Showing posts with label Aqeedah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aqeedah. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

In Reply To The Salafi Beliefs


key: In blue itallics you will find the references and/or point of view of the Salafis (usually with reference links provided below; mainly the following: http://ahnazeer19.arabblogs.com/archive/2008/4/519791.html & http://www.muftisays.com/viewarticle.php?article=zntaqleed). In green Itallics you will find the references or quotes that I have provided with their respective links provided with them.

The Holy Prophet-SAAW brought us one deen and that is Islam, and that is one which brings ease for everyone. All four Fiqh's are accepted as authentic Islam, with very slight variations in the do's and dont's all agree on the exact same beliefs, there is no variation there. And the do's and don'ts are all such that the Prophet-SAAW taught on different times and occasions and all are considered valid and authentic.

My question to the Salafis is that do they believe that they or anyone else today has more knowledge and authority regarding Islam than a Taba’ee (Imam Abu Hanifa) who met atleast four Sahabis-RAU during his life time, which include Hazrat Anas-RAU?

Are the Salafis attempting to or trying to claim that the Prophet-SAAW never offered his-SAAW salah according to the Hanafi Fiqh? ... yet all the other 3 Fiqh's have no issues with the Hanafi Fiqh or vice versa ...

A direction from the Hadith informs us:

"Also perform your prayer just as you see me perform my prayer." (Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 1076)

It is not said: "Perform your prayer in the manner you may infer from the Holy Qurãn."


Masa'il or precepts are of four kinds:-

1Clear instructions from the Holy Qurãn and Ahadith. No Qiyas is allowed nor Taqlid permissible. The order is to practice on the clear injunction.

2In such propositions where there are two injunctions, one earlier, and one later, and through historical evidence both renown, then the earlier proposition is abrogated (Mansukh), whilst the latter command is ordered. Here too Qiyas and Taqlid ~ not permitted.

3Those propositions that have two clear injunctions but it is not known which is earlier and which later, i.e. no historical evidence.

4Those propositions of which there exist no clear injunctions.


(http://reformationofheart.blogspot.com/2012/04/what-is-taqleed-taqlid-falsification-of.html)

The Taba’een visually saw the Sahabah-RAU performing the Salah in manners they learnt from visually seeing the Holy Prophet-SAAW performing the Salah in person, live in front of them. Now how can one expect us to accept the statements and rulings of those random common Muslims (who have no knowledge of Islamic Jurisprudence, who casually come across one Sahih Hadith and base their entire understanding of the complete matter on the basis of that one Hadith) over that of a Taba’ee like Hadhrat Imam Abu Hanifa-RUA?

 With all due respect are all Salafis Muftis? Or masters of Islamic Jurisprudence? or these points are not infact their own learnings and deductions but are the learnings of those whom they consider a valid scholar?

The mentioned four schools are derived from the Sunnah and the Hadith and the practical demonstration of how and where they are applied; First taught directly by the Prophet-SAAW to the Sahabi-RAU and then from the Sahabi-RAU to the Tabaee-RUA. Thus yes their interpretation of the Islamic Law's and rituals of worships will be considered more accurate and authentic as compared to one who got up today studied some Hadith and decided as per his understanding and imagination how they should apply to our practical lives and rituals of worship.

Also in regard to the matter concerning the slight differences in the manner of offering Salah, that is because the Prophet-SAAW at different time periods in his-SAAW used all of the prescribed methods and none of them were specifically asked to be abandoned. Therefore all four are correct. The Fiqhs have been derived bearing different era's of the Prophet-SAAW's life, Imam Abu Hanifa followed the teachings and methods of the last era of the Prophet-SAAW's life (I believe, I'm not 100% sure on this one, I will have to validate the time period), thus the Hanafi Fiqh is derived from the rules of Islamic Jurisprudence according to the Hadith and Sunnah of that time.

“quote from the Holy Quran is from Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 59: O you who believe, obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those entrusted with authority amongst you. Then if there arises any dispute about anything, refer the dispute to Allah and the Messenger, if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day. That would be the best way and most suitable for final determination.
The Arabic word 'ati' means obey.. In the above aayah, Allah commands the believers to obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those entrusted with authority (olil-amr) amongst you. The above verse is extremely clear whereby Allah says:
'Ati-Allah' meaning 'obey Allah'
'wa ati-ar Rasool' meaning 'obey the Messenger'
'wa olil-amr minkum' meaning 'and those entrusted with authority amongst you.'
Allah does not say 'wa ati olil amr minkum'. The command 'ati' (obey) is not placed independently before the 'olil-amr'. And anyone who knows even basic Arabic grammar will confirm with you that because the word 'ati' (obey) is not placed before 'olil-amr' (those entrusted with authority), then it becomes a 'mashroot' (condition), that you have to obey those entrusted with authority amongst you, ONLY IF THEY OBEY ALLAH AND THE MESSENGER!
Then Allah states in the same aayah, that if there arises a dispute about anything, refer the dispute back to Allah (the Quran) and the Messenger (His Sunnah or Way).... If you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day.”



Before I delve any further, into this discussion, I would like to reply to their above comment. The insinuation of “ONLY IF THEY OBEY ALLAH AND THE MESSENGER!” as per the context of this discussion and their point of view or rather the salafi point of view is, that (na’uzubillah) they did not obey Allah-SWT and the Messenger, and therefore we (the ones who believe in the Taqleed of either of the 4 Aimah-e-Fiqh) are wrong in doing their Taqleed.

Whereas our stance is this that according to the above mentioned ayat, after Allah-SWT and the Prophet-SAAW if we are to do anyone’s Taqleed it is of “those entrusted with authority amongst us” and in the order of precedence they would be as follows Sahabah-RAU, Tabaee-RUA, Taba Tabaee-RUA and the learned Fuqaha (Mufti or masters of Islamic Jurisprudence). 

We take as further reference of this, the famous Hadith (which I will not be surprised if the salafi conveniently declare unauthentic) in which the Prophet-SAAW clearly stated that if only one Sahabi-RAU from the Ghazwa of Badr were to remain alive amongst all other Sahabis-RAU. And a conflict arose over a matter and all the other Sahabis-RAU were unanimously agreeing upon one stance while the Sahabi-RAU of Badr was the only one upholding the conflicting stance. Thereupon it would be incumbent upon them all to do the Taqleed of the Sahabi-RAU of Badr, as his-RAU understanding of the Quran and Sunnah would be considered superior in authenticity and his spiritual connection with the Holy Prophet-SAAW and Love for Allah-SWT would far supersede them all.

Thus when the matter arises of conflict today and we have the clear teachings of a Tabaee. Whom we believe to be an ardent and obedient follower of the Quran and Sunnah, we believe that there is no question regarding whose teachings we should adhere to: a Tabaee’s or some random scholars of today (no matter how qualified they claim to be or how many medals they may have hanging around their necks)?

For us the matter is of no conflict at all, for we shall abide by the Quran and the Sunnah and we believe that the four respective Imams did an immaculate job of doing the Taqleed of the Quran and Sunnah and deriving the Fiqh thereof. May Allah-SWT be pleased with them all, and rightly guide those who are audacious enough to get up centuries later under various pretexts and justifications pointing fingers at them and proclaiming themselves to be more authentic then them (nau’zubillah). Aameen! (The act itself seems nothing but replicating that of Ibn Muljam and the khwarij and this has always been the way of satan, to confuse people with a play of words and then secretly fill their hearts with self-love and the belief of their own superiority of beliefs and ideology etc. Truly it is them, who are the misguided and they know not. They have harboured arrogance in their hearts and blasphemed through their actions and their beliefs such that they do not even know and all their acts are lost. For such only the Judgment Day will be proof enough of who was right and who was wrong, and they might be shocked to find the four blessed Imam-e-Fiqh standing amongst the Muqaraboon in the plain of Arafat while they are standing on the left side wondering what happened.)

May Allah-SWT protect us from such an end and such a fate and allow our hearts to be opened to the truth and cleansed and purified such that every heartbeat of ours, every pulse, every breath is engaged in zikr-Allah. And our hearts are softened with love for Allah-SWT, His-SWT’s beloved Prophet-SAAW, the Prophets-AS, the Khulfa-e-Rashidoon-RAU, the Ahl-e-Bayt-RAU, the Sahabi-RAU, the khair-ul-Quroon-RUA, the Aulia-e-Ikram-RUA, and the rest of the Ummah and all of humanity and all of the creation of Allah-SWT. Aameen!

… Now in an attempt to only provide clarity to those who might get mislead after this debate, if I leave some matters unanswered and unsubstantiated. Therefore, I will make my utmost effort in replying with all earnestness regarding the links and references provided.

the reference salafi comment from the link provided below are given in quotes and italics: whereas my reply is provided in black font without italics.

http://ahnazeer19.jeeran.com/archive/2008/4/519791.html -

“No doubt these imams were very high in their knowledge and deeds,and there were lot of others of similar caliber and even of higher than these imams in rank and caliber. And beside these four scholars, three other scholars were also followed by people similar to "Hanafi" "Maliki" "Shafaee" and "Hanbali" as we find today people only following them. There are some important points to be kept in mind here.”



What is the reference of the comment in bold and who are they to randomly get up today and make claims in regard to which imam supersedes which in rank and caliber, especially when one of the Imam’s under discussion was a Tabaee?

“v Whatever Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) had given us that is intact and not lost, and can not be lost as Allah Himself is its Guardian.”



No doubt about that. Islam is preserved in its most authentic form through the four duties of the Prophet-SAAW being upheld todate by the four respective fields: i) Hufaaz-e-Quran; who learn each and every word (with its perfect pronunciation) and punctuation of the Quran by heart. ii) Sufia-e-ikram; tassawwuf /tazkeeyah for the purification of the heart and the spirit. iii) the Ulema-e-Ikram: the Muhadith and the Mufasir, iv) the Fuqaha; masters of Islamic Jurisprudence who tell us how the Quran and Sunnah apply to our practical lives.

“v Secondly that very religion was in practice in the time of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and after him, even till the time of imams who were born in the 2nd and 3rd century Hijri. Then they compiled their books. It is very clear here that a lot of time of Ummat al Muslima had passed practicing the same religion of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) without following any sect and Prophet said about those people who followed his way (other than any sect). "Khair al-qaroon qarnee thummalazeena yalonahum thummalazeena yalonahum"

Means, the best period is of mine, then that which is adjacent to the period of mine then which is connected to that and so on. All these three spans of time which are said to be the best by Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) had passed before these 4 imams came in this world. Therefore the best people of this umma had gone before the "Hanafi" "Maliki" "Shafaee" and "Hanbali" periods. Whose followers were these best people of umma and to whom they never followed? The period of imams came long after the period of the best followers of Prophet.”



What lies do they go around stating. They should atleast authenticate their nonsense with some reference and not their unqualified opinions.

Nuʿmān ibn Thābit ibn Zūṭā ibn Marzubān[4] (Persian:نعمان بن ثابت بن زوطا بن مرزبان), better known as Imām Abū Ḥanīfah, (699 — 767 CE / 80 — 148 AH) was the founder of the Sunni Hanafi school of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). Status as a Tabi‘i.
Imām Abū Ḥanīfah was born 67 years after the death of Muhammad, but during the time of the Sahaba of Muhammad, some of whom lived on until Abū Ḥanīfah's youth. Anas bin Malik, Muhammad's personal attendant, died in 93 AH and another companion, Abul Tufail Amir bin Wathilah, died in 100 AH, when Abū Ḥanīfah was 20 years old.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ab%C5%AB_%E1%B8%A4an%C4%ABfa


Mālik ibn Anas ibn Mālik ibn Abī 'Āmir al-Asbahī (Arabic مالك بن أنس) (c. 711 – 795) (93 AH – 179 AH ) is known as "Imam Malik, Malik took advantage of the fact that he was contemporary to many of the Tabi‘in to formulate his school of thought, which gave precedence to the acts of the people of Medina over the Hadith if they were in conflict. This was done due to the sizeable amount of scholars, and companions of Muhammad residing in the city where Malik's reputation grew immensely. Imam Malik died at the age of 86 in Medina in 795 and is buried in the famous Jannat ul-Baqi cemetery across from the Masjid al Nabawi.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malik_ibn_Anas)


Abū ʿAbdullāh Muhammad ibn Idrīs al-Shāfi‘ī (Arabic: ابو عبدالله محمد بن إدريس الشافعيّ) was a Muslim jurist, who lived from 767 CE to 820 CE. He was active in juridical matters and his teaching eventually led to the Shafi'i school of fiqh (or Madh'hab) named after him. Hence he is often called Imam al-Shafi'i. He is considered the founder of Islamic jurisprudence.[2]:1 al-Shāfi‘ī belonged to the Qurayshi clan Banu Muttalib which was the sister clan of the Banu Hashim to which Muhammad and the Abbasidcaliphs belonged.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_ibn_Idris_ash-Shafi%27i)


Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal Abu `Abd Allah al-Shaybani (Arabic: احمد بن محمد بن حنبل ابو عبد الله الشيباني) was an important Muslim scholarand theologian. He is considered the founder of the Hanbali school of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). Imam Ahmad is one of the most celebratedSunni theologians, often referred to as "Sheikh ul-Islam"[8] or the "Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah," honorifics given to the most esteemed doctrinal authorities in the Sunni tradition. Imam Ahmad personified the theological views of the early orthodox scholars, including the founders of the other extant schools of Sunni fiqh, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik ibn Anas, and Imam ash-Shafi`i. Born 780 CE/164 AH- died 855 CE/241 AH (aged 77) On Friday, the 12 of Rabi' al-Awwal 241 AH, the legendary Imam breathed his last.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_ibn_Hanbal)


Muhammad Ibn Ismail Ibn Ibrahim Ibn al-Mughirah Ibn Bardizbah al-Bukhari (Persian/Arabic: محمد بن اسماعيل بن ابراهيم بن مغيره بن بردزبه بخاری), popularly known as Bukhari or Imam Bukhari, (196-256AH / 810-870AD), was a Sunni Islamic scholar of Persia.[3][4] He authored the hadith collection named Sahih Bukhari, a collection which Sunni Muslims regard as the most authentic of all hadith compilations.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_al-Bukhari)

provided above with the clear references are the time periods of these respective Imams. Which clearly shows Imam Abu Hanifa to be a respected Tabaee, and Imam Malik I believe was a Taba Tabaeen. Thus they were both from the Khair-ul-Quroon to say the least! I also added the details and reference of Imam Bukhari who is famous for his compilation of Sahi Hadith and as one can see that he and Imam Hanbal had an over lapping era.

