All Praise is due to Allah, peace and blessings be upon the last Prophet, his family and Companions.
Since sound `Aqidah is the main origin of Islam and the basis of the Religion, I found it suitable to make it the topic of this lecture. It is wellestablished by textual proofs from the Qur'an and the Sunnah that the actions and sayings of a human being are only valid and accepted when they are based on sound `Aqidah. If the `Aqidah is not sound, all actions and sayings are void as Allah (Exalted be He) says:
And whosoever disbelieves in Faith [i.e. in the Oneness of Allâh and in all the other Articles of Faith i.e. His (Allâh's) Angels, His Holy Books, His Messengers, the Day of Resurrection and AlQadar (Divine Preordainments)], then fruitless is his work; and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.
And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ), as it was to those (Allâh's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers."
There are numerous Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) on this meaning. The clear Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) indicated that sound `Aqidah is to believe in Allah, His angels, (Divine) Books, His Messengers, the Hereafter and in AlQadr (Divine Decree) its good and evil. These six matters are the sound bases of `Aqidah with which the Book of Allah was revealed and with which his Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent.
It is not AlBirr (piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allâh, etc.) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but AlBirr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allâh, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets
The Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allâh, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say), "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers"
Jabriel asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about Iman and he replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Prophets, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil...
And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them (i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures). Verily, Allâh is the AllProvider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong.
The right of Allah over His slaves is that they should worship Him and not associate anything with Him.
There is nothing like Him; and He is the AllHearer, the AllSeer.
From the basis of faith is to believe in the five pillars of Islam that Allah has ordained and imposed on His servants which are: The testimony of La Ilaha Illa Allah (There is no god but Allah) and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performance of Salah (prayers), paying Zakah (obligatory charity), fasting during Ramadan and performing Hajj (pilgrimage) to the sacred House of Allah for those who can afford it
is wellknown, Kayf is unknown, believing in it is obligatory, and asking about it is Bid`ah (innovation in religion) then he said to the questioner I see an evil person and commanded him to be taken out. The same meaning was reported from Um
Salamah, the mother of the believers (may Allah be pleased with him). Imam Abu `AbdulRahman `Abdullah ibn AlMubarak (May Allah be Merciful with him) said: We believe that our Lord (may He be Praised) is above His heavens and over His Throne and creation. The words of the Imams in this regard are numerous and can not all be mentioned in this lecture. He who wants to read about this should refer to what the the people of the Sunnah narrated in this regard such as the book (of Sunnah) by `Abdullah ibn Imam Ahmad and Tawhid (monotheism) by Imam Muhammad ibn Khuzaymah, and the book (of Sunnah) by Abu AlQasim AlLalika'y A lTabary, and the book (of Sunnah) by Abu Bakr ibn Abu `Asim, and the letter of ShaykhulIslam Ibn Taymiyah to the people of
Hamah which was a great and beneficial answer in which he explained the `Aqidah of AhlulSunnah and reported many of their talks and textual and rational proofs on the validity of the view of AhlulSunnah and the invalidity of the view of their opponents as well as his message which is called (AlTadmuriyyah) in which he elaborated and explained the `Aqidah of AhlulSunnah by the textual and rational evidences and refuted the pleas of the opponents in order to show the truth. He refutes the error in which the people of knowledge fell out of their good intention and their wish to know the truth. All the people, who disagreed with AhlulSunnah in what they believe concerning the Names and Attributes of Allah contradicted the textual and rational evidences. Open contradiction in what they prove or negate is evident.
AhlulSunnah walJama`ah (those adhering to the Sunnah and the Muslim main body) acknowledge all that is mentioned affirmatively by Allah in His book and by the Prophet (peace be upon him) in his Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet). They affirm His attributes without Tamthil (likening Allah's Attributes to those of His Creation) or Ta`til (denial of Allah's Attributes). They thus escaped contradictions and acted upon all the relevant evidences. This is the way of Allah as manifested in those who followed the truth brought by His Messengers and were sincere in seeking Allah's success to reach the truth and have the incontrovertible evidence. Allah (Exalted be He) states: Nay, We fling (send down) the truth (this Qur'ân) against the falsehood (disbelief), so it destroys it, and behold, it (falsehood) is vanished. Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And no example or similitude do they bring (to oppose or to find fault in you or in this Qur'ân), but We reveal to you the truth (against that similitude or example), and the better explanation thereof.
