Aqīdah of Ahlussunnah wal-

Jamā‘ah
UA 2125

Dr. Anis Malik Thoha

Associate Professor,
UNISSA
malik.thoha@unissa.edu.bn
7337245
3/8/2023 10:53:35 PM
Method of Assessment • Continuous Assessment Marks (CAM):
• Mid-Term Test: 10 %
• Assignments: 20 %
• Presentation: 05 %
• Class participation: 05 %
------------------------------------------------ 40 %
• Final Exam: 60 %
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total: 100 %

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 This course aims at:
1. Instilling into the students’ mind the authentic aqidah
of ahlissunnah wal-jama’ah (the Sunnīs).
2. Establishing the correct principles of belief and
understanding its foundations profoundly.
Objectives

3. Deciphering the kalimat al-tawḥīd (‫)ال إله إال هللا‬, and its
implications for thought and life.
4. Realization of the meaning of ‘ibādah and ‘ubūdiyyah
and translating it into life.
5. Recognizing the factors that invalidate the aqidah,
and the how to respond to the quasi-doctrines
promoted by the people of falsehood and innovation
throughout the ages, as such as the contemporary
destructive doctrines and ideologies: secularism,
liberalism and religious pluralism in particular.

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 At the end of the semester, the student is expected to
be able:
Learning Outcomes
1. To understand the basic concepts and terms
pertaining to the aqidah of the Sunnis.
2. To explain and analyze the correct aqīdah (tawḥīd)
and its implications on all dimensions of life, and its
necessity in the Muslim personality, and at the same
time, to refute those doctrinal suspicions adversely
affect the Sunni aqīdah.
3. To identify the factors that invalidate the aqidah, and
the how to respond academically to the
contemporary quasi-doctrines and ideologies:
secularism, liberalism and religious pluralism in
particular.
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 • The course deals with the study of the concept of ‘aqīdah
and tawḥīd, the concept of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah,
and their sources and methodology in determining the
foundations of the ‘aqīdah and its branches, and in
Synopsis

refuting false doctrines. It also deals with the concept of

Ash‘arism and Māturīdism, and the importance of the
correct ‘aqīdah in the life of the individual and society. The
doctrine of the Sunnis in the divinities (al-Ilāhiyyāt) and
prophethood (al-Nubuwwāt) and cosmologies (al-
Kawniyyāt) and metaphysics (al-Ghaybiyyāt) and Imamate
(al-Imāmah) is thoroughly discussed. It analyzes the
apostasy and its causes. Quasi-religions and contemporary
destructive doctrines and ideologies such as secularism,
liberalism and religious pluralism are critically studied
from academic perspective.
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3/8/2023 10:53:36 PM
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 Can we live without making
any decision?
Why?

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 All religions are same

(yes/not)

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• How to respond the following statement?

• We are living in the multicultural and

multireligious world. So, we have to respect each
other and to tolerate and celebrate the belief of
our neighbours.

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 No absolute truth

(yes/not)

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 Knowledge is neutral

(yes/not)

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 Religion and politics are two
different realms
(yes/not)

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 ‫اإلمام األشعري يستخدم مصطلح "أهل السنة واالستقامة"‪.‬‬
‫‪Term “Ahl al-Sunnah‬‬
‫”‪wa al-Jama’ah‬‬
 ‫اإلمام األشعري يستخدم مصطلح "أهل الحق والسنة" في كتبه اإلبانة عن أصول‬
‫الديانة‪ ،‬تحقيق بشير محمد عيون (دمشق‪ :‬دار البيان‪ ،‬ط‪1411 ،2‬هـ‪1990/‬م)‪ ،‬ص‬
‫‪Term “Ahl al-Sunnah‬‬
‫‪.43‬‬
‫”‪wa al-Jama’ah‬‬
Defining ‘Aqīdah • What isʿaqīdah?
• Aqidah (Arabic: ‫عقيدة‬, romanized: ʿaqīdah,
plural ‫ عقائد‬ʿaqāʾid, also rendered ʿaqīda,
aqeeda etc.) is an Islamic term meaning "creed"
• The word aqidah ( ‫ عقيدة‬is of the morphological form of
‫ فعيلة‬which has the meaning of ‫ مفعول‬that to which
something is done), meaning ( ‫ معقودا عليه‬that which is
tied, knotted to, firmly fixed onto, held onto. It is derived
from the root ‫ عقد‬which means to tie, fasten, join, bind.
،‫ أ ِخذت من العَقد‬،ً‫• العقيدة في اللغة هي المصدر من الفعل ا ْعتَقَ َد يَ ْعت َ ِقد ا ْع ِتقَادا‬
)» ‫ (القاموس المحيط مادة « عقد‬.‫بقوة‬ ّ ‫والربْط‬ َّ ‫وهو ال‬
َّ ‫ش ُّد‬
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Defining ‘Aqīdah • In Arabic one says, "aqada the rope", meaning he tied
the rope firmly, and likewise, "aqada the sale", which
means he concluded or settled the sale, or contract,
or agreement. And Allah mentions this verb in the
context of [the ratification of] pledges
)33:‫عقَدَتْ أ َ ْي َمانُ ُك ْم} (النساء‬ َ ‫ين‬ َ ‫{ َوالَّ ِذ‬
(and oaths which have been sworn in earnest)
َ ‫عقَّدت ُّ ُم األ َ ْي َم‬
)89:‫ان} (المائدة‬ َ ‫اخذُكُم ِب َما‬
ِ ‫{ َولَـ ِكن يُ َؤ‬
(…but He will impose blame upon you for [breaking]
what you intended of oaths.)
• And when a person says that "aqadtu such and such",
it means that my heart is firmly upon such and such.
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Defining ‘Aqīdah • From what has preceded, the meaning of 'aqidah'
can be defined as:

The firm belief (i‘tiqād) that one's heart is

strongly attached to and which is settled and
fixed in the heart without any wavering or
doubt. It excludes any supposition, doubt or
suspicion.

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Defining ‘Aqīdah • Terms Synonymous with 'Aqidah‘:
1. Al-Tawḥīd (‫)التوحيد‬
2. Al-Sunnah (‫)السنة‬
3. Al-Sharī'ah (‫)الشريعة‬
• Some of these terms refer more specifically to aspects
of belief, such as Al-Tawḥīd, and others are used for
both aspects of belief and other affairs, such as al-
Sunnah and al-Sharī'ah. Some of the Salaf also
authored works using the title of al-īmān (‫ )اإليمان‬since
the knowledge-based topics are part of that which
makes up the entirety of īmān - consisting of beliefs
(knowledge-based affairs), statements and actions.
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Defining ‘Aqīdah

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM (Isma’il R. Al-Faruqi, Al-Tawhid)

Defining ‘Aqīdah Īmān (‫ )اإليمان‬a gnoseological category

• The term is derived from amn (‫ أمن‬- security); means

that the propositions it covers are in fact true, and their
truth has been appropriated (i.e., understood and
accepted) by the mind.
• Īmān (‫ =)اإليمان‬yaqīn (‫)اليقين‬
ْ ‫ ِإي َمانـه لَـ ْم يَ ْخـل ِم‬# ‫• ِإ ْذ ك ُّل َم ْن قَلَّ َد فِـي الت َ ْو ِحيـ ِد‬
ْ َ ‫ـن ت‬
‫ـر ِديـ ِد‬
•

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Defining ‘Aqīdah Īmān (‫ )اإليمان‬a gnoseological category

• Before yaqīn, one may deny and question the truth. But
when yaqīn is present, the truth is as established and
convincing as sensory evidence.
• Unlike “belief” or “faith” of Christians, the truths of
īmān are not dogmatic and unreasonable but critical
and rational.

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Defining ‘Aqīdah Īmān (‫ )اإليمان‬a gnoseological category

• Īmān is indeed a cognitive category; that is to

say, it has to do with knowledge, with the
truthfulness of its propositions.
• It is the prime principle of rationality. So, it
cannot be nonrational or irrational.
• As principle of knowledge, al-tawḥīd is the
recognition that Allah is al-Ḥaqq (the Truth), and
that He is One.

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Defining ‘Aqīdah Īmān (‫ )اإليمان‬a gnoseological category

• This implies that all contention, all doubt, is referable to

Him.
• al-Tawḥīd is the recognition that THE TRUTH is indeed
knowable, that man is capable of reaching it.

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 Al-Sunnah (‫)السنة‬
• Sunnah (Arabic: ‫سنَّة‬, Romanized: sunnah, plural: ‫ سنَن‬sunan,
al-Sunnah
Defining

rendered also sunna or sunnat) literally means "a path, a

way, a manner of life“, and “a manner of acting", whether
good or bad, praiseworthy or vilified, as clearly used in the
following ḥadīth:
‫س َّن‬ َ ‫س َّن سنَّةً َح‬
َ ‫ ومن‬،‫ فله أجرها وأجر من عمل بها إلى يوم القيامة‬،‫سنة‬ َ ‫«من‬
َ ً‫سنَّة‬
.»‫س ِيّئة فعليه وزرها ووزر من عمل بها إلى يوم القيامة‬
• (Whosoever introduces a good tradition (sunnah
hasanah), for him is its reward and that of those who
practices it till the Day of Judgement; and whosoever
introduces a bad tradition (sunnah sayyi’ah), for him is its
sin and that of those who practices it till the Day of
Judgement).
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 Al-Sunnah (‫)السنة‬
• Abū al-Baqā’ in his Al-Kulliyyāt says:
al-Sunnah
Defining

.‫السنّة بالضم والتشديد لغةً الطريقة ولو غير َمرضية‬

• Among the scholars of the Science of ḥadīth, it is the
teachings, deeds and sayings, silent permissions (or
disapprovals) (‫ )أقوا ٍل وأفعا ٍل وتقارير‬of the
Prophet Muhammad SAAS.
• "all the traditions and practices" of the Islamic Prophet
that "have become models to be followed and
emulated" by Muslims.

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 Al-Sunnah (‫)السنة‬
• Prophet Muhammad SAAS was the best exemplar for
al-Sunnah
Defining

Muslims, and his practices are to be adhered to in fulfilling

the divine injunctions, carrying out religious rites, and
moulding life in accord with the Will of God. Instituting
these practices was, as the Qur’an states, a part of
Muhammad's responsibility as a messenger of God
• Among the scholars of the Science of Fiqh (Fuqaha’), it is
used for the Islamic ruling that is opposite of “obligatory”
( ‫ الفرض‬or ‫)الواجب‬, where the doer of it will be rewarded,
and non-doer will have no consequence whatsoever.
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 Al-Sunnah (‫)السنة‬
• Abū al-Baqā’ in his Al-Kulliyyāt says that technically, it is
al-Sunnah
Defining

the teachings, deeds and sayings, silent permissions (or

disapprovals) (‫ )أقوا ٍل وأفعا ٍل وتقارير‬of the Islamic
prophet Muhammad SAAS, and the practices of his
Companions (the right-guided khalīfah) RA. For the
Prophets SAAS says:
»‫«عليكم بسنتي وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين من بعدي‬
(Hold fast my tradition and that of the right-guided khalīfahs
after me)
• Ahlussunnah is sometimes known as the Sunnī.
• The opposite of Sunnah (‫ )السنة‬is bid’ah (‫)البدعة‬.

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 Al-Bid‘ah (‫)البدعة‬
• In Islam, bidʻah (Arabic: ‫ بدعة‬Romanized: bidʻah;
al-Bid‘ah
Defining

plural: ‫ بدع‬bida‘, rendered also bidʻa) refers to

innovation in religious matters. Linguistically the term
means "innovation, novelty, heretical
doctrine, heresy".
• Sheikh Zarouq in his ‫عدة المريد‬: technically, it is to
create something innovative in religion, which seems
to belong to it while conceptually as well as practically
does not so.
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 Al-Bid‘ah (‫)البدعة‬
• The Prophet (SAAS) said:
al-Bid‘ah
Defining

َ ‫ث فِي أ َ ْم ِرنَا َهذَا َما لَي‬

»‫ْس فِي ِه فَه َو َرد‬ َ ‫« َم ْن أ َ ْح َد‬
(Whoever innovates into this matter of ours that which
does not belong to it, it will be rejected).
• He (SAAS) said:
»‫«وكل محدثة بدعة‬
(Every newly invented matter is bid‘ah)

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 Al-Bid‘ah (‫)البدعة‬
• He (SAAS said:
al-Bid‘ah
Defining

»‫علَ ْي ِه أ َ ْمرنَا فَه َو َرد‬ َ ‫ع َم ًًل لَي‬

َ ‫ْس‬ َ ‫« َم ْن‬
َ ‫ع ِم َل‬
(Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance
with our matter will have it rejected).
• Bidʻah referred primarily to heterodox doctrines.
• In Islamic law, when used without qualification, bidʻah
denotes any newly invented matter that is without
precedent and is in opposition to the Qur’an and
Sunnah.
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 Al-Bid‘ah (‫)البدعة‬
• Good and bad innovation:
al-Bid‘ah
Defining

• Bidʻah Hasanah (‫)البدعة الحسنة‬: a new thing that is not against

the Shari’ah (ash-Shawkānī, Al-Nawawī, Ibn Hajar al-
Asqalānī, Ibn Manẓūr, Al-Rāghib al-Isfahānī and Badr al-Dīn al-
Aynī). An example of this is the innovation of the study of
different knowledges and sciences such as Hadith, Fiqh, Tafsir,
which did not exist at the time of Prophet Muhammad SAAS
(Al-Nawawī).
• Bidʻah Sayyi'ah (‫)البدعة السيئة‬: a new thing which opposes the
Qur’an and Sunnah or is against Islam (Ibn Hajar al-Asqalānī
and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah) or Shari’ah (Muhammad
Ramaẓān).
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 Scholarly Discourse on Al-Bid‘ah (‫)البدعة‬
• Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet SAAS said, “Whoever
al-Bid‘ah
Defining

prayed at night of Ramadan out of sincere Faith and hoping for

a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."
After the Prophet's death the people continued observing that
(i.e. Nawāfil offered 8 raka’as individually, not in
congregation), and it remained as it was during the Caliphate
of Abu Bakr and in the early days of Umar ibn Al-Khattab's
Caliphate.
• During Ramadan upon seeing people praying in different
groups, Umar ordered Ubay ibn Ka'b to lead the people in
congregational prayer and in 20 raka’as. On this Umar said:
'What an excellent Bid‘ah this is.‘”
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 Scholarly Discourse on Al-Bid‘ah (‫)البدعة‬
• Salman al-Farisi narrated that the Prophet SAAS was asked, by
al-Bid‘ah
Defining

some of the companions, about the permissibility and

prohibition of certain items, he states "Halal is that which Allah
has made Halal in His book, Haram is that which Allah has
made Haram in His book, and about which he has remained
silent is all forgiven.“

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 Scholarly Discourse on Al-Bid‘ah (‫)البدعة‬
• Rifa’ah ibn Rafi narrated: When we were praying behind the
al-Bid‘ah
Defining

Prophet SAAS and he raised his head from bowing and said,
"Allah hears whoever praises Him," a man behind him said,
"Our Lord, Yours is the praise, abundantly, wholesomely, and
blessedly. "When he rose to leave, the Prophet asked who said
it, and when the man replied that it was he, the Prophet said,
"I saw thirty-odd angels each striving to be the one to write
it."

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 Scholarly Discourse on Al-Bid‘ah (‫)البدعة‬
• Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani comments in Fath al-Bari that the hadith
al-Bid‘ah
Defining

"indicates the permissibility of initiation of new expression

of dhikr in the prayer other than the ones related through
hadith texts (even though this is still reported in the hadiths),
as long as they do not contradict those conveyed by the
hadith.
• It is clear that this is so since the above were a mere
enhancement and addendum to the know, sunna dhikr."

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 Scholarly Discourse on Al-Bid‘ah (‫)البدعة‬
• Imam Shafi'i gave the following advice, "An innovation which
al-Bid‘ah
Defining

contradicts the Qurʼan, Sunnah, an Athar or Ijma’ is a heretical

bidʻah: if however something new is introduced which is not
evil in itself and does not contradict the above mentioned
authorities of religious life, then it is a praiseworthy,
unobjectional bidʻah." This can infer worldly bidʻah or
technology.

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 Scholarly Discourse on Al-Bid‘ah (‫)البدعة‬
• In his Book of Knowledge Al-Ghazali observed that many
al-Bid‘ah
Defining

phenomena once thought bidʻah had come to be though

legally unobjectionable:
[A]mong the accepted practices of our time are decorating and furnishing the
mosques, and expending great sums of money on their ornate construction and
fine rugs which were then considered innovations. These were introduced by the
pilgrims, since the early Muslims seldom placed anything on the ground during
prayer. Similarly disputation and debate are among the most honoured disciples of
the day and are numbered among the best meritorious works (qurubat):
nevertheless they were among the taboos at the time of the Companions. The
same is true of the chanting of the Quran and the call for prayer, going to excess in
matters of cleanliness and being over fastidious in matters of ceremonial purity,
ruling clothes unclean on petty and far-fetched grounds, and, at the same time,
being lax in ruling foods lawful and unlawful as well as many other like things.
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 Scholarly Discourse on Al-Bid‘ah (‫)البدعة‬
• He quoted Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman approvingly: "Strange as it
al-Bid‘ah
Defining

may seem, accepted practices of today are the taboos of a day

gone by. ... And the taboos of today are the accepted practices
of a day yet to come.“
• Scholars affiliated to the Salafi or Wahhabi sects argue for an
exclusive, literal definition that entails anything not specifically
performed or confirmed by the Prophet.

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
al-Jama‘ah Al-Jamā‘ah (‫)الجماعة‬
• Jamā‘ah (Arabic: ‫ جماعة‬Romanized: Jama‘ah; plural: ‫جماعات‬
Defining

Jamā‘āt, rendered also Jama‘a) refers to “community, majority,

and congregation (in salāh).
• “…he who separates himself from the community (Jama’ah) by
even so much as a hand span and dies (in this state), he will die
the death of Jahiliyyah.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
• Technically, it means “the vast majority” (‫)السواد األعظم‬, i.e. those
who follow the path of the SALAF.
• Anas ibn Malik said "I heard the Prophet SAAS says: 'My nation
will not unite on misguidance, so if you see them differing,
follow the great majority (‫)السواد األعظم‬.'"
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
al-Jama‘ah Al-Jamā‘ah (‫)الجماعة‬
• The SALAF of every nation is the predecessors and the
Defining

early generation, and against them are the successors

(the KHALAF, the later one who come after them and
succeed them).
‫َلف‬
ٌ ‫ف ِمن بَع ِد ِهم خ‬ َ َ‫ {فَ َخل‬:‫ضح معنى الخلف قول هللا تعالى‬ ّ ‫• وم ّما يو‬
]59:‫[مريم‬،}‫غيًّا‬ َ ‫ون‬َ َ‫وف يَلق‬َ ‫س‬َ َ‫ت ف‬
ِ ‫ش َهوا‬ َّ ‫أَضاعوا ال‬
َّ ‫صًلة َ َواتَّبَعوا ال‬
• The SALAF of Islamic Ummah are those who live in the
first three centuries of Hijrah.

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
al-Jama‘ah Al-Jamā‘ah (‫)الجماعة‬
• The evidence for this is what Al-Bukhari narrated from the
Defining

Messenger of Allah SAAS, that he determined the ancestor of

the nation in the first three centuries, where he said: “The best
ever of my nation is my century generation, then those who
come in the following century, then those who come in the
next following century.”
‫ أنّه ح ّدد‬،‫• ودليل ذلك ما رواه البخاري عن رسول هللا صلّى هللا عليه وسلّم‬
‫ ث َّم‬،‫ «خير أ َّمتِي قَ ْرنِي‬:‫ حيث قال‬،‫سلف األمة بالقرون الثًلثة األولى‬
.»...‫ ث َّم الذين يَلونَه ْم‬،‫الذين يَلونَه ْم‬

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
al-Jama‘ah Al-Jamā‘ah (‫)الجماعة‬
• The term al-qarn in Arabic means 100 years, as
Defining

evidently clear from the Prophet’s prophecy about one

sahabah, Abdullah ibn Bisr al-Mazini RA, in which he
said: »ً ‫غن قرنا‬
َّ ‫«لتبل‬, and this sahabah did pass away while
his age is 100 years old.