“v In so many issues these scholars had used their rational power, as the collection work of Aadeeths (Tradition of our Prophet) could not be done in their period, as now easily available to every Muslim. So these imams had used their rational power and later on it is found Ahadeeths were there on those issues.”



If one were to go over the various links provided above under each Imam’s details, one  would see that they themselves were well versed in Hadith and are used as authentic sources of compiled Hadith. They were the Muhadith, the Mufasir and the Fuqaha of their respective eras. So this nonsense regarding their knowledge of Hadith being less authentic then those of today is preposterous. Our knowledge of our religion especially the Hadith and the Sunnah has survived through their sacrifices and their efforts to begin with. It is unbelievable and unacceptable to anyone with any amount of religious devotion and sense that a Tabaees understanding of the Quran and Sunnah would be less authentic to some scholar of today!

“Now I give you an example. Suppose you are traveling in the night, at the time of Isha' prayer you were not certain of the side of Qibla. You seriously ponder and decided to pray choosing one, same you did in Fajr prayer. After the dawn, you realized that your selection of Qibla side was wrong. Your Isha' and Fajr which you have prayed are correct in absence of any authentic source of correction, so no need to repeat those prayers. But which side would you choose for your Zuhar prayer in the open light of sun? Obviously towards the true Qibla side, as it is now day light to guide you. Your Zuhar prayer would not be accepted by Allah (SWT) if prayed toward the same side you prayed Isha.

Similarly whatever decision imams have taken, as well as their followers did, in the light of their best knowledge, in absence of Hadeeth, was correct. As it is obligatory to decide after proper consultation (Ijtihad) in absence of any Hadeeth on any particular problem, so their act was quite correct. But when all the Ahadeeth have been collected and it is found that some of the decisions were against the Ahadeeth of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), then there is no room to follow imams' decision which contradicts with Hadeeth of Prophet Mohammad.

It is similar to your Zuhar prayer which can not be prayed towards the wrong side of Qibla you had chosen previous night, for your Isha prayer and followed the same for your Fajr prayer, because you are now in daylight.”


I think with the provided references I have already refuted these preposterous claims and twisted beliefs and logic of these salafis. I would like here to provide three links below which clearly provide evidences of the forgeries, tampering and tehreef done by the salafis in their Darussalam printed editions of various (previously authentic and pure works of renowned Ulema-e-Haq).

(http://www.marifah.net/forums/topic/3246-examples-of-salafis-salafi-publishing-houses-tamperingalteringforging-texts/)
(http://www.marifah.net/forums/topic/3246-examples-of-salafis-salafi-publishing-houses-tamperingalteringforging-texts/page__st__15)
(http://www.marifah.net/forums/topic/3246-examples-of-salafis-salafi-publishing-houses-tamperingalteringforging-texts/page__st__30)

You will find this:_“Translated and abridged by a group of scholars under the supervision of Sheikh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri. Written and complied by Hafiz Ibn Kathir - The Qur'an is the revelation of Allah's Own Words for the guidance of His creatures. Since the Qur'an is the primary source of Islamic teachings, the correct understanding for the Qur'an is necessary for every Muslim. The Tafsir of Ibn Kathir is the most renowned and accepted explanation of the Qur'an in the entire world. In it one finds the best presentation of Ahadith, history, and scholarly commentary. - Dar-us-Salam is proud to present for the first time this abridged version of Tafsir Ibn Kathir, which is free from unauthentic Ahadith.”_ On the link provided : (http://www.meccabooks.com/quran-tafsir-commentary/418-tafsir-ibn-kathir-10-volume-set-9781591440208.html)

And my question would be that who has given any one of them the authority to tamper with the authentic works of Ibn-Kathir? If they actually believed that his Tafseer contained supposed unauthentic Hadith they should take the matter up in Sharaee court with dalail and make their own learned scholars write their own Tafseer rather than confusing other Muslims that their abridged version is infact the authentic Tafsir Ibn-Kathir. Which true to God person needs to do such devious acts as tampering with renowned religious works of others to promote their own wicked concepts and ideologies? Which man of Allah-SWT needs to tamper with the authentic works of renowned scholars and pass them of as the originals in order to prove or spread his own point of view. If one disagrees with the works or some parts thereof, of renowned scholars, he should clearly provide his chain of knowledge and religious background, point of difference and write his own works and spread them under his own name, leaving it to the people if they choose to read or agree with his point of view. This stance of attempting to mislead people into believing that the edited versions of the authentic works are the original works themselves is in fact not the way of a Muslim, let alone a man posing to be a religious authority or scholar or cleric etc.

“About twelve centuries have passed to the period of imams while the period of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is of more 225 years older. Suppose Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) comes to you alive and asks you to do any deed and tells you the way how to do that, same time imam also comes to you alive and ask you to do the same task in different way, who would be obeyed. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) or imam?

There is no confusion in its answer that imam's way would be rejected and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) would be followed. Yes, you are ordered to follow and obey the right path of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and not the path of contradiction. While a clear path is in front of us lead by our Prophet, why to accept the wrong one.”

“Neither the prophet is alive now, nor the imams but their paths are in front of us. Since there is no doubt that the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) would be obeyed and imams' contradictory path would be rejected if they come alive, there must not be any hesitation to follow the path of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in the light of his Ahadeeth rest all would be rejected.”



The above is a clear example of the hypothetical nonsense they come up with in order to confuse those with little or even less knowledge. These are weapons of satan to cause a rift and confusion amongst the Ummah. These questions are exactly like the one’s the atheists put forth saying “can GOD create a rock that HE cannot break? And if there would be a rock that HE cannot break than HE would not be GOD and if HE cannot make such a rock, then HE is not GOD because HE cannot make anything and everything!” All this is rubbish and a ploy of satan. The respective Imams followed the Quran and Sunnah immaculately and would continue to do so, if all were to come alive even today. We follow the Quran and Sunnah in doing their respective Taqleed, as was the way taught to us through the times of the Khulfa-e-Rashideen-RAU. All did the Taqleed of the Khaleefa of the time, irrespective of the fact that the rest of the people might also have been Sahabi-RAU.

“Interestingly the same is taught by these four imams in their teachings. None of them said whatever I adopt you have to follow. Imam Shafaee (RA) said " Iza saha al-hadeeth fa hua mazhabee"means "when there is authentic hadeeth available that is my religion". Imam Abu Hanifa said " when you find a Hadeeth contradicting my mandate, throw my decision on wall, means DO NOT FOLLOW MY SAYINGS.”

Please show me an authentic reference whereby I know that Imam Abu Hanifa-RUA said what they claim he has stated about throwing his ruling against the wall... secondly what my understanding of this matter is - that if he did state this it was because of his surety that there is no contradiction between his qiyas and understanding of the Quran and Sunnah, therefore no such issue will arise. The above statement of Imam Abu Hanifa-RUA (if true) only goes to show how sure he was of his qiyas being in absolute adherence to the Quran and Sunnah that he would say "when you find a Hadeeth contradicting my mandate, throw my decision on wall, means DO NOT FOLLOW MY SAYINGS.” Because he knew there was no such issue whatsoever. It is exactly as when the Prophet-SAAW proposed the Mubahala challenge with the Arab Christians (Al-Quran 3:61), that whichever one is wrong may the wrath of Allah-SWT seize him, because he-SAAW was absolutely sure of his-SAAW validity. Just like in the case of the proposed Mubahala challenge by the Prophet-SAAW, whereby he-SAAW wanted to invoke Allah-SWT's curse on the liar/the deviant, because he-SAAW was certain that he-SAAW was absolutely TRUTHFUL!

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RAU), reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
"Allah the Almighty has said: 'Whosoever acts with enmity towards a Wali (of Allah), I will indeed declare war against him. Nothing endears My servant to Me than doing of what I have made obligatory upon him to do. And My servant continues to draw nearer to Me with nawafil prayers so that I shall love him. When I love him, I shall be his hearing with which he shall hear, his sight with which he shall see, his hands with which he shall hold, and his feet with which he shall walk. And if he asks (something) of Me, I shall surely give it to him, and if he takes refuge in Me, I shall certainly grant him it.”

Our belief regarding the Aimah-e-Fiqh. We believe them to be devout followers of the Quran and Sunnah. We believe them to be fully adept in Islamic Jurisprudence thereby their understanding and interpretation would be considered to be correct and authentic one, even if we seemingly came across a hadith that apparently seemed contradictory; however, recognizing the fact that we are not masters in Tafseer-e-Quran or Tafseer-e-Hadith and neither Islamic Jurisprudence. We have no knowledge of when and where and under which circumstances that hadith took place and how it was meant to apply to our practical lives unless first the Prophet-SAAW enacted it or approved it in the actions of the Sahabi-RAU who in turn taught the pristine actions, meanings, and message to the Tabaee-RUA. We would still go by with the understanding or verdict provided by the Aimah-e-Fiqh - especially Imam Abu Hanifa as he himself was a Tabaee. Because we believe that he is immaculate in his understanding and depiction of the Quran and Sunnah. Thus in emulating his Law, we are infact attempting to authentically emulate the Quran and Sunnah and not deviate as per our convenient understanding or lack therefof.


When imams (RAA) in absence of Hadeeth did "Ijtehad" and instructed that do not follow this path if Hadeeth is available on this subject, REJECT US PLUNTLY. They got free with this expression, in the sight of Allah. Those who systematically follow the way of their imams rigidly are introducing a new thing which was never introduced before in Islamic Sharia.”



just imagine that during the time of the Imam the Hadith was absent and its suddenly present now, yet those who do taqleed are introducing new things into Islamic Sharia! Unbelievable! What can one say to such absurdity?

Also to further explain this point I would like to recommend the reading of the following book “The Status of Imam Abu Haneefah in the Science of Hadith” By Shaykh Abu ‘Umar ‘Irfan Kabeeruddin, on the below provided link. I think it will clarify the misconceptions of many an individual and many an ignoramous who questions Imam Abu Hanifa’s authority in regards to Islamic Jurisprudence and his knowledge of the Ahadith.
http://www.muhammadiyah.info/Books/The%20Status%20of%20Imam%20Abu%20Hanifa%20in%20Hadees.pdf

please read the following:http://reformationofheart.blogspot.com/2012/04/aqeedah-tahawiyyah-aqaidbeliefs-of.html ...


"73. We follow the Sunna of the Prophet-SAAW and the Congregation of the Muslims (Khair-ul-Quroon), and avoid deviation, differences and divisions."


"97. The learned men of the Predecessors, both the first community and those who immediately followed (Khair-ul-Quroon: Sahabah, Tabaee, Taba Tabaeen): the people of virtue, the narrators of hadith, the jurists, and the analysts-- they must only be spoken of in the best way, and anyone who says anything bad about them is not on the right path."


"101. We do not accept as true what soothsayers and fortune-tellers say, nor do we accept the claims of those who affirm anything which goes against the Book, the Sunna, and the consensus of the Muslim Community (Khair-ul-Quroon, Fuqaha, the learned scholars, and Aulia)."

... I think as Muslims we really need to be very clear about our Aqeedah/Aqaid in depth.

May Allah-SWT guide us all to the right path and choose us to become His-SWT Muqariboon, and on the Day of Judgement may we be amongst those who receive salvation without accountability and May He-SWT make us a source of pride and pleasure for the Prophet-SAAW, the Sahabah-RAU, the Khair-ul-Quroon and the Aulia-e-ikraam. Aameen!

I believe in the Quran and Sunnah and Authentic Hadith books (in their original prints), I believe in the authenticity of the four Fiqhs, I believe the pious Predecessors (the Khair-ul-Quroon) as the authority for upholding the most authentic and correct Islam. I believe they were living examples / embodiment of the teachings of the Holy Prophet-SAAW. I take their word over any later scholars any day. I believe in their Taqleed as tantamounting to being the closest to the correct Sunnah. I believe deviations and sects would not have arisen had everyone simply done Taqleed of the four Aimah-e-Fiqh in the most sincere way. The day we stopped doing that and started issuing our own ideas and logic as means of acceptance of Hadith and Sunnah and Fiqh, we fell prey to satan and his attacks and divided into endless sects.

below is a abstract from the post(article)
Taqlîd or Ittibâ in essence, simply refers to the practice of an unqualified, lay person (in a specific field of specialisation) submitting to and accepting the authority of an expert in that field, without demanding proof and justification for every view, opinion or verdict expressed by such an expert authority

will you agree with the above blindly?
how came ?you go to shop and just blindly purchase something without investigating and search ?

I was asked the above and my reply is YES! I would believe it and yes when I go shopping and a box of eatables is stamped with the halaal seal, I just pick it up blindly and eat it without further investigating who and how and when and where and why was this stamped as halaal. The stamp of Imam Abu Hanifa-RUA on a verdict or ruling or teaching is more authentic to me than the present day stamp of “halaal” on the eatables world over.

_"Narrated Aisha
The Prophet (may peace be upon him) kissed one of his wives and went out for saying prayer. He did not perform ablution. (Sunan Abu Dawood Vol. 1 Chapter No. 70 Hadith No. 179)_

Thus this particular teaching of Imam Shafi contradicts the authentic saying of the Prophet. So I reject this specific ruling of Imam Shafi who himself said , “ If I say something, then compare it to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His messenger and if it agrees to them, then accept it and that which goes against them, then reject it and throw my saying against the wall” – This is a saying of ash-Shafi’ee-rahimaullah. See Al-Majmoo’ of an-Nawawee (1/63).

Thus by rejecting this particular teaching of Imam Shafi which contradicts the authentic Hadith, I am practically a better follower of Imam Shafi than those who call themselves ‘Shafi’."

(http://www.muftisays.com/viewarticle.php?article=zntaqleed)

A strange tragedy of today is that whereas we do have the exact chain of transmission of the knowledge and education that the Aimah-e-Fiqah received and how it traces back to the Prophet-SAAW. Today random scholars make absurd claims regarding these Aimah-e-Fiqh and we have no knowledge of the chain of education or transmission of knowledge that they have received and how it traces back to the Prophet-SAAW. Yet we are ever so willing to believe them over these Aimah-e-Fiqh solely because their beliefs and ideologies suit our fancy and give way and room for our own desires and change of Fiqh as per our own likes and preferences. For example: We want to kiss our wives and not bother to do wuzu again, so let’s completely deny the authenticity of the Islamic Jurisprudence of Imam Shafee

The teachings of 4 imams are within the parameters of ahadith! and we just cannot interpret the meaning of a hadees with our own understanding.

Have these people never heard of the fact that the Fiqh of the Prophets-AS is different to those of the masses? The Prophet-SAAW had more than 4 wives at a given time. Then as per the Ayat and the Hadith mentioning that should all Muslim men be allowed more than 4 wives? Please understand that the matter of Islamic Jurisprudence is not a joke. People of great Eemaan and spiritual enlightenment and purification, dedicated their entire lives, sacrificing all their energies, efforts, money etc for achieving perfection of Islamic Jurisprudence. We today, who dare to question their works and are audacious enough to believe that our knowledge is more enduring than theirs, must be certain that we have devolped such an illness and hardness in our hearts that can only be cured through constant zikr-Allah. And May Allah-SWT grant us the taufeeq to do it (Aameen), for otherwise we are cetainly doomed in our arrogance, the stench of which will never allow us to come close to the gardens of Allah-SWT's beloveds.

in whole of the Christian world Pope is the last word, why shouldn't in Islam every one just consult Imam-e-Kabah

Also regarding the matter of doing taqleed of the Imam-e-Kaba. Well the Imam-e-Kaba himself is ghair Muqalid, then how come he would accept that others should do his Taqleed, when he considers even the Taqleed of a Tabaee an unnecessary bidah? Besides that everyone should consult the Ameer-ul-Momineen - for that the revival of Khilafat is required. Which as per the prophecy of Prophet Muhammad-SAAW will now be at the hands of Hazrat Imam Mehdi. Until then we have the Sunnah and we have the four valid and authentic Fiqhs which are good enough for us Muslims. - We do not emulate the Christians and their Pope in any which way.

How abnormal or normal would I be considered if I had a bunch of law books lying in my shelf and even after never having formally studied Law, I began to claim that I was equipped in matters of law because now I had the authentic books????

And just for the record I would like to clarify: Taqleed of the four Imam-e-Fiqh is not obligatory if one is himself well equipped with the formal knowledge of Islamic Jurisprudence, and is a master of the Tafseer and the Hadith (Muffasir-e-Quran and Muhadith), thereupon one may derive one’s own Islamic law and practice it. But he will still not be considered authentic enough that others should do his Taqleed.

And Allah-SWT knows best!


...
In conclusion:
I read a book that a friend shared with me sometime back, called "the devils deception" there was a part in there which I want to mention here ...

page 9:

Any comprehensive study of Shi'ism has to include the Khawaarij, because to a large degree the Shi'ite deviation represents an extreme reaction to the extremes of the Khawaarij. The Khawaarij declared 'Alee(RAU) ibn Abee Taalib to be a Coffer (disbeliever) and the Shi'ite elevated him and some of his descendants to the leval of demi-gods. Meanwhile mainstream Islaam, often referred to as Sunni Islaam, considers him to be neither a coffer nor a demi-god, but one of the greatest companions of the Prophet (SAAW), and the fourth of the Righteous Caliphs (RAU). No serious historical study of the Shee'ah could be considered complete without a look at what it gave birth to, the ultra-deviant sects of the Baatineeyah.

page 26:

The arbitration was subsequently delayed till the month of Ramadaan.During this period, the very validity of men deciding something which lay in Allaah's jurisdiction, was questioned by one of 'Alee's followers by the name of 'Urwah ibn Uthainah39 who said, "Judgement belongs only to Allaah." When 'Alee turned his army away from the plain of Siffeen and entered Kufah, about twelve thousand of his followers did not enter the city with him. Instead, they camped at the town of Harooraa4 0 and raised their voices in unison reciting the slogan, 'Judgement belongs only to Allaah!'This incident marks the first appearance of the Khawaarij as a sectarian movement. They subsequently appointed Shuaib4 1 ibn Rib'ee at-Tameemee as their Ameer for battle, and 'Abdullaah ibn al-Kawwaa al-Yashkaree as their Ameer for Salaah. These Khawaarij were initially very pious and meticulous about the performance of the various acts of worship. *However, their belief that they were more knowledgeable than the Prophet's (SAAW) companion (RAU), 'Alee (RAU) ibn Abee Taalib, became the basis of a terrible sickness which afflicted them and led them astray.

you can read the rest of it yourself, however I shall share you the catastrophic and detrimental result of this blaphemous audaciousness of these cursed men:

page 34:

“Muhammad ibn Sa'd reported from his teachers that three Khaarijites, 'Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Muljam, al-Burak ibn 'Abdillaah and 'Amr ibn Bakr at-Tameemee, gathered in Makkah and pledged to kill 'Alee-RAU,65 Mu'aawiyah and 'Amr ibn al-'Aas respectively and not betray one another.

Ibn Muljam went to Kufah and on the appointed night when 'Alee left his house to lead the early morning prayers (Salaah al-Fajr), he struck him a vicious blow on the forehead which penetrated to his brain. 66

'Alee-RAU cried out to the people not to let him escape and they caught him. When Umm Kulthoom-RAU 67 screamed at him, 'Oh enemy of Allaah, you have killed the Ameer al-Mumineen-RAU wrongly, he replied, 'Cry then.' He then went on to say, 'I poisoned my sword, so if he survives me, I pray that Allaah banishes him and destroys him.' So when 'Alee-RAU died, Ibn Muljam was brought out to be executed and even though Abdullaah ibn Ja'far cut off both of his hands and feet, he did not cry out or speak. Next both of his eyes were pierced by red hot nails, but he still did not cry out. Instead he began to recite Soorah al-'Alaq: “Read in the name of your Lord who created mankind from a leach-like clot” - and he finished it while blood flowed from his eye-sockets. However, when a section of his tongue was burned, he cried out and when asked why he did so at this point, he replied, 'I hate to die in this world with other than Allaah's remembrance on my tongue.'

Looking at the skin on his forehead one could see brownness; the effects of constant prostration in prayer - may Allaah curse him!”

....

my point here is this ... during those times, after the Holy Prophet-SAAW, the pious Sahabi-RAU and that too the Khulfa-e-Rashideen, faced people such who decide to go against them and declare themselves as being more authentic. And in their actions, they were very staunch in their worships and presentation. Yet the arrogance they harboured inside their hearts was such that they were audacious enough to declare their knowledge superior to that of the Sahabi-RAU. Nowadays we do that with the Khair-ul-Quroon. But the fact remains that this act is the one that made Satan become the accursed one. It was his arrogance in his own knowledge that made him undermine the status of Hazrat Adam-AS, to the extent of defying Allah-SWT's Command. The fact of the matter is that the Quran clearly states the reason for satan's defiance to prostrate before Adam-AS, however had his reason been solely that no-one other than Allah-SWT should be prostrated before, even then he would have been the accursed one, since no one has the right to pick and choose the commands of Allah-SWT and decide as per his own whim and will how and where they apply! When Allah-SWT commands us to do something, we look at the Prophet-SAAW (and his-SAAW's Companions-RAU and their Companions-RUA and their Companions-RUA) as to how and where that  Command is applied and we comply and adhere to it as immaculately as we can, with utmost sincerity in our hearts.

Allah-SWT knows best ... and may He-SWT rightly guide us, even if we have the slightest sincerity towards Allah-SWT, the Prophet-SAAW, the Sahaba-RAU, the Khulfa-e-Rashideen-RUA and Islam, in our hearts. Aameen (for Islam would have never survived in its pure and pristine form if it were not for the efforts, sacrifices and dedication of the khair-ul-Quroon) May Allah-SWT bless them all. Aameen

I have more or less read the claims made by these salafis on the provided links. They are preposterous to say the least and exceptionally audacious at most. I have found similarity in their behavior, debates and their beliefs with those of Jews, Khwarij and the Shi’ites. The Jews disregarded and undermined the Prophet-AS. The Khwarij and Shi’ites did the same with the Sahaba-RAU, the Salafi’s do the same with the Khair-ul-Quroon-RUA and the pious predecesors. All of them claim to be more authentic and more ardent followers of Allah-SWT and uphold themselves as the chosen authentic true beloveds of Allah-SWT. I find in my dealing over the years with them, the same two-faced bigotry.

I find them focusing mainly on their outward following and practices of their religions and that too more so publically. I find that privately or in their homes they live dual lives, with their main focus being on creating public impressions of authenticity. For example one would not find TV’s in their lounge, but one would find them hidden away in their bedrooms. I find many of them running dual internet accounts on public platforms, either a fake one for their un-Islamic activities or a fake one for preaching. I have found them to lie at their convenience, even in matters pertaining to deen just to uphold their arguments. They make light to undermining the khair-ul-Quroon, yet when anyone of the scholars they accept as authentic is undermined, they would cut throat. What is OK for them, is not OK for others. I find them judgmental and hardened of heart. They are quick to point fingers at others and engage in long extensive arguments and almost invariably redundantly repeating over and over again the same lines they have been brain washed / indoctrinated with. They are quick to assume everyone else is bound for hell whereas they are the only ones worthy of receiving Allah-SWT’s mercy. I find in their beliefs, behaviour and arguments like those of the Qadiyani's or any of these similar people or groups who wish to distort the teachings and interpretation of the Quran and Sunnah to propagate their own heretic beliefs for vested interests. May Allah-SWT protect us from these ever forming new fitnas. Aameen!