In his Famous Book on Tafsir (explanation/exegesis of the meanings of the Qur'an), AlHafez Ibn Kathir (may Allah be merciful with him) comments on the following Ayah where Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Indeed, your Lord is Allâh, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He rose over (Istawâ) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He wrote a very good words in this place and it is useful to cite them:
"People have many attitudes regarding the interpretation of this verse but citing them all is beyond the goal of this book, we just follow the way of the pious Salaf such as Malik, AlAwza'i, AlThawri, AlLayth ibn Sa'd, AlShafi'i, Ahmad, Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, and other Muslim Imams of the past and present; that is to accept and let the Ayah pass as it has come without Takyif (questioning Allah's Attributes), Tashbih (comparison), Ta`til or Ta'wil (allegorical interpretation). The literal outward meaning that comes to the minds of anthropomorphists (al mushabbihin) is negated by Allah, for nothing created has any resemblance to Him; and He is the All Hearer, the AllSeer. This is opinion of the leading scholars including Nu`aym Ibn Hammad AlKhuza`y, the teacher of AlBukhary, who said: "Whoever compares Allah to His Creation or denies the attributes by which Allah has described Himself is regarded as Kafir (disbeliever). No Tashbih should be made for the attributes described by Allah or His Messenger. Whoever affirms what is mentioned in the expressed Ayahs and authentic Hadith in a way that befits the Magnificence of Allah and negates the possibility of any defects on the part of Allah follows the right path." End of the quote of Ibn Kathir (may Allah be merciful with him)."
As for belief in the angels, it involves belief in them generally as well as specifically. A Muslim should believe that Allah created angels to obey Him and believe in the characteristics mentioned by Allah as follows:
honoured slaves They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His Command. He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him.
There are different varieties of angels. Every angel has an assignment. There are angels in charge of carrying the Throne, in charge of Paradise and Hellfire, and in charge of recording servant's deeds. We must believe in the angels specifically those named by Allah and His Messenger such as Jibril (Gabriel), Mika'il (Michael), Malik who is in charge of Hellfire, and Israfil who is assigned to blow the horn.
They are mentioned in authentic Hadiths. It is authentically narrated from `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: Angels were created from light, jinns created from a smokeless flame of fire, and Adam was created from that which you have been told (i.e. sounding clay like the clay of pottery). (Related by Muslim in his Sahih)
Moreover, belief in the divine Books is another crucial factor in the sound `Aqidah (creed). Muslims must generally believe in Allah's books revealed to His messengers and prophets to manifest and call to the truth. He (Exalted be He) states: Indeed, We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. Allah also says: Mankind were one community and Allâh sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them He sent down the Scripture in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed.
We must believe in the Books specifically named by Allah such as the Tawrah (Torah), the Injil (Gospel), the Zabur (Book revealed to Prophet Dawud [David]), and finally the Qur'an. The Qur'an is the final, best, certified and powerful Book. Along with the authentic reports narrated from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was sent to mankind and Jinn, the Qur'an must be followed and acted upon by all Muslims. Everything was clearly explained in the Qur'an which was revealed to heal what is in the hearts and to be a guidance and mercy for the believers. Allah (Exalted be He) states: And this is a blessed Book (the Qur'ân) which We have sent down, so follow it and fear Allâh (i.e. do not disobey His Orders), that you may receive mercy (i.e. be saved from the torment of Hell). Allah (Glorified be He) says: And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur'an) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allâh as Muslims). Allah also says: Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allâh to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ), who believes in Allâh and His Words [(this Qur'ân), the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allâh's Word: "Be!" and he was, i.e. 'Isâ (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻤﺎ ﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ], and follow him so that you may be guided."
There are many Ayahs to this effect. We must believe in messengers generally and specifically. Allah sent down messengers to His servants as bearers of glad tidings, warners, and callers to the truth. Whoever positively responds to their call will achieve felicity while those who refuse will be regretful. Prophet