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
al-Jama‘ah Al-Jamā‘ah (‫)الجماعة‬
• Accordingly the period of the SALAF is exclusively
Defining

confined to 300 years where there are five generations

living within this period:
‫ الصحابة رضي هللا عنهم‬.1
‫ التابعون‬.2
‫ أتباع التابعين‬.3
‫ تبع األتباع‬.4
‫ تبع تبع األتباع‬.5
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
al-Jama‘ah Al-Jamā‘ah (‫)الجماعة‬
• They are praised as »‫( «خير القرون‬the best generation)
Defining

due to their strictness to emulate the Prophet’s

exemplary models in their life.
• The term clearly indicates that the traditional way is
the way of the “consolidated majority of
the community” as against peripheral or “wayward”
positions of sectarians, who by definition must
be erroneous.

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
al-Jama‘ah Al-Jamā‘ah (‫)الجماعة‬
• So, al-Jamā‘ah means those who follow the path of the
Defining

SALAF, and they are “the vast majority” (‫ )السواد األعظم‬of

the Muslims today and till the Last Day.
• Rasulullah SAAS says:
ُ ‫س ََل ِم ِم ْن‬
"...‫عنُ ِق ِه‬ ِ ْ َ‫ش ْب ٍر فَقَ ْد َخلَ َع ِر ْبقَة‬
ْ ‫اإل‬ ِ ‫ق ا ْل َج َماعَةَ قِي َد‬ َ َ‫"فَ ِإنَّهُ َم ْن ف‬
َ ‫ار‬
“.…, for he who separates himself from the community (Jama’ah)
by even so much as a hand span and dies (in this state), he will
die the death of Jahiliyyah.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
• Anas ibn Malik said "I heard the Prophet SAAS says: 'My nation
will not unite on misguidance, so if you see them differing,
follow the great majority (‫)السواد األعظم‬.'"
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
al-Jama‘ah Al-Jamā‘ah (‫)الجماعة‬
• Those (‫ )السواد األعظم‬of the Muslims are the followers of
Defining

the four Madhhabs: al-Mālikī, al-Hanafī, al-Shāfi’ī and

al-Hanbalī.
• Such as al-Bukhārī, al-Ghazālī, al-Nasa’ī, al-Shādhilī, and
so on.
• Umar RA said: “Hold fast the Jamā‘ah, and beware of
separation (from the Jamā‘ah).

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
al-Jama‘ah Al-Jamā‘ah (‫)الجماعة‬
• In a nutshell, as Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah is those
Defining

who follow the sunnah of the Prophet SAAS and the

Great Companions, and follow the footstep of the salaf,
they are actually the safe group (‫)الفرقة الناجية‬.
• The term Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah is primarily
meant to distinguish them from other Islamic groups
and sects which are ahlul bid’ah, such as the Khawārij
(‫)الخوارج‬, Mu’tazilah (‫)المعتزلة‬, Shi’ah (‫)الشيعة‬, and so on
and so forth..
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
‫‪Ahl al-Sunnah wa‬‬ ‫مفهوم مصطلح عقيدة أهل السنة والجماعة‬
‫‪Defining ‘Aqīdah‬‬

‫‪al-Jama‘ah‬‬ ‫• بعد ما عرفنا معنى كل من هذه المفاهيم الثًلثة يمكن أن نخلص‬

‫القول بأن عقيدة أهل السنة والجماعة هي مجموعة من المعتقدات‬
‫التي كان عليها الرسول صلى هللا عليه وسلم والسلف الصالح من‬
‫الصحابة والتابعين والسواد األعظم من المسلمين‪.‬‬
‫‪• (Akidah yang diyakini Rasulullah SAW dan para‬‬
‫‪Salafus salih – para sahabat, tabi’in, dan majority‬‬
‫)‪ummat Islam‬‬

‫‪3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM‬‬

 The Sunni’s Methodology and Sources in
Methodology Establishing the ‘Aqidah
The Sunni’s

• If the comprehension of the truth is that which is

actually called a science, then the approach taken to
that comprehension should undoubtedly also be a
science
َ ‫ص َر َو ْالف َؤا َد ك ُّل أو َٰلَئِ َك َك‬
‫ان‬ َ َ‫س ْم َع َو ْالب‬
َّ ‫ْس لَ َك ِب ِه ِع ْل ٌم ۚ ِإ َّن ال‬
َ ‫• { َو ََل ت َ ْقف َما لَي‬
.)36:‫وَل} (اإلسراء‬ ً ‫ع ْنه َم ْسئ‬ َ
• (And do not pursue that of which you have no
knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the
heart - about all those [one] will be questioned).
‫• البحث عن الحقيقة العلمية وإخضاع الفكر اإلسًلمي للمنهج العلمي‬
‫ضرورة دينية مقدسة‬
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 The Sunni’s Methodology and Sources in
Methodology Establishing the ‘Aqidah
The Sunni’s

• The search for scientific truth and the subjugation of Islamic

thought to the scientific method is a sacred religious
necessity.
• Scientific methodology of research among the Muslim
scholars is inherent and part of their ibadah.
• The scientific method to search for the truth among Muslim
scholars is summed up in a great and unparalleled principle:
‫ ْأو ُم َّد ِعيًا فال َّد ِلي ُل‬،ُ‫فالص َّحة‬
ِ ً‫ِإ ْن ُك ْنتَ نَاقَِل‬
(If you are to cite [a text], do observe its authenticity; and if you
are to claim [a thought], do produce proof and evidence)
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 The Sunni’s Methodology and Sources in
Methodology Establishing the ‘Aqidah
The Sunni’s

• The subject of research is of two kinds:

1. News transmitted (‫( )خبر منقول‬hence, the necessity to
ensure its correct and valid ascription to its source);
2. Hypothesis or assumption (hence, the necessity to
ensure the scientific proof and evidence).

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 The Sunni’s Methodology and Sources in
Methodology Establishing the ‘Aqidah
The Sunni’s

• Such as the phenomenon of wahy (‫ )الوحي‬in the

life of the Prophet SAAS.
• The method taken by the Muslim scholars to
establish it is through:
1. Examining the authenticity of the report (‫)الرواية‬
and checking the wording and the chain of report
(‫)السند‬.
2. Inductive reasoning (‫)اَلستقراء‬.

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 The Sunni’s Methodology and Sources in
Methodology Establishing the ‘Aqidah
The Sunni’s

• So, they base the belief (‫ )العقيدة‬on:

1. The firm and authentic texts in terms of validity
and meaning ( ‫ )النصوص القطعية الثبوت والدَللة‬from
the Qur’an and the Sunnah
2. The scientific proofs and evidences

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 The Sunni’s Methodology and Sources in
Methodology Establishing the ‘Aqidah
The Sunni’s

• Al-Hafiz Ibn Asakir in his book, Showing the

falsehood of the fabricator, describes the
method as follow: "... They (the Muslim scholars)
affirm the attributes for Him, the Glorified,
according to what He has affirmed for Himself,
and describe Him with what He has characterized
Himself in the fixed verses (‫)اآليات المحكمات‬, also
according to what His Prophet SAAS has
described Him in the authentic narrations…”
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 The Sunni’s Methodology and Sources in
Methodology Establishing the ‘Aqidah
The Sunni’s

• The method of entrusting (‫ )التفويض‬the proper

meaning to Allah, and interpretation (‫ )التأويل‬in
the anthropomorphic verses and hadīth ( ‫اآليات‬
‫)واألحاديث المتشابهات‬.
• By ‫ التفويض‬means to distract the word from its
most immediate meaning without assigning the
specific meaning and delegating it to Allah
Almighty.
‫• التفويض هو صرف اللفظ عن ظاهره الراجح بدون تحديد‬
.‫المعنى المعين وتفويضه إلى هللا سبحانه‬
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 The Sunni’s Methodology and Sources in
Methodology Establishing the ‘Aqidah
The Sunni’s

• While ‫ التأويل‬is to isolate the word from its most

immediate meaning to be re-appropriated with a new
non-immediate, yet, related meaning due to a
compelling valid reason.
‫• والتأويل صرف اللفظ عن ظاهره الراجح إلى احتمال مرجوح لدليل‬
.‫يقترن باللفظ فيصرفه عن ظاهره‬

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 The Sunni’s Methodology and Sources in
Methodology Establishing the ‘Aqidah
The Sunni’s

• Such as the meaning of the ayah: }‫{نسوا هللا فنسيهم‬

)67:‫(التوبة‬
• The immediate meaning of ‫ النسيان‬is forgetfulness or
loss of knowledge and non-immediate is to ignore. So it
is the latter meaning that is to be applied, not the
former, due to impossibility of forgetfulness or loss of
knowledge to Allah SWT.

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 The Sunni’s Methodology and Sources in
Methodology Establishing the ‘Aqidah
The Sunni’s

• However ‫ التفويض‬and ‫ التأويل‬are actually different

in degree, since both are interpretation (‫)التأويل‬,
the former is general (non-specific) while the
latter is specific.
• According to Al-Būṭī, the former is what the
Ash’arites call ‫( التأويل اإلجمالي‬general
interpretation) and the latter ‫التأويل التفصيلي‬
(specific interpretation).
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 ‫‪The Sunni’s Methodology and Sources in‬‬
‫‪Methodology‬‬ ‫‪Establishing the ‘Aqidah‬‬
‫‪The Sunni’s‬‬

‫‪• The great Muslim scholars, Al-Shafi’i, Al-Shatibi, Al-Ghazali,‬‬

‫‪Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Al-Razi, etc., view the necessity of‬‬
‫‪.‬التأويل‬
‫• قال الشافعي عن القرآن‪" :‬وأن منه ظاهرا ً يعرف في سياقه أنه يراد به غير ظاهره"‪.‬‬
‫• وقال اإلمام أبو إسحاق الشاطبي في كتابه الموافقات‪" :‬اتباع ظواهر القرآن على غير تدبر‬
‫وَل نظر في مقاصده ومعاقده والقطع بالحكم به ببادئ الرأي والنظر األول‪ ...‬معلوم أن هذا‬
‫الرأي يصد عن اتباع الحق المحض ويضاد المشي على الصراط المستقيم‪...‬‬
‫• وقال الحافظ ابن حجر العسقًلني‪" :‬أكثر السلف لعدم ظهور أهل البدع في أزمنتهم يفوضون‬
‫علمها – آيات الصفات – إلى هللا تعالى مع تنزيهه سبحانه عن ظاهرها الذي َل يليق بجًلل‬
‫ذاته‪ ،‬وأكثر الخلف يؤولونها بحملها على محامل تليق بذلك الجًلل األقدس والكمال األنفس‪،‬‬
‫َلضطرارهم إلى ذلك لكثرة أهل الزيغ والبدع في أزمنتهم‪".‬‬

‫‪3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM‬‬

 Ash’arism and Maturidism
Ash’arism and
Maturidism
• In the discourse of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah, there
are three key figures: Ahmad ibn Hanbal (164-
241H/780-855M), al-Ash’ari (260-324H/ 874-936M),
and al-Maturidi (c. 248-333H).
• Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and his followers are known
as Atharism (Arabic: ‫ )األثرية‬as they hold fast the athar
(tradition) stringently following the trait of Imam
Malik. On the matter of anthropomorphic attributes of
Allah, they apply ‫ التفويض‬or ‫التأويل اإلجمالي‬.
• They constitute small minority of the Sunnī.
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 Ash’arism and Maturidism…
Ash’arism and
Maturidism
• The bulk majority of of the Sunnī are Ash’arism and
Maturidism.
• Ash’arism (Arabic: ‫ األشعرية‬or the followers called ‫ ْٱألَشَا ِع َرة‬al-
Ashāʿirah) is the foremost theological school of Sunni
Islam which established a standard guideline based on
scholarly authority, founded by the Arab
Muslim theologian Abu al-Hasan al-Ashʿari.
• The disciples of the school are known as Ashʿarites, and the
school is also referred to as the Ashʿarite school, which
became the dominant theological school within Sunni Islam.
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 Ash’arism and Maturidism…
Ash’arism and
Maturidism
• The great imams of the Ash’arite school include:
• Al-Bayhaqi, al-Baqilani, al-Qushayri, al-Juwayni, Al-
Ghazali, al-Razi, al-Nawawi, al-Suyuti, al-Izz ibn
Abdissalam, al-Taqi al-Subuki, Ibn Asakir, Ibn Hajar al-
Asqalani, Ibn Aqil al-Hanbali, Ibn al-Jawzi, etc.
• They represent the majority of Fuqaha and
Muhaddithun of Shafi’iyyah, Malikiyyah, Ahnaf, and
some of the Hanabilah.

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 Ash’arism and Maturidism…
Ash’arism and
Maturidism
• Maturidiyya (Arabic: ‫ )الماتريدية‬is one of the main schools
of Sunni Islam theology. It was formalized by Abu Mansur Al-
Maturidi (c. 248-333H) and brought the beliefs already present
among the majority of Sunnis under one school of systematic
theology (kalam).
• It is considered one of the standard Sunni creeds alongside
the Ash'ari school.
• Māturīdism has been the predominant theological orientation
among the Sunni Muslims of Persia prior to its conversion to
Shi’ism in the 16th century, Hanafis, and the Ahl al-Ray (people of
reason) and enjoyed a preeminent status in the Ottoman
Empire and Mughal India.
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 Ash’arism and Maturidism…
Ash’arism and
Maturidism
• Outside the old Ottoman and Mughal empires, the
majority of Turkic tribes, Central Asian, and South
Asian Muslims also believe in Maturidi theology. There
have also been Arab Maturidi scholars.
• The Ash'arism, in addition to the Maturidism, are
considered the two main components of the Sunnis,
along with some of the Hanbali (Ahl al-Hadth and Al-
Athar).

