This is Our ‘Aqeedah

This is our ‘Aqeedah and Manhaj on vital issues of the Deen

Indeed, all praise belongs to Allah. We praise Him and we seek His support and His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Him from the evil of ourselves, and from the evil of our own actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, no one can misguide, and whomsoever Allah misguides (and leaves to be misguided), no one can guide. We testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and we testify that the Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is His last and final Messenger. To proceed:

Imam al-Shafi’ie (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “Allah has refused that there be any book other than His that is completely free of errors.” (Bukhari, Kashf al-Asrar 1:4)

 

Methodology in ‘Aqeedah (beliefs) and Fiqh (jurisprudence and understanding)

We believe that the basis of the correct methodology in ‘Aqeedah(beliefs), Fiqh( understanding) or general manhaj (methodology) can only be the Quran and authentic Hadith, as understood by as-Salaf as-Salih (the Prophet and his Companions), known also as Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah. Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way (Sahabah), We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell – what an evil destination!” (Qur’an, 4:115)

“And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajiroon and the Ansar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhajiroon) and also those who followed them exactly (in Iman). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.” (Qur’an, 9:100)

We believe that the Creator of everything that exists is Almighty Allah, alone without any partners, The First, before Whom there is none, The Last, after Whom the is none, The Highest, above Whom there is none, The Nearest to his servants, and none is closer than Him. He is the only Creator and Manager of all affairs, purified is He above all they associate with Him.

“He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of everything.” (Qur’an, 57:3)

“Surely, His is the Creation and Commandment. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)!” (Qur’an, 7:54)

We believe that our purpose in life is to worship Allah alone, without associating any partners with Him, and by worship we mean submitting, obeying and following Allah alone in all our sayings and actions, inner (our beliefs, sayings and actions of the heart), and outer (sayings of the tongue and actions of limbs).

“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” (Qur’an, 51:56)

“Say: “Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists). He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.” (Qur’an, 6:162-163)

We believe that the servant will never achieve his purpose in life (worshipping Allah), until and unless he, firstly, rejects Taghout (anything that consents to being worshipped, obeyed or followed instead of Allah) and then believes in Allah alone (His perfect Lordship, Names, Attributes and exclusive right to be worshipped, obeyed and followed alone in all affairs of life), and this is Tawheed of Allah and the real meaning of Laa Ilaaha illaa-Allah (the first and last obligation upon the servants).

“Whoever disbelieves in Taghout and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break (the Kalimah)…” (Qur’an, 2:256)

We believe that the strongest bond of Tawheed is al-Walaa’ wal-Baraa’, which means our love and allegiance is to Allah alone and for His sake we love the believers and for His sake we disavow and hate His enemies (the Tawagheet and their followers) – and this is the Millah of Ibrahim.

“Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: ‘Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah, we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred for ever, until you believe in Allah Alone.’”(Qur’an, 60:4)

“You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Rooh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever). Allah is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allