The importance of ‘Aqeedah for the Muslim

[Umm Yoosuf]

The importance of ‘Aqeedah for the Muslim

Written by/Said by: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan
Taken from: Fataawa as-Siyaasah ash-Shar'iyyah, Question 1


Question: There is (one) here who is lax concerning the importance of aqeedah (creed) and he is of the opinion that eemaan (faith) is sufficient (for him). Do you have any clarification concerning the importance of aqeedah for the Muslim and how it reflects on his life, on his relationship with the (Muslim) society (as a whole) and with the non-Muslims?

Answer: In the name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. All praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of the all that exists. And may the peace and blessings be upon our Messenger Muhammad and upon his family and his companions. To proceed:

The correctness of aqeedah is the (most) fundamental principle. This is because bearing witness that Laa Ilaaha Illa Allaah Wa Anna Muhammaddan Rasool Allaah (there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His Messenger), is the first pillar of Islaam. And the Messengers called firstly, to the correction of the aqeedah because all acts of worship and behavior depends on it and without the correct aqeedah, there is no benefit from (these) deeds. The Most High said:

“But if they had joined in worship others with Allaah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.” - Al-An’am (6):88

And their deeds became invalid.

And Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى) said:

“Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Dhaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers.” - Al-Maa’idah (5):72

And the Most High said:

“And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)), as it was to those (Allaah’s Messengers) before you: ‘If you join others in worship with Allaah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.’” - Az-Zumar (39):65

From these texts and other than them, it is clear that the correction of the aqeedah is from the important (affairs) and at the forefront of the da’wah. And the first (affair) to establish for the da’wah is the correction of aqeedah. And the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) remained in Makkah for thirteen years after his mission began, calling the people to the correction of the aqeedah and to at-Tawheed. And the faraa’id (obligatory acts of worship) were not revealed to him except in Madeenah.

Yes, and the salaat was made obligatory upon him in Makkah before the hijrah and the rest of the shar’iah was imposed on him after the hijrah. From this we have evidence that deeds are not accepted except after the correction of the aqeedah.

And this is for the one who says: That the eemaan is sufficient without having interest for the aqeedah.

This is contradictory because eemaan is not eemaan except if the aqeedah is correct. And if the aqeedah is not correct, then there is no eemaan, and (there is) no deen (religion).

www.masjiduthaymeen.org

[Anisa19]

Very important fatwa!!

JazaakAllah Khair!

[Abu Thabit]

May Allah preserve Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan and all of our scholars,

theres a nice saying I think its by al-'Allamah Muhammad Ameen Ash-Shanqiti may Allah's mercy be upon him, he said:
(The 'Aqeedah is like a foundation[of a building] and the deeds are like the roof, if the roof had a foundation it will stand firm, and if not, it will be demolished)

[Amin motiwala]

Very Important information
Thanks a lot
JazakALLAH khair

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[marwen]

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[shere0901]

Really informative information. Ah it is very important. Everybody should read this thread .

[Liverpool]

Really good post!

[abo mussaab]

thank you brother jazek allah khairan

[Arabian-Muslim]

Aqeedah is regarded as the pillar of Islam; because it creates the stable character of the Muslim person. In other words, it gives you the power to love your religion and to walk behind the Holy Qur'an and the Sunna...

[nila11]

In Islam Aqeedah Toheed is most important part of Muslim life. It means one must believe that ALLAH (God) who created man by clout of blood and HAZRAT MUHAMMAD (PBUH) is last prophet of ALLAH.

[shehzad.sattar]

I really love the Shaykh for the sake of Allah, may Allah preserve and I really love this thread. Highly beneficial masha Allah!

[shehzad.sattar]

Response to the one who says: 'l do not need to learn 'Aqeedah.'

By the Noble Shaykh, Saalih Ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan

Source: Al-Istiqaamah Magazine Issue No.8 - Shawwal 1418H / February 1998

[Q]: There are some people here, who keep away from (attending) lessons on ’aqeedah (creed/beliefs), and they say: ‘We are Muslims, we are not unbelievers or idol-worshippers such that we have to learn ’aqeedah or attend lectures about it.’ So, O noble Shaykh, what is your view regarding this!

