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TheCreedof
heCreedofAlAl--a/w
w

"#%&'( +,-.( 01

TranslationWithAddedCommentary1
by
byShaykhAb
ShaykhAbdamaldamal-Narj
Narj2
Releasedbywww.marifah.net1428H

6( 07.8 69" @?" >=< A<.( %3 TheencyclopedicscholarAbuJafarAl--a/wsaid:


:B CD@ 0ED9 %&'(
"H%D?(" IJ( K +,-H %,9 0 P
%D.I(" 7,I@ W9 : "QD( %S-T UPA VQH
\9 6-.# ^=6# W9 WT6Y( Z9%[ \9
\9 +D&A B +_H W9 %E`a b,09
\,.D8 bS,QH B 6d W`%_,e(\ J&(
C9 6I#+# \#+( 6f\ A +-g.# %A
.\,D(%.(
h 0(

{This is a detailed remembrance of the belief of the


People of}
of} alliance to {the Sunnah}
Sunnah} -what was
narratedofsayings,deedsandconfirmationsfromthe
Prophet " - {and}
{and} following {the Jam
Jamah}
ah} the
companions of the Prophet. It is {according to the
method of the jurisprudents of this religion, Abu
Tan
anfah AlAl-Nu
Numn ibn Th
Thbit AlAl-Kf, Abu Y
Ysuf
Ya
Yaqb ibn Ibr
Ibrhm AlAl-AnX
AnXr, and Abu Abdull
Abdull
llh
Muhammad ibn AlAl-Tasan AlAl-Shayb
aybn, may Allh
Allh
rewardthemall,andwhattheybelievedintermsofthe
rewardthemall,andwhattheybelievedintermsofthe
basicsofthereligion,andtookastheirreligionforthe
sakeoftheOnethathasLordshipovertheWorlds.}
sakeoftheOnethathasLordshipovertheWorlds.}

:B k,T6g9 \#+-g.A B +,@6j WT 6-` {We say with regards to the belief in the Oneness of
Allh,asbelievers,bythesuccessthat
Allh,asbelievers,bythesuccessthatAllh
,asbelievers,bythesuccessthatAllh
Allhgrants:}
grants:}
:}

1Thetranslationoftheoriginaltextisin{{bold}
bold}
bold}
2

ShaykhAbdamal-NarjconvertedfromchristianitytoIslmwhilelivinginChina.Hehassincestudiedand

receivedIjzahsinvariousworksofTanaffiqhandAshariaqdahfromtheMashyekhofDamascusandKuwait,
including:al-ShaykhMuhammadThiral-Afghn(AbulTasan),al-ShaykhMustafChebaro(astudentofMawln
al-ShaykhAbdulRazzqal-Talab),al-ShaykhImdNahlw,al-ShaykhA/madal-Shm(ShihbuddnAbAmr),
al-ShaykhA/madHajal-KurdandShaykhMuhammadJumuah(oneoftheprominentstudentsofMawlnal ShaykhAbdulRazzqal-Halab).

.C( n#01 o +@ B

.1

{Allh
{He
Allh isOne,}intheabsolutesense.Therefore,
isOne,}
doesnothaveapartner}orapart.
doesnothaveapartner}

CQpA W1 o

.2

{NothingresemblesHim}
{NothingresemblesHim}

rs?.# W1 o

.3

{NothingcanpreventHimfromhavingHisWill.}
{NothingcanpreventHimfromhavingHisWill.}

r0,u C( o

.4

{ThereisnotruegodotherthanHim.}
{ThereisnotruegodotherthanHim.}

.+g9< 9 b#+3

.5

Heis{Eternal
{Eternal
{Eternalwithoutanybeginning.}
withoutanybeginning.}

.%Sg`< 9 bx

.6

Heis{Everlastingwithoutanyend.}
{Everlastingwithoutanyend.}
{Everlastingwithoutanyend.}

+,_# o VI7# o

.7

{Hedoesnotbecomeannihilatedorgotoruin.}
{Hedoesnotbecomeannihilatedorgotoruin.}

.+#0# %A o 6Y# o

.8

{NothingexistsexceptwhatHehaswilled.}
{NothingexistsexceptwhatHehaswilled.}
xistsexceptwhatHehaswilled.}

%a C}Q_j o

.9

{WhatenterstherealmofideasdoesnotgraspHim}
{WhatenterstherealmofideasdoesnotgraspHim}
i.e. the reality of His self or His attributes. This is
because He does not have a limit, boundary, shape or
form as the author says explicitly below and ideas
arealwayslimited,astheythemselvesarecreations.

%STa C+j o

.10

{Intellects do not reach comprehension of Him}


Him}
because all understanding is created and therefore
limited,andAllhisnotlimited.

%`a C_e# o

.11

{Humans do not
not resemble Him.}
Him.} Thus He does not
haveabody,limbs,placeordirection.

%I# o 6,3 6D# o W@

.12

{AttributedwithLife,notdying.Hecontrolsallthings
anddoesnotsleep.}
anddoesnotsleep.}

"8%@ <9 k(%

.13

Heis{acreatorwithoutanyneed.}
{acreatorwithoutanyneed.}
{acreatorwithoutanyneed.}

<9 Z,DA "`A <9

.14

{He provides
provides creation}
creation} with the provisions they get

"-eA <9 H%9 "T%A {without burden, creates death without fear of
anything,resurrectswithoutdifficulty.}
anything,resurrectswithoutdifficulty.}

K_3 %D#+3 Cj%7E9 %A

.15

{He is now as He always was, eternally with His

C-Q attributes,beforeHiscreationcameintobeing.}
attributes,beforeHiscreationcameintobeing.}Heis
eationcameintobeing.}
therefore not influenced by anything or anyone, and
fearsnoone.

\Y# b( %,1 bS`6Y9 s# b(

.16
{Nothing was added to His attributes through their
Cg7f \A bSQ_3 existence, that He was not attributed with before.}
before.}
Thatis,Allhdoesnotchangebytheexistenceofnew
things, or changes in creation. He is not affected or
influenced by anything, because He has no beginning
andnoneeds.

%,( Cj%7E9 % %D .17


{JustasHewaseternallyattributedwithHisattributes,
%#+9 %S,QH s# o n(P Hewillneverceasetobeattributedwiththem.}
Hewillneverceasetobeattributedwiththem.}
llneverceasetobeattributedwiththem.}

%7g= kQ( kQ +.9 ,( .18


{He did not gain the name Creator
Creator after creating,
b= %7g=" #0_( +@9 o k(%( b= and not by bringing creation into existence the name
%_(
AlAl-Br,}
,} which means that He is the Originator of
Creation.

o" ,9690( VI.A C(

.19

{He has the attribute of Lordship,}


Lordship,} which is the

690A absolute ownership of everything {not depending on


theexistenceofsubjects.}
theexistenceofsubjects.}

6QA o k(%( VI.A

.20

{He has the attribute


attribute of being the Creator, not
dependingontheexistenceofacreation.}
dependingontheexistenceofacreation.}

+.9 Vj6D( W,&A C` %D .21


{Just as He is attributed with giving life both before
bSx%,@ K_3 b=o P k&g= %,@ %A and after He gives it, He is attributed with being
bSx%e` K_3 k(%( b= k&g= n(P
Creatorbeforegivingexistence.}
Creatorbeforegivingexistence.}

W1 K VQH C`9 n(

.22

{ThisisbecauseHehasthePowertocreateanything}
{ThisisbecauseHehasthePowertocreateanything}

C,QH 0A K 0,-T C,( W1 K 0#+3 that could exist, {and everything needs Him, and that
.0,J# nothingisdifficultforHim.}
nothingisdifficultforHim.}
,() W1 V( %g&# o .23
{Hedoesnotneedanything.
{Hedoesnotneedanything.
(0,E_( ,DJ( 6 W1 CQpD
"#$%&) #*+& , 01 234* 6#&}
Meaning: He absolutely does not resemble anything
at all in any way, and He is Al-Hearing, All-Seeing.
(Al-Shr,11)

CDQ.9 kQ( kQ

.24

{He created creation}


creation} and He is eternally attributed
{with}
{with} having infinite {Knowledge}
{Knowledge} of all creation,
bothbeforeandafteritsexistence.

0d +3 bS( +3

.25
{He predestined for them their fates}
fates} in exact details
o%8 bS( in terms of good, evil, obedience, disobedience,
livelihood,happiness,unhappiness,andeverythingelse
related. {He appointed the times of their endings}
endings}
whichareabsoluteandnotsubjecttochange.

K_3 W1 C,QH ^# b( .26


{NothingishiddenfromHimbeforeHecreatesthem,
{NothingishiddenfromHimbeforeHecreatesthem,
.bS-Q# K_3 6QA%H b %A bQH bS-Q# and He knows what they will do before He creates
them.}
them.}

b%S` CgH%'9 b0A

.27
{He ordered them to obey Him, and prohibited them
Cg,E.A \H fromdisobeyingHim.}
fromdisobeyingHim.}

r0#+-g9 0?# W1 K .28


{Everything happens according to His predestination
o %_.Q( ",eA o P7Ij Cg,eA Cg,eA andWill.HisWillhappens}absolutely.{Hiscreations
{Hiscreations
andWill.HisWillhappens}
.\Y# b( e# b( %A % %1 %DT bS( %1 %A
donothaveawillexceptwhatHehaswilledforthem;

whateverHehaswilledhappens,andwhateverHehas
notwilleddoesnothappen}.That
is, when a creation
notwilleddoesnothappen}.
willssomething,itisbecauseHehascreatedthatwillin
it.AllhsaidintheQurn(Al-Takwr),

\
,D(%.(
C Qh( %e# o

%ej %A
YoudonotwillanythingunlessAllhhaswilledit.He
has the Absolute Ownership of the worlds of jinn-,

human-andangel-kind.

bE.# %e# \A +S# .29


{He guides whomsoever He wills, and He protects}
protects}
P# %e# \A K# <T WT%.# fromdisobedienceand {defendscreatedbeings}from
{defendscreatedbeings}
\,9 Cg,eA WT 6_Q-gA bSQ o+H WQg_#
grace.} Not because He is
.C(+H CQT misguidance and loss {as a grace.}
obligedto.

{HecreatesdisobediencetoHiminwhoeverHewills,
and leaves defenseless}
defenseless} from sin or other loss {and
afflicts},andthisisall
afflicts},
{withjustice}fromHim.Thisis
{withjustice}
alljust,evenifHetorturedacreaturethathadnosins,
because Allh is the true and absolute owner of all
things; He created it all from non-existence. {All
creations alternate by His Will }
} in terms of what
happens to them and what they believe, think, speak
andact{between}
{between}thesetwo:{HisGrace}
{HisGrace}ifHeguides
{between}
{HisGrace}
anddefends, {andJustice,}ifHecreatesmisguidance
{andJustice,}
andloss.

Muslimnarratedthefollowing/adth(No.2577)3:
Whoever finds a good act in himself, let him praise
Allh for having granted it to him, and whoever finds
otherthanthat,lethimnotblameanyonebuthimself.
This is because Allh is not unjust for not having
granted him good deeds instead. If someone objects
against Allh for this, then he has fallen out of Islm,
just like Ibls. Ibls objected to Allhs order to
prostrate to Adam, and for this Allh cursed him for
havingcommittedunbelief.

+da\ H %.gA 6

.30

{He is clear of and above}


above} the status {of having a

+`a matchoranequal.}
matchoranequal.}

U-.A o Cx%-( h o

.31

{NooneandnothingcanpreventHisdecree}interms
{NooneandnothingcanpreventHisdecree}
C J
7` o h\A 6Q# <T n( 0,u +8
\ A C Qh( +D &, QT 0,
+8
\ D T :1994/4 bQJA ,&f 3

%hI-# CQ n(P9 %IA r0Aa U(%u o CDY&( of what He has predestined, {or delay His rulings, or
r+IH \A < have any control over what He has willed to be. We
believeinallofthis,andarecertainthatallofit}that
believeinallofthis,andarecertainthatallofit}
is, all that happens {is}
{is} by His Will and in this sense
{fromHim.}
{fromHim.}

V7'ED( r+_H +D&A .32


{And}
{And} we believe {that Mu/
Mu/ammad is his absolute
Vj0D( C(6= V_g?D( C,_` slaveandchosenoneandHisselectedprophetandHis
approvedmessenger.}
approvedmessenger.}

%A %,_`a bj% C` .33


{And}webelieve{thatheisthelastprophet}
{thatheisthelastprophet}sentby
{And}
{thatheisthelastprophet}
U,_@ \,Q=0D( +,= .%,-ja Allh, so there is no prophet after him. As for Jesus
.\,D(%.(
#,hewassentpriortoMu/ammad"andwillruleby

Mu/ammads Islamic Sharah law when he returns to


Earth.Allofthisisabsolutelytrue,{and}
{and}itisalsotrue
{and}
thatheis{theleader}
{theleader},andthebest,{ofthosethatfear
{ofthosethatfear
{theleader}
Allh,}
Allh,}
,} by avoiding His prohibitions and performing
His obligations {and the Master of all messengers,
and}
and} in the sense of highly preferred and honored or
thelike4,heisalso {the Tab
abboftheOneWhoisthe
boftheOneWhoisthe
LordoftheWorlds},literally:theBelovedofAllh.
LordoftheWorlds}
This is not in the sense of emotion, since Allh is not
influenced,drivenoraffectedbyanything.

Muslim narrated that the Prophet " said: I am the


master of the children of Adam on the Day of
Judgment.

W}T r+.9 6_I( 6H K .34


{Any claim of prophethood after him is a deviation
"T%" (?\ A%H V( 6._D( 6 6 and}from{perversedesires.Heissenttoalljinnkind}
{perversedesires.Heissenttoalljinnkind}
and}
{perversedesires.Heissenttoalljinnkind}
.%,( 6I(%9 +S( k&(%9 6(
whicharebeingsinvisibletousthatAllhcreatedfrom

fire {and humankind with truth, guidance, light and


enlightenment.}
enlightenment.}

4 InterpretationfromFayoal-QadrV.5,P.331.
C&QE# %A V( r+J7# %DH CT0E# C`6E# B U,_@ \AD( :331/5 0#+-( ,T

B < 0-(

.35

Al--a/w now mentions the belief of Ahlu-s-Sunnah


regarding Allhs attribute of Speech. To understand
him correctly it is necessary to know that the word
Qurn in Arabic is an utterance that has two
meanings.OneisAllhsattributeofSpeech,whichis
not letters, words, sounds, language, sequential
meanings, starting, stopping or anything else that has
anysenseofhavinganykindofbeginning.Thismustbe
true of Allhs Speech, because anything that has a
beginningneedsacreatorandisthereforecreated.For
example, the word bi in bi-smillh contains the
sounds b and i one after another. Both have a
beginning and are therefore created. Since Allhs
Speech is not created, we know for sure that His
attributeofSpeechisnotletters,sounds,language,or
sequencesofmeaningsoneafteranother.

It is this Speech, the one that is not letters or sounds,


that Ms heard as mentioned in the Qurn. It was
narrated in Tilyat al-Awly5 from Al ibn Ab -lib
thathesaidtoagroupofjews:

AllhspoketoMoseswithoutlimbsorinstrumentsor

lipsoruvulas....HewhoclaimsthatourGodislimited,
isignorantoftheCreatorWhoisworshiped.

The other meaning of the word Qurn is the


composition of Arabic utterances that is written in
books.TheyarecalledAllhsSpeech,astheyreferto
His attribute of beginning-less and endless Speech.

5 Tilyat al-Awly is a book written by Ab Nuaym Al-AXbahn 336h/948ad - 430h/1038ad was the greatest /adth
scholar of his time. Al-Dhahab said about him, the imm, the /fiu, the trustworthy and encyclopedic scholar, the
ShaykhofIslm...TheAuthoroftheTilyah...

They are expressions communicating what could be


understoodfromAllhseternalSpeech6,theonethat
isnotletters,soundsorsequencesofmeanings.

{The Qur
Qurn is Allh
Allhs Speech.}
Speech.} That is, His eternal
and everlasting attribute of speech, not composed of
utterances.

o63 ",7,< 9 +9 CIA

.36

The expression that refers to {it appeared}


appeared} as a
revelation, {from Him without its appearance as a
saying}
saying} in exact Arabic wording {having a mode, way
or manner at all.}
all.} Allh Himself does not speak with
soundsandwords,becauseHisSpeechisnotlikethat
of creation. Again, anything that has a beginning is a
creation,becauseitmustbebroughtintoexistence.

%,@ C(6= VQH C(s`

.37

{Allh
Allh made it descend down to His Messenger as a
revelation.}Thatis,thebookthatreferstoHiseternal
revelation.}
Speech was brought first from the Preserved Tablets
under Al-Arsh, to the Sky of this world. After that,
JibrldescendedtoEarthtonarrateittotheProphet"
asarevelationbitbybitoversometwentyyears7.

6 Thatthelettersandsoundsinabookisnotthespeechofthespeakeritselfistrueevenforhumanspeech,becausethat
speechissomethingattributedtothespeakerhimself,andcannotbeseparatedfromhim.Forexample,whenweread
thetranscriptofthespeechofsomepublicperson,suchasthepresidentoftheUnitedStates,thenthattranscriptisnot
thespeechitself,butawrittendocumentthatconveyswhathesaid.Despitethis,wecallthistranscriptthepresidents
speech,becausethisishowwerefertosuchdocuments.Itisjustthatthespeechreferredtobysuchatranscriptisa
speechwithlettersandsounds.ThewritinginthebookoftheQurn,however,referstoaspeechthatisnotlettersor
sounds.ItiscalledAllhsSpeech,becauseitconveyswhatcouldbeunderstoodfromHiseternalSpeech-theone
thatdoesnothaveabeginningoranend,doesnotchange,andisnotlanguage.
7 ThiswasindicatedbythecompanionoftheProphet,andhiscousin,IbnAbbs,andnarratedwithasoundchain of
narration.Source:Nral-DnAl-Haytham.Majmaal-Zawid.10vols.Beirut/Kairo:DrAl-KitbAl-Arabi/DrAlRaynLial-Turth,1986/7.
%DJ( WT s.( Z,9 WT d Vg@ +@" QD8 0-( s` %3 +-(" Q,( WT r%I(s` %` C(63 WT %_H \9\ H :140/7 +xs( D?A
%I= WT ,&E( %8 s_( %8 %Eg%9 s_( W`0_'( r bS(%DH %_.( < 6?9 bQ= C,QH B VQf +D&A VQH K#0_8 C(s` %,`+(
^,.d 6 %7}(+_H \9 0DH W`0_'(

n( VQH 6IAD( C3+f .38


{Thebelieversdeemedhimtruthfulandweresurethat
"-,-&(%9 V(%.j B < C` 6I-# %-@ it was really Allh
Allhs Speech, and not}
not} referring to {a
"#0_(< Y 6QD9 ,(
createdspeech,likethespeechofcreatedthings.}
createdspeech,likethespeechofcreatedthings.}

<C` bHsT C.D= \DT


.39
r+H C9%H B CA +3 07 +-T 0e_(
%DQT (0-= C,Qf=) V(%.j %3 ,@ 0-J9
63 o P ) %3 \D( 0-J9 B +H
o 0e_( k(% 63 C` %I-# %IDQH (0e_(
0e_( 63 C_e#

{So the one that heard it and claimed that it is the


speech of a human has committed blasphemy. Allh
Allh
blamed,reproachedandthreatenedsuchapersonwith
Hellfire,whenHesaid:

[26/"BC*&" ]: ;
2#3>@;
}
which means: I will burn him in Hellfire. {Since
Allh
Allh threatenedwithHellfiretheonewhosays: this
isonlythe speechof a human
human weknowandare sure
that itisthesayingoftheCreatorofhumankind,and
that it}
it} is an expression that refers to Allhs Eternal
Speech which {does not resemble human speech,}
speech,}
because it is not language, words, sounds, letters or
sequencesofmeanings.

\A VI.D9 B^ f\ A .40
{Whoever attributed to Allh
Allh an attribute that has a
07 +-T 0e_( W`%.A meaning among the meanings that apply to humans
hascommittedblasphemy.}
hascommittedblasphemy.}

The fact that Al--a/w mentions this verdict of


blasphemy as a part of the belief of Sunnis, is
something that should be pondered carefully by those
whothinkthatsuchverdictsarefringeissuesofIslamic
Law,notrequiredknowledge,orofconcernforjudges
only. They base this on spurious quotes found in
various scholarly books and letters, without solid
authentication or any viable proof other than appeals
toemotion.

Notethecategoricalsenseofameaning,whichtells
us that this is true for any meaning that applies to
humans, not just some. For example, sequential

speech,havingadirection,abody,changingorthelike.

Note also that he states meaning, and not word,


because the important thing is the meaning of the
word,nottheworditself.Becauseofthis,scholarsmay
differ in their verdict of blasphemy based on what a
personliterallysaysorwrites,butnotintermsofwhat
he means by the words. After all, the meanings and
connotations of a word differ from time to time and
from place to place. That is also why if a person says
something about Allh that has only one meaning in
hislanguage,heismadeaccountableforthatmeaning,
as what the meaning meant will be clear. If the
meaningisthatofahumanattribute,thentheonewho
saysitwillbejudgedasablasphemer.Itwillnotmake
adifferenceiftheonewhosaiditclaimedthat hedid
notmeanthatmeaning,orwasnotserious,becausehe
has in this case shown scorn towards Allh. AlBazdaw,theleadingscholarofbeliefandfoundations
ofjurisprudence,saidinUXlAl-Bazdaw:Not being
serious in <saying what is> blasphemy is blasphemy.
Not because of believing the words he said while not
serious,butbytheactofnotbeingseriousbecauseit
isdisrespectfulofthereligion.

\H 0_gH P 0E9\ DT .41


{Whoever senses this will ponder carefully,}
carefully,} to know
Cj%7E9 C` bQH 08s` %7Y( 63 KpA the difference between the Creator and the created
0e_(% ,(

{and will stay clear of sayings like those of the


blasphemers.}SuchasthosewhoblatantlysaythatHis
blasphemers.}
attributeofSpeechiscreated,ornecessarilyimplyitby
saying that it consists of letters, sounds or sequence.
The first sect is the Mutazilah and the second the
Tashawyah (anthropomorphists - those who liken

Allh to His creation.) It is hard to decide which of


themismoredeeplyinblasphemy.IsittheMutazilah

fordenyingthatAllhhaseternalSpeech,andonlyhas
created speech? Or is it the Tashawyah for denying
(implicitlyorexplicitly)thatanythingwithabeginning
must be a creation, and claiming that Allhs eternal
Speechislikethatofcreation,withsoundsandletters?

{HewillalsoknowthatHisattributesisnotlikethose
ofhumans.}Thesimplestwaytounderstandingthisis
ofhumans.}
tounderstandthatanythingthathasabeginning,even
ifitisaneventinsomethingthatalreadyexists,mustbe
created.Thisisclear,becausethefactthatthisthingor
event became existent, tells us that it must have been
broughtintoexistence,andbringingintoexistenceisto
create.Consequently,anythingthathasabeginningisa
creation. It is therefore absurd to say that something
hasabeginning,butisnotacreation.

Since Allhs attributes are not created, and are


therefore eternal, we know that His attributes do not
have any beginning of any kind, such as changes or
sequences. After all, change is nothing but a series of
eventswithbeginnings.

Createdattributes,ontheotherhand,haveabeginning
in every sense and every aspect, because there is
nothing eternal about them. Therefore, anything that
resemblesacreationmustbeacreationitself,because
resemblance between two things can only be in some
senseorsomeaspect.

Accordingly, it is not possible for a creation to know


the full reality of any of Allhs attributes, because a
creations knowledge is limited by having a beginning,
whileAllhsattributesarenot.

For example, I know that Allh sees everything. I can


understand this in the sense that everything that
knowledgeappliestoisknowntoAllh.Iamnotable
toknowmoreabouttherealityofthisattribute.WhatI
can know, however, is more about what Allhs
knowledge is not. All I have to do is look at the
knowledge of creation, and say Allhs knowledge is
notlikethat.Forexample,myknowledgeisinabody,
it increases and decreases, it is incomplete, it is
sometimes inaccurate, it is gained through the senses
orreasoning,etc.IknowthatAllhsknowledgeisnot
likeanyofthat.

From this we can better understand the statement of


IbnAbbs:DonotponderabouttheselfofAllh,but

ponder instead about creation. One wisdom in this


adviceisthatbyobservingcreatedthings,youcanlearn
about what Allh is not, since He does not resemble
anyoftheminanysense.Thisisclear,becausethereis
nothingaboutthemthatdoesnothaveabeginning.

"I?( Ka k@ "#0( .42


{The}
{The} peoples {seeingof Allh}
Allh} but not in the sense
",7, o " %@ 0,}9 that created things are seen {is true for the People
People in
Paradise.} This seeing is {without}
{without} any of the
meanings of {surrounding}
{surrounding} because Allh is not
something limited, and He is neither a whole nor a
part. Seeing Allh does not have these meanings {or}
any meaning of {modality.}
{modality.} That is shape, size, place,
distance, direction, light, color, darkness , reflection,
contact,orfacing.Thisisbecauseanythingseeninthe
waysnegatedabovemustbeacreation,astheyrequire
attributesthathaveacertainspecificationoutofmany
possibilities. For example, in what direction? At what
distance?Whatkindofreflection?Andsoon.

Inotherwords,Allhwillcreateaspecialabilityinthe
eyes of people in Paradise to see Him. This enables
them to see Him without Him being in a place, at a
distance,orhavingaform.

%I9 %g C9 k'` %D .43


(0%` %S9 V( 0d%` PA6# r68)
CDQH V(%.j B r %A VQH r0,J7j
,&E( #+&(\ A n( WT %8 %A K
%D 6ST bQ= C,QH B VQf 6=0(\ H
n( WT K+` o %A VQH r%I.A %3
C`T %Ix69 \,D6gA o %Ix9 \,(gA
K8 sH B bQ= \A o CI# WT bQ= %A
%A bQH bQ= C,QH B VQf C(6=0(
CD(%H V( C,QH C_g1

{Thisisas statedinthe bookofthe


bookofthe OneWhois Our
Lord:

"J
KL KMON Q&" S
KL UV W ,X Y,Z}
Meaning: Faces of shining beauty are seeing Allh
(withoutHimbeinginaplace,atadistanceorhavinga
form)onthatday.(Al-Qymah,22-23)

{Its explanation is what Allh


Allh willed and knows. All
thathasbeennarratedtousofsound/
thathasbeennarratedtousofsound/ad
adthsregarding
this fromtheMessenger of Allh
Allh " isas he said,and
the meaning is as he meant. We do not get into this
with figurative explanations based on subjective
opinion, and we do
do not imagine according to our
whims.Forindeed,nooneissafeinhisreligionexcept
the one that surrenders the meaning of what he does
notknowtoAllh
notknowto Allh
Allh | andHisMessenger"
andHisMessenger " andreturns
theknowledgeofwhatisuncleartohimtotheonethat
knowsit.}
knowsit.}
.} Just as an honest person returns a package
thatdoesnotbelongtohimtotherightfulowner.

o >=< +3 Z_pj o .44


bQH \ DT <Jg=o b,QJg( 0S VQH
CDST b,QJg(%9 I-# b( CDQH CIH 0@ %A
WT%f +,@6g( (% \H CA0A C_?@
\,9 P9Pg,T %D#> ,&f "T0.D(
U#PYg( k#+Eg( %D#> 07Y(
o %%1 %Sx%j %=6=6A %Y`> 03>
.%9PYA +@%8 o %3+EA %IAA

{NofootstaysfirmlyinIslamexceptontheplatformof
surrender
surrender and submission}
submission} to Allh, by accepting His
ordersandprohibitions,andbyonlyattributingtoHim
attributesthatsurelybefitHim.{Sowhoeversoughtto
{Sowhoeversoughtto
know what he has been prevented from knowing, and
wasnotsatisfiedtoleaveittotheonewhoknowsit;his
wasnotsatisfiedtoleaveittotheonewhoknowsit;his
search will restrain the sincerity of his belief in the
OnenessofAllh
OnenessofAllh}
Allh}fornotsurrenderingthisknowledge
}
toHim{andthepurityofhisknowledge}
{andthepurityofhisknowledge}foritwillbe
{andthepurityofhisknowledge}
mixed with confusion {and}
{and} also his {soundness of

faith.Sohewilldanglebetweenblasphemyandbelief,
faith.Sohewilldanglebetweenblasphemyandbelief,
declaring true and declaring false, affirming and
denying}.Hewillbe{obsessedwithanxietiesandlost.
{obsessedwithanxietiesandlost.
denying}.
Doubting}always,hewill{not}
{not}be{believingfullyand
Doubting}
{not} {believingfullyand
notstubbornlydenying.}
notstubbornlydenying.}

"#0(%9 %D#> E# o .45


b69 bSIA %0_gH\ D( <J( Ka
K K#j" #0( K#j % bS79 %S(j
K#g( 0g9 ",9690( V( %# VI.A
b( \A \,DQJD(\ # C,QH b,QJg( s(
C#sIg( UE# b(
C,_eg( W7I( 6g#
%7E9 6f6A <H K8 %I9 T
WT ,( ",`07( 6.I9 6.IA ",`+@6(
"#0_(\ A +@ r%I.A

{Beliefintheseeing}
{Beliefintheseeing}ofAllhwithoutHimbeingina
eing}
place, direction or at a distance {for the people in
Paradise is not sound if one considers it to be
accordingtoideasthatentertheheart}forsuchideas
accordingtoideasthatentertheheart}
ofseeing,willbeseeing ofwhathasmodality.Thatis,
involving rays, distance, direction and so on. It is
incorrect then, if one considers the seeing in this way,
{or
or interprets it according to what agrees with one
ones
understanding},
understanding}, and not according to what is
established by the Qurn, Tadths, or what sound
reason tells us absolutely must be true (such as
1+1=2).{Thisisbecauseinterpretationofthisseeing,
{Thisisbecauseinterpretationofthisseeing,
oranymeaningthatisascribedtogodhoodisdoneby
abandoninginterpretation,andadheringtounreserved
submission}tothetruthfulnessofsuchmeanings,even
submission}
ifonedoesnotunderstandthem. {Thisisthereligion
oftheMuslims.Whoeverdoesnotguardhimselffrom
denial}
denial} of meanings ascribed to Allh {or likening}
likening}
them to the meanings that are ascribed to created
things {will deviate, and will not be declaring Allh
Allh
clear of imperfection. For verily the One Who is Our
Lord He is great and gloriousglorious- is attributed with
attributesof}absolute
{OnenessandascribedtoHim
attributesof}
{OnenessandascribedtoHim
are attributes of}
of} absolute {Uniqueness}
{Uniqueness} in the sense
thatnooneelsehastheseattributes.{Nocreationhas}
{Nocreationhas}
{Nocreationhas}
attributeswiththemeaningof{Hisattributes.}
{Hisattributes.}
{Hisattributes.}

Although the words used to refer to Allhs attributes


may be the same as the words used to refer to

attributes of creation, the meaning of these wordsare


completelydifferent.Forexample,themeaningofthe
statementAllhsees,mustbeunderstoodtohaveno
resemblanceinmeaningwithcreationsoandsosees.
This is because all aspects and all senses of the
attributes of creation have a beginning and are
therefore created. This is obvious, as these attributes
didnotexisteternally,butcameintoexistenceatsome
pointintime.Allhsattributes,however,donothave
any beginning in any sense at all; they are eternal
withoutabeginningoranend.

+&(\ H B V(%.j .46


{Allh
{havinglimits,extremes,
Allh isabove}thestatusof{havinglimits,extremes,
isabove}
a %Ha %a %#%}( corners, limbs or instruments}.
instruments}. It would have been
enough to say limits, for denying that Allh has any
limits necessarily entails denying the other elements
mentioned. Al--a/w wanted, however, to make it
absolutely clear that Allh is not something that is
attributedwithphysicalattributes,suchassize,volume,
weight,composition,place,orabeginningoranendof
any kind, because these all have limits in space or
amount.

By his categorical denial of any limit to Allh, he also


wantedtomakeitclearthatAllhisnotattributedwith
limits related to time, such as a beginning or an end,
starting or stopping, changes or sequences. He also
meant that Allh does not have a limit in any of His
attributes,suchasHisPowerorKnowledge.

ZJ( %S?( C#6&j o

.47
{The six directions}
directions} up, down, front, back, left and
%H+g_D( 0x%J right {do not contain Him}
Him} because that would make
Him {likeallcreatedthings}astheyareeitherbodies
{likeallcreatedthings}
in a place or something that exists in a body. This
statement details even further the denial of limits to

Allh,forbeinginadirectionnecessarilyentailshaving
atleastalowerlimit.Attributingthephysicaldirection

up to Allh then, is an attribution of flaw to the


Creator,andisthereforeblasphemythatmakes onea
non-Muslim.Al--a/wherebymadetheblasphemyof
this belief explicit, because he said earlier: Whoever

attributedtoAllhanattributethathasameaningthat
applies to humans has committed blasphemy, and
thenstatedherethathavingadirectionappliestoall

createdthings.

0= +3 k@ 0.D( .48
WT CEe9 bQ= C,QH B VQf W_I(%9
\A B %1 ,@ V( b[ %DJ( V(" -,(
%A C,( V@ %1 %D9 B CA0 <.(
B VQET ( %A 7( P %A)V@
V(a 0 WT bQ= C,QH

{TheMi
{TheMirj}ascendancyoftheProphet"totheSkies
j}
{is true. And the Prophet " was taken on a night
journeyinperson,}notjustinvision,{whileawake,to
{whileawake,to
journeyinperson,}
theSky8,}asestablishedbyfamous/adthsacceptedby
,}
all{andthentowhere
{andthentowhereAllh
{andthentowhere Allh
Allh willedofhighplaces,}as
willedofhighplaces,}
statedinvarioussingularlynarrated/adthsthatdonot
reachthestatusofbeingfamous, {and Allh
Allh honored
him with whatever He willed, and revealed to him
whateverHerevealed:
whateverHerevealed:

KW &`_U KW
(Al-Najm,11)Meaning:TheProphets"heartdidnot
denyhissightofJibrlinoriginalform9.

Thisyahtellsofoneofthemajoreventsofthatnight.
A major revelation during that same night was the
prescriptionofthefivedailyprayers.

{SomayAllh
{SomayAllh
Allhraisehisrank,andprotecthisnation
fromwhathehatesforit,inthenextlifeandtheworld
beforeit.}Thissupplicationisinsertedwithinthis
beforeit.}
summaryofdoctrineassincereloveandaweforthe

8 TheSkyherereferstospecialplacesincreationinthedirectionofParadise.Itisnottheskythatwecanseewith
oureyes.
9 Sources:Al-Jallayn,Zdal-Masr

Prophet"overwhelmsAl--a/wmayAllhplease
him.

B CA0 P( 6&( .49


{And the Basin (T
(Tawo
awo) that
that Allh
Allh honored him with
k@ CgAa %[%,u C9 V(%.j as a}
a} never ending {relief for his nation}
nation} from thirst,
afterdrinkingfromit,{istrue.}
{istrue.}
{istrue.}

bS( %0 Wg(" H%7e( .50


{And the Intercession}
Intercession} of the Prophet " {that he
%_a WT %D k@ savedforhisnation,aswasnarratedin/
savedforhisnation,aswasnarratedin /ad
adths}isalso
s}
true.

Authentic /adths tell that the Prophet " was given a


supplicationthatwouldbefulfilled,justastheprophets
beforehim.Hedecidedtosavethissupplicationforhis
intercession for his nation on the Day of Judgment.
A/madibnTanbalnarrated(No.7068):Itwassaidto

me, Request! For verily every prophet has asked.


ThenIpostponedmyrequesttotheDayofJudgment,
so it will be for you and for whoever bore testimony
that there is no god but Allh. Note that it is
understoodfromthis/adththatonemustalsobelieve
intheprophetsandtheirteachingstobenefitfromhis
request, as made clear by other evidences. Allh said
(Al-Fath,13):

,0,. =
\
#0T %YQ( %`+g H %h`T C (6= C Qh(%9 \A # b( \A
Meaning:WhoeverdidnotbelieveinAllhorhasnot
combinedthiswiththebeliefinHisMessengerVerily
Allhhaspreparedfortheblasphemersafire10.

B rP P( %p,D( .51
{The covenant that Allh
Allh took from Adam and his
k@ Cg# \A V(%.j descendants}testifyingtoHisOneness{istrue.}
{istrue.}Asit
descendants}
{istrue.}
isstatedintheQurn(Al-Arf,172):

VQH
b + S 1 bS g #h b 6S
\A WI9 \A n
9 P

%h` " A %,- ( 6# 6(6-j %`+S 1
VQ9 6(%3 bY 9 0 9 Z
J( bS J
7 `
10 TafsrAl-Nasaf

\
,QT %u P\ H
%hI
Meaning: and remind the People, O Mu/ammad,
about when the One Who is Your Lord extracted the
descendants of Adam from their backs (where the
essence of each descendant stems). He gave them
minds to reason, and they testified (verbally, orin the
sense of having witnessed the obvious signs of Allhs
Onenessincreation)thatHeistheirLordandtheonly
trueGod.

b( %D,T V(%.j B bQH +3 .52


K+# \A +H "I?( K+# \A +H s#
o +.( n( WT s# <T +@" QD8 %I(
bSIA bQH %D,T bS(%.T n(P .CIA -I#
r6Q.7#

{Allh
Allh has known eternally
eternally the number of people
going to Paradise, and the number of those going to
Hell as a single total number. This number neither
increasesnordecreases.}Obviously,becausenothingis
increasesnordecreases.}
hidden from Allh about the future, past or present.
{Likewise,}Allhhasknowneternally{theirdeedsin}
{theirdeedsin}
{Likewise,}
{theirdeedsin}
termsof{whatHeknewfromthemthattheywoulddo.
{whatHeknewfromthemthattheywoulddo.
{whatHeknewfromthemthattheywoulddo.

C( kQ %D( 0J,A K

.53

{All have
have in their nature, and are prepared for, what
theyhavebeencreatedfor}intermsofgoingtoHellor
theyhavebeencreatedfor}
Paradise.

b,j6(%9 %DHa

.54

{Deeds}
{Deeds} of accountable people in their hearts and
bodies {are}
{are} judged {according to}
to} the state people
areinat {the}momentoftheirlives
{endings.}That
{the}
{endings.}
is,somemightspendtheirlivesdoinggooddeeds,but
turn to bad deeds at the end of their lives and go to
Hell.Ontheotherhand,somemightspendtheirlives
in bad deeds, but repent just before death and go to
Paradise.

Al-Bukhr (No. 6221) narrated that the Prophet "


said:

a& c4W e: 3f
hg B KW,X i#jO 2WN ikO 0l ) * mX h Cn
g
) O @O " W _# l Kp3W 2 3g& q
j % X hg B a& c4W er sW
,pX hg B
c * j X c Z
"g & h C n

g 2 3g&,l C#j;
v0: 1
2 3Z
2 t "O
KO " #x
KMy #O 2 y #O
,pX KW Qgzn
Kgy& c c* j O


g KM3{
C# l e yg m
& c c * j O c * j# l
Kzp & 2#3f
|
% +# l
" # x
KMy # O 2 y # O
,pX KW Qgzn
e yg m
& c c* j O c * j# & cZ
"g &
Kgy& c c* j O c * j# l
Kzp & 2#3f
|
% +# l i#f

11
KM3{ C# l

Verilyoneofyouisgatheredinhismothersstomach
for forty days, then he is a blood-clot for forty days,
thenapieceofmeatforfortydays,thenAllhsendsan
angel ordered with four words: his provision, his end,
happy or miserable12. By Allh, verily one of you may
becommittingthedeedsofthepeopleofHell,untilhe
is only an arms length away, when (it is as if) his
destined end overwhelms him13 and he starts to
perform the works of the people of Paradise, and
entersit.Andverilyoneofyoumaybecommittingthe
deeds of the people of Paradise, until he is only an
arms length away, when (it is as if) his destined end
overwhelmshimandhestartstoperformtheworksof
thepeopleofHell,andentersit.

This is why one should always ask Allh to make one


dieasaMuslim.

%-9 +.= \A +,.J( .55


{Thehappy}intheHereafter{arethosethataremade
{arethosethataremade
{Thehappy}
B %-9 W-1 \A W-e( B happy according to Allh
Allhs predestination. The
miserable}
are those that are made
miserable} in the Hereafter {are
miserableaccordingtoAllh
miserableaccordingto Allh
Allhspredestination.}
spredestination.}Forno
thought occurs, and no atom moves without His
+,.=
W- 1
C Q8
C 3 0 9 ".99 0 A , T %YQA B
. _# bh [ n( K
pA " } A
6Y# hb[ n( KpA " - QH
hb[ %A6# \
,.9 C A \
'9 WT D ?# b + @

h
11
K
8
0h (
h %SQ
+, T " Ih?
( K KD . 9 K
D ., T
%gY ( C,QH k
_ J, T %9 0 ,u
%SI ,9 C I , 9
6Y# %A Vg@ %hI( K KD . 9 K
D .# K8
0h ( b +@
h C Qh(6T
2433 6 %_( ,&f %SQ
+, T %hI( K
K
D .9 K
D . , T
%gY ( C,QH k
_ J
, T \
, H

0 , u
%SI , 9 C I , 9
6Y# %A Vg@ " Ih?
( K
K
D . 9 K
D ., (
6221#
12 Somesaidthatitisfourmatters,andthatthefourthmatterisgender,butthatitiswellknownfromothernarrationsof
the same /adth, so it was left out in this one. Others said that the fourth matter is his actions, but that this is
understoodfromthecontext.(Umdatal-Qr).
Cj%.= UgY# %-# 0%( k@ \A % Cj%-1 Cj%.J9 kQ.gj "DQ CQ89 kQ.gj "DQ C309 kQ.gj "DQ %DQ 9 99 0A,T C(63 0#+-j
Vp` 0 C`6 90( 9 U,8" .9 o 6A [<[" rP K,3 +,.= W-1 CQ8 C3 UgY# C` 6 C_gY# %A 6E9 "#%Y@ n(\ H +.T Cj%-1
0S1 VQH %DgH r0Eg 6PD(\ A sQ# C`a r0P# b( CQ.( kQ( +9 %g WT +-j %D CQDH r+.9 P( #+&( WT 0f %D
13 Everythingisalwaysaccordingtopredestination,noonecaneverdoagainstit,sothisisafigurativeexpression.

KnowledgeandWill.

V(%.j B 0= +-( Kf .56


o 0-A nQA n( VQH Q'# b( C-Q WT
".# n( WT 0I( kD.g( K=0A W_`
%,}'(" 8 %A0&Q( bQ= oPQ(
0YT 0` n(\ A P&( K P&(%T
\H +-( bQH 6 V(%.j B T "=6=
WT V(%.j %3 %D CA0A \H b%S` CA%`
\DT .)6(J# b K
. 7# %hDH

J# o( C9%g
bY@ h \ A %gY( bY@ h +-T K.T b( =
\#0T%Y(\ A % %gY(

{The reality of predestination is a secret of Allh


Allh
pertainingtoHiscreation.Neitherafavoredangel,nor
a prophet sent has
has ever been given knowledge of it.}
it.}
This is because predestination is not something
observable,andonlyAllhhascompleteknowledgeof
whatisnotobservable.{Tobecomedeeplyabsolvedin
{Tobecomedeeplyabsolvedin
and pondering about this}
this} matter of the reality of
predestination {is a means to failure}
failure} in religion, {a
laddertodeprivationandastaircasetotransgression}
laddertodeprivationandastaircasetotransgression}
against what Allh has prescribed. {So beware,
beware}
beware} and avoid this {by}
{by} busying yourself with
{pondering, thinking and}
and} even {random ideas,}
ideas,}
concerningothermatters,{forverily
{forverilyAllh
{forverily Allh
Allh hashidden
the knowledge of}
of} the reality of {predestination from
mankind, and forbade them from seeking it. As}
As} a
warning against what one may become engaged in by
delving in the matter of predestination {Allh
Allh said in
hisbook:
hisbook:

[23/K#%L ],&@+X h c j `X Kg*f


@ +X K&}
(Al-Anby, 23) Meaning: Allh is not questioned
about what He does, but the created beings are. {So
whoever asked}
asked} in scorn or objection, {Why did He
do that?
that? has rejected the judgment of the Book}
Book} of
the Qurn {and whoever rejects the judgment of the
Book has become a blasphemer.}
blasphemer.} That is, a nonMuslim.

In brief, a Muslim must know what predestination


means,namelythatAllhspecifieshowallthingsareto
be, and that everything happens by His Will.
Accordingly,itwasstatedearlierbyAl--a/whimself:
His creatures do not have a will except what He has
willed for them; whatever He has willed happens, and

whateverHehasnotwilleddoesnothappen.

What one must not do, however, is delve on this


meaning,forthisisapathtothedeviantbeliefsofthe
QadaryahorJabryahsects.Thefirstsaidthathuman
actionsarenotpredestined,butcreatedbythehuman
himself.Thisisplainblasphemybecauseitisabeliefin
more than one creator. When the great Imm Mlik
was asked about marrying one of them he responded
byreciting:

[221/0-_( ]bY _ ?
H 6(
0 eA \A 0,
\A A +_ . (
Meaning: Verily a Muslim slave is better than an
idolater, even if he impresses you with his wealth,
beautyorsocialstatus.(Al-Baqarah,221)14

TheJabryahsectwenttotheotherextreme,andsaid
that humans have no choice at all, not even a created
kind.Theysaidthathumansarelikeleavesinthewind.
This latter sect was never very large, for this belief of
theirscontradictsobservablereality.