The matter of these salafis is similar to:
'A serious doubt of pharmacists' - if a poison has an expiry date, would it become more poisonous or less?

I would like to highlight and anyone can go and look this up, the salafis tamper with religious texts and books in matters of Tassawuff and Taqleed. The two things which, if one removes, there is no way left to keep a Muslim safe from the satanic whispering of self-love, arrogance and conceit!


Surah Az-Zumar (39:22-23)
Is one whose breast Allah has opened [wide with willingness] to Islam, so that he is illumined by a light [that flows] from his Sustainer [follows a Light from Allah], [no better than or be likened to the blind and deaf of heart, one hardened of heart]? Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the [dhikr] remembrance of Allah. They are manifestly wandering [in error]! Allah bestows [Light, inspiration, revelation] from on high the best of all teachings [manifest] in the shape of a divine writ [the Quran] fully consistent within itself, repeating each statement [of the truth] in manifold forms [a divine writ] whereat shiver [tremble, vibrate] the skins of all, who stand in awe of their Sustainer: Then their skins and their hearts do soften with the remembrance [dhikr] of Allah. Such is Allah’s guidance: HE guides therewith him that wills [to be guided] whereas he whom Allah lets go astray can never find any guide.

I know the teachings of the Salafis and their redundant arguments,  all I can say is, that May Allah-SWT protect all earnest and sincere Muslims from falling victim to them and falling into their trap. Aameen! If there is an iota of truth and khuloos in us may Allah-SWT guide us to the true and authentic Islam and bless us with the taufeeq to engage in constant zikr-Allah. Aameen!

“Your (Muhammad's s.a.w) duty is only to convey (the Message) ..." [3:20]

" The Messenger's (Muhammad's s.a.w) duty is nothing but to convey ..." [5:99]

"... Your (Muhammad's s.a.w) duty is nothing but to convey (the Message) ..." [42:48]

I have done my duty ... you may believe what you wish.

JazakAllah Khair





Thursday, April 26, 2012

Aqeedah Tahawiyyah- The Aqaid/beliefs of a Muslim



بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah-SWT, the Merciful, the Compassionate Praise be to Allah-SWT, Lord of all the worlds.

هَذا ما رَواهُ الإْمامُ أَبو جَعْفَرٍ الطَّحاوِيُّ في ذِكْرُ بَيانِ اعْتِقادِ أَهْلِ السُّــنَّةِ وَالجَماعَةِ عَلى مَذهَبِ فُقَهَاءِ المِلَّةِ أَبي حَنيفَةَ النُّعْمانِ بْنِ ثابـِتٍ الكُوفِيِّ، وَأَبي يُوسُفَ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ إِبْراهيمَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، وَأَبي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الحَسَنِ الشَّيْبانِيِّ ـ رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعين، وَمَا يَعْتَقِدُونَ مِنْ أُصُولِ الدِّينِ وَيَدِينُونَ بـِهِ لِرَبَّ العَالَمِينَ.


The great scholar Hujjat al-lslam Abu Ja'far al-Warraq al-Tahawi al-Misri, may Allah have mercy on him, said: This is a presentation of the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a, according to the school of the jurists of this religion, Abu Hanifa al-Nu`man ibn Thabit al-Kufi, Abu Yusuf Ya`qub ibn Ibrahim al-Ansari and Abu `Abdullah Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani, may Allah-SWT be pleased with them all, and what they believe regarding the fundamentals of the religion and their faith in the Lord of the worlds.

نَقُولُ في تَوْحيدِ اللَّهِ مُعْتَقِدينَ، بـِتَوْفيقِ


We say about Allah-SWT's unity, believing by Allah-SWT's help that:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعالى وَاحِدٌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ،

1. Allah-SWT is One, without any partners.

وَلا شَيْءَ مِثْلُهُ،

2. There is nothing like Him-SWT.

وَلا شَيْءَ يُعْجِزُهُ،

3. There is nothing that can overwhelm Him-SWT.

وَلا إِلهَ غَيْرُهُ،

4. There is no god other than Him-SWT.

قَدِيْمٌ بـِلا ابْتِدَاءٍ، دَائِمٌ بـِلا انْتِهَاءٍ،

5. He-SWT is the Eternal without a beginning and enduring without end.

لا يَفْنَى وَلا يَبـِيدُ،

6. He-SWT will never perish or come to an end.

وَلا يَكُونُ إِلا مَا يُرِيدُ،

7. Nothing happens except what He-SWT wills.

لا تَبْلُغُهُ الأَوْهامُ، وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الأَفْهامُ،

8. No imagination can conceive of Him-SWT and no understanding can comprehend Him-SWT.

وَلا تُشْبـِهُهُ الأَنامُ

9. He-SWT is different from any created being.

حَيٌّ لا يَمُوتُ، قَيُّومٌ لا يَنامُ،

10. He-SWT is living and never dies and is eternally active and never sleeps.

خَالِقٌ بـِلا حَاجَةٍ، رَازِقٌ لَهُمْ بـِلا مُؤْنَةٍ،

11. He-SWT creates without His-SWT being in need to do so and provides for His-SWT creation without any effort.

مُمِيتٌ بـِلا مَخَافَةٍ، بَاعِثٌ بـِلا مَشَقَّةٍ.

12. He-SWT causes death with no fear and restores to life without difficulty.

مَازالَ بـِصِفَاتِهِ قَدِيماً قَبْلَ خَلْقِهِ. لَمْ يَزْدَدْ بـِكَوْنِهِمْ شَيْئاً لَمْ يَكُنْ قَبْلَهُمْ مِنْ صِفَاتِهِ، وَكَما كَانَ بـِصِفَاتِهِ أَزَلِيَّاً كَذلِكَ لا يَزَالُ عَلَيْهَا أَبَدِيَّاً.

13. He-SWT has always existed together with His-SWT attributes since before creation. Bringing creation into existence did not add anything to His-SWT attributes that was not already there. As He-SWT was, together with His-SWT attributes, in pre-eternity, so He-SWT will remain throughout endless time.

لَيْسَ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ الخَلْقَ اسْتَفَادَ اسْمَ الخَالِقِ، وَلا بـِإِحْدَاثِهِ البَرِيَّةَ اسْتَفَادَ اسْمَ البارِي

14. It was not only after the act of creation that He-SWT could be described as "the Creator" nor was it only by the act of origination that He-SWT could he described as "the Originator."

لَهُ مَعْنى الرُّبوبـِيَّةِ وَلا مَرْبوبٌ، وَمَعْنى الخَالِقِيَّةِ وَلا مَخْلوقٌ،

15. He-SWT was always the Lord even when there was nothing to be Lord of, and always the Creator even when there was no creation.

وَكَمَا أَنَّهُ مُحْيِـي المَوْتَى بَعْدَما أَحْيَاهُمْ، اسْتَحَقَّ هَذا الاسْمَ قَبْلَ إِحْيائِهِمْ، كَذلِكَ اسْتَحَقَّ اسْمَ الخَالِقِ قَبْلَ إِنْشَائِهِمْ،

16. In the same way that He-SWT is the "Bringer to life of the dead," after He-SWT has brought them to life a first time, and deserves this name before bringing them to life, so too He-SWT deserves the name of "Creator" before He-SWT has created them.

ذلِكَ بـِأَنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ، وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ إِلَيْهِ فَقِيرٌ، وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ عَلَيْهِ يَسيرٌ، لا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى شَيْءٍ
لـــَيْسَ كَمِثـــْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ

17. This is because He-SWT has the power to do everything, everything is dependent on Him-SWT, everything is easy for Him-SWT, and He-SWT does not need anything. "There is nothing like Him-SWT and He-SWT is the Hearer, the Seer." (al-Shura 42:11)

خَلَقَ الخَلْقَ بـِعِلْمِهِ،

18. He-SWT created creation with His knowledge.

وَقَدَّرَ لَهُمْ أَقْداراً،

19. He-SWT appointed destinies for those He created.

وَضَرَبَ لَهُمْ آجالاً،

20. He-SWT allotted to them fixed life spans.

لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ مِنْ أَفْعَالِهِمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ خَلَقَهُمْ، وَعَلِمَ مَا هُمْ عَامِلُونَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَهُمْ،

21. Nothing about them was hidden from Him-SWT before He-SWT created them, and He-SWT knew everything that they would do before He-SWT created them.

وَأَمَرَهُمْ بـِطَاعَتِهِ وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِهِ،

22. He-SWT ordered them to obey Him-SWT and forbade them to disobey Him-SWT.

وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ يَجْرِي بـِقُدْرَتِهِ وَمَشِيئَتِهِ. وَمَشِيئَتُهُ تَنْفُذُ، وَلا مَشِيئَةَ لِلْعِبَادِ إِلاَّ مَا شَاءَ لَهُمْ، فَمَا شَاءَ لَهُمْ كَانَ وَمَا لَمْ يَشَأْ لَمْ يَكُنْ.

23. Everything happens according to His-SWT decree and will, and His-SWT will is accomplished. The only will that people have is what He-SWT wills for them. What He-SWT wills for them occurs and what He-SWT does not will, does not occur.

يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَعْصِمُ وَيُعَافِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ فَضْلاً، وَيُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَخْذُلُ وَيَبْتَلِي عَدْلاً

24. He-SWT gives guidance to whomever He-SWT wills, and protects them, and keeps them safe from harm, out of His-SWT generosity; and He-SWT leads astray whomever He-SWT wills, and abases them, and afflicts them, out of His-SWT justice.

وَ کُلھم مُتَقلبونَ فِی مَشِیئتھ ، بَین فَضلھ وَعَدلھ

25. All of them are subject to His-SWT will either through His-SWT generosity or His-SWT justice.

وَهُوَ مُتَعَالٍ عَنِ الأَضْدَّاد وَالأَنْدَاد

26. He-SWT is Exalted beyond having opposites or equals.

لا رَادَّ لِقَضَائِهِ، وَلا مُعَقِّبَ لِحُكْمِهِ، وَلا غَالِبَ لأَمْرِهِ،

27. No one can ward off His-SWT decree or delay His-SWT command or overpower His-SWT affairs.

آمَنَّا بِذلِكَ كُلِّهِ، وَأَيْقَنَّا أَنَّ كُلاًّ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ.

28. We believe in all of this and are certain that everything comes from Him-SWT.

وَإِنَّ مُحَمَّداً صلى الله عليه وسلم عَبْدُهُ المُصْطَفَى، وَنَبـِيُّهُ المُجْتَبَى، وَرَسُولُهُ المُرْتَضَى،

29. And we are certain that Muhammad-SAAW (may Allah-SWT bless him and grant him peace) is His-SWT chosen Servant and selected Prophet and His-SWT Messenger-SAAW with whom He-SWT is well pleased,

خَاتِمُ الأَنْبـِيَاءِ وَإِمَامُ الأَتْقِياءِ، وَسَيِّدُ المُرْسَلِينَ، وَحَبـِيبُ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ،

30. And that he-SAAW is the Seal of the Prophets-SAAW and the Imam of the godfearing and the most honored of all the Messengers-AS and the Beloved of the Lord of all the worlds.

وَكُلُّ دَعْوَةِ نُبُوَّةٍ بَعْدَ نُبُوَّتِهِ فَغَيٌّ وَهَوَى؛

31. Every claim to Prophet-hood after him-SAAW is falsehood and deceit.

وَهُوَ المَبْعُوثُ إِلى عَامَّةِ الجِنِّ وَكَافَّةِ الوَرَى، المَبْعُوثِ بـِالحَقِّ وَالهُدَى

32. He-SAAW is the one who has been sent to all the jinn and all mankind with truth and guidance and with light and illumination.

وَإِنَّ القُرْآنَ كَلامُ اللَّهِ تَعَالى، بَدَأَ بـِلا كَيْفِيَّةٍ قَوْلاً، وَأَنْزَلَهُ عَلَى نَبـِيِّهِ وَحْياً، وَصَدَّقَهُ المُؤْمِنُونَ عَلَى ذلِكَ حَقَّــاً، وَأَيْقَنُوا أَنَّهُ كَلامُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى بـِالحَقِيقَةِ. لَيْسَ بـِمَخْلُوقٍ كَكَلامِ البَرِيَّةِ، فَمَنْ سَمِعَهُ فَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ كَلامُ البَشَرِ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ، وَقَدْ ذمَّهُ اللَّهُ تَعالَى وَعَابَهُ، وَأَوْعَدَهُ عَذابَهُ، حَيْثُ قَالَ:
سَأُصْلِيهِ سَقَرَ
فَلَمَّا أَوْعَدَ اللَّهُ سَقَرَ لِمَنْ قَالَ:
إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا قَوْلُ الْبَشَرِ
عَلِمْنا أَنَّهُ قَوْلُ خَالِقِ البَشَرِ، وَلا يُشْبـِهُ قَوْلَ البَشَرِ،

33. The Qur'an is the word of Allah-SWT. It came from Him-SWT as speech without it being possible to say how. He-SWT sent it down on His-SWT Messenger-SAAW as revelation. The believers accept it, as absolute truth. They are certain that it is, in truth, the word of Allah-SWT. It is not created as is the speech of human beings, and anyone who hears it and claims that it is human speech has become an unbeliever. Allah-SWT warns him and censures him and threatens him with Fire when He-SWT says, Exalted is He-SWT: "I will burn him in the Fire." (al-Muddaththir 74:26) When Allah-SWT threatens with the Fire those who say "This is just human speech" (74:25) we know for certain that it is the speech of the Creator of mankind and that it is totally unlike the speech of mankind.

