Islamic Belief [in Allah] In the Light of the Qur’an and the Sunnah بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Session Two

 They did to Islam what Paul did to the teachings of Isa  Separated deeds from belief  They said: “Sin does no harm as long as the individual believes.”  Islam: Deeds are part of iman – it increases with good deeds and decreases with bad deeds.

 The way of the Khawarij caused despair in the forgiveness of Allah.  And, it caused killing and separation among the Muslims.  The way of the Murji’a removed the motivation for good deeds and obedience.  It causes Islam – individual and collective – to disintegrate.  Islam: The iman of those who sin is imperfect, but they are still among the Muslims and their judgment is up to Allah in the hereafter.  Unless that sin itself constitutes kufr.

 Both address the same issues:  The origin and purpose of the universe  The means to short-term and long-term felicity.  Major differences between them:  Origin and sources  Methodology  Influence  Effects

 Philosophy is a strictly human endeavor  Weaknesses and limitations  Influenced by environment  ‘Aqeedah is from Divine Communication  Decisive truth which falsehood cannot approach  Basic understanding comes without effort.

 Many start from the human psyche  Empirical and reason the only sources of knowledge  So-called ‘ilm al-kalaam followed their precepts and methodology.  Wajib al-wujood  Islam: call to worship Allah alone is the starting point  Knowledge of Allah is the foundation of all knowledge  Not mere affirmation, but worship and submission

 Philosophy, based on the human mind exclusively is often self-aware of shortcomings  Fundamental truths – whose source is the Creator – in no need of “re-examination”  Sensory vs. certain knowledge  Purpose: philosophy->knowledge; aqeedah ->imaan.

 ‘Aqeedah addresses all aspects of human experience.  Evokes understanding of universal realities which cannot be put into words  Philosophy attempts to capture universal realities – beyond human comprehension into words and terms.  ‘Aqeedah should never be approached this way

 Both use physical signs to indicate Allah’s Oneness  Qur’an avoids universal analogies which put Creator and creation on the same level.  Many philosophical arguments are weak leading to rejection of truth  Some of them reject truth directly

 Learning what is in the Qur’an increases iman  Islam is complete and perfect and in no need of being “reconciled” with anything else.  All else is either falsehood or a mix of truth and falsehood  Islam did not come to be ruled by peoples’ ideas but rather to correct and direct those ideas.

 Those who rejected it immediately  Ash-Shaafi’i, Ahmad, others  Those who immersed themselves in it and later regretted and repented  Ar-Razi, Al-Ghazali  Those who studied it only to expose its weakness  Ibn Taimia

 The vast difference between a man of philosophy and a man of ‘aqeedah  Men of ‘Aqeedah can deal with what ails this Ummah, philosophy cannot  The difference between holding an opinion and believing in something.  Evidence led to the Creator; His message not subject to evidence after that.