\A C,( %g&# %A "QD8 PST .57


W V(%.j B %,(\ A C_Q3 6IA 6
%DQH bQ.( a bQ.( WT \,=0(" 8
kQ( WT bQH 686A kQ( WT bQH
%H 07 686D( bQ.( %Y`T.6-7A
o %D#> Z_p# o 07 6-7D( bQ.(
bQ.( UQ 0j 686D( bQ.( 6_-9
.6-7D(

{Thisistheamountofknowledgeneededfortheone
who
whos heart is enlightened,}
enlightened,} and is thereby {among}
{among}
the highly upright Muslims called {the wal
wals of Allh,
Allh,
which}
which} i.e. the title of wal {is}
{is} for those who have
reached {the rank of being among the steadfast in
knowledge.Thisisbecauseknowledge}inthesenseof
knowledge.Thisisbecauseknowledge}
being without doubt {is}
{is} of {two}
{two} kinds: {knowledge
thatisaccessibletocreation,andknowledgethatisnot
accessibletocreation.The}categorical{denialof}
{denialof}the
accessibletocreation.The}
{denialof}
certaintyofanyof{theknowledgethatisaccessible}
{theknowledgethatisaccessible}to
{theknowledgethatisaccessible}
creation{isblasphemy.}
{isblasphemy.}
{isblasphemy.}

14 V.1,P.385,A/kmal-Qurn,IbnAl-Arab
0-_( bY_?H 6( 0eA \A 0, \AA +_.( V(%.j B %3 +3 %-T "#+-( sj K n(%A K= +3 :385/1 W90.(\ 9o 0-( %Y@
221

Certainty of knowledge can be gained by observation,


such as knowledge of ones own existence and that of
the world. It can also be gained by sound reasoning,
such as knowledge of Allhs existence and His non-
resemblance to anything that has a beginning. The
categorical denial that certainty of knowledge can be
gained in both of these ways is blasphemy, because it
necessarily entails doubting the essentials of the
Islamic belief. For example, doubting ones own
existenceisblasphemybecausethisentailsdoubtinany
belief.

{Moreover,toclaimtohavetheknowledgethatisnot
accessible}
accessible} to creation, but is exclusive to Allh {is}
{is}
also {blasphemy.}
{blasphemy.} For example, claiming that some
creation knows everything, or the time of the Day of
Judgment. {Belief is not established except by
acceptingknowledgethatisaccessible}andestablished
acceptingknowledgethatisaccessible}
to be necessarily true {andabandoningthe search for
knowledgethatisnot}accessibletocreations.
knowledgethatisnot}

bQ-( 6Q(%9 \A` .58


bSQ kQ( Dg8 6QT b3 +3 C,T %A ,D?9
r6Q.?,( C,T V(%.j B C_gY# b( W1 VQH
\x% 6 %D9 bQ-(^ 8 C,QH +-# b( %Ix%
\Y# b( +_.( ' %A "A%,-( 6# V(
.C',( \Y# b( C9%f %A C_,E,(

{AndwebelieveintheLaw/
{AndwebelieveintheLaw/}sometimesreferredtoas
tabletorbook,butwedonotknowtheexactform
of it. We believe in the existence of this Law/ that is
locatedbytheArshaboveParadise{andtheQalam},
{andtheQalam},
{andtheQalam},
thePenthatwritesonit,{a
{andallthatiswrittenonit.}
{andallthatiswrittenonit.}
ndallthatiswrittenonit.}
This includes all of the revealed books, such as the
QurnofProphetMu/ammad"andtheInjlofJesus
#. It also includes all events, big or small until the
DayofJudgment.Allhsaid(Al-Qamar,53):

[53/0D-( ]0'
g JA 0 ,_ 0 ,}f
K

Meaning:Allmatters,bigorsmall,arewrittendown.

{If all creation had gathered and agreed on making


something happen that}
that} the Pen {had not been}
been}

orderedtohave {writteninitby Allh


,thenthey
Allh Q&Kj,thenthey
would not able to do that. The Pen has dried up with
regards to what is to be until the Day of Judgment.
Whateverdidnotbefallthecreatedbeingwas}written
Whateverdidnotbefallthecreatedbeingwas}
{tomissit,andwhateverbefellitwasnot}written{to
{to
{tomissit,andwhateverbefellitwasnot}
miss.}
miss.}

B bQ.# +_.( VQH .59


+-T C-Q \A \x% K WT CDQH k_= +3
3%` C,T ,( %A0_A %DY&A 0#+-j n(
3%` o .0,}A o K#sA o U-.A o
Cd Cj%D= WT C-Q \A +x o
"T0.D( 6f %D#> +-H \A n(
%D Cg,96909 V(%.j B +,@6g9 0gHo
r+-T W1 K kQ)C9%g WT V(%.j %3
0A %)V(%.j %3 [2:%307((]0#+-j
.[38:s@a(]+-A +3 B

{The}
{The} accountable among creation, that are called
absolute {slaves,}
{slaves,} because Allh is the absolute of
owner of all created things, {must know that Allh
Allh
preceded in knowing all that is to be among His
creation.Hepredestineditfirmlyandsurely,without}
creation.Hepredestineditfirmlyandsurely,without}
there being {any contradiction in it or}
or} possibility of
{overruling}against
{Him, oranythingthatcancease
{overruling}
or change it. There is nothing}
nothing} other than Him {that
reduces or increases His creation in the Skies or the
Earth. This is all part}
part} of the act {of belief, the
fundamentalsoffaith,andadmittingtotheOnenessof
Allh
AllhandHisabsoluteownershipofcreation.As
andHisabsoluteownershipofcreation.AsAllh
bsoluteownershipofcreation.AsAllh
Allh
saidintheQur
saidintheQurn:

"XC: Y Cg : l 01
cg | 3{
}
(Al-Furqn, 2) Meaning: And He created everything
andpredestinedit.{And
{AndAllh
{AndAllh
Allhsaid:

C:W Ct 23g& " W K}


(Al-A/zb, 38) Meaning: All created beings are
predestinedbyAllh.

V(%.j B %f \D( K#6T .60


{Woe to the one that has become a disputant against
%_Q3 C,T 0IQ( 0@ %D,E +-( WT Allh
Allh with regard to predestination, and prepared a
U,}( &T WT CD69 Dg( +-( %D,-=
it} i.e. predestination. {He has
%D,[ %%T C,T %3 %D9 %H %D,g 0= sick heart to ponder it}
soughtwithhisdelusionstoinvestigatewhatishidden
fromcreationasahiddensecret,andhasendedup,by
what he said regarding it, a sinful liar,}
liar,} because it is
hiddentohim,andcannotbeknown.Thiscouldbeby
opposing what Allh has willed, or by claiming that

somethingsarenotbyHiswill.

k@ W=0Y( 0.( .61


{The
{The Arsh
Arsh andtheKurs
andtheKurs}literally:thethroneandthe
,&A C` %A 0.(\ H \}gJA 6 chair {are real.}
real.} Their existence is well established by
" %@>\ H s?H +3 C36T W1 KY9
.C-Q irrefutable proofs. It was authentically narrated that
theProphet"said:

l @O K:3W e: 3
0
;
"p &) W )%+
g & K*+
g & KW
;
"p & Q3f
"j & csl
e:3 & Q3f &`cs` 0
TheSevenSkiescomparedtotheKursislikearing

thrown on the ground in a desert, and the size of the


Arsh compared to the Kurs is like the size of the
desertcomparedtothering15.

It is also known that the Arsh is above the skies and


Paradise.ItwasnarratedthattheProphet"said:

&@i#O K* i#z Z
cN i#O KW e Z
e KW e yg m
& 0l
e yg m
& KML " m
g ` KMyW eZ
KK3f
& `"K*+
g &
Y ,3+
l 2 3g& h z & @;
l
"j &
,pX KMt ,l i
W e j O &@

& `"
InParadisethereareonehundredlevels,thedistance

betweeneachofthemislikethatbetweentheSkyand
the Earth, and the (one called) The Firdaws is the
highest level. From it springs the four rivers of
Paradise,andaboveitistheArsh,soifyouaskAllh,
thenaskfortheFirdaws.16

TheProphet"alsotoldusthatitiscarriedbyAngels:

e*
1
i#O KW "j & e3* n
iW a3W if
NCn
0&

15Fat/al-Br,16/p.411
%9 %#
%3 b Qh=
C ,QH
ChQ( VhQf
ChQ( 6=
h %h_@
\9 C &
&
hf
P(h K#6'
h ( W9 #+@
WT :(411 / 13 )- 0?@ \9o %_( gT
\9 +,.=
C 8
0 +%?A \H
+%1 C (" -Q &
( VQH
%Q7 ( K

7 W
=
0Y ( VQH
0. ( KT %QT
9 %-QA " - Q&
%h( W
=
0Y ( A _J
h ( %DJ
h ( %A
. C IH
,&f
+ I J
9 0,J7gh( WT 6E
IA
16 SunanAl-Tirmidh4/675,No.2531.
%_H \H %J# \9 %'H \H bQ=\ 9 +# %I[+@ %D %`0_ %\ 9 +#s# %`0_\ D@0( +_H \9 B +_H %I[+@ 2531 : 675 4 PA0g(\ I=
%S` 0 ?
h 7 j %SIA " 8
%%QH
07 ( %DJ
h ( (\ ,9 %D\
,g 8
K
\
,9 %A " 8
" x %A " Ih?
( WT bQ= C,QH B VQf B 6= ZA%E(\ 9
r6&` bQ=\ 9 +#\ H %D %I[+@ %\ 9 +#s# %I[+@ ,IA \9 +D@ %I[+@
07 ( r 6QJ
T C Qh( b g (=
T
0. (
6Y# %S3 6T \A " . 9 ( " Ih?
(

Kf e K*j%;
"#+W 2:Kf Q& 2L
I was permitted to speak of an Angel among the

carriersoftheArsh.Thedistancebetweenhisearlobe
andhisneckissevenhundredyearsoftravel.17

FakhrudDn Al-Rz said, The Muslims all agreed


that above the Sky, there is a great body called The
Arsh.18

{Allh
Allhdoesnotneedthe
doesnotneedtheArsh
Arshorwhatisbelowit.}Alorwhatisbelowit.}
-a/w details further the fact that Allh is notabove
the Arsh in place, in agreement with what he said
earlier: Allh is above having limits, extremes,

corners, limbs or instruments. He is not contained in


thesixdirections.

AllhsaidintheQurn(Mu/ammad,38):

V
I } ( C Qh(
Meaning: Allh is Al-Ghan, i.e. He has absolutely
noneeds.ThisshowsthatHeisnotabody,becausea
bodyneedsspace.ItalsomeansthatHedoesnotneed
placeoradirection,orothercreatedthings.

ItispuzzlinghowsomepeopleagreetosaythatAllh
doesnotneedplace,andatthesametimethatHeisin
it. This is as absurd as saying that He does not need
sleep,butsleeps;doesnotneedfood,buteats;doesnot
needason,buthasone.Allofthisisblasphemy,asAl-a/wclarifiedwhenhesaid:Whoeverattributedto

Allh an attribute that has a meaning among the


meanings that apply to humans has committed

17

Fat/al-Br,14/p.49
\,9 %A 0. (" QD @
\A nQA \H
+ @
W(
b Qh=
C ,QH
ChQ( VhQf
ChQ( 6=
%3 :
%3 09%8 #+@
:(49 / 14 )- 0?@ \9o %_( gT
.,&E
h ( 01
VQH
r%I=
+Y I D ( \ 9 +hD&
A \H

%DS \9 b,09" #\ A bj%@ W9\ 9 69 C 8
0 %H " x %D._=
0,JA C-j%H V( C`" D&
1

18

Fayoal-Qadr,1/458.
0.( 6 b,H bJ8 %DJ( 6T VQH 6DQJD( k7j : 0( %A> %3 : 458 1 0#+-( ,T

blasphemy.

{AndHe}hascompleteknowledgeandcontrolofHis
{AndHe}
creation, so in this sense, not the sense of place or
direction, it is said in Arabic that Allh {surrounds
surrounds
allthings,and}it{is}
{aboveit}in
allthings,and} {is}alsosaidthatHeis{aboveit}
{is}
{aboveit}
Powerandstatus.

{He made His creation unable to have encompassing


knowledge},
knowledge} and kept them from knowing some facts
such as the time of the Day of Judgment. When the
blasphemers asked about it, the Prophet " was told
(Al-Mulk,26):

[26/nQD(\ ],_A 0#P` %` %D`h C Qh( + IH


b Q.( %D`h K3
Meaning: Say: Only Allh knows, and I am only
someonewhowarnswithaclearwarning.Likewiseis
the case for the number of Angels that Allh created
(Al-Muddaththir,31):

6 o
n
9 6I8
b Q.# %A
Meaning:NooneknowsthenumberofAllhsangels
exceptHe.

b,09 Pj B 6-` .62


{AndwesaythatAllh
{AndwesaythatAllh
AllhtookIbr
tookIbrhmasakh
masakhal
all}i.e.as
l}
%-#+Ej %`%D# %D,QYj V=6A bQ< ,Q highlyfavoredbyHisgrace.ThisisfromtheQurn
.%D,QJj
(Al-Nis,125):

[125/%JI(< ],Q
b,09 C Qh( P
jh
Meaning:AllhhonoredIbrhmbyselectinghimto
benamedasHiskhall.

Totranslatekhallasfriendorthelikeistotranslate
literally in a way that can be misunderstood. Such
translation is sinful, even if the word may be

misunderstoodintheoriginalArabicalso,asagreedon
bythescholars19.

ItmustnotbeunderstoodfromAllhtakingakhall,
asHimhavingemotionsorfeelingsofloveoranything
else,becauseemotionschange,andcanthereforeonly
be created, as discussed earlier. Emotions are among
the meanings ascribed to humans, and it is therefore
blasphemoustobeascribethemtoAllh.

In his commentary on the Qurn, Fakhr al-Dn AlRz20 explained what the difference is between
someonesayingAllhsson,asawayofhonoringJesus
#, and Allhs khall (whichs apparent meaning is
friend) as a way of honoring Ibrhm #. He
explained that khall only gives the idea of being
highly honored and said: as for the word son, it
givestheideaofbeingfromthesamekind.

In Mufradt Al-Qurn, Al-Rghib Al-AXfahan


explained the term the khall of Allh and said that
he (Ibrhm) was in a state where his intentions,
thoughts, and actions were all overwhelmed by his
complete and utter need of Allh. A person in such a
stated is called khall, because the root meaning of
thiswordisneed.

{And}
{And} we also say {that Allh
Allh spoke to M
Ms.}
.} with
19 Forallthesedetails,seeP.33-36,Shar/AsmAllhAl-Tusn,Al-FakhrAl-Rz,Al-MaktabahAl-AzharyahliAlTurth,Egypt,2000.ThishasbeenexplainedindetailonmycommentaryontheSansyah.
20 Fakhr al-Dn Al-Rz (544-606 Hijri calendar) is by many regarded as the greatest scholar of his time, and the sixth
renewerofthereligion,forthebeginningoftheseventhcenturyaftertheHijrah.HeistheImmofthescholarsofthe
beliefsciences.Hedevastatedthedeviantsectswithhisarguments.Theanthropomorphistsmadeittheirhabittoleave
notesforhimcontainingvariousinsults.Onetimeanotesaidthathiswifewasanadulteress.Hereadthenotetothe
crowdandthensaid,allofthisispossible,butatleastIdonotbelievethatAllhisinaplace.(Al-Zirikl6/313;TjalDnAl-Subk8/81-82;Al-afad4/176).