وَمَنْ وَصَفَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى بـِمَعْنَىً مِنْ مَعَانِي البَشَرِ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ، فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ هَذا اعْتَبَرَ، وَعَنْ مِثْلِ قَوْلِ الكُفَّارِ انْزَجَرَ، وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى بـِصِفَاتِهِ لَيْسَ كَالبَشَرِ.

34. Anyone who describes Allah-SWT as being in any way the same as a human being has become an unbeliever. All those who grasp this will take heed and refrain from saying things such as the unbelievers say, and they will know that He-SWT, in His-SWT attributes, is not like human beings.

وَالرُّؤْيَةُ حَقٌّ لأَهْلِ الجَنَّةِ بـِغَيْرِ إِحَاطَةٍ وَلا كَيْفِيَّةٍ، كَمَا نَطَقَ بـِهِ كِتَابُ رَبِّـنَا حَيْثُ قَالَ:
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نــَّاضِرَةٌ - إِلَى رَبـِّها نَاظِرَةٌ
وَتَفْسِيرُهُ عَلَى مَا أَرَادَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَعَلِمَهُ، وَكُلُّ مَا جَاءَ فِي ذلِكَ مِنَ الحَدِيثِ الصَّحِيحِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَعَنْ أَصْحَابـِهِ رِضْوانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ فَهُوَ كَمَا قَالَ، وَمَعْنَاهُ وَتَفْسِيرُهُ عَلَى مَا أَرَادَ، لا نَدْخُلُ فِي ذلِكَ مُتَأَوِّلِينَ بـِآرائِنَا وَلا مُتَوَهِّمِينَ بـِأَهْوَائِنا، فَإِنَّهُ مَا سَلِمَ فِي دِينِهِ إِلاَّ مَنْ سَلَّمَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالى وَلِرَسُولِهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ; وَرَدَّ عِلْمَ مَا اشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْهِ إِلَى عَالِمِهِ،

35. The Seeing of Allah-SWT by the People of the Garden is true, without their vision being all-encompassing and without the manner of their vision being known. As the Book of our Lord has expressed it: "Faces on that Day radiant, looking at their Lord." (al-Qiyama 75:22-3) The explanation of this is as Allah-SWT knows and wills. Everything that has come down to us about this from the Messenger-SAAW, may Allah-SWT bless him and grant him peace, in authentic traditions, is as he-SAAW said and means what he-SAAW intended. We do not delve into that, trying to interpret it according to our own opinions or letting our imaginations have free rein.

No one is safe in his religion unless he surrenders himself completely to Allah-SWT, the Exalted and Glorified and to His-SWT Messenger-SAAW, may Allah-SWT bless him and grant him-SAAW peace, and leaves the knowledge of things that are ambiguous to the one who knows them.

وَلا يَثْبُتُ قَدَمُ الإِسْلامِ إِلاَّ عَلَى ظَهْرِ التَّسْليمِ وَالاسْتِسْلامِ، فَمَنْ رَامَ عِلْمَ مَا حُظِرَ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَمْ يَقْنَعْ بـِالتَّسْليمِ فَهْمُهُ، حَجَبَهُ مَرَامُهُ عَنْ خَالِصِ التَّوْحيدِ، وَصَافِي المَعْرِفَةِ، وَصَحِيحِ الإِيمَانِ، فَيَتَذبْذبُ بَيْنَ الكُفْرِ وَالإِيْمَانِ، وَالتَّكْذِيبِ، وَالإِقْرَارِ وَالإِنْكَارِ، مُوَسْوَسَاً تَائِهَاً، زَائِغَاً شَاكَّــاً، لاَ مُؤْمِنَاً مُصَدِّقاً، وَلاَ جَاحِداً مُكَذِّباً.

36. A man's Islam is not secure unless it is based on submission and surrender. Anyone who desires to know things which it is beyond his capacity to know, and whose intellect is not content with surrender, will find that his desire veils him from a pure understanding of Allah-SWT's true unity, clear knowledge and correct belief, and that he veers between disbelief and belief, confirmation and denial and acceptance and rejection. He will be subject to whispering and find himself confused and full of doubt, being neither an accepting believer nor a denying rejector.

وَلا يَصِحُّ الإِيمَانُ بـِالرُّؤْيَةِ لأَهْلِ دَارِ السَّلامِ لِمَنْ اعْتَبَرَهَا مِنْهُمْ بـِوَهْمٍ، أَوْ تَأَوَّلَهَا بـِفَهْمٍ، إِذا كَانَ تَأْوِيلُ الرُّؤْيَةِ وَتَأْوِيلُ كُلِّ مَعْنىً يُضَافُ إِلَى الرُّبُوبـِيَّةِ تَرْكَ التَأْويلِ وَلُزُومَ التَّسْلِيمِ، وَعَلَيْهِ دِينُ المُرْسَلينَ وَشَرَائِعُ النَّبـِيِّـينَ. وَمَنْ لَمْ يَتَوَقَّ النَّفْيَ وَالتَّشْبيهِ زَلَّ، وَلَمْ يُصِبِ التَّنْزِيهَ؛ فَإِنَّ رَبَّنا جَلَّ وَعَلا مَوْصُوفٌ بـِصِفَاتِ الوَحْدَانِيَّةِ، مَنْعُوتٌ بـِنُعُوتِ الفَرْدَانِيَّةِ، لَيْسَ بـِمَعْناهُ أَحَدٌ مِنَ البَرِيَّةِ،

37. Belief of a man in the seeing of Allah-SWT by the People of the Garden is not correct if he imagines what it is like or interprets it according to his own understanding, since the interpretation of this seeing or indeed, the meaning of any of the subtle phenomena which are in the realm of Lordship, is by avoiding its interpretation and strictly adhering to the submission.

This is the religion of Muslims. Anyone who does not guard himself against negating the attributes of Allah-SWT, or likening Allah-SWT to something else, has gone astray and has failed to understand Allah-SWT's glory, because our Lord, the Glorified and the Exalted, can only possibly be described in terms of Oneness and absolute singularity and no creation is in any way like Him-SWT.

تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَنِ الحُدُودِ وَالغَاياتِ، وَالأَرْكانِ وَالأَدَواتِ، لا تَحْوِيهِ الجِهَاتُ السِّتُّ كَسَائِرِ المُبْتَدَعاتِ.

38. He-SWT is beyond having limits placed on Him-SWT, or being restricted, or having parts or limbs. Nor is He-SWT contained by the six directions as all created things are.

وَالمِعْرَاجُ حَقٌّ. وَقَدْ أُسْرِيَ بـِالنَّبـِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَعُرِجَ بـِشَخْصِهِ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، ثُمَّ إِلَى حَيْثُ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مِنَ العُلَى، وَأَكْرَمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى بـِمَا شَاءَ،
فَأَوْحَى إِلَى عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَى (مَا کذب الفواد ما رای) فصلی اللھ علیھ وسلم فِی الاخرۃ والاولی

39. Al-Mi`raj (the Ascent through the heavens) is true. The Prophet-SAAW, may Allah-SWT bless him and grant him-SAAW peace, was taken by night and ascended in his bodily form, while awake, through the heavens, to whatever heights Allah-SWT willed for him-SAAW. Allah-SWT ennobled him-SAAW in the way that He-SWT ennobled him-SAAW and revealed to him-SAAW what He-SWT revealed to him-SAAW, "and his-SAAW heart was not mistaken about what it saw" (al-Najm 53:11). Allah-SWT blessed him-SAAW and granted him-SAAW peace in this world and the next.

وَالْحَوْضُ الَّذِيْ أَكْرَمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى بـِهِ غِيَاثَاً لأُمَّتِهِ حَقٌّ

40. Al-Hawd, the Pool which Allah-SWT has granted the Prophet-SAAW as an honour to quench the thirst of his-SAAW Community on the Day of Judgement, is true.

وَالشَّفَاعَةُ الَّتِي ادَّخَرَهَا اللَّهُ لَهُمْ كَمَا رُوِيَ فِيْ الأَخْبَارِ

41. Al-Shafa`a, the intercession which is stored up for Muslims, is true, as related in the hadiths.

وَالْمِيْثَاقُ الَّذِيْ أَخَذهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مِنْ آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ حَقٌّ.

42. The covenant which Allah-SWT made with Adam-AS and his offspring is true.

وَقَدْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِيْمَا لَمْ يَزَلْ عَدَدَ مَنْ يَدْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ، وَيَدْخُلِ النَّارَ جُمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً، لا يُزَادُ فِيْ ذلِكَ العَدَدِ وَلا يَنْقُصُ مِنْهُ؛

43. Allah-SWT knew, before the existence of time, the exact number of those who would enter the Garden and the exact number of those who would enter the Fire. This number will neither be increased nor decreased.

وَكَذلِكَ أَفْعَالَهُمْ، فِيْمَا عَلِمَ مِنْهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ يَفْعَلُونَهُ. وَكُلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ لِمَا خُلِقَ لَهُ. ۔ وَالاعمال بالخواتیم۔ والسعید من سعد بقضاءاللھ ، الشقی من شقی بقضاءاللھ

44. The same applies to all actions done by people, which are done exactly as Allah-SWT knew they would be done. Everyone is eased towards what he was created for and it is the action with which a man's life is sealed which dictates his fate. Those who are fortunate are fortunate by the decree of Allah-SWT, and those who are wretched are wretched by the decree of Allah-SWT.

وَأَصْلُ الْقَدَرِ سِرُّ اللَّهِ فِي خَلْقِهِ، لَمْ يَطَّلِعْ عَلَى ذلِكَ مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ، وَلا نَبـِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ. وَالتَّعَمُّقُ وَالنَّظَرُ فِيْ ذلِكَ ذرِيْعَةُ الخِذلانِ، وَسُلَّمُ الْحِرْمَانِ، وَدَرَجَةُ الطُّغْيَانِ. فَالْحَذَرَ كُلَّ الْحَذَرِ مِنْ ذلِكَ نَظَراً أَوْ فِكْراً أَوْ وَسْوَسَةً؛ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَىْ طَوَىْ عِلْمَ الْقَدَرِ عَنْ أَنَامِهِ، وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنْ مَرَامِهِ، كَما قالَ في كِتابـِهِ:
لاَ يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يـَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يـُسْأَلــُوْنَ
. فَمَنْ سَأَلَ: لِمَ فَعَلَ؟ فَقَدْ رَدَّ حُكْمَ كِتابِ اللَّهِ، وَمَنْ رَدَّ حُكْمَ كِتابِ اللَّهِ تَعالى كَانَ مِنَ الكافِرينَ.

45. The exact nature of the decree is Allah-SWT's secret in His-SWT creation, and no angel-AS near the Throne, nor Prophet-AS sent with a message, has been given knowledge of it. Delving into it and reflecting too much about it only leads to destruction and loss, and results in rebelliousness. So be extremely careful about thinking and reflecting on this matter or letting doubts about it assail you, because Allah-SWT has kept knowledge of the decree away from human beings, and forbidden them to enquire about it, saying in His Book, "He is not asked about what He does, but they are asked" (al-Anbiya' 21: 23).

Therefore, anyone who questions: "Why did Allah-SWT do that?" has gone against a judgement of the Book, and anyone who goes against a judgement of the Book is an unbeliever.

فَهذا جُمْلَةُ ما يَحْتاجُ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ هُوَ مُنَوَّرٌ قَلْبُهُ مِنْ أَوْلِياءِ اللَّهِ تَعالى، وَهِيَ دَرَجَةُ الرَّاسِخينَ في العِلْمِ؛ لأَنَّ العِلْمَ عِلْمانِ:
عِلْمٌ في الخَلْقِ مَوْجودٌ، وَعِلْمٌ في الخَلْقِ مَفْقودٌ؛ فَإِنْكارُ العِلْمِ المَوْجودِ كُفْرٌ، وَادِّعاءُ العِلْمِ المَفْقودِ كُفْرٌ.
وَلا يَصِحُّ الإِيمانُ إِلاَّ بـِقَبولِ العِلْمِ المَوْجودِ، وَتَرْكِ طَلَبِ العِلْمِ المَفْقودِ.

