and that is to believe that Allah is the sustainer, the creator and the owner of all things and He is the one who runs the affairs. We believe in His Uloohiyyah, and that is that He is the only One worthy of all worship and all that which is worshipped other than him is falsehood. We also believe in his Asmaa was Sifaat (Names and Attributes), and that is to believe that His beautiful names and perfect attributes are specific only to Him. We also believe in the Tawheed of all these aspects, and that is to believe that He has no partner in any of them. Allah the most High says: "Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, so worship Him (Alone) and be constant and patient in His worship. Do you know of any who is similar to Him? (of course none is similar or coequal or comparable to Him, and He has none as partner with Him). [There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer]. Beautiful Names of Allah We believe that: "Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter . And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. " And we believe that: "He is Allah the one that none has the right to be worshipped but He, the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." And webelieve that the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth belong only to Allah, and the proof is contained in the following verses "To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female (offspring) upon whom He wills, and bestows male (offspring) upon whom He wills. Or He bestows both males and females, and He renders barren whom He wills. Verily, He is the All-Knower and is Able to do all things." And we believe that following are His, the Most High’s, attributes. "The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you mates from yourselves, and for the cattle (also) mates. By this means He creates you (in the wombs). There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth, He enlarges provision for whom He wills, and straitens (it for whom He wills). Verily! He is the All-Knower of everything." And we believe that, "And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in the uterous, grave, etc.). all is in a Clear Book (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz - the Book of Decrees with Allah)." We believe that, "And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record." We believe that, "Verily, Allah! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is AllKnower, AllAware (of things)." The belief in the attributes of Speech and knowledge of Allah We believe that Allah speaks whenever, whatever and however it pleases Him. As He says: "And Messengers We have mentioned to you before, and Messengers We have not mentioned to you, - and to Musa (Moses) Allah spoke directly." "And when Musa (Moses) came at the time and place appointed by Us, and his Lord spoke to him, he said: "O my Lord! Show me (Yourself), that I may look upon You." Allah said: "You cannot see Me, but look upon the mountain if it stands still in its place then you shall see Me." So when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He made it collapse to dust, and Musa (Moses) fell down unconscious. Then when he recovered his senses he said: "Glory be to You, I turn to You in repentance and I am the first of the believers."" And He says: "And We called him from the right side of the Mount, and made him draw near to Us for a talk with him [Musa (Moses)]" And we also believe that Allah is such that, "Say (O Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to mankind). "If the sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Lord, surely, the sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord would be finished, even if we brought (another sea) like it for its aid."" And He also says: "And if all the trees on the earth were pens and the sea (were ink wherewith to write), with seven seas behind it to add to its (supply), yet the Words of Allah would not be exhausted. Verily, Allah is AllMighty, AllWise." And our Aqeedah also includes that the truthfulness of matters, the justice in all rulings and the superiority of the manner of speech can only be found in the speech of Allah. As Allah says: "And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the AllHearer, the AllKnower." And, "And who is truer in statement than Allah?" And we believe that the noble Qur’an without a doubt is the speech of Allah, and indeed He gave it to Jibreel and then he took it and descended to the Messenger(sallallahu alaihi wasallam) . And Allah says: "Say (O Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)) Ruh-ul-Qudus [Jibreel] has brought it (the Qur'an) down from your Lord with truth." And He said: "And truly, this (the Qur'an) is a revelation from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists), Which the trustworthy Ruh [Jibreel] has brought down; Upon your heart (O Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)) that you may be (one) of the warners, In the plain Arabic language." The belief in the attributes of highness and ascension of Allah We believe that Allah in His majesty is high above his slaves. And the proof for this is the following saying of Allah: "And He is the Most High, the Most Great." And He says: "And He is the Irresistible, above His slaves, and He is the All Wise, Well Acquainted with all things." And we also believe that: "Surely, your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then Istawaa (rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty), disposing the affair of all things." And what is meant by that istawaa (to rise above) the throne is that He himself rose over the throne in a manner that befits His majesty, and no one other than Him knows how His istawaa (ascension). And we also believe that while He is above the throne He is well acquainted with all the affairs of His slaves, He hears their speech, He sees their actions and He runs their affairs. He provides the needy, He helps who has lost all, He gives kingship to whom He wills and He takes it away from whom He wills. Whomsoever He desires, He gives honor and whomsoever He desires, He humiliates. In His hands are all the things of goodness and He has authority over all. Verily the One who has these attributes, He truly with His knowledge and authority is with His creation every moment, even though He actually is high above His throne. Allah says: "There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." The kufr in the belief that Allah resides in the world We do not believe as the Jahmiyyah and other such deviant sects that Allah resides on this earth along with his creation, and we consider such a person, who holds such belief, a kafir or a deviant. This is because that they have attributed to Allah such deficiencies and faults that do not befit Him, High above is He from all this. The belief in descending of Allah to lowest Heaven We also believe in that which we were informed by the messenger of Allah (saw), and that is that Allah descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every night and says “who is there calling Me so that I may answer him, who is there asking Me so that I may grant