Aqeedah

1. What is aqeedah?

Aqeedah (عقيدة): believing and accepting firmly, without room for any doubt.

• In Islamic usage: the basic Islamic beliefs called arkan al-iman (the pillars of faith) and matters connected with them are called aqeedah.
• Plural: al-'aqa'id (العقائد).

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2. One aqeedah for all the prophets

• All the prophets and messengers who appeared in the world taught the same aqeedah.

(42:13 – ash-Shura) – meaning: He has ordained for you the same religion He enjoined on Nuh – and what We have revealed to you (O Prophet), and what We enjoined on Ibrahim, Musa and 'Isa: establish the religion (din) and do not be divided in it.

Aqeedah vs Shari'ah

• The people who came after the prophets corrupted the aqeedah → Allah sent prophets again to teach the correct aqeedah.
• Finally Muhammad ﷺ taught the aqeedah according to Allah's guidance; it is contained in the Quran and the Sunnah.

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3. The time of the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions

• Islamic aqeedah was in a sound state.
• They:
  • did not argue about it
  • had no doubts
  • gave no rational (philosophical) explanations
  • believed and lived by the aqeedah the Messenger taught exactly in its original form.

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4. Factors that made aqeedah lose its simplicity

In later times:

1. Political internal conflicts that arose within the Muslim community
2. The ideas of outsiders
3. Relations and contacts with other religious groups
4. Using reason beyond its limits
5. Extremism
6. Following one's desires
7. The plots of enemies
8. Superstitions

Results

• Aqeedah lost its simplicity; its life and its high standing faded.
• Matters of aqeedah became subject to mere philosophical disputes and argumentative debates.
• Aqeedah, which should purify the heart, correct conduct and raise the individual and society, was in danger of becoming a mere subject of research under philosophical inquiry.

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5. The schools of thought that appeared

Many schools of thought appeared centred on aqeedah; they put forward deviant beliefs contrary to pure Islamic aqeedah.

The Shi'ah

• They appeared on the basis of a political dispute over who was entitled to the caliphate after the Prophet ﷺ.
• Later they grew into a group with a differing aqeedah.

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6. The imams who protected the purity of aqeedah

1. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (RH)
2. Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari (RH)
3. Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (RH)
4. Abu Ja'far at-Tahawi (RH)

The sacrifice of Imam Ahmad (RH)

• He struggled against the ideas of the Mu'tazilah.
• He said (meaning):

  "It is better that Islam lives and I die, than that I live and Islam dies."

• This is evidence of the sacrifice he made to protect the purity of aqeedah.

History confirms that whenever ideas against pure aqeedah appear, people arise who protect and guide the ummah.

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Quick revision

• Aqeedah = firm belief without doubt; plural – al-'aqa'id; arkan al-iman.
• One aqeedah for all the prophets (42:13); the Shari'ah changed with the times.
• The time of the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions: no disputes, no doubts, no rational explanations.
• Factors: political conflict, outside ideas, contact with religious groups, excessive use of reason, extremism, desires, enemy plots, superstitions.
• Groups: Khawarij, Qadariyyah, Jabriyyah, Mu'tazilah, Murji'ah, Shi'ah.
• Imams: Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, Abu Ja'far at-Tahawi.