46. This in sum is what those of Allah-SWT's Friends (Aulia) with enlightened hearts (glowing/illuminated hearts) need to know and constitutes the degree of those firmly endowed with knowledge. For there are two kinds of knowledge: knowledge which is accessible to created beings, and knowledge which is not accessible to created beings. Denying the knowledge which is accessible is disbelief, and claiming the knowledge which is inaccessible is disbelief. Belief can only be firm when accessible knowledge is accepted and the inaccessible is not sought after.

وَنُؤْمِنُ بـِاللَّوْحِ، وَالقَلَمِ، بـِجَميعِ ما فيهِ قَدْ رُقِمَ. فَلَوِ اجْتَمَعَ الْخَلْقُ كُلُّهُمْ عَلى شَيْءٍ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ فيهِ أَنَّهُ كائِنٌ لِيَجْعَلوهُ غَيْرَ كائِنٍ لَمْ يَقْدِروا عَلَيْهِ. جَفَّ القَلَمُ بـِما هُوَ كائِنٌ إِلى يَوْمِ القِيامَةِ. وَما أَخْطَـأَ العَبْدَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُصيبَهُ، وَما أَصابَهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُخْطِئَهُ.

 47. We believe in al-Lawh (the Tablet) and al-Qalam (the Pen) and in everything written on the former. Even if all created beings were to gather together to make something fail to exist, whose existence Allah-SWT had written on the Tablet, they would not be able to do so. And if all created beings were to gather together to make something exist which Allah-SWT had not written on it, they would not be able to do so. The Pen has dried having written down all that will be in existence until the Day of Judgement.Whatever a person has missed he would have never got, and whatever he gets he would have never missed.

وَعَلى العَبْدِ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ سَبَقَ عِلْمُهُ في كُلِّ شَيْءٍ كائِنٍ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ، وَقَدَّرَ ذلِكَ بـِمَشيئَتِهِ تَقْديراً مُحْكَماً مُبْرَماً، لَيْسَ فيهِ ناقِضٌ وَلا مُعَقِّبٌ، وَلا مُزيلٌ وَلا مُغَـيِّرٌ، وَلا مُحَوِّلٌ، وَلا زَائِدٌ وَلا ناقِصٌ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ في سَماواتِهِ وَأَرْضِهِ. وَذلِكَ مِنْ عَقْدِ الإِيمانِ وَأُصولِ المَعْرِفَةِ، وَالاعْتِرافِ بـِتَوْحيدِ اللَّهِ وَرُبوبـِيَّتِهِ؛ كَما قالَ تَعالى في كِتابـِهِ العَزيزِ:
وَخَلَقَ كــُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَقَدَّرَهُ تــَقْدِيــْرَاً
وَقالَ تَعالى:
وَكَانَ أَمْرُ اللهِ قَدَرَاً مَقْدُورَاً
. فَوَيْلٌ لِمَنْ صارَ لَهُ اللَّهُ في القَدَرِ خَصيماً، وَأَحْضَرَ لِلنَّظَرِ فيهِ قَلْباً سَقيماً، لَقَدِ الْتَمَسَ بـِوَهْمِهِ في مَحْضَ الْغَيْبِ سِرَّاً كَتيماً، وَعادَ بـِما قَال فيهِ أَفَّـاكاً أَثيماً.

48. It is necessary for the servant to know that Allah-SWT already knows everything that is going to happen in His-SWT creation and has decreed it in a detailed and decisive way. There is nothing that He-SWT has created in either the heavens or the earth that can contradict it, or add to it, or erase it, or change it, or decrease it, or increase it in any way. This is a fundamental aspect of belief and a necessary element of all knowledge and recognition of Allah-SWT's oneness and Lordship. As Allah-SWT says in His Book: "He-SWT created everything and decreed it in a detailed way." (al-Furqan 25: 2) And He-SWT also says: "Allah-SWT's command is always a decided decree." (al-Ahzab 33: 38) So woe to anyone who argues with Allah-SWT concerning the decree and who, with a sick heart, starts delving into this matter. In his deluded attempt to investigate the Unseen, he is seeking a secret that can never be uncovered, and he ends up an evil-doer, telling nothing but lies.

وَالعَرْشُ وَالكُرْسِيُّ حَقٌّ

49. Al-`Arsh (the Throne) and al-Kursi (the Chair) are true.

وَهُوَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مُسْتَغْنٍ عَنِ العَرْشِ وَما دونَهُ،

50. He-SWT is independent of the Throne and that which is beneath it.

مُحيطٌ بـِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَبـِما فَوْقَهُ، قَدْ أَعْجَزَ عَنِ الإِحاطَةِ خَلْقَهُ.

51. He-SWT encompasses all things and that which is above it, and what He-SWT has created is incapable of encompassing Him-SWT.

وَنَقولُ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذ َ إِبْراهيمَ خَليلاً، وَكَلَّمَ موسى تَكْليماً، إِيماناً وَتَصْديقاً وَتَسْليماً.

52. We say with belief, acceptance and submission that Allah took Ibrahim-AS as an intimate friend and that He spoke directly to Musa-AS.

وَنُؤْمِنُ بـِالمَلائِكَةِ وَالنَّبـِيِّـينَ، وَالكُتُبِ المُنْزَلَةِ عَلى المُرْسَلينَ. وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُم كانوا عَلى الحَقِّ المُبينِ.


53. We believe in the angels-AS, and the Prophets-AS, and the books which were revealed to the messengers-AS, and we bear witness that they were all following the manifest Truth.

وَنُسَمِّي أَهْلَ قِبْلَتِنا مُسْلِمينَ مُؤْمِنينَ ما دامُوا بـِما جاءَ بـِهِ النَّبـِيُّ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ وَالسَّلامُ مُعْتَرِفينَ، وَلَهُ بـِكُلِّ ما قالَ وَأَخْبَرَ مُصَدِّقينَ غَيْرَ مُكَذبِّينَ.

54. We call the people of our qibla Muslims and believers as long as they acknowledge what the Prophet-SAAW, may Allah-SWT bless him and grant him peace, brought, and accept as true everything that he-SAAW said and told us about.

وَلا نَخوضُ في اللَّهِ،  وَلا نُماري في دينِ اللَّهِ تَعالى.

55. We do not enter into vain talk about Allah-SWT  nor do we allow any dispute about the religion of Allah-SWT.

وَلا نُجادِلُ في القُرْآنِ؛ وَنَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ كَلامُ رَبِّ العالَمينَ، نَزَلَ بـِهِ الرُّوحُ الأَمينُ، فَعَلَّمَهُ سَيِّدَ المُرْسَلينَ، مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلى آلِهِ وَصَحْبـِهِ أَجْمَعينَ. وَكلامُ اللَّهِ تَعالى لا يُساويهِ شَيْءٌ مِنْ كَلامِ المَخْلوقينَ. وَلا نَقولُ بـِخَلْقِ القُرْآنِ؛ وَلا نُخالِفُ جَماعَةَ المُسْلِمينَ.

56. We do not argue about the Qur'an and we bear witness that it is the speech of the Lord of all the Worlds which the Trustworthy Spirit came down with and taught the most honoured of all the Messengers-AS, Muhammad-SAAW, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. It is the speech of Allah-SWT and no speech of any created being is comparable to it. We do not say that it was created and we do not go against the Congregation (jama`a) of the Muslims regarding it.

ولا نكفرأحداً من أهل القبلة بذنب ، ما لم يستحله

57. We do not consider any of the people of our qibla to be unbelievers because of any wrong action they have done, as long as they do not consider that action to have been lawful.

ولا نَقولُ: لا يَضُرُّ مَعَ الإِسْلامِ ذنْبٌ لِمَنْ عَمِلَهُ؛

58. Nor do we say that the wrong action of a man who has belief does not have a harmful effect on him.

وَنَرْجو لِلْمُحْسِنينَ مِنَ المُؤْمِنينَ، وَلا نَأْمَنُ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَلا نَشْهَدُ لَهُمْ بالجَنَّةِ، وَنَسْتَغْفِرُ لِمُسيئِهمْ. وَنَخافُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا نُقَنِّطُهُمْ.

59. We hope that Allah-SWT  will pardon the people of right action among the believers and grant them entrance into the Garden through His mercy, but we cannot be certain of this, and we cannot bear witness that it will definitely happen and that they will be in the Garden. We ask forgiveness for the people of wrong action among the believers and, although we are afraid for them, we are not in despair about them.

وَالأَمْنُ وَالإِياسُ يَنْقُلانِ عَنِ المِلَّةِ؛ وَسَبيلُ الحَقِّ بَيْنَهُما لأَهْلِ القِبْلَةِ،

60. Certainty and despair both remove one from the religion, but the path of truth for the People of the Qibla lies between the two.

وَلا يَخْرُجُ العَبْدُ مِنَ الإِيمانِ إِلاَّ بِجُحودِ ما أَدْخَلَهُ فيهِ.

61. A person does not step out or belief except by disavowing what brought him into it.

وَالإِيمانُ هُوَ الإِقْرارُ بِاللِّسانِ وَالتَّصْديقُ بِالجَنانِ،

62. Belief consists of affirmation by the tongue and acceptance by the heart.

وَأَنَّ جَميعَ ما أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ في القُرْآنِ، وَجَميعَ ما صَحَّ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الشَّرْعِ وَالبَيانِ كُلُّهُ حَقٌّ.

63. And the whole of what is proven from the Prophet-SAAW, upon him be peace, regarding the Shari`a and the explanation (of the Qur'an and of Islam) is true.

وَالایمان واحد واھلھ فَی اصلھ سواء۔ والتفاضل بینھم بالتقوی ومخالفۃ الھوی و ملازمۃ الاولی

64. Belief is, at base, the same for everyone, but the superiority of some over others in it is due to their fear and awareness of Allah-SWT , their opposition to their desires, and their choosing what is more pleasing to Allah-SWT .

وَالمُؤْمِنونَ كُلُّهُمْ أَوْلِياءُ الرَّحْمنِ، وَأَكْرَمُهُمْ أَطْوَعُهُمْ وَأَتْبَعُهُمْ لِلْقُرْآنِ

65. All the believers are Friends of Allah-SWT  and the noblest of them in the sight of Allah-SWT  are those who are the most obedient and who most closely follow the Qur'an.

وَالإِيمانُ: هُوَ الإِيمانُ باللَّهِ وَمَلائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبهِ وُرُسُلِهِ وَاليَوْمِ الآخِرِ، وَالبَعْثِ بَعْدَ المَوْتِ، وَالقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ؛ وَحُلْوُهِ وَمُرُّهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعالى.

66. Belief consists of belief in Allah-SWT , His angels-AS, His books, His Messengers-AS, the Last Day, and belief that the Decree -- both the good of it and the evil of it, the sweet of it and the bitter of it -- is all from Allah-SWT .

وَنَحْنُ مُؤْمِنونَ بذلِكَ كُلِّهِ، وَلا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِ، وَنُصَدِّقُهُمْ كُلَّهُمْ عَلى ما جاءوا بهِ.

67. We believe in all these things. We do not make any distinction between any of the Messengers-AS, we accept as true what all of them brought.

وَأَهْلُ الكَبائِرِ مْنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم في النَّارِ لا يُخَلَّدونَ إِذا ماتوا، وَهُمْ مُوْحِّدونَ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكونُوا تائِبينَ بَعْدَ أَنْ لَقُوا اللَّهَ عارِفينَ مُؤْمِنينَ، وَهُمْ في مَشيئَتِهِ وُحْكْمِهِ إِنْ شاءَ غَفَرَ لَهُمْ، وَعَفا عَنْهُمْ بفَضْلِهِ، كَما قالَ تَعالى في كِتابهِ العَزيزِ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بهِ وَيغْفِرُ مَا دُوْنَ ذلكَ لِمَنْ يشَاءُ
وَإِنْ شاءَ عَذبَّهُمْ في النَّارِ بقَدْرِ جنايَتِهِمْ بعَدْلِهِ، ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنْها برَحْمَتِهِ وَشَفاعَةِ الشَّافِعينَ مِنْ أَهْلِ طاعَتِهِ، ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُهُمْ إِلى جَنَّتِهِ، وَذلِكَ بأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَوْلى أَهْلِ مَعْرِفِتِهِ، وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْهُمْ في الدَّارَيْنِ كَأَهْل نُكْرَتِهِ الَّذينَ خابُوا مِنْ هِدايَتِهِ، وَلَمْ يَنالُوا مِنْ وِلايَتِهِ. اللَّهُمَّ يا وَلِيَّ الإِسْلامِ وَأَهْلِهِ مَسِّكْنا بالإِسْلامِ حَتَّى نَلْقاكَ بهِ.