His speech that is not letters, not sound, and not


sequential. {We say all of this in faith, belief and}
and}
unquestioning{submission.}
{submission.}
{submission.}

\,,_I(" Yx<D(%9 \A` .63


{Andwebelieveintheangels,}whoarespiritual,light{Andwebelieveintheangels,}
bS` +Se` \,Q=0D( VQH "(sID( UgY( bodied,genderlessandinfalliblecreatures,indulgedin
.\,_D( k&( VQH 6`%
worship and obedience, that Allh created from light.
Webelieveinthem,eveniftheyareinvisibletous,and
also in {the prophets,}
prophets,} who are males that Allh
selected from birth to have a revelation from Him,
ordering to teach people Islm. We believe in them,
{andthebooksthatwererevealedtothemessengers,}
{andthebooksthatwererevealedtothemessengers,}
whoareprophetsthatbringchangestotheteachingof
previous prophets, such as our Prophet Mu/ammads
"ordertoprayfivetimesdaily,insteadofthetwodaily
prayers of Jesus #. We affirm our belief in all true
prophetsandmessengers,boththoseweknowfromthe
Qurnandauthentic/adths,butalsothosethatwedo
notknowtheidentityof,{andwetestifythattheywe
andwetestifythattheywere
andwetestifythattheywere
on}thepathof{obvioustruth.}
{obvioustruth.}
on}
{obvioustruth.}

Thesearebasicsofthenarrational21beliefsofMuslims.
Allhsaid(Al-Baqarah,285):

C Qh(%9 \
A K

6IA D ( C 9 \ A C ,(
s ` %D9
6=0h (\
A
C Q=
\ A + @
\
,9
0 7 ` %( C Q=
C _ g C g Y x %QA
Meaning: The Messenger of Allh, Mu/ammad
believesinwhathasbeenrevealedtohimoftheQurn
by Allh, as do all the Believers (i.e. Muslims). All of
them believe in Allh and His Angels, Books, and
Messengers, and they do not distinguish between the
messengers. I.e. in a derogatory manner. They
respectandbelieveinallofthem.22

21 AnarrationalbeliefiswhatisestablishedastruebynarrationoftheQurnortheteachingsoftheProphet,andcannot
beknownbyreasonalone.
22 Tafsral-Jallayn.

\,DQJA %IgQ_3 K WDJ` .64


{AndwecallthepeopleofourQiblah}
ah}i.e.theKabah
{AndwecallthepeopleofourQibl
ah}
C,QH W_I( C9 %8 %D9 6A %A \,IAA as a prayer direction {Muslims
Muslimsand Believers
Believers as
%3 %A KY9 C( \,T0g.A <J(< E(
Mu/
/ammad
\,9PYA 0,u \,3+EA 0_ long as they admit to be true whatever Mu
brought}
brought} of knowledge {and believe in, and do not
deny,anyofwhathesaid.}Inotherwords,whatisless
deny,anyofwhathesaid.}
sinful than that, such as drinking wine does not make
oneanon-Muslim.Thisisprovidedthatonebelievesit
to be wrong, and one does not deny or have scorn
towardsitsprohibition.

This clarifies what Al-Al-ar and other scholars mean


whenthey say,IdonotsaythatanyofthePeopleof
the Qiblah is a non-Muslim. The purpose of this
expressionoftheirsistodenythatasinfulMuslimfalls
outofIslmaslongashebelievesandadmitsthatwhat
he is doing is sinful. It is a statement meant to refute
the saying of the Khawrij sect, which says that
committing sins, such as drinking wine, makes one a
non-Muslim,evenifonebelievesitisasin.Itdoesnot
mean that anyone who prays towards the Qiblah is a
Muslim, regardless of anything he believes, says or
does.

o B WT 6` o .65
WT %?` o V(%.j B\ # WT %D`
C9 s` \,D(%.( < C` bQ.` 0-(
+D&A \,Q=0D( +,= CDQ.T \,Aa 0(
\,.D8 C_&f C( VQH C,QH B VQf

{We do not get into pondering about the self of


Allh}
Allh}, because He does not resemble His creation,
andcannotbeimagined.PonderingaboutHisselfthen
leads to confusion and deviation by likening Him to
Hiscreation,whichmakesonefalloutofIslm. {And
we do not cast doubts about religious matters,}
matters,} by
arguingagainstestablishedSunnibeliefs,orbyraising
questions about them. On the other hand, it is
praiseworthy and necessary that some Muslims learn
BeliefScienceinordertorefutedeviants.Thisisapart
of Jihd to defend Islm, and it is an obligation that

enoughMuslimsengageinthisatalltimes.

{Andwedonotargueaboutthe
{Andwedonotargueaboutthe Qur
Qurn,andweknow
thatitis}anexpressionthatrefersto{
{Allh
thatitis}
Allhs}eternal
s}
{Speech.Thetrustedspirit}Jibrl{descendedwithit}
{descendedwithit}
{Speech.Thetrustedspirit}
{descendedwithit}
from the Law/ were he first went to find it, and then
from the sky in intervals. {Then he taught it to the
Master of the
the Messengers, Mu/
Mu/ammad, may Allh
Allh
raisehisrank,andhavemercyuponallofhisfollowers
andcompanions.}
andcompanions.}

C#%J# o V(%.j B < .66


{Nothingofcreatedspeechislike Allh
AllhsSpeech},as
sSpeech}
kQ9 6-` o\ ,36QD(\ < A W1 explained earlier, because it is not letters, sounds or
.\,DQJD(" H%D8 ^(%` o 0-(
voice.

{WedonotsaythattheQur
{WedonotsaythattheQurniscreated.}becauseit
niscreated.}
referstoAllhsSpeechwhichiswithoutabeginningor
an end. One cannot say that the Qurn is created
meaning the book, because it is not respectful. To
illustrate:ifaMuslimuttersthenameofAllh,thenhe
is referring to Allh with this utterance. He is not
worshipingtheutterance,buttheoneitrefersto.Even
so, if someone said Allh is created, and then said
that he meant the utterance, not Allh Himself, he
would still be considered a blasphemer. This is for
havingwillfullysaidsomethingthatugly.Similarly,one
does not say that the Qurn is created and then I
meanthebook.Thisisjusttoillustrate,forsayingthis
abouttheQurnisnotasuglyassayingitaboutAllh.

{And we do not deviate from the Muslim group},


group} by
disagreeing with what all mujtahids of a generation
agreedupon.Allhsaid(Al-Nis,115):

0 ,u
_ gh # +S ( C ( \
,h_ j %A + .9 \A
6=0h ( k
3 %e# \A
0,EA %=
b Ih S 8
C QE` Vh(6 j %A C (6 ` \
,IA D ( K
,_=

Meaning:whoeverfollowsthepathofotherthanthe
Muslim Believers; Allh leaves him to do so in this
world,butwillhavehimthrownintotheHellfireinthe
next.Itisknownbythisthatfollowingthepathofthe
MuslimBelieversisanobligation,soifallthequalified
mujtahid scholars of an era agree on something, one
knows that theirs must be the right opinion. One also
knowsthatnotacceptingitwillbetofollowthepathof
otherthantheMuslimBelievers.

A 0# o 6-` o .67
{Wedonotsaythatcommittingsinsdonotharmifone
CQDH \D( U` >=< believes in Isl
Islm},
m} in contrast with the blasphemous
Murjiahsect.TheydeniedthatsinfulMuslimsmaybe
punishedforsometimeinHell.

\A \,IJ&DQ( 680` .68


"I?( bSQ+# bSIH 67.# \ ,IAD(
bS( +Se` o , bS,QH \A` o CgD@09
o bS,QH %` bS,JD( 07}gJ`" I?(%9
. bS '
I- `

{We hope that those who do good deeds among the


Believers}inIslm,{willbeforgivenby
{willbeforgivenbyAllh
Believers}
{willbeforgivenbyAllh,andthat
Allh,andthat
He willmakethementerParadiseby His Mercy, but
wedonotfeelconfidentaboutthembeingsafe,anddo
not testify that they will enter Paradise}
Paradise}, since only
Allhknowstheirrealstateandwhattheirendwillbe.
Exempted are those we know from narrations will
enterParadise,suchasanyProphetandthosethatthe
MessengerofAllh"saidaregoing,suchasAbuBakr
$ and Umar $. {Weask}
{Weask} Allh {forforgivenessfor
thosethatcommitsinsamongthem,andfearforthem,
andwedonotmakethemlosehope}.
andwedonotmakethemlosehope}.

\H <-I# %#>\ Aa .69


{Safety}
{Safety} in the sense of believing that one will surely
"Q_-( Ka %DSI,9 k&( K,_= "QD( notbepunishedforonessins,andwillbeforgivenby
Allh,{ordespair}
{ordespair},inthesenseofbelievingthatAllh
{ordespair}
will surely not forgive ones sins {makes one a nonnonMuslim. The correct path},
path} which is to be {between
these two},
two} is to both hope for forgiveness and fear
punishment. This path {belongs to the People of the
Qiblah},i.e.theMuslims.
Qiblah}

%D#>\ A +_.( 0# o .70


{The slave}
slave} i.e. any created being, as all creation is
C,T CQ %A 6&?9 o owned by Allh, {does not exit from}
from} the fold of the
Islamic {belief except by denial of what made him it
it,}
it,} which is the doubt-free and submissive belief that
Allh is attributed with Absolute Oneness and that
Muhammad"isHisProphetandMessengerandthat
allhisteachingsaretrue.

03> 6 %D#> .71


{Belief}
{Belief} in Islam, {is to affirm by the tongue}
tongue} that
%I?(%9 k#+Eg( %JQ(%9 there is no god but Allh and Mu/ammad " is His
prophet and messenger, {and}
{and} to simultaneously
{accept}
{accept}thisstatement,withoutanydisdaintowardsit,
{astrueinonesheart.}
{astrueinonesheart.}

This is the saying of Ab Tanfah and a number


of Ashar scholars, such as Al-Qo Iyo. Some
scholars, however, were of the opinion that the

submissive and scorn-free acceptance as true in the


heart is belief in Islam, provided that one has the
intention of uttering the creedal statement if one is
requestedtodoso.The viewofAbuTanfahis much
closer to apparent proofs, such as the Prophets "
sayingnarratedbyAl-Bukhrandothers:

Ihavebeenorderedtofightpeopleuntilthey profess
that there is no god but God, and Mu/ammad is his
Messenger.

W_I(\ H f %A ,D8 .72


{And all that has been soundly narrated from the
CQ %,_( 0e(\ A bQ= C,QH B VQf Prophet " of Islamic laws, rules and practices and
.k@
clarificationsistrue.}
clarificationsistrue.}

WT CQ +@ %D#> .73
{TheBeliefinIslamisone,anditspeople}whichare
{TheBeliefinIslamisone,anditspeople}
6-g(%9 bSI,9 Kd%7g( 6= CQf theMuslims{areinitsessencethesame}
{areinitsessencethesame}becausethe
{areinitsessencethesame}
.V(a" A<A 6S(" 7(%A
essenceofbeliefistoacceptitastrueintheheart.Any

decrease in this meaning means either doubt or


disdain, which would be blasphemy. This is what Abu
Tanfah meant when he said that belief neither
increases nor decreases. {The difference between
them},
them} in terms of their rank as Muslims in Allhs
judgment,{isbyfearing
{isbyfearingAllh
{isbyfearing Allh}
Allh}andthusmakingeffort
to avoid His punishment, {and by doing contrary to
sinfulinclinationsandaccordingtowhatisbest}.
sinfulinclinationsandaccordingtowhatisbest}.

%,( bSQ 6IAD( .74


{The}
{The} Muslim {Believers are all awliy
awliy of AlAlbS._j bSH6 B +IH bSA0 \D@0( Ra/
n},i.e.undertheprotectionoftheOneWhois
Ra/mn}
0-Q(
Attributed with Mercy. That is, protected from the
eternaltorturethatisreservedforblasphemers.Inthis
sense all Muslims are called awly of Al-Ra/mn,
{and the most honorable of them are those most
obedient and compliant to}
to} the teachings of {the
Qur
Qurn.}
n.}

B%9 %D#> 6 %D#> .75


{AndtheIslamicBeliefisthebeliefinAllh
Allh,andHis
{AndtheIslamicBeliefisthebeliefin
Allh,andHis
._( 0 6,( CQ= C_g CgYx<A angels,books,andmessengers;and}
{the
angels,books,andmessengers;and}tobelievein{the
els,books,andmessengers;and}
r 0 A r 6 Q@ r0 1
r0, +-( 6D( +.9
and} to
.V(%.j B\ A Day of Judgment, resurrection after death, and}
believe that the {predestination of}
of} all things and
events,{goodandbad,sweetandbitter,isfrom
{goodandbad,sweetandbitter,isfromAllh
{goodandbad,sweetandbitter,isfromAllh
Allh
whoisaboveanyimperfection.}
whoisaboveanyimperfection.}

CQ n(P9 6IAA \&` .76


{Webelieveinallofthat,andwedonotdistinguish},
{Webelieveinallofthat,andwedonotdistinguish}
bSQ bS3+E` CQ=\ A +@\ ,9 07` o in a derogatory manner, {between any of His
.C9 %8 %A VQH

messengers; we believe in all of them and what they

brought}ofteachings.
brought}

+D&A "A\ A 0x%_Y( K .77


+@6A b 6j%A +Q# o %I( WT r
\,T%H B 6-( +.9 \,_x%j 6`6Y# b(
%1 CDY@ B" ,eA WT b \,IAA
V(%.j B %3 %D CQ79 bSIH %7H bS( 07u
C9 0e# 07}# o B( s#s.( C9%g WT

{The people of great sins from the nation of the


followers of Mu/
Mu/ammad in the Hellfire are not left
there forever if they died as believers
believers in Allh
Allhs
Oneness, even if they were not repenting. This is as
longastheymeet}theirpointofdeath,aspredestined
longastheymeet}

bS9PH %1 %e# \D( n( %A 07}#


%SIA bS80# b[ C(+.9 bSg#%I8 +-9
CgH% K\ A \,.T%e(" H%71 CgD@09
K V(6A B 9 n( CgI8 V( Cp._# b[
Cj0Y` K\ #+( WT bSQ.?# b( CgT0.A
Cg#o\ A 6(%I# b( Cg#+\ A 69% \#P(

by {Allh
Allh while knowing}
knowing} the Absolute Oneness of
Allh {and believing}
believing} in Islm. {They},
{They} the Muslims
thatdiedhavingcommittedgreatsins,{willbesubject
{willbesubject
to what Allh
Allh has willed and judged. He will forgive
and pardon them if He wills as a grace, as He said in
HisNoblebook:}
HisNoblebook:}

%e# \D ( n
(
%A 0 7 }# C 9
0 e# 0 7 }# o C Qh(
h
Meaning: Verily Allh does not forgive associating
partners with Him. This is if one dies without having
repented from it, by entering Islm. He forgives
anything less than that, even without repentance, for
whomsoever He wills23. (Al-Nis, 48) Associating
partners with Allh, or shirk, here means any
blasphemy,forAllhalsosaid(Al-A/zb,64-65):

+9 %S,T \
#+(% 0,.=
bS ( +h H
\
#0T %Y(\
. ( C Qh(
h
Meaning: Verily Allh cursed the blasphemers, and
preparedforthemafirethattheywillbeinforever.

{If He wills He will torture them by His Justice


accordingtotheircrime.Afterthat,Hetakesthemout
of it by His Mercy, and the intercession of the
intercessors from the people of obedience. Then He
sendsthemtoHisParadise,
sendsthemtoHisParadise, forHeprotectsthosewho
know}andbelievein{Him,anddidnotmakethemin
{Him,anddidnotmakethemin
know}
the two abodes},
abodes}, this world and the next, {like those
whodisbelieveinHim
whodisbelieveinHim thosewhodidnotobtainHis
guidance,anddidnotgetHisprotection.}
guidance,anddidnotgetHisprotection.}

CQ >=< W
h ( %# bSQ( .78
{O Allh,
Allh, O the One Who Protects Isl
Islm and Its
C9 %-Q` Vg@ >=<%9 %IYJA People,makeussteadfastinIsl
People,makeussteadfastinIsl
ssteadfastinIslmuntilwemeet}the
muntilwemeet}
timeofdeaththat{You}
{You}havewilled,whilestillfirmly
{You}
{inIslam.}
{inIslam.}

09 K^ Q <E( 0`
23 TafsrAl-Nsaf.

.79

{Weholdtheviewthatprayerisvalidbehindanypious

%A \A VQH WQE` "Q_-( K\ A 08%T


o %` o" I8 bSIA +@ sI` o bSIA
b( %A %7` o 01 o 07Y9 bS,QH +Se`
b0x0= P` W1 n(\ A bSIA 0S#
.V(%.j B V(

orsinfulpersonamongthe peopleoftheQiblah,}i.e.
peopleoftheQiblah,}
the Muslims, as explained earlier. {We pray for
whomsoeverdiedamongthem.Wedonotaffirmwith
certitudeforanyspecificpersonamongthemthatheis
going to Paradise or Hell,}
Hell,} unless stated by the
Prophet"orintheQurn.{Wedonotsayaboutany
{Wedonotsayaboutany
ofthemthatheisinthestateofblasphemy,}i.e.heisa
ofthemthatheisinthestateofblasphemy,}
non-Muslim, {or shirk}, which is a specific kind of
blasphemy,{orhypocrisy}
{orhypocrisy}whichistobeablasphemer,
{orhypocrisy}
but pretending to be a Muslim. This is {if he did not
showanyofthat.}
showanyofthat.}
yofthat.}

One cannot accuse a Muslim of unbelief unless they


haveshownit,becausesuchaseriousaccusationneeds
a proof. To accuse a Muslim of blasphemy for no
reasonisinitselfblasphemy,fortheProphet"said:

+ @
C 9 %9 +- T 0 T % %# C ,( K
8
0h ( %3
%D
IfamansaidtohisbrotherOblasphemer!thenone
of them has become one. This is because if he was
rightinwhathesaid,thentheonehesaidittoistrulya
blasphemer. If he said it without a reason, however,
thenhehasnamedthismansapparentlycorrectbelief
inIslmblasphemous.Al-Khabsaidthatthisisnot
the case if he made the accusation for a plausible
reason,suchasifthismanhadideasthatdisagreewith
those of the Sunni Muslims, but not to the extent of
actuallybeingblasphemy24.

+@ VQH ^,J( 0` o .80


{Wedonothold theviewthatanyoneoftheProphet
^,J( C,QH U8\ A o " +D&A "A\ A Mu/
Mu/ammad
ammads " nation should be killed unless he

24 Umdatal-Qr,22/157.
0T% Kx%-(%T %9% % 0T% C( 6-D(%T 0Aa 7` WT %3%f % C`a %D+@ C9 8 %D+@ C9 %9 +-T C(63 :157/22 %-( +DH
C,QH 8 r%I.A K,3 n(P( K&gJD( VQH r6QD@ bS`9 U,8 6-( PS9 PYT ",E.D(%9 bQJD( 07Y# o K,3 07 %D#> 0T%\ AD( 6Y9 bY@ C`a
8 07Y(%9 C,a C,A b[9 %9 WI.# %'9 \9 %3 K#j C( \Y# b( Kx%-( C9 %9 W9%'( %3 CQpA 6\ A 07 C`a CJ7` 07 C` 0,7Yg(
6 %A % T %D#> WT C#%JA C`a CJ7` 0,7Yj r0,7Yj \A sQ,T \#+( WT CQpA 6ST 0T%\ Y# b( C`a 07Y( b[ C,QH 80# K,3 %9% % C,QH n(
%# 07Y( +#sj Wf%.D( a 07Y( V( C9 # C` r%I.A K,3 %# WA0( k&gJ,T 07 n(P9 C9 WA0D( k&g= % n( C,T %# 6ST 07 C,T
C,( 0,ED( %SA1 "_3%H 6Yj %SIA 0pYD( VQH

deserves it.}
it.} Al-Bukhr narrated that the Prophet
Mu/ammad"said:

h B o C ( o +S e# Vg@ %I( K
j %3
0A
n( 6Q. T T %sh ( 6j#< hE( 6D,-# C Qh( 6= +Dh &
A
VQH bS 9 %J@
(=< k
&
9 o bS (6A b %A WIA 6DE
H

C Qh(
Ihavebeenorderedtofightpeopleuntiltheyprofess:
there is no god but God, and that Mu/ammad is the
prophetandmessengerofGod;andtheyperformthe
specialprayerofIslm,anditsspecialalmspayment.If
theydothat,thentheyhaveprotectedtheirbloodfrom
being spilled by me, and their properties from being
takenbyme-exceptifIslmprescribesotherwise-and
the accounting for their deeds is submitted to Allh.
(a//Al-BukhrNo.25,1/17).

VQH 0( 0` o .81
6H+` o %8 %`6A o %IgDx
bSgH% \A +# sI` o bSIA +@ VQH
b( %A "#0T "H% \A bSgH% 0`
<E(%9 bS( 6H+`" ,E.D9 0A#
%T%.D(

{Wedonotholdtheviewthatoneshouldrebelagainst
theIm
theImms}i.e.thekhalfahs,thesinglesupremerulers
ms}
ofallMuslimsatdifferenttimes{and}
{and}the{guardians}
{guardians}
{and}
{guardians}
whoareundertheircommand,suchasgovernors,{and
{and
we do not supplicate against them and we do not
disobeythem.Rather,weholdthatobediencetothem
isanobligation,aslongaswhattheyorderisnotasin,
isanobligation,aslongaswhattheyorderisnotasin,
and we ask Allh
Allh to mend their ways and protect
them}fromdisobeyingHim.
them}

"H%D?(" IJ( _g` .82


{We adhere to}
to} the People of {the Sunnah and the
"307( (< Pe( UIg?` Jam
Jamah and avoid deviations, disagreement and
division.}Thatis,wedonotdeviatefromijm,andwe
division.}
do not disagree on issues that have different possible
answerinawaythatinvolvesdivisionandenmity.

"`%Aa +.( K U&` .83


{Welovethepeopleofjustice}whichistoobeyAllh
{Welovethepeopleofjustice}
"`%,( 6?( K{ `_} and trustworthiness, and we hate the people of
injustice and treachery,}
treachery,} not just their deeds and
beliefs, as some absurdly claim, but the people

themselves.Afterall,Allhpunishesperpetrators,not
perpetrations.

C_g1 %D,T bQH B 6-`

.84
{Wesaywhensomethingisuncleartous:Allh
Allh
{Wesaywhensomethingisuncleartous:
Allh knows
CDQH %I,QH best,
best,} for only He has complete knowledge of all
things.

\,7( VQH JD( 0` .85


{Weholdthatitisvalid}inwuo{towetleathersocks
{towetleathersocks
{Weholdthatitisvalid}
0[a WT %8 %D 0&( 07J( WT by wiping them}
them} instead of washing the feet {during
bothtravelandnonbothtravelandnon-travel,aswasnarratedin/
travel,aswasnarratedin/ad
adths.}
s.}
Ahmad ibn Tanbal said, There is no doubts in my
heart regarding the matter of wiping at all. There are
40/adthsonitfromthecompanionsoftheProphet
may Allh raise his rank.25 Due to this magnitude of
/adths narrated, Abu Tanfah said: I did not hold
thatwipingisvalid untilevidencesasclearasdaylight
came to me, so that denying it would be to reject the
viewofthegreatestofthecompanions,andtosaythat
they made a mistake, and that would have been a
deviantinnovation.26

Note that Al--a/w specifies socks made of leather,


and did not specify details regarding how to wipe,
becausebeyondthatSunnisdisagreeonthedetailson
whatandhowonecanwipe.

%d0T %S?( (& .86


{We hold that Tajj Pilgrimage and Jih
Jihd are
\,DQJD(" Dx\ A 0Aa W( A %,d%A continuous obligations
obligations with the rulers that are im
imms
o W1 %DSQ'_# o b08%T b09
oftheMuslims,}
%DS-I# oftheMuslims,}i.e.havestatusofKhalfahbymeeting
its requisites, {both the pious of them and the sinful.
Nothing abolishes these two obligations, and nothing

25 Al-Mughn,1/174.
673 %A W_I( V( 6.T %A bQ= C,QH B VQf B 6= %&f\ H %p#+@ 6.9 C,T W1 JD(\ A W_Q3 WT ,( +D@ %3 :174/1 WI}D(
KET
26 Badial-ani,1/7.
" H
+9 %YT '

( V( b %h# _ " J` " 9 %&E


h ( %_ VQH 6&?
( %YT %SIh( 6d
K
p A C,T W` %8 Vg@
J
D ( %9 ZQ3 %A %3 :7/1 x%IE( x+9

invalidates them.}
them.} This is because the primary
functions of the imm is to unite all Muslims and to
defendthemandtheirreligion.

\ ,_j%Y( 0Y(%9 \A` .87


{And we believe in the Noble Scribes,}
Scribes,} which are the
\,T%@ bSQ.8 +3 B angelsthatrecordpeoplesdeeds, {andthatAllh
{andthat Allh
Allh has
madetowatchoverthem}.
madetowatchoverthem}.

Allhsaid(Al-Infir,10-12):

%A
6DQ.# (11) \
,_j % %A0( 10) \,T %&( bY ,QH

h
(12)
6Q. 7j
Meaning:Verilythereareangelsthatwatchoveryour
deedsandtheyhaveanoblerankinAllhsJudgment.
Theyrecordyourdeedsinwriting,andknowwhatyou
doofgoodandevil.27

K6D( 6D( nQD9 \A` .88


{And we believe in the Angel of Death appointed to
\,D(%.(_ -9 takethesoulsofangels,humansandjinn.}
takethesoulsofangels,humansandjinn.}Allhsaid
n.}
(Al-Sajdah,11):

6.8
0j bY 9 V( bh [ bY 9 K
P(h
6D ( n
QA b %hT6 g # K3
Meaning:TheAngelofdeathmakesyoudiethrough
takingyoursouls,andhedoesthisasorderedbyAllh
(thecreatorofthisangelsactionsandtheactionsofall
creation.)Thenafterthatyouareresurrectedforthe
accountingofdeedsandpunishmentorreward28.

C( %\ D( 0_-( P.9 .89


\H r0_3 WT Z,DQ( 0,Y` 0YIA J9<
%_a C9 %8 %A VQH C,_` CI# C9
B Wd" 9%&E(\ H B 6=\ H
\,.D8 bSIH

{Webelieveinthetortureofthegraveforwhomsoever
deservesit,}andAllhdidnotforgive,{andinMunkar
{andinMunkar
deservesit,}
andNak
andNakrsquestioningofthedeadpersoninhisgrave
aboutwhohisLordisandhisreligionandhisprophet,
accordingto/
accordingto /ad
adthsnarratedfromtheProphet"
snarratedfromtheProphet and
hiscompanions.}
hiscompanions .}
.}

27 TafsrAl-Nasaf
28 TafsrAl-Nasaf

%#\ A "d 0_-( .90


{ThegraveisagardenofthegardensofParadise,ora
%I( 07@ \A 07@ " I?( pitofthepitsofHell.}
pitofthepitsofHell.}

s?9 ._(%9 \A` .91


{Andwebelieveintheresurrectionofthedead,}
{Andwebelieveintheresurrectionofthedead,}body
ndwebelieveintheresurrectionofthedead,}
%J&( 0.( "A%,-( 6# %DHa andsoultogether,{andinrecompenseforone
{andinrecompenseforone
{andinrecompenseforonesdeeds
0E( %-.( 6p( %gY( 03

ontheDayofJudgment,andthepresentationofone
ontheDayofJudgment,andthepresentationofones

deeds,theaccountingofthedeeds,thereadingofthe
book of one
ones deeds, reward, punishment
punishment and the
bridge}extendingoverHelltoParadise.
bridge}

%DH C9 6# s,D( .92


{ThedeedsoftheMuslims;good,evil,obedienceand
"H%'( 0 e( 0,(\ A \,IAD( disobedienceareweighedbytheweighingscales.}
disobedienceareweighedbytheweighingscales.}
",E.D(

o %g36QA %I(" I?(

.93
{Paradise and Hell are both creations}
creations} and thus both
+,_# o %,I7# haveabeginning,but{theydonotendorperish.}
{theydonotendorperish.}
{theydonotendorperish.}
ThisisbecauseAllhhasnotwilledforthemtoend.

%I(" I?( kQ B .94


CQ" I?( V( %1 \DT < %DS( kQ
CQ %I( V( bSIA %1 \A CIA <T
0x%f CIA 0T +3 %D( KD.# K .CIA o+H
C( kQ %A V(

{And verily Allh


Allh created Paradise and Hell and
created for them people,}
people,} to go there in the next life
{then whomsoever He willed Paradise for will be put
there as a Grace from Him,}
Him,} not as a requirement,
since they did good deeds only because He created
thosedeedsinthem.

Al-Bukhr narrated through Ab Hurayrah that the


Prophet " said: Your deeds will not put you in
Paradise. They asked: Not even for you, O
MessengerofAllh?Heanswered:No,notevenfor
me, except that Allh will cover me with grace and
mercy.Sospendeffortindoingwhatisright,andtryto
getclosetoit.Anddonotwishfordeath,foryouwill
eitherbesomeonewhodoesgoodthings,soyoumight
domoregood;oryouwillbeanevildoer,soyoumight
seek pardon. (a// Al-Bukhr No 5349, 5/2147;

Umdatal-Qr21/227)

{andwhosoeverHewilledHellfireforwillbeputthere
as a justice from Him},
Him} because He has merely put
whatHehasabsoluteownershipover,intheplacethat
Hehaschosen.

{Alldodeedsaccordingtowhathasbeenrecordedby
{Alldodeedsaccordingtowhathasbeenrecordedby
thePenontheTablets,andproceedtowardswhatthey
havebeencreatedfor.}
havebeencreatedfor.}

VQH +-A 0e( 0,(

.95

{Good and evil}


evil} choices and deeds {have been

.%_.( predestinedforcreations.}
predestinedforcreations.}

%S9 U?# Wg(" H%'g=o .96


6?# o P( k,T6g( 6&` \A K.7(
%A K.7( A WST C9 6QD(^ f6#
\YDg( =6(&" E(" S8 \A "H%'g=o
kQ.g# %S9 K.7( K_3 WST o" A<=
^QY# o) V(%.j B %3 %D 6 %'(
.(%S.= o %J7` B

{Andtheabilitywhichdeedsoccurby,issimultaneous
with the deeds. This ability is the one depending on
Allh
Allhs creation of the
the ability to do good, which is
forbiddentoascribetocreation.Asfortheabilitythat
is associated with health, capability, mastery}
mastery} of
knowledgeorskill,{anddefectfreeinstruments;this}
{anddefectfreeinstruments;this}
{anddefectfreeinstruments;this}
ability {is before the deed, and this is the ability that
accountability relates to. This ability is as Allh
Allh said
(Al(Al-Baqarah,286):

[286/":%& ]KMj ;
K+`L 2 3g&
3Np X }
Meaning: Allh does not obligate someone to do
somethingunlessitiswithinhisapparentphysicaland
intellectual ability. This is supposed ability, whereas
the ability that occurs with human action is realized
ability. This realized ability is only the ability to do
what was actually done, and nothing else. It is the
abilitytodotheactthathasbeenpredestinedbyAllh.

B kQ %_.( %.T

.97
{And the deeds
deeds of creation are created by Allh
Allh and
%_.(\ A UJ acquiredbycreation.}
acquiredbycreation.}

With regard to deeds of creation being created by


Allh,Hesaid:(Al-fft.96)

[96/%T%E( ]
6QD .j %A bY - Q
C Qh(
Meaning:Allhcreatedyouandwhatyoudo.

Allhalsosaid(Al-Baqarah,286):

[286/0-_( ]Z_ J
g %A %S,QH
Z_ J
%A %S(
Meaning:Thepersongetsforhimselfthegooddeeds
hehasgainedbyhisefforts,andagainsthimselfthebad
deedsthathehasgatheredbyhisshortcomings.

%A o V(%.j B bS7QY# b(
.98
6 bS7Q %A o 6-h,'# o 6-,'#
o 6-` B%9 o 63 o 6@ o 0,J7j
\H +@a 6&j o" 0@ o +@a "Q,@
+@a 63 o B`" 6.D9 o B" ,E.A
o %S,QH %_p( B" H% "A%3 VQH
.B k,T6g9

{Allh
Allh doesnotmakecreationsaccountableforother
than what they are capable of, and they are not
obligated to do other than what He has made them
accountable for. This is the explanation of the
expression:
expression:

KO ,t ,n }
Translation:Thereisnocapabilityorpowerexceptby
theWillofAllh.

{We say that no one has a trick, or a movement or a


shiftawayfromdisobeyingAllh
shiftawayfromdisobeying Allh
Allh unlessHehelps.And
there is no ability for any creation to perform acts of
obedience to
to Allh,
Allh, and stick to them, unless Allh
Allh
createsforittheabilitytogood.}
createsforittheabilitytogood.}

",eD9 0?# W1 K .99


Z_Qu r+3 Cx%3 CDQH V(%.j B
K,&( r%3 UQu %SQ %,eD( Cg,eA
+-j +9 b(% 0,u 6 %e# %A K.7# %SQ
U,H K\ H rsIj \,@
6= K\ H
.(6(J# b K.7# %DH J# o)(\,1

{Everything proceeds according to Allh


Allhs Will,
Knowledge, Action, and Predestination. His Will
controlsthewillofanythingelse.HisActionoverrules
alltricks,strategiesandplans.Hedoes
alltricks,strategiesandplans.Hedoes whatHewills,
and is never unjust. He Himself is absolutely clear of
any kind of defect or ruin, and is free of any flaw or
blemish.

[23/K#%L ],&@+X h c j `X Kg*f


@ +X K&}
(Al-Anby, 23) Meaning: Allh is not questioned
aboutwhatHedoes,butthecreatedbeingsare.

%,@a %H WT

.100

{In
{Inthesupplicationsandcharitiestothepoormadeby

6A( ".7IA bSj%3+f those alive, there is benefit for the dead.}
dead.} That is, if
one supplicates for a dead person, or gives charity to
the poor intending the reward for it to go to a dead
person.

This extent is agreed upon. As for other types of


worship; this is a detailed discussion in the books of
fiqh,withsomedisagreementinvolved.

U,?gJ# V(%.j B .101


{And Allh}
Allh} is the One that {answers supplications,
%8%&( W-# 6H+( andfulfillsneeds.}Thatis,asHewills.
andfulfillsneeds.}

AsforthestatementintheQurn:

[60/0T%u] bY ( U?
g = W`6H b Y 9
%3
ApparentMeaning:Allhsaid:supplicatetomeandI
will answer your supplication. It does not mean that
any supplication is answered exactly as asked. Many
scholarssaidthattheyahmeans:Allhsaid:worship
MeandIwillrewardyou.

In light of the apparent meaning being the correct


interpretation, the Prophet " clarified its meaning
when he said: There is no Muslim on Earth that
supplicates without Allh giving it to him, or fending
off something bad from him. in similar /adths this
meaning is constricted by sooner or later, and as
longasheisnotaskingforsomethingsinfulorcutting
off close relatives29. Moreover, the Prophet " once
mentioned a man on a long journey. Unkempt and
dustythismanstretches hishandstotheskyandsays,

29
Fat/al-Br,11/95.
,&f
#+@
n
( WT +3 . C d
6. 9 %j C 9 %H %A \,. 9 -j %gT : "9%8( h6I g j \Y ( C ( %?g J
#
K
:95/11 %_( gT
+D@( %SQpA 6J(\ A C IH

0 f
%%h# ChQ( r %j %h( 6 H
+ 9 6H+# bQJ
A ( VQH
%A C.T ZA%hE(\ 9 %_H
#+@
\A b%&(
P A 0g( C 8
0
%h( b@" .,'3 %( b[ %S,T
,( 6H+9 6H+# bQJA \A %A C.T +,.=
W9 #+@
WT C ( C ( %0+h # %hA C ( %SQ?. # %hA 0#0 W9 #+@
\A

%[ 01
P . b%&( C &
&
hf
%SQpA 6J(\ A C I H
0E
# %hA 0
( WT C ( %0+h # %hA Cj6H
C ( K?. # %hA : %Q[ +@ %S9 ChQ( r %'H
%h( %SIA 0#0 W9 #+@
\A %9%9 \#0eH
+.9 Wj, =
n
(P ( %?g J# Vh`T
#+&
( _QD ( b.'D ( U, 6Y# %SIA 0 01
%S( " 9 %8Q(
. n(%A C 8
0 W( U?
g J# bQT 6H
K- # b( %A b + @
( %?g J
#
#+&
( K?.g J# 6Y#

O My Lord, O My Lord, but his food, drink and


clothing is from forbidden sources. The Prophet "
said:Sohowwouldoneexpecthissupplicationtobe
answered30?

CYQD# o W1 K nQD# .102


{He owns everything}
everything} in the absolute sense, {and
\,H "T0 V(%.j B\ H VIu o W1 nothingownsHim.Nooneandnothingiswithout}the
nothingownsHim.Nooneandnothingiswithout}
07 +-T \,H "T0 B\ H VI}g=\ A
{needforHim},ineverysense,{foreventhe
{foreventhe
{needforHim}
\
, &
( K\ A %f absolute{needforHim}
blink of an eye. Whoever thinks himself without need
for
for Allh
Allh for the blink of an eye has blasphemed and
becomeoneofthepeopleheadedforruin.}
becomeoneofthepeopleheadedforruin.}

o Vd0# U}# B

.103
{And Allh
Allh has Gh
Ghaoab}
ab} which refers to His Will to
6(\ A +@ punish someone, and should not be translated as
anger, {and Rio
Rio} which refers to His Will to
reward someone, and should not be translated as
pleasure. These are ascribed to Him, but their
meaning is {not like}
like} their meaning when ascribed to
{anycreation.}
{anycreation.}
nycreation.}

These two attributes are ascribed to Allh, and are


often translated misleadingly as anger and
pleasure. This is misleading, because these two
Englishwordshavetheapparentmeaningsofemotion
and reaction, and these are meanings that apply to
humans. Fakhr al-Dn Al-Rz stated that words that
have both a meaning that does not befit Allh, and a
meaning that does befit Him, cannot be ascribed to
Him.Thenhesaid,Unlessitismentionedinthetext
of the Qurn or a /adth. In such a case one can use

30

Muslim,2/703,No.1015.
W9\ H Z
9 %[ \9
+ H
WI[+@
0A \9 K
,
T %I[+@ " A %= 69 %I[+@ %Q. (\ 9 +D&A U#0 69 WI[+@ 1015 :703/2 bQJA ,&f
%S# %# %-T \
,Q=
0D ( C 9 0 A %D9 \
,IA D ( 0 A C hQ( h %_, o K
_ -# %( U, C Qh( h %I( %S# bQ= C,QH B VQf C Qh( 6= %3 %3 0 #0 W9\ H %@
+ D # 0 _ u
. 1 0 7 J
h ( K
,'# K
8
0h ( 0 bh [ b %I3 %A
%_, \A 6Q 6IA \#P(h %S# %# %3 b,QH
6QD .j %D9 W` %&(%f 6QD H %_,'
h (\ A 6Q K
=
0 (
n
(P (
%?g J# Vh` T 0&
( %9
P u
0@
C J
_ Q A 0@
C 9 0eA 0@
C D . 'A %# %# %DJ
h ( V( C # + #

the word exactly as narrated only, and not any other


wordderivedfromit31.

B 6= %&f U&` .104


+@ U@ WT 07` o bQ= WQH B VQf
\A }_` bSIA +@\ A 0_g` o bSIA
b0P` o b0P# 0,( 0,}9 bS}_#
%J@ %D#\ # bS_@ 0,9 o
%,} %7` 07 bS}9

We love the companions of the Messenger of Allh


Allh
we do not reach excesses for love of any of them,}
them,} to
theextentofsayingwhatisnottrueaboutthem,{and
{and
we do not disavow any of them. And we hate anyone
whohatesthem,andmentionsbadaboutthem.Wedo
notmentionexceptgoodaboutthem.}Anexceptionis
notmentionexceptgoodaboutthem.}
mentioning,forteachingpurposes,whatsomeofthem
did.Forexample,some/adthsincludestoriesabouta
fewofthemcommittingsins.{Lovingthemis}
{Lovingthemis}apartof
{Lovingthemis}
{religion,beliefandpureobedience.Hatingthem}
religion,beliefandpureobedience.Hatingthem}all
religion,beliefandpureobedience.Hatingthem}
{is blasphemy and hypocrisy and injustice}
injustice} because
they are the ones that transferred the religion on to
latergenerations.Hatingthemallthen,implieshatred
ofthereligion.

6= +.9 "T<( Z_p` .105


0Y9 W9a o bQ= C,QH B VQf B
%D#+-j C( <,7j CIH B Wd k#+E(
%'(\ 9 0D.( b[ "Aa ,D8 VQH
Wd %7H \9 %Dp.( b[ CIH B Wd
B Wd U(% W9\ 9 WQ.( b[ CIH B
"Dxa +10( %7Q( b CIH
.6#+SD(

{It is confirmed that the kh


khil
ilfah},
fah} the greater
imamate, which is the rulership of all Muslims, {after
the Prophet " first went to Ab
Ab Bakr AlAl-idd
iddq $ in
preference}ofhimasthebestofthecompanions,{and
{and
preference}
to give him precedence over the
the entire nation of the
Prophet. Then it went to Umar ibn AlAl-Kha
b $,
then to Uth
Uthmn ibn Aff
Affn $, then to Al
Al ibn Ab
Ab
-lib $. They are the righteous kh
khal
alfahs and the
rightly guided im
imms.}
ms.} There are two imamates in
Islm:thatofrulershipandthatofleadingtheprayer.
Thefirstiscalledthegreaterimamate,andthesecond
iscalledthelesserimamate.

b%D= \#P( 0e.( .106


{We testifythat thetenpeople thattheMessengerof
b0e9 bQ= C,QH B VQf B 6= Allh
Allh " tolduswill gotoParadise,are actuallygoing
bS( +S1 %A VQH "I?(%9 bS( +Se` "I?(%9
31 P.35,Shar/AsmAllhAl-Tusn,Al-FakhrAl-Rz,Al-MaktabahAl-AzharyahliAl-Turth,Egypt,2000.

k&( C(63 bQ= C,QH B VQf B 6=


"&Q WQH %DpH 0DH 0Y9 69 :b
\9 \D@0( +_H +,.= +.= 0,9s(
rP\ ,A 6 0?(\ 9 +,_H 69 6H
.\,.D8 bSIH B Wd "Aa

there, just as the Messenger of Allh


Allh " testified. His
saying is the truth. They are Ab
Ab Bakr,}
Bakr,} the first
khalfah, {Umar,}
Umar,} the second khalfah, {Uth
Uthmn,}
n,}
thethirdkhalfah,{{Al
{
Al,}thefourthkhalfah
,}
{-al/
al/ah}
ah}
ibnUbaydillh-theProphet"calledhim-al/ahof
Generosity, {AlAl-Zubayr}
Zubayr} ibn Al-Awwm ibn
Khuwaylid - the son of the Prophets aunt on the
fathersside,{Sa
{Sa
{Sa
{Sad}ibnAbWaqqX,{Sa
d}
{Sad}ibnZayd
d}
ibnAmr, {AbdurRa/
AbdurRa/mnibn Awf}whosnamewas
Awf}
originally Abd al-Kabah, literally: the slave of the
Kabah,

but

the

Prophet

"

renamed

him

AbdurRa/mn, {and Ab
Ab Ubaydah ibn AlAl-Jarr
Jarr/ -
andheisthetrustworthyoneofthisnation,mayAllh
andheisthetrustworthyoneofthisnation,may Allh
Allh
pleasethemall.}
pleasethemall.}

Al-Tirmidh narrated that the Prophet " said, Abu


BakrisinParadise,UmarisinParadise,Uthmnisin
Paradise,AlisinParadise,-al/ahisinParadise,AlZubayr is in Paradise, AbdurRa/mn ibn Awf is in
Paradise,SadibnAbWaqqXisinParadise,Sadibn
ZaydisinParadise,andAbuUbaydahibnAl-Jarr/is
inParadise.

Muslim narrated that when the christian delegation


from Najrn in Yemen wanted to leave Al-Madnah,
they asked the Prophet " to send with them a
trustworthyperson.HetoldAbUbaydahtostandup
andsaid,Thisisthetrustworthyoneofthisnation.

WT
6-(\
J
@\ A .107
{The one who speaks
speaks well of the companions of the
bQ= C,QH B VQf B 6= %&f MessengerofAllh
Messengerof Allh
Allh " ,hiswives
,hiswives whoareclearofall
Cj%# ` K\ A 0%'( C8
.%7I(\ A 09 +-T 8 K\ A \,=+-D( filthiness, and his descendants - who are free of all
disgrace,hasbeenclearedofhypocrisy.}
disgrace,hasbeenclearedofhypocrisy.}

MuslimnarratedthattheProphet"said:

b 0 Wg,9 K
WT C Qh( b 0 Wg, 9 K
WT C Qh( b 0
Wg,9 K WT C Qh(
IremindyouofAllhwithregardtothePeopleofMy
House.Similarly,AbBakr$said:

C g ,9 K
WT b Qh=
C ,QH
C Qh( VhQf
+Dh &
A 6_3
Respect Mu/ammad " through the People of His
House.

\,-9%J(\ A ^QJ( %DQH .108


{Thescholarsofthefirstthreecenturieswhoareof
{Thescholarsofthefirstthreecenturieswhoareofthe
0[a 0,( K\ ,.9%g(\ A b+.9 \A firstgeneration,}
firstgeneration,} i.e. the companions - those who saw
K,D?(%9 o
0 P# o 0I( C-7( K
.K,_J( 0,u VQH 6ST 6J9 b0\ A the Prophet " and died as Muslims, {and those after
them of the t
tbi
bi generation}
generation} i.e. those who met at
least one of the companions, {that are among the
people of good deeds and /ad
adth narration;
narration;
jurisprudence and insight; these people are not
mentionedexceptinagoodway,andwhoeverspeaks
illofthemisnotonthe}sound{path.}
{path.}
illofthemisnotonthe}
{path.}

ThisisbecauseMuslimsshouldprotectoneanotherin
loyalty based on their common belief. Allh said (AlTawbah,71):

[71/"96g( ]
.9 %,( bS
.9
%IA D (
6IAD (
Meaning: the Muslim Believers are united as
protectors of one another, ordering good and
prohibitingevil32.

