Tawheed with the Philosophers

**madeenahsh** · 11-04-2005

Lessons From the Noble Qur'aan
by Sheikh Saalih ibn Fawzaan ibn 'Abdillaah Al-Fawzaan
Translation by Moosa Richardson
Lesson 1 - Part 4

There are those who say that Tawheed is only one category - Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah. It is to acknowledge that Allaah is the Creator, the Provider, the Bringer of life and death, etc. They only refer to the actions of Allaah and to His Attributes. Upon this thought the philosophers and independent thinkers have built their 'aqeedah.

Their beliefs are found in their books, and if you were to read them, you would surely find that they affirm Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah only. So as far as they are concerned, whoever proclaims awareness of that is someone of Tawheed to them. They have no understanding of Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah, nor of Tawheed al-Asmaa' was-Sifaat, so they do not consider worshipping a grave or calling on the dead to be shirk. They may only say, "This is making one's intention for other than Allaah, and it is wrong," but they will not say it is shirk.

Some of them say, "Verily these people that call on the dead and seek help from those buried in graveyards are not people of shirk because they do not believe that these dead people or other objects of worship can actually create anything, nor can they provide or control affairs along with Allaah. Since they have not believed that, they are not Mushrikoon. These actions are not considered shirk, they have only taken these things as intercessors and intermediaries between them and Allaah!!"

These are their sayings, and they are identical to the sayings of the polytheists of old, who said [1]:

"Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only. And those who take Auliyaa' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allaah."[1]

And Allaah says about them:

"And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allaah."[2]

The philosophers say, "Verily it is not shirk to worship graves, nor to call on the dead or seek their their help. It is merely tawassul (seeking a means to get close to Allaah), seeking intercession, and making intermediaries between them and Allaah. It is not shirk unless they believe that these things create, provide, or control the affairs along with Allaah!"

This is stated specifically in their books and speeches. The few philosophers who do show any dislike for people falling into this merely say, "This is only a mistake, as these people are ignorant and fell into this mistake due to their ignorance, not intentionally

However, the majority of them do not show any contempt for it, rather they say, "This is making intermediaries and intercessors with Allaah, it is not shirk."

I am not attributing things to people that they have not actually said - these statements are present in their books that refute the people of Tawheed and defend the people of
shirk.

As for Allaah's Names and Attributes, they believe that affirming them would necessitate making Allaah like His Creation, so they deny them. They, like the Jahmiyyah[3], Mu'tazilah[4], Ash'ariyyah[5], and the Maatureediyyah, negate Tawheed al-asmaa' was-Sifaat, thinking to preserve Allaah's Glory by not likening Him to His created things. So Tawheedwith them is limited to Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah only, as they have no understanding of Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah, nor any understanding of Tawheed al-Asmaa' was-Sifaat.

They despise those who divide Tawheed into three categories, so much so that one of their modern day writers wrote, "Dividing Tawheed into three categories is something from the Trinity!" Their shamelessness reached this point, that they called this division an imitation of the Christians, and with Allaah is the Refuge!

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The meaning of Soorah Az-Zumar (39):3
[2] The meaning of Soorah Yoonus (10):18
3 Jahmiyyah: This sect of people came out in the last era of Umawi empire. It belongs to "Jahm bin Safwan" At-Tirmidhi. They deny the Names and Atributes of Allah, similar to the extremists of Murji'ah and Jabariyah.

4 Mu'atazilah : This sect began at the start of the second century after the Hijrah. It was founded by 'Amr ibn 'Ubayd and Waasil ibn 'Ataa. This sect believes in the negation of Allah's attributes, calling it Tawheed! They believe the Qur'aan to be creaetd, rebellion against the Muslim rulers to be correct and that the Muslims, guilty of major sins, are in a position between Belief and disbelief and that they are destined to be in Hell forever.

5 Shaikh Ibn al-Uthaimeen - (rh) - said: "So - for example - the Ash'arees and the Maatooreedees are not considered from Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah in this particular matter (i.e. concerning the Names and Attributes of Allaah). Rather, they oppose what the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) and his Companions were upon with regards to accepting the Attributes of Allaah - the Most Perfect - upon their haqeeqah (real meaning). This is why, whoever says that Ahl us-Sunnah are three groups: the Salafees, the Ash'arees and the Maatooreedees - then such a person is indeed mistaken. Rather we say: How can all three be considered Ahl us-Sunnah and they differ with each other? What is there after Truth, except misguidance. How can they all be Ahl us-Sunnah, whilst each one of them refutes the other - this is not possible - except if it is possible to reconcile the opposites. There is no doubt however, that one of them is truly Ahl us-Sunnah - but which one? Is it the Ash'arees, the Maatooreedees or the Salafees? Whichever of them agrees with the Sunnah is considered to be Ahl us-Sunnah, whilst whichever of them opposes it is not. So we say: The Salaf are Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah, and this description cannot be true for anyone else other than them. So how can those who oppose the Sunnah be called Ahl us-Sunnah - this is not possible. How is it possible to say Ahl us-Sunnah are of three differing groups, but we say that they are in agreement? So where is the agreement and consensus? Rather, Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah are those who hold on to what the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) and his Companions were upon, and to the aqeedah of the Salaf - until the Day of Judgment - and they are the Salafees." Sharh Aqeedatil-Waasitiyyah (1/123)