68. Those of the Community of Muhammad-SAAW, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who have committed grave sins will be in the Fire, but not forever, provided they die and meet Allah-SWT as believers affirming His-SWT unity even if they have not repented. They are subject to His-SWT will and judgement.

If He-SWT wants, He-SWT will forgive them and pardon them out of His-SWT generosity, as is mentioned in the Qur'an when He-SWT says: "And He-SWT forgives anything less than that (shirk) to whomever He-SWT wills" (al-Nisa' 4: 116); if He-SWT wants, He-SWT will punish them in the Fire out of His-SWT justice, and then bring them out of the Fire through His-SWT mercy, and for the intercession of those who were obedient to Him-SWT, and send them to the Garden.

This is because Allah-SWT is the Protector of those who recognize Him-SWT and will not treat them in the hereafter in the same way as He-SWT treats those who deny Him-SWT, who are bereft of His-SWT guidance and have failed to obtain His-SWT protection. O Allah-SWT, You-SWT are the Protector-SWT of Islam and its people; make us firm in Islam until the day we meet You-SWT.

ونری الصلاۃ خلف کل بر وفاجر من اھل القبلۃ ، ونصلی من مات منھم

69. We agree with doing the prayer behind any of the People of the Qibla whether rightful or wrongful, and doing the funeral prayer over any of them when they die.

ولا ننزل احداً منھم جنۃ ولا ناراً ، ولا نشھد علیھم بکفر ولا شرک ولا نفاق مالم یظھر منھم من ذلک شیء ، و نذر سراءرھم الی اللہ تعالی

70. We do not say that any of them will categorically go to either the Garden or the Fire, and we do not accuse any of them of kufr (disbelief), shirk (associating partners with Allah-SWT), or nifaq (hypocrisy), as long as they have not openly demonstrated any of those things. We leave their secrets to Allah-SWT.

ولا نری السیف علی احداً من امۃ محمد الا من وجب علیھ السیف

71. We do not agree with killing any of the Community of Muhammad-SAAW, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, unless it is obligatory by Shari`a to do so.

ولا نری الخروج علی ائمتنا و ولاۃ امورنا وان جاروا ولا ندعو علی احداً منھم ، ولا ننزع یدا من طاعتھم من طاعۃ فریضۃ مالم یامروا بمعصیۃ وندعو لھم بالصلاح والمعافاۃ

72. We do not accept rebellion against our Imam or those in charge of our affairs even if they are unjust, nor do we wish evil on them, nor do we withdraw from following them. We hold that obedience to them is part of obedience to Allah-SWT, the Glorified, and therefore obligatory as long as they do not order to commit sins. We pray for their right guidance and ask for pardon for their wrongs.

وَنَتَّبعُ السُّنَّةَ وَالجَماعَةَ، وَنَجْتَنِبُ الشُّذوذ َ وَالخِلافَ وَالفُرْقَةَ

73. We follow the Sunna of the Prophet-SAAW and the Congregation of the Muslims (Khair-ul-Quroon), and avoid deviation, differences and divisions.

وَنُحِبُّ أَهْلَ العَدْلِ وَالأَمانَةِ، وَنُبْغِضُ أَهْلَ الجَوْرِ وَالخِيانَةِ

74. We love the people of justice and trustworthiness, and hate the people of injustice and treachery.

ونقول اللھ اعلم فیما اشتبھ علینا علمھ

75. When our knowledge about something is unclear, we say: "Allah-SWT knows best."

وَنَرى المَسْحَ عَلى الخُفَّيْنِ في السَّفَرِ وَالحَضَرِ، كَما جاءَ في الأَثَرِ

76. We agree with wiping over leather socks (in ablution) whether on a journey or otherwise, just as has come in the hadiths.

وَالحَجُّ وَالجهادُ فَرْضانِ ماضِيانِ مَعَ أُوْلي الأَمْرِ مِنْ أَئِمَّةِ المُسْلِمينَ بَرِّهِمْ وَفاجرِهِمْ لا يُبْطِلُهُما شَيْءٌ، وَلا يَنْقُضُهُما.

77. Hajj and jihad under the leadership of those in charge of the Muslims, whether they are right or wrong-acting, are continuing obligations until the Last Hour comes. Nothing can annul or controvert them.

وَنُؤْمِنُ بالكِرامِ الكاتِبينَ، وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ جَعَلَهُمْ حافِظينَ

78. We believe in the the noble angels-AS who write down our actions, for Allah-SWT has appointed them over us as two guardians.

وَنُؤْمِنُ بمَلَكَ المَوْتِ المُوَكَّلِ بقَبْضِ أَرْواحِ العالَمينَ.

79. We believe in the Angel-AS of Death who is in charge of taking the spirits of all the worlds.

وَبعذابِ القَبْرِ لِمَنْ كانَ لَهُ أَهْلاً.
وَبسُؤالِ مُنْكَرٍ وَنَكيرٍ لِلمَيِّتِ في قَبْرِهِ عَنْ رَبِّهِ وَدينِهِ وَنَبيِّهِ، عَلى ما جاءَتْ بهِ الأَخْبارُ عَنْ رَسولِ رَبهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَعَنِ الصَّحابَةِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ أَجْمَعينَ.

80. We believe in the punishment in the grave for those who deserve it, and in the questioning in the grave by Munkar and Nakir about one's Lord, one's religion and one's Prophet, as has come down in the hadiths from the Messenger-SAAW of Allah-SWT, may Allah-SWT bless him and grant him peace, and in reports from the Companions-RAU, may Allah-SWT be pleased with them all.

وَالقَبْرُ رَوْضَةٌ مِنْ رِياضِ الجَنَّةِ أَوْ حُفْرَةٌ مِنْ حُفَرِ النَّارِ.

81. The grave is either one of the meadows of the Garden or one of the pits of the Fire.

وَنُؤْمِنُ بالبَعْثِ وَبجزاءِ الأَعْمالِ يَوْمَ القِيامَةِ، وَالعَرْضِ وَالحِسابِ، وَقِراءَةِ الكِتابِ، وَالثَّوابِ وَالعِقابِ، وَالصِّراطِ.
وَالميزانِ يُوزَنُ بهِ أَعْمالُ المُؤْمِنينَ مِنْ الخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَالمَعْصِيَةِ.

82. We believe in being brought back to life after death and in being recompensed for our actions on the Day of Judgement, and the exhibition of works, and the reckoning, and the reading of the book, and the reward or punishments, and the Bridge, and the Balance; and the deeds of the Muslims, good evil obedient and disobedient are weighed by it.

وَالجَنَّةُ وَالنَّارُ مَخْلوقَتانِ لا يَفْنَيانِ، وَلا يَبيدانِ.
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعالى خَلَقَ الجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ، وَخَلَقَ لَهُما أَهْلاً.
فَمَنْ شاءَ إِلى الجَنَّةِ أَدْخَلَهُ فَضْلاً مِنْهُ، وَمَنْ شاءَ مِنْهُمْ إِلى النَّارِ أَدْخَلَهُ عَدْلاً مِنْهُ.
وَكُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ لِما قَدْ فُرِغَ مِنْهُ، وَصائِرٌ إِلى ما خُلِقَ لَهُ.

83. The Garden and the Fire are created things that never come to an end and we believe that Allah-SWT created them before the rest of creation and then created people to inhabit each of them. Whoever He-SWT wills goes to the Garden out of His-SWT bounty and whoever He-SWT wills goes to the Fire through His-SWT justice. Everybody acts in accordance with what is destined for him and goes towards what he has been created for.

وَالخَيْرُ وَالشَّرُ مُقَدَّرانِ عَلى العِبادِ،

84. Good and evil have both been decreed for people.

وَالاسْتِطاعَةُ الَّتي يَجبُ بها الفِعْلُ مِنْ نَحْوِ التَّوْفيقِ الَّذي لا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُوْصَفَ المَخْلوقُ بها تَكونُ مَعَ الفِعْلِ، وَأَمَّا الاسْتِطاعَةُ مِنَ الصِّحْةِ وَالْوُسْعِ وَالتَّمَكُّنِ، وَسلامَةِ الآلاتِ فَهِيَ قَبْلَ الفِعْلِ، وَبها يَتَعَلَّقُ الخِطابُ، وَهُوَ كَما قالَ اللَّهُ تَعالى:
لاَ يكَلفُ الْلَّهُ نفْسَاً إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا

85. The capability in terms of divine grace and favor which makes an action certain to occur cannot be ascribed to a created being. This capability is integral with action, whereas the capability of an action in terms of having the necessary health and ability, being in a position to act, and having the necessary means, exists in a person before the action. It is this type of capability which is the object of the dictates of the Shari`a. Allah-SWT the Exalted says: "Allah-SWT does not charge a person except according to his ability." (al-Baqara 2: 286)

وَأَفْعالُ العِبادِ هِيَ بخَلْقِ اللَّهِ تَعالى وَكَسْبٍ مِنَ العِبادِ.

86. People's actions are created by Allah-SWT but earned by people .

ولم يكلفهم الله تعالى إلا ما يطيقون ، ولا يطيقون إلا ماكلفهم . وهو تفسير لا حول ولا قوة الا بالله ، نقول : لا حيلة لأحد ، [ ولا تحول لأحد ] ، ولا حركة لأحد عن معصية الله ، الا بمعونة الله ، ولا قوة لأحد على إقامة طاعة الله والثبات عليها إلا بتوفيق الله .

87. Allah-SWT, the Exalted, has only charged people with what they are able to do and people are only capable of doing what Allah-SWT has granted them to do. This is the explanation of the phrase: "There is no power and no strength except by Allah-SWT." We add to this that there is no stratagem or way by which anyone can avoid or escape disobedience to Allah except with Allah-SWT's help; nor does anyone have the strength to put obedience to Allah-SWT into practice and remain firm in it, except if Allah-SWT makes it possible for him to do so.

وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ يَجْري بمَشيئَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَعِلْمِهِ وَقَضائِهِ وَقَدَرَهِ.
غَلَبَتْ مَشيئَتُهُ المَشيئاتِ كُلَّها، وَغَلَبَ قَضاؤُهُ الحِيَلَ كُلَّها، يَفْعَلُ ما شاءَ وَهُوَ غَيْرُ ظالِمٍ أَبَداً.
تَقَدَّسَ عَنْ كُلِّ سُوءٍ، وَتَنَزَّهَ عَنْ كُلِّ عَيْبٍ وَشَيْنٍ،
( لاَ يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يسْأَلوْنَ )

88. Everything happens according to Allah-SWT's will, knowledge, predestination and decree. His-SWT will overpowers all other wills and His-SWT decree overpowers all stratagems. He-SWT does whatever He-SWT wills and He-SWT is never unjust. He-SWT is exalted in His-SWT purity above any evil or perdition and He-SWT is perfect far beyond any fault or flaw. "He-SWT will not be asked about what He-SWT does, but they will be asked." (al-Anbiya' 21: 23)

وَفي دُعاءِ الأَحْياءِ للأَمْواتِ وَصَدَقَتَهِمْ مَنْفَعَةٌ لِلأَمْواتِ

89. There is benefit for dead people in the supplication and alms-giving of the living.

وَاللَّهُ تَعالى يَسْتَجيبُ الدَّعَواتِ، وَيَقْضي الحاجاتِ،

90. Allah-SWT responds to people's supplications and gives them what they ask for.

وَيَمْلِكُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، وَلا يَمْلِكُهُ شَيْءٌ
وَلا يُسْتَغْنى عَنِ اللَّهِ تَعالى طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ، وَمَنِ اسْتَغْنَى عَنِ اللَّهِ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ، وَصارَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الخُسْرانِ.

91. Allah-SWT has absolute control over everything and nothing has any control over Him-SWT. Nothing can be independent of Allah-SWT even for the blinking of an eye, and whoever considers himself independent of Allah-SWT for the blinking of an eye is guilty of disbelief and becomes one of the people of perdition.

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعالى يَغْضَبُ وَيَرْضَى لا كَأَحَدٍ مِنَ الوَرَى

92. Allah-SWT is angered and He-SWT is pleased but not in the same way as any creature.

وَنُحِبُ أَصْحابَ النَّبيِّ وَلا نُفَرِّطُ في حُبِ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ، وَلا نَتَبَرَّأُ مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ. وَنُبْغِضُ مَنْ يُبْغِضُهُمْ، وَبغَيْرِ الْحَقِ لا نَذكُرُهُمْ؛ وَنَرى حُبَّهُمْ ديناً وَإِيماناً وَإِحْساناً، وَبُغْضَهُمْ كُفْراً وَشِقاقاً وَنِفاقاً وَطُغْياناً.