him, who is there asking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him.” We also believe that on the day of Judgement Allah will come to judge between His slaves, as He says: "Nay! When the earth is ground to powder, And your Lord comes with the angels in rows, And Hell will be brought near that Day. On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance (then) avail him?" Our belief is that Allah “He does what He intends (or wills).” The categories of the will (intention) of Allah We also believe that the will of Allah is divided into two categories: Allah’s will ( both types ) is established upon hikmah (wisdom) We also believe that the will of Allah, be it Qawnee or Shar’iee, follows the wisdom of Allah. So that if Allah wills to create something or He requriers a form of worship from his creation there is always some wisdom in it, and in accordance to His wisdom it comes into existence. Even if our aql (intelligence) may not understand the wisdom behind it. As Allah says : "Is not Allâh the Best of judges?" "And who is better in judgement than Allâh for a people who have firm Faith." Allah’s attributes of Love, Pleasure, Dissatisfaction and Anger We belive that Allah’s loves His awliyaa (friends) and they love Him and believe in Him. Allah says: "Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah then follow me, Allah will love you… " And He said: "Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him;" And: "And Allah loves As-Saabirin (the patient ones)" And He says: "... and be equitable. Verily! Allâh loves those who are equitable." and He says: "..and do good. Truly, Allâh loves Al-Muhsinűn (the good-doers)." and He says: "If you disbelieve, then verily, Allâh is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you. And He says: "but Allah was averse to their being sent forth, so He made them lag behind, and it was said (to them), "Sit you among those who sit (at home)."" And we also believe that Allah is happy and pleased with those who believe in Him and do righteous actions. He says: "Pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord." And we belive that Allah is severely angry with the kuffaar and those who are deserving of this anger. He says: "And that He may punish the Munaafiqun (hypocrites), men and women, and also the Mushrikun(those who associate with Allah in worship) men and women, who think evil thoughts about Allah, for them is a disgraceful torment, and the anger of Allah is upon them…" And He says: "..but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a great torment." Some attribute of Allah’s dhaat (self) And we also believe that Allah has a face, that befits His Highness and Majesty. "And the Face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honour will abide forever." And we also believe that Allah has hands that are generous and which befit His Greatness. As He says: "Nay, both His Hands are widely outstretched. He spends (of His Bounty) as He wills." and He says: "They made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. And on the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be grasped by His Hand and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified is He, and High is He above all that they associate as partners with Him!" And we believe that Allah has real eyes and the proof is this saying of Allah, "And construct the ship under Our Eyes and with Our Inspiration .." And the messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said : "His veil is noor(light), and if he removes it , the rays from His face will burn and be destroyed everything in the creation that His sight reaches." Ahlus Sunnah are united upon the fact that Allah has two eyes, which is based on the statement of the prohet of Allah(saw) in which he said concerning the Dajjal, "verily he (the dajjal) is one eyed and your Lord is not one eyed." And we believe that His greatness is such as He says : "No vision can grasp Him, but His Grasp is over all vision. He is the Most Subtle and Courteous, WellAcquainted with all things." The believers will see their Lord We believe that the believers will see their Lord with their eyes. "Some faces that Day shall be Naadirah (shining and radiant). Looking at their Lord (Allah);" It is impossible for anything to be like Allah We believe that because of Allah’s great and complete attributes nothing in the creation can be like Him, as He says: "There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." Allah is free from sleep, drowsiness, incapability and tiredness We believe that Allah because of eternal life and endless existence is such that: "Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him." And we believe that Allah does not wrong anyone because of His complete justice and fairness. And because of His complete vision He has all knowledge of actions and conditions of His slaves. And we believe that because Allah has all knowledge and is capable of all things, nothing in the heavens and the earth can compel Him. And He says: "Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be!" and it is! And because of the completeness of His power, He does not get tired nor does He become incapable or frustrated. "And indeed We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six Days and nothing of fatigue touched Us." The establishment of Allah’s attributes without Kayf (Howness) and Tamtheel ( comparison) . We believe in all of these beautiful names and glorious attributes of Allah that He himself or His messenger (saw) have established for Him, but we do not fall into the two errors of takyeef and tamtheel. Tamtheel : It is that, one says by his tongue or in his heart that the attribute of Allah is like an attribute of His creation. Takyeef : It is that, one says by his by his tongue or in his heart that the atrribute of Allah is like such and such.[3] And we negate all those things that Allah Himself or His messenger has negated for Him. And we believe that this negation affirms the completeness of the opposite for Allah. To remain silent on that which Allah and His Messenger (saw) remained silent upon. We choose silence on everything which Allah and His Messenger (saw) have chosen to remain silent upon. It is mandatory to take this path because… We believe that it is an obligation and it is mandatory to take this path because Allah has made clear these attributes, which He Himself has established or negated for Himself, and He is the most knowledgeable about Himself and He has the best of speech. And His slaves cannot comprehend Him. And that which the Messenger of Allah (saw) has affirmed or negated for Allah, is such that he (saw) himself has informed us of it and he was most knowledgeable about his Lord. And he was the best advisor to the creation, the most truthful and most eloquent in speech. The beauty of the clarification of Allah and His messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) Allah and His messenger’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) knowledge and truthfulness and clarification are the most complete and best. Hence there should be no excuse to reject it and there should be no hesitation to accept it. |