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 Ash’arism and Maturidism…
Ash’arism and
Maturidism
• Both Al-Ash'ari and al-Maturidi adopted a similar
approach, so that over time they were able to form a Sunni
school of Kalam to which more than ninety percent of the
Muslims of the Islamic world belonged to.
• It is worth noting that both of them do not establish in
Islam a new belief that contradict the tradition of Salaf.
• Rather, what has been introduced by al-Ash’ari, for
example, after his return back to the Sunni school, is an
intellectual and rational arguments in aqidah discourses
against especially the Mu’tazilites as he was himself one of
their prominent figures.

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 ‫…‪Ash’arism and Maturidism‬‬
‫‪Ash’arism and‬‬
‫‪Maturidism‬‬
‫• يقول أبو الحسن الندوي في اَلختًلف الكامل بين األشاعرة والمعتزلة‬
‫من جهة‪ ،‬وعدم مطابقتهم تما ًما لبعض أهل الحديث والحنابلة واختًلفهم‬
‫معهم في جزئيات منهجية ع ّدة من جهة أخرى‪« :‬وكان األشعري مؤمنًا‬
‫بأن مصدر العقيدة هو الوحي والنبوة المحمدية‪ ..‬وما ثبت‬
‫عن الصحابة‪..‬وهذا مفترق الطريق بينه وبين المعتزلة‪ ،‬فإنه يتجه في‬
‫ذلك اتجا ًها معار ً‬
‫ضا َلتجاه المعتزلة‪ ،‬ولكنه رغم ذلك يعتقد‪ ..‬أن الدفاع‬
‫عن العقيدة السليمة‪ ،‬وغرسها في قلوب الجيل اإلسًلمي الجديد‪ ،‬يحتاج‬
‫إلى التحدث بلغة العصر العلمية السائدة‪ ،‬واستعمال المصطلحات العلمية‪،‬‬
‫ومناقشة المعارضين على أسلوبهم العقلي‪ ،‬ولم يكن يسوغ ذلك‪ ،‬بل يع ّده‬
‫أفضل الجهاد وأعظم القربات في ذلك العصر»‪.‬‬

‫‪3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM‬‬

 ‫…‪Ash’arism and Maturidism‬‬
‫‪Ash’arism and‬‬
‫‪Maturidism‬‬
‫• وقال الحافظ ابن عساكر في كتابه تبيين كذب المفتري‪" :‬فإنهم – يعني‬
‫األشاعرة – بحمد هللا ليسوا معتزلة‪ ،‬وَل نفاة لصفات هللا معطلة‪ ،‬لكنهم يثبتون‬
‫له سبحانه ما أثبته لنفسه من الصفات‪ ،‬ويصفونه بما اتصف به في محكم‬
‫اآليات‪ ،‬وبما وصفه به نبيّه صلى هللا عليه وسلم في صحيح الروايات‬
‫وينزهونه عن سمات النقص واآلفات‪ ،‬فإذا وجدوا من يقول بالتجسيم أو‬
‫التكييف من المجسمة والمشبهة‪ ،‬ولقوا من يصفه بصفات المحدثات من‬
‫القائلين بالحدود والجهة فحينئذ يسلكون طريق التأويل‪ ،‬ويثبتون تنزيهه تعالى‬
‫بأوضح الدليل‪ ،‬ويبالغون في إثبات التقديس له والتنزيه خوفا ً من وقوع من َل‬
‫يعلم في ظلم التشبيه‪ ،‬فإذا أمنوا من ذلك رأوا أن السكوت أسلم‪ ،‬وترك‬
‫الخوض في التأويل إَل عند الحاجة أحزم‪"...‬‬
‫‪3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM‬‬
 ‫…‪Ash’arism and Maturidism‬‬
‫‪Ash’arism and‬‬
‫‪Maturidism‬‬
‫• وقال العًلمة السفاريني الحنبلي في لوامع األنوار البهية ‪:73 / 1‬‬
‫• أهل السنة والجماعة ثًلث فرق‪:‬‬
‫‪ .1‬األثرية‪ ،‬وإمامهم أحمد ابن حنبل رحمه هللا‬
‫‪ .2‬واألشعرية‪ ،‬وإمامهم أبو الحسن األشعري رحمه هللا‬
‫‪ .3‬والماتريدية‪ ،‬وإمامهم أبو المنصور الماتريدي رحمه هللا‬

‫‪3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM‬‬

Ash’arism and
Maturidism

The diagram of the followers of Ahlussunnah Waljama’ah based

on the size of its three groups
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
Ash’arism and
Maturidism

The diagram of the distribution of the Muslims and the size of

the followers of Ahlussunnah Waljama’ah among them
Phenomenon of “takfīr” (“kāfirizing” the other)
• (A Muslim is to refrain from
“takfīr” [“kāfirizing” the other
Muslim] as much as possible.
Because to consider halal of the
blood and property of those
facing Qiblah in their prayer and
pronouncing lā ilāha illā Allāh
Muḥammad Rasūlullāh is a
serious offence).
305 ‫ ص‬،)‫ت‬.‫ د‬،‫ دار المنهاج‬:‫م‬.‫ عني به أنس محمد عدنان الشرفاوي (د‬،‫ االقتصاد في االعتقاد‬،‫الغزالي‬
‫اإلمام الغزالي‪ ،‬فيصل التفرقة بين اإلسَلم والزندقة (د‪.‬م‪ :‬د‪.‬ن‪.)1993 ،‬‬
Phenomenon of “takfīr”…
• Al-Ghazālī said:
‫وَل يلزم الكفر للمؤولين ما داموا يًلزمون قانون التأويل‬
• (The “kufr” does not necessarily apply to those who employ “ta’wil”,
as long as they comply with its law/principle).

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 What Necessitates Man to Have Sound
Belief?
The Need for
Sound Belief
• Wonderings ….
• What is the need for God (if any) to make it compulsory for
man to worship with this particular order (of religion)?
• Why does God bind us to all of this belief, worship and
rulings it contains?
• Would this God just leave His servants free to establish
their life in the way they want, and to organize it according
to the form or method that they love?
• Some of them may extend the chain of this question to an
extent: What is the need of God to force me worshipping
Him for the whole of my lifetime?

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 What Necessitates Man …
The Need for
Sound Belief
• Allah SWT created this universe and chose man from among
the creatures to be the master of this universe. So He made all
of them subject to him for his service, and He entrusted him for
its prosperity and organizational affairs.
• That is what is meant by “vicegerency” (‫ )الخًلفة‬stated in:
)30:‫ض َخ ِليفَةً} (البقرة‬
ِ ‫• { َو ِإ ْذ قَا َل َربُّ َك ِل ْل َم ََلئِ َك ِة ِإنِي َجا ِع ٌل فِي ْاأل َ ْر‬
• (And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the
angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive
authority.“)

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 What Necessitates Man …
The Need for
Sound Belief
• And it is what is meant by (‫ )اَلستعمار‬stated in:
.)61:‫ست َ ْع َم َر ُك ْم ِفي َها} (هود‬ ِ ‫• { ُه َو أَنشَأَكُم ِم َن ْاأل َ ْر‬
ْ ‫ض َوا‬
• (He has produced you from the earth and settled you
in it).
• Therefore, man is equipped with the most dangerous,
yet crucial, qualities and with all potentials and abilities
required to perform his role and duties on this earth as
the vicegerent of Allah SWT.

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 What Necessitates Man …
The Need for
Sound Belief
• These qualities, potentials and abilities include:
• The quality of the mind and its offspring: knowledge,
comprehension, awareness, and the ability to analyze,
observe and explore many things in depth and beyond.
• Egotism, selfishness and its sub-propensity for acquisition
and possession.
• Means of strength and potentials for management and
exercise of power, which tend to control over the others.
• Inclinations, longings, and emotions such as affection, love,
hate, hatred, anger, etc.
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 What Necessitates Man …
The Need for
Sound Belief
• These traits are just like two-edged weapons, depending
on the usage (for good or bad).
• The source of the gravity of these attributes is that they
are, in fact, nothing but attributes of God. Knowledge,
strength, power, authority, possession, and might are all
constituencies of divinity and attributes of the Lord
Almighty.
• These qualities and attributes would intoxicate man, tend
to arrest his heart, forget himself, and make him keen and
eager to acquire more and more to the level of divinity.
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 What Necessitates Man …
The Need for
Sound Belief
• As a result, with these qualities and potentials at hand,
man may use his force in the oppression of others, and to
satisfy his tendency to control and authority in extending
his influence and authority over the weak.
• Also, these may become the motivation among the groups
of people to compete in a field of bloody struggle over
authority, prestige, governance and leadership.
• Thus, these qualities turned into the factor of disturbance
and misery in the human life, rather than being the factor
of happiness, progress and order, as is assumed.
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
 What Necessitates Man …
The Need for
Sound Belief
• Because of this, it is necessary for another force to
direct these qualities to the righteous destination, and
prevent man from using it in evils and vices.
• True religion is the harness that protects man from the
negative aspects of these attributes, because God is
the One who knows man’s self and his true position in
this existence and his role in this universe as His
servant and vicegerent. }‫ُون‬ِ ‫نس ِإ َّال ِليَ ْعبُد‬ ِ ْ ‫{ َو َما َخلَ ْقتُ ا ْل ِج َّن َو‬
َ ‫اإل‬
(And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to
worship Me). (Al-Dhariyat:56).
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
The Key Concept of
Al-Tawḥīd
• The word: ‫ ال إله إال هللا‬is the “key word” and the “key
‘Aqīdah
concept” in Islamic ‘aqīdah.
• It is the essence of Islam and its first and inevitable
basis, which alone makes a person Muslim even if
he/she fails to implement the other two elements
(Sharī‘ah and Ethics) of Islam.
• Rather, a person is not considered a Muslim if he/she
does not have this belief, even if he/she spends his/her
entire life in worship and obedience.
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
The Key Concept of
Al-Tawḥīd …
• Al-Tawḥīd as the Islamic worldview ( ‫الرؤية اإلسًلمية الشاملة‬
‫)المتكاملة المو َّحدة األحادية أو التصور اإلسًلمي للوجود‬
‘Aqīdah

• No duality; No dichotomy
• Universal (‫ب ا ْلعَالَ ِمين‬ ِ َّ ِ ‫)ا ْل َح ْم ُد‬
ِ ‫ّلِل َر‬
• The core of normativeness (summum bonum)
• So central it is that the ‘aqīdah (the Shahādah) alone can
assume the status of religion as a whole. It is not required
for the validity of this designation that it be accompanied
by practical behavior, though the failure of any of which
could expose the ‘aqīdah itself to jeopardy.
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
The Key Concept of
Al-Tawḥīd …
• Al-Tawḥīd as the Islamic worldview implies:
‘Aqīdah
1. The unity (equality) of divine creation, the creatures
including mankind, governed by the same law.
ُ ‫اس ِإنَّا َخلَ ْقنَاكُم ِمن َذ َك ٍر َوأُنث َ ٰى َو َجعَ ْلنَا ُك ْم‬
َ َ‫شعُوبًا َوقَبَائِ َل ِلتَع‬
‫ارفُوا ۚ ِإ َّن‬ ُ َّ‫• {يَا أَيُّ َها الن‬
.)13:‫ير} (الحجرات‬ ٌ ‫ع ِلي ٌم َخ ِب‬ َ َّ ‫َّللا أَتْقَا ُك ْم ۚ ِإ َّن‬
َ ‫َّللا‬ ِ َّ ‫أ َ ْك َر َم ُك ْم ِعن َد‬
(O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female
and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one
another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is
the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and
Acquainted).
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
The Key Concept of
Al-Tawḥīd …
‫ وآدم من‬،‫ كلكم آلدم‬،‫ وإن أباكم واحد‬،‫ إن ربكم واحد‬،‫ "أيها الناس‬:‫• وفي الحديث‬
‫ أال‬،‫ ليس لعربي فضل على أعجمي إال بالتقوى‬،‫ إن أكرمكم عند هللا أتقاكم‬،‫تراب‬
‘Aqīdah

."‫هل بلَّغت؟ اللهم فاشهد‬

(O people, your Lord is One, and your father is one: all of you are from
Adam, and Adam was from the ground. The noblest of you in Allah’s sight is
the most godfearing: Arab has no merit over non-Arab other than
godfearingness. Have I given the message?—O Allah, be my witness. —At
this, they said yes).
)102:‫ش ْي ٍء فَا ْعبُدُوُُ ۚ} (األنعام‬
َ ‫ق ك ُِل‬ ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ َ
‫خ‬ ۖ ‫و‬ ُ
‫ه‬ َّ
‫ال‬ ‫إ‬ َ ‫ه‬َ ٰ
‫ل‬ ‫إ‬ َ
‫ال‬ ۖ ‫م‬ ُ
‫ك‬ ‫ب‬ ‫ر‬ ‫َّللا‬ ‫م‬ ُ
‫ك‬ ‫ل‬ َ
‫ذ‬ ٰ{ •
ُ ِ َ ِ ِ ْ ُّ َ ُ َّ ُ ِ
(That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the Creator of all
things, so worship Him).
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
The Key Concept of
Al-Tawḥīd…
2. The unity of the source of life.
‘Aqīdah
ِ ‫ج ا ْل َم ِي‬
‫ت ِم َن‬ ِ ‫ي ِم َن ا ْل َم ِي‬
ُ ‫ت َو ُم ْخ ِر‬ َّ ‫ج ا ْل َح‬ُ ‫ب َوالنَّ َو ٰى ۖ يُ ْخ ِر‬ ِ ُ ‫َّللا فَا ِل‬
‫ق ا ْل َح‬ َ َّ ‫{ ِإ َّن‬
َ َ َ َ ٰ
َ
)95:‫َّللاُ ۖ فأن ٰى تؤفكُون} (األنعام‬ ْ ُ َّ َّ ‫ا ْل َحي ِ ۚ ذ ِل ُك ُم‬
(Indeed, Allah is the cleaver of grain and date seeds. He brings
the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living.
That is Allah; so how are you deluded?)
3. The unity of the source of knowledge
ْ َ ‫علَّ َم آ َد َم ْاأل‬
)31:‫س َما َء ُكلَّ َها} (البقرة‬ َ ‫{ َو‬
(And He taught Adam the names - all of them)
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
The Key Concept of
Al-Tawḥīd…
• (The root and essence of knowledge continues to be
inseparable from the sacred for the very substance of
‘Aqīdah

knowledge is the knowledge of that reality which is the

Supreme Substance,.... Intelligence which is the instrument of
knowledge within man, is endowed with the possibility of
knowing the Absolute. (Nasr, Knowledge and the Sacred, p. 7)).
4. The unity of law (sunnatullah) and normativeness:
truth and falsehood (‫ ;)الحق والباطل‬right and wrong
(‫ ;)الخير والشر‬good and bad (‫ ;)الحسنة والسيئة‬virtue and
vices (‫)الفضيلة والرذيلة‬.
3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
The Key Concept of
Al-Tawḥīd…
5. The unity of the divine guidance and messages
ٰ ‫وحي إلَ ْي ِه أَنَّهُ َال إ‬
‘Aqīdah
}‫ُون‬
ِ ‫د‬ ُ ‫ب‬‫ع‬ْ ‫ا‬َ ‫ف‬ ‫ا‬َ ‫ن‬َ ‫أ‬ َّ
‫ال‬ ‫إ‬
ِ َ ‫ه‬َ ‫ل‬ ِ ِ ِ ُ‫سو ٍل ِإ َّال ن‬ ُ ‫س ْلنَا ِمن قَ ْب ِل َك ِمن َّر‬ َ ‫• { َو َما أ َ ْر‬
)25:‫(األنبياء‬
(And We sent not before you any messenger except that We
revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship
Me.“)
}36:‫ُوتَ } (النحل‬ ُ ‫َّا‬ َّ ‫اجتَنِبُوا ال‬ ْ ‫َّللا َو‬َ َّ ‫وال أ َ ِن ا ْعبُ ُدوا‬
ً ‫س‬ ُ ‫• { َولَقَ ْد بَعَثْنَا فِي ك ُِل أ ُ َّم ٍة َّر‬
(And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying],
"Worship Allah and avoid Taghut.“)

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
The Key Concept of
Al-Tawḥīd…
َّ ‫ص ٰى ِب ِه نُو ًحا َوالَّ ِذي أ َ ْو َح ْينَا ِإلَ ْي َك َو َما َو‬
‫ص ْينَا ِب ِه ِإ ْب َرا ِهي َم‬ َّ ‫ين َما َو‬
ِ ‫الد‬ ِ ‫ع لَكُم ِم َن‬ َ ‫• { ش ََر‬
‫ين َما ت َ ْدعُو ُه ْم‬ َ ‫علَى ا ْل ُمش ِْر ِك‬َ ‫ين َو َال تَتَفَ َّرقُوا فِي ِه ۚ َكبُ َر‬ ِ ‫س ٰى ۖ أ َ ْن أَقِي ُموا‬
َ ‫الد‬ َ ‫س ٰى َو ِعي‬ َ ‫َو ُمو‬
‘Aqīdah

.}13:‫يب) (الشورى‬ ُ ِ‫َّللاُ يَ ْجت َ ِبي إِلَ ْي ِه َمن يَشَا ُء َويَ ْه ِدي إِلَ ْي ِه َمن يُن‬
َّ ۚ ‫إِلَ ْي ِه‬
(He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon
Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad],
and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus - to
establish the religion and not be divided therein. Difficult for
those who associate others with Allah is that to which you invite
them. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to
Himself whoever turns back [to Him]).

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM
‫‪The Key Concept of‬‬
‫…‪Al-Tawḥīd‬‬
‫س ََل ُم} (آل عمران‪.)19:‬‬ ‫َّللا ْ ِ‬
‫اإل ْ‬ ‫• { ِإ َّن ِ‬
‫الد َ‬
‫ين ِعن َد َّ ِ‬
‫‪‘Aqīdah‬‬
‫‪(Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam).‬‬
‫‪• Therefore, Islam is the religion of Allah SWT.‬‬
‫• وقوله‪( :‬إن الدين عند هللا اإلسًلم) إخبار من هللا تعالى بأنه َل دين عنده يقبله من‬
‫أحد سوى اإلسًلم‪ ،‬وهو اتباع الرسل فيما بعثهم هللا به في كل حين‪ ،‬حتى ختموا‬
‫بمحمد صلى هللا عليه وسلم ‪ ،‬الذي سد جميع الطرق إليه إَل من جهة محمد صلى‬
‫هللا عليه وسلم‪ ،‬فمن لقي هللا بعد بعثته محمدا صلى هللا عليه وسلم بدين على غير‬
‫شريعته‪ ،‬فليس بمتقبل‪ .‬كما قال تعالى‪{ :‬ومن يبتغ غير اإلسًلم دينا فلن يقبل‬
‫منه وهو في اآلخرة من الخاسرين} [آل عمران‪ ]85 :‬وقال في هذه اآلية مخبرا‬
‫بانحصار الدين المتقبل عنده في اإلسًلم‪{ :‬إن الدين عند هللا اإلسًلم)‪.‬‬
‫‪3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM‬‬ ‫(تفسير ابن كثير‪http://quran.ksu.edu.sa/tafseer/katheer/sura3-aya19.html ،‬‬
The Key Concept of
Al-Tawḥīd…
:‫َّللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬ ِ َّ ‫ قَا َل قَا َل َرسول‬،َ ‫ع ْن أ َ ِبي ه َري َْرة‬ َ ،‫• وفي الحديث الصحيح‬
‫ أ َّم َهاته ْم‬،ٍ‫ َواأل َ ْن ِبيَاء ِإ ْخ َوة ٌ ِلعًَلَّت‬،ِ‫اآلخ َرة‬
ِ ‫سى اب ِْن َم ْريَ َم فِي ال ُّد ْنيَا َو‬
َ ‫اس ِب ِعي‬ ِ َّ‫"أَنَا أ َ ْولَى الن‬
‘Aqīdah

)‫ (رواه البخاري‬." ‫اح ٌد‬ ِ ‫ َو ِدينه ْم َو‬،‫شتَّى‬ َ

• Allah's Messenger )‫ )ﷺ‬said, "Both in this world and in the
Hereafter, I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of
Mary. The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are
different, but their religion is one."
• Therefore, “tolerance” in Islam is an organic part of the aqidah.
Allah SWT says: )256:‫ين} (البقرة‬ ِ ‫{ َال ِإ ْك َرا َُ فِي‬
ِ ‫الد‬

3/8/2023 10:53:37 PM