93. We love the Companions_RAU of the Messenger-SAAW of Allah-SWT but we do not go to excess in our love for any one individual among them; nor do we disown any one of them. We hate anyone who hates them or does not speak well of them and we only speak well of them. Love of them is a part of Islam, part of belief and part of excellent behavior, while hatred of them is disbelief, hypocrisy and rebellion.

وَنُثْبتُ الخِلافَةَ بَعْدَ النَّبيِّ أَوَّلاً لأَبي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ تَفْضيلاً وَتَقْديماً عَلَى جَميعِ الأُمَّةِ، ثُمَّ لِعُمَرَ بْنِ الخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، ثُمَّ لِعُثْمانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، ثُمَّ لِعَلِيٍّ بْنِ أَبي طالِبٍ رِضْوانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعينَ. وَهُمُ الخُلَفاءُ الرَّاشِدونَ، وَالأَئِمَّةُ المَهْدِيُّونَ، الَّذينَ قَضَوْا بالحَقِّ وَكانُوا بهِ يَعْدِلونَ.

94. We confirm that, after the death of Allah-SWT's Messenger-SAAW, peace be upon him, the caliphate went first to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq-RAU, thus proving his excellence and superiority over the rest of the Muslims; then to `Umar ibn al-Khattab-RAU; then to `Uthman-RAU; and then to `Ali-RAU ibn Abi Talib; may Allah be well pleased with all of them. These are the Rightly-Guided Caliphs and upright leaders.

وَإِنَّ العَشَرَةَ الَّذينَ سَمَّاهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ . نَشْهَدُ لَهُمْ بالجَنَّةِ كَما شَهِدَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ. وَقَوْلُهُ الحَقِّ، وَهُمْ: أَبو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمانُ وَعَلِيٌ وَطَلْحَةُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ وَسَعْدٌ وَسَعيدٌ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ وَأَبو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الجَرَّاحِ، وَهُوَ أَمينُ هذِهِ الأُمَّةِ رِضْوانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعينَ.

95. We bear witness that the ten who were named by the Messenger-SAAW of Allah-SWT, may Allah-SWT bless him and grant him peace, and who were promised the Garden by him-SAAW, will be in the Garden, as the Messenger-SAAW of Allah-SWT, peace be upon him, whose word is truth, bore witness that they would be. The ten are: Abu Bakr-RAU, `Umar-RAU, `Uthman-RAU, `Ali-RAU, Talha-RAU, Zubayr-RAU, Sa`d-RAU, Sa`id-RAU, `Abd al-Rahman-RAU ibn `Awf, and Abu `Ubayda-RAU ibn al-Jarrah whose title was the Trustee of this Community, may Allah be pleased with all of them.

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنَ القَوْلَ في أَصْحابِ النَّبيِّ وَأِزْوَاجهِ وَذرِّيَّاتِهِ فَقَدْ بَرِئَ مِنَ النِّفاقِ

96. Anyone who speaks well of the Companions of the Messenger-SAAW of Allah-SWT, may Allah-SWT bless him-SAAW and grant him-SAAW peace, and his-SAAW wives and offspring, who are all pure and untainted by any impurity, is free from the accusation of hypocrisy.

وَعُلَماءُ السَّلَفِ مِنَ الصَّالِحينَ وَالتَّابعينَ وَمَنْ بَعْدَهُمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الخَيْرِ وَالأَثَرِ، وَأَهْلِ الفِقْهِ وَالنَّظَرِ، لا يُذكَرُونَ إِلاَّ بالجَميلِ، وَمَنْ ذكَرَهُمْ بسوءٍ فَهُوَ عَلى غَيْرِ السَّبيلِ.

97. The learned men of the Predecessors, both the first community and those who immediately followed (Khair-ul-Quroon: Sahabah, Tabaee, Taba Tabaeen): the people of virtue, the narrators of hadith, the jurists, and the analysts-- they must only be spoken of in the best way, and anyone who says anything bad about them is not on the right path.

وَلا نُفَضِّلُ أَحَداً مِنَ الأَوْلِياءِ عَلى أَحَدٍ مِنَ الأَنْبياءِ. وَنَقولُ: نَبيٌّ واحِدٌ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ جَميعِ الأَوْلِياءِ،

98. We do not prefer any of the saintly men among the Community over any of the Prophets-AS but rather we say that any one of the Prophets-AS is better than all the Awliya' put together.

وَنُؤْمِنُ بما جاءَ مِنْ كَراماتِهِمْ، وَصَحَّ عَنِ الثِّقاتِ مِنْ رِوايَتِهِمْ

99. We believe in what we know of the karamat or marvels of the Awliya' and in the authentic stories about them from trustworthy sources.

وَنُؤْمِنُ بأَشْراطِ السَّاعَةِ مِنْها: خُروجُ الدَّجَّالِ، وَنُزولُ عيسى عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنَ السَّماءِ، وَبطُلوعِ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ مَغْرِبها، وَخُروجِ دَابَّةِ الأَرْضِ مِنْ مَوْضِعِها.

100. We believe in the signs of the Hour such as the appearance of the Antichrist (dajjal) and the descent of `Isa ibn Maryam-AS, peace be upon him, from heaven, and we believe in the rising of the sun from where it sets and in the emergence of the Beast from the earth.

وَلا نُصَدِّقُ كاهِناً وَلا عَرَّافاً، وَلا مَنْ يَدَّعي شَيْئاً بخِلافِ الكِتابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ وَإِجْماعِ الأُمَّةِ.

101. We do not accept as true what soothsayers and fortune-tellers say, nor do we accept the claims of those who affirm anything which goes against the Book, the Sunna, and the consensus of the Muslim Community (Khair-ul-Quroon, Fuqaha, the learned scholars, and Aulia).

وَنَرى الجَماعَةَ حَقَّاً وَصَواباً، وَالفُرْقَةَ زَيْغاً وَعَذاباً.

102. We agree that holding together is the true and right path and that separation is deviation and torment.

وَدِينُ اللَّهِ في السَّماءِ وَالأَرْضِ واحِدٌ وَهُوَ دِينُ الإِسْلامِ، كَما قالَ اللَّه تَعالى:
إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ الْلَّهِ الإِسْلامُ
، وَقالَ تَعالى:
وَمَنْ يبْتغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلامِ دِينَاً فَلَنْ يقْبَلَ مِنْهُ
، وَقالَ تَعالى:
وَرَضِيْتُ لكُمُ الإِسْلامَ دِينَاً

103. There is only one religion of Allah-SWT in the heavens and the earth and that is the religion of Islam ("submission"). Allah-SWT says: "Surely religion in the sight of Allah-SWT is Islam." (Al `Imran 3: 19) And He-SWT also says: "I am pleased with Islam as a religion for you." (al-Ma'ida 5: 3)

وَهُوَ بَيْنَ الغُلُوِّ وَالتَّقْصيرِ، وَالتَّشْبيهِ وَالتَّعْطيلِ، وَالجَبْرِ وَالقَدَرِ، وَالأَمْنِ وَاليَأْسِ.

104. Islam lies between going to excess and falling short, between the likening of Allah-SWT's attributes to creation (tashbih) and divesting Allah-SWT of attributes (ta`til), between determinism and freewill, and between sureness and despair.

فَهذا دِينُنا وَاعْتِقادُنا، ظاهِراً وَباطِناً.
وَنَحْنُ نَبْرَأُ إِلى اللَّهِ تَعالى مِمَّنْ خالَفَ الَّذي ذكَرْناهُ، وَبَيَّناهُ.

105. This is our religion and it is what we believe in, both inwardly and outwardly, and we renounce any connection, before Allah-SWT, with anyone who goes against what we have said and made clear.


We ask Allah to make us firm in our belief and seal our lives with it and to protect us from variant ideas, scattering opinions and evil schools of view; who go against the Sunna and Jama`a and have allied themselves with error. We renounce any connection with them and in our opinion they are in error and on the path of destruction. We ask Allah to protect us from all falsehood and we ask His Grace and Favour to do all good.




Imam Abu Ja`far al-Tahawi:

Imam Abu Ja`far al-Tahawi (239-321) can be said to represent the creed of both Ash`aris and Maturidis, especially the latter, as he was also following the Hanafi madhhab. We have therefore chosen to include the entire translated text of his Statement of Islamic Doctrine commonly known as the `aqida tahawiyya. This text, representative of the viewpoint of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a, has long been the most widely acclaimed, and indeed indispensable, reference work on Muslim beliefs, of which the text below is a complete English translation.

Imam Abu Ja`far Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Azdi, known as Imam Tahawi after his birthplace in Egypt, is among the most outstanding authorities of the Islamic world on hadith and jurisprudence (fiqh). He lived at a time when both the direct and indirect disciples of the Four Imams of law were teaching and practicing. This period was the greatest age of Hadith and fiqh studies, and Imam Tahawi studied with all the living authorities of the day. Al-Badr al-`Ayni said that when Ahmad died, Tahawi was 12; when Bukhari died, he was 27; when Muslim died, he was 32; when Ibn Majah died, he was 44; when Abu Dawud died, he was 46; when Tirmidhi died, he was fifty; when Nisa'i died, he was 74. Kawthari relates this and adds the consensus of scholars that Tahawi allied in himself completion in the two knowledges of hadith and fiqh, a consensus that included, among others, al-`Ayni and al-Dhahabi, with Ibn Taymiyya singling himself out in his opinion that Tahawi was not very knowledgeable in hadith. This is flatly contradicted by Ibn Kathir who says in his notice on Tahawi in al-Bidaya wa al-nihaya: "He is one of the trustworthy narrators of established reliability, and one of the massive memorizers of hadith." Kawthari calls Ibn Taymiyya's verdict "another one of his random speculations" and states: "No-one disregards Tahawi's knowledge of the defective hadith except someone whose own defects have no remedy, and may Allah protect us from such."

Tahawi began his studies with his maternal uncle Isma`il ibn Yahya al-Muzani, a leading disciple of Imam Shafi`i. However, Tahawi felt instinctively drawn to the corpus of Imam Abu Hanifa's works. Indeed, he had seen his uncle and teacher turning to the works of Hanafi scholars to resolve thorny issues of fiqh, drawing heavily on the writings of Abu Hanifa's two leading companions, Muhammad Ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani and Abu Yusuf, who had codified Hanafi fiqh. This led him to devote his whole attention to studying the Hanafi works and he eventually joined the Hanafi school. He now stands out not only as a prominent follower of that Hanafi school but, in view of his vast erudition and remarkable powers of assimilation, as one of its leading scholars. His monumental scholarly works, such as Sharh ma`ani al-athar and Mushkil al-athar, are encyclopedic in scope and have long been regarded as indispensable for training students of fiqh. He was in fact a mujtahid across the board and was thoroughly familiar with the fiqh of all four schools, as stated by Ibn `Abd al-Barr and related by Kawthari, and as shown by Tahawi's own work on comparative law entitled Ikhtilaf al-fuqaha'.

Tahawi's "Doctrine" (al-`Aqida), though small in size, is a basic text for all times, listing what a Muslim must know and believe and inwardly comprehend. There is consensus among the Companions, the Successors and all the leading Islamic authorities such as the four Imams and their authoritative followers on the doctrines enumerated in this work, which are entirely derived from the undisputed primary sources of Religion, the Holy Qur'an and the confirmed Hadith. Being a text on Islamic doctrine, this work sums up the arguments set forth in those two sources to define sound belief, and likewise, the arguments advanced in refuting the views of sects that have deviated from the Sunna.

As regards the sects mentioned in this work, familiarity with Islamic history up to the time of Imam Tahawi would be quite helpful. More or less veiled references to sects such as the Mu`tazila, the Jahmiyya, the Karramiyya, the Qadariyya, and the Jabariyya are found in the work. It also contains allusions to other views considered unorthodox and deviant from the way of Ahl al-Sunna. There is an explicit reference in the work to the controversy on the creation of the Qu'ran in the times of al-Ma'mun and others.

While the permanent relevance of the statements of belief in the `Aqida are obvious, the historical weight and point of certain of these statements can be properly appreciated only if the work is used as a text for study under the guidance of some learned person able to elucidate its arguments fully, with reference to the intellectual and historical background of the sects refuted in the work. Since the present book is intended exactly as one such aid towards understanding the details of Islamic belief with clarity, it is hoped that the quotation of the entire text of Tahawi's "Doctrine," which we consider as the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a, will be of benefit to the reader. And may Allah grant us a true understanding of faith and count us among those described by the Prophet as the Saved Group.