Moreover, these Muslims of the first generations are


the flagships of Islm. Al-Bukhr narrated that the
Prophet"said:

bS ` 6Q# \
#P(h bh [ bS ` 6Q# \
#P(h bh [ W`03 WgAh 0 ,

The best of my nation are those in my generation,


thenthosethatcomeafterthem,thenthosethatcome
afterthem(again).Thenhesaid,asnarratedsoundly
byAl-Tirmidh:afterthat,lyingspreads.

32 Zdal-Masr

%,(a\ A +@ K7` o .109


{We do not prefer
prefer any wal
wal over any prophet may
6-` <J( bS,QH %,_`a\ A +@ VQH Allh
Allh perfecttheirpeace},forawalonlyreachedhis
perfecttheirpeace}
.%,(a ,D8 \A KT +@ W_`
rankbecauseoffollowingaprophet,sohowcanhebe

better? Even the extraordinary events that happen at


thehandsofsomeofthemaremerelyextensionsofthe
miraclesoftheirprophet.Moreover,prophetshaveall
the characteristics that a wal has, plus the added
nobility of prophethood. {And we say that a single
prophet is better than all wal
wals together},
together} due to the
greathonorprophetshavebyreceivingrevelationsand
havingmiracles.

\A %8 %D9 \A` .110


{Webelieveinwhatistoldoftheirkar
{Webelieveinwhatistoldoftheirkarmahs},which
mahs}
.bSj%#\ A %-p(\ H f bSj%A0 aretheextraordinaryeventsthathappentowals,{and
{and
wassoundlynarratedthroughtrustworthynarrators.}
wassoundlynarratedthroughtrustworthynarrators.}
hroughtrustworthynarrators.}

\A "H%J( 019 \A` .111


C,QH b#0A \9 VJ,H s` %8+( 0
De( 6Q'9 \A` 33%DJ(\ A <J(
\A a" 9 0 %S90}A \A
%S.d6A

{Webelieveintheprerequisitesofthelasthour,such
asthecomingofAl
asthecomingofAlAl-Dajj
Dajjl,}whoisahumanbeingthat
l,}
claimstobeGodandhasextraordinaryeventsoccurat
hishands,{andthedescentofJesus
{andthedescentofJesus#fromthesky}
fromthesky}
{andthedescentofJesus
fromthesky}
inhisreturntoEarth.ItwasdeclaredauthenticbyAlTkimandverifiedbyAl-DhahabthattheProphet"
saidaboutJesus#:

\
h Y QJ, ( %'J
-A %A%A o+H
%DY @
b#0A \9 VJ,H \
h'
_ S, (
WQH bQJ
# Vhg@
0_3 \
h , j , ( %DSg ,hI 9 0D g .A %8%@ %8%?T
,C ,QH

h h (
Jesus, the son of Mary will descend (from the sky
where he is alive today) to be a just ruler and an
equitableimm.HewillgottoperformTajjorUmrah
pilgrimage or both together and he will come to my
grave in order to give his salm greeting to me, and I

33 Al-Mustadrak,2/651,No.4162.
\9 +D&A %I[+@ +,_H \9 VQ.# %I[+@ %6( +_H \9 +D&A %I[+@ 0,&( +D@\ 9 +D&A U,'( 69 W`0_ 4162 651/2\ ,&,&E( VQH +gJD(
b#0A \9 VJ,H \'_S,( bQ= C,QH B VQf B 6= %3 6-# 0#0 %9 Z.D= %3 "_,_@ V(6A %'H \H 0_-D( +,.= W9\ 9 +,.= \H %&=
6(6-T r6Dg# W WI9 0#0 69 6-# C,QH a WQH bQJ# Vg@ 0_3 \,j,( %DSg,I9 0Dg.A %8%@ %?T \YQJ,( %'J-A %A%A o+H %DY@
r%I= : W_P( %3 CIA +,_H \9 VQ.# C.D= ,&f : b%&( %3 - 0#+-( ,T ."3%,J( rPS9 r%80# b( %I=> ,&f #+@ P< J( nx0-# 0#0 69
.U#0u 6( %f

willanswerhim(Al-Mustadrak,2/561).

{Andwebelieveintherisingofthesunfromthewest,
and the coming of the animal of the earth from its
place.}
place.} Muslim narrated from Ab Hurayrah that the
Prophet"said:

K
_3 \A ZI A \Y j b( %S` %D# %J7` 7 I# %( \80
[<

%h8+h ( %S9 0 }A \A
De
h (
6Q 0,
%S` %D# WT Z_ J


a
" 9h
There are three things that if they come, then the
belief of a blasphemer in Islm, or repentance of a
sinner are no longer accepted: the rising of the sun
fromthewest,thecomingofAl-Dajjl,andthecoming
oftheanimaloftheearth.

o %I% +E` o .112


{We do not believe any fortuneteller or clairvoyant,}
clairvoyant,}
%gY((^ %# %,1 WH+# \A o 34%T0H or anyone who claims to have knowledge of the
."Aa %D8" IJ(

unknowable by special ability or supernatural powers.


A/madibnTanbalnarratedthattheProphet"said:

s ` %D9 0 7 +- T
6-# %D9 C 3 +h E
T %Th0H
%I % Vj\ A
" + Dh &
A VQH

Whoevercomestoasomeonewhoclaimstoknowthe
futureortohavepsychicknowledgeandbelievedwhat
he said to be true, has blasphemed against what has
beenrevealedtoMu/ammad".

We do not believe in such people, {or whomsoever


makes a claim contrary to what is in the Qur
Qurn,}
n,}
flawless{{/ad
adths,orijm
s,orijmconsensus.}
consensus.}

34 Fat/al-Br10/216,Shar/al-Nawaw2/298,Mashriqal-Anwr2/145.
h0. ( U_=
V( %Ig =%( A ( WT - , =
%D9 %_(% U,} ( bQH
%H - %0J 6?# %Y(
g7 9 - "`%SY ( :10/216 0?@ \9o %_( gT
\A C(63( 145 / 2 )- %[ %&f VQH 6`a %eA .63 K.T \A 0
9 %_,}D ( VQH
636 ( 0g J# \A h0( +#+ej " QD SD ( g7 9
\A ZJ,( 0 %_= 0'( b?I(\ ,Dg(\ (%9 6Aa P# P( 0.( %T0H \% K ,( %SY(\ A 6` b %I% Vj\ A %T0H Vj
2 )- bQJA VQH 6I( 01 . K_-gJD( U,}(%9 0_# P(\ %Y( 686A 6 %DA V7 %D9 0_# P( 0.( K,3 U,}(" T0.A VH+# C`" (?\ S8
0. ( WT
% :
%3 b Qh=
C ,QH
ChQ( VhQf
+hD&
A VQH ChQ(
s ` %hDA
0 9 +- T 6-# %D9 C3 +h E
T %I % Vj\ A ) #+@
WT %# W
9 %h'
(
%3 :(298 /
\A bS IA C,'H b S7 9 n
( +g=
WH+h # \A bS I A %_
( C , ( W-Q# \
?
( \ A %,x C (
h bHs# \A bS I A 6A( \ A 0,p
6T0 . # bS `h
6H+h # "IS
bS IA n
( 6&` 0D ( C 9 bShg# \A "T0 . A W
` %Q7 ( We
h ( 0=
\A " T 0.D %S9 h+g = %_= %A+ - D 9 6A(" T0.A bHs# P(h 6 %Th0H
: VhDJ
#
,7` 6 W
9 %h'
( %Q P . C ` 6H+h # %D,T bS-#+E
j bS(63 V( 680 ( bSQ %( %,j\ H
WSIh( VQH
KDg e
# #+&
( :
%3 %I % b?I D ( WDJ
# \A
%D9 C 3 +h E
T %T h0H
%I % Vj\ A %3 bQh=
C ,QH
C Qh( VhQf
W
_ Ih(\ H
\
J
&
( 0 # 0 W9\ H
%Q
%I[ +h @
%3 6H
\H
+,.=
\
9 V,&# %I[ +h @
- +D@ +IJA .
b Qh=
C , QH
C Qh( VhQf
+ Dh &
A VQH

s ` %D9 0 7 +- T
6-#

%-@ "H%D?( 0` .113


{We see the jam
jamah} the ijm consensus of the
35
%9PH %}#" 307( %96f mujtahidscholars,andunityunderasinglekhalfah{as
{as
true and correct, and division as deviation
deviation and
torture},
torture} whether this division be in the sense of
breakingijmorbysplittingintogroups.

Allhsaid(lImrn,103):

[103/0DH ] 630h 7 j o
Meaning:Donotsplitapart.

Al-Bukhr narrated that one time in the army of the


Prophet ", an immigrant to Al-Madnah kicked the
rear of another man from Al-Madnah. The latter
started calling the people of his home city while the
other called other fellow immigrants for help. When
theProphet"heardtheircries,hesaid:

\A K8
J
C Qh(
6= %# 6(%3 " ,h Q %?( 6H

%9 %A
" I g IA %S`h T %6H
%-T %E`(\ A %Q8
\
#08
%SD (
What is it with the cryof the non-Islamic era? That
is, separate groups up against each other instead of
brotherhood. They told him what had happened, and
hesaid,Leavethiscry,foritisrotten.

a WT B\ # .114
{Allh
Allhs religion on earth and in the sky is only one,
B %3 \ >=<# 6 +@ %DJ( anditisIsl
anditisIslm.Allh
m.Allh
Allhsaid(
said(l
lImr
Imrn,19):
n,19):
%3 >=<( B +IH \#+() V(%.j
[19/*"f &; ]2 3g& C y f
i
XNC&
g }
(%I# >=< bY( Z,d)V(%.j
Meaning:Verily the one and only religion that Allh
acceptsisIslm.

{AndHeQ&Kjsaid(Alsaid(Al-Midah,3):
idah,3):

[3/CK*& ]KyX K3;& h p &


#S}
Meaning:AllhacceptsIslmasareligionforyou.

35
Fat/al-Br8/649.
\
#08
%SD Q( %#
0 8
%SD (
%3 %E`Q ( %#
%E` (
%-T %E` ( \ A <
8
\
#08
%SD (\ A K8
J
Y T
,8
WT -8/649 0?@ \9o %_( gT
" I g I A %S`h T %6H
%-T %E
`(\ A %Q8
\ #08
%SD (\ A K8
J
C Qh(
6= %# 6(%3 " ,hQ %?( 6H
%9 %A
%-T b Qh=
C , QH
C Qh( VhQf
C Qh(
6= n
( D J
T

0,E-g( 6Q}(\ ,9 6 .115


{Isl
{Islmisbetweenextremism}byexceedingthebounds
misbetweenextremism}
+-( 0_?(\ ,9 K,'.g( C,_eg(\ ,9 of what Allh has allowed, {and shortcoming}
shortcoming} by not
,(\ Aa\ ,9

performing obligations that Allh has prescribed {;

between likening Allh


Allhs attributes to those of His
creation}
creation} by ascribing to them meanings that apply to
creation,suchasalimit,{andrejectingthem;between
{andrejectingthem;between
denying choice all together and saying that humans
create their
their own acts; and between feeling safe from
Allh
Allhspunishment,anddespairofHisforgiveness.}
spunishment,anddespairofHisforgiveness.}

0% %`%-gH %II# PST .116


{So this is our religion and belief, both outward and
\A K\ A B V( 09 \&` %I %9 inward, and we declare
declare to Allh
Allh that we disavow
.r%I,9 r%`0 P((^ %

whomsoever disagrees with what we have mentioned


andexplained.}
andexplained.}

%Ig_ p # V(%.j B J` .117


\A %IDE.# C9 %I( bg# %D#> VQH
"307gD( "7QgD( 6a
"(sg.D(" S_eD( KpA "#0( UPD(
\A b0,u" #+-(" #0_?(" ,DS?(
67(%@ "H%D?(" IJ( 67(% \#P(
%`+IH b 09 bSIA \&` "(<(
.k,T6g(" DE.( B%9 %#< d

{We ask Allh


Allh Q&Kj to make us firm in the Islamic
belief, and to end our lives while we are in that state,
and to protect us from the various kinds of deviant
inclinations,anddivisiveopinions,andlowlydoctrines,
such as that of the mush
mushabbihah,}
abbihah,} who liken Allh to
His creation; {the Mu
Mutazilah,}
tazilah,} who deny Allhs
attributes; {the Jahmya
Jahmyah,}
yah,}
h,} who claimed that Allh is
literally everywhere, not in the sense that He knows
everything,andclaimedthatParadiseandHellcometo
anend; {theJabrya
{theJabryah,}
yah,}whodeniedthathumanshave
h,}
anychoiceatall,evenacreatedone;{theQada
{theQadar
{theQadaryah,}
yah,}
h,}
who claimed that humans create their own actions,
{and others among those that disagreed with the
sunnah and the jam
jamah, and pledged allegiance to
deviation.Weareclearofthem,andtheyaredeviants
andlowlyinourview.}
andlowlyinourview.}

Al-Ghazlsaid:TheSalafgenerationofthenationof
Prophet Mu/ammads " followers agreed to blame

thosewithdeviantideas,andtoabandonthem,andto
cut relations with them, and to be hard in rebuking
them,buttonotbehardondifferentviewsindetailsof
jurisprudence.36 The same was stated by Al al-Dn
Al-Bukhr37.

{ByAllh
{By Allh
Allh aloneistheprotectionfrombadbeliefsand
Healonecreatestheabilitytodogood.}
Healonecreatestheabilitytodogood.}

36 AbTmidAl-Ghazl.A
l-MustaXfFIlmal-UXl.Beirut,Lebanon:DarAl-KotobAl-ilmyah,1413.
VQH +#+eg( 0j A bS,QH %Y`> +#+ej bS.A "_&E( '3 bSj08%SA" H+g_D( VQH "Aa^ Q= %7j :350/1 V7EgJD(
C-7( 0T x07( Kx%JA WT \,7QgD(
37 Alal-DnAl-Bukhr.Kashfal-Asrr.4vols.Beirut,Lebanon:DarAl-KotobAl-ilmyah,1418/1997.
bgII P( bYI bY( 07\ #PQ( K#6T 07\ #P( \ n( V(%.j C(6- VE&# o %DA P VQH "(+( %# : 25/4 0=a^ e
C` bS(63" IJ( %gY(\ A 0E&I# o %DA %7Y(\ A \,9PYD(" QD?( VQH 0A bS96Q3 WT W1 VQH bS` 6_J&# 6I# o b b bY909
67}( 6S_` \#P( s?.D(%9 \#+#D( K=0(\ A .9(" a\ A UE` K-.(\ A bS3 %D9 k&(" 9%f VQH b+3 C`a +=%T =6( WT ,( %A ^,QYj
"H+g_D( VQH \,7(%D( +@ K_3 "Aa^ Q= %D89 K'_# 0_I.( C(%3 %A K=0( +.9 "?@ B VQH +@a k_# b( Vg@ 0I( WH 60@
. 07( Kx%JA WT \,7QgD( VQH +#+eg( 0j A bS,QH %Y`> +#+ej bS.A "_&E( '3 bSj08%SA

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