[A]: Teaching the Muslims (the correct) ’aqeedah does not mean that we have judged them to be unbelievers. Rather, we teach the Muslims about ’aqeedah in order for them to know about it thoroughly, and know what matters nullify it and what matters are contrary to it. Hudhayfah Ibnul-Yamaan, one of the distinguished Companions - radiyallaahu ’anhu - said: “People used to ask the Messenger about the good, but I used to ask him about the evil, for fear of falling into it.” [2] Likewise ’Umar Ibnul-Khattaab (radiyallaahu ’anhu) said: “Soon the bonds of Islaam will be loosened bit by bit, because people will enter into Islaam but will be unaware of Jaahiliyyah (ignorant practices that Islaam opposes).” [3] Thus, when we teach ’aqeedah, this does not imply that we have judged those whom we are teaching to be non-Muslims. Rather, what it means is that we desire that they should be thoroughly aware of the correct Islaamic ’aqeedah; so as to cling to it, and to be aware of what opposes it; so as to keep far away from it. Allaah - the Most High - said, whilst addressing His Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam:
“So have knowledge about Laa ilaaha illallaah (i.e, have knowledge that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah), and seek forgiveness for your sins, and for the believing men and women.” [Soorah Muhammad 47:19]


So it is essential that a person learns and that he does not content himself with merely saying: ‘I am a Muslim.’ Yes indeed, you are a Muslim - and all praise is for Allaah! However, if one of you were asked as to what Islaam means, or you were asked to explain what Islaam is, then many of you would not be able to correctly explain this. If one of you were to be asked to explain what are those factors which nullify Islaam, then many of you would not be able to explain this. Thus, if a person is ignorant (of such fundamentals), it is possible that he may fall into falsehood without realizing it. If one of you were asked to explain the pillars of Islaam or eemaan (faith) that the Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) explained and taught, we would find that most people would be unable to do so. So how is it that a person (suffices with) saying: ‘I am a Muslim,’ yet does not know these (basic) matters!


Unfortunately, many of the du’aat (callers to Islaam) are themselves unaware of (basic matters such as) what are the conditions for Prayer, or unaware of the rules and regulations concerning wudoo‘ (ablution) and those matters which invalidate wudoo‘. Some of them do not even know what matters form the arkaan (pillars) of the Prayer, or form its waajibaat (obligations), or those matters which invalidate the Prayer. So what Islaam are they calling to! Islaam is not merely a call, rather it is a reality to be learnt and practiced. So it is essential to acquire sound knowledge and understanding of the Religion. This is because a person who does not have sound knowledge, may fall into dangers without even realizing it; just like a person who walks down a path, but is ignorant of the fact that along this path there is a ditch, or a hole, or even an ambush. Yet (due to his ignorance) he ends up falling into the hole, or the ambush, without even realizing it.


Thus it is essential to learn about Tawheed, since it is Tawheed that is the basic foundation (of both the Religion and the correct Islaamic ’aqeedah). Indeed, no one abstains from learning about Tawheed (and those matters it necessitates, as well as its limits, conditions, fundamentals, clear proofs, fruits and consequences, and those matters which increase and strengthen it, and those that decrease and weaken it, etc.) except one of two people: [i] an ignorant person - and the ignorant person’s [view] is not to be given any weight; or [ii] a bigoted deviant - one who desires to avert people from the ’aqeedah of pure Tawheed, and who wishes to conceal from the people his own false beliefs, and those other deviant beliefs that are (falsely) ascribed to Islaam. And this is possibly the Ease of many of those who abstain from learning about Tawheed. Allaah - the Most High - said: “And it is not proper for all the Believers to go out together and fight. From every troop of them only a party of them should go forth, so that those who remain behind may gain understanding of the Religion so that they may (instruct and) warn their people when they return to them, in order that they may beware.” [Sooratut-Tawbah 9:122]


Also, the Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever Allaah desires to show goodness to, He gives him the understanding of the Religion.” [4] The meaning of this hadeeth is that whenever Allaah does not want to show goodness to a person, He does not give him the understanding of the Religion. So the one who says: ‘I do not need to learn ’aqeedah.’ It is as if he is saying: ‘I do not need to gain understanding of the Religion!’ And this is said by either an ignorant person, or one who is misguided!


Footnotes: [1] al-Muntaqaa min Fataawaa (1/303-306)
[2] Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 3606) and Muslim (no. 1847)
[3] Related by Ibn Taymiyyah in his Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (10/301)
[4] Related by al-Bukhaaree (1/25), from Mu’aawiyah (radiyallaahu ’anhu)

[jawad555]

No doubt Aqeeda is first step of Muslims. Aqeeda which difference between Muslim & Non Muslims. Nice Article, JazakAllah

[ahmedfarhan]

Great post! In Islam Aqeedah Toheed is most important fragment of Muslim life.

[praisetoallah]

This is very helpful

[Afzalsheikh]

Whoever believes in the Last Day and its reckoning and reward or punishment, will be motivated thereby to do that which Allah has commanded and abstain from that which He has forbidden.

[abuahmed]

Assalamu Alaykum, Masha Allah , great post, especailly that it comes from a distinguished Scholar a follower of the SALAF ASSALIH not from an unknown or from an unqualified person; May Allah rewards you for spreading such pure and correct knowledge.

[MazharShafiq]

informative post

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informative post

[Nooralhuda]

Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee (d. 204 A.H.) stated:
“Whoever states that the Qur’aan is created is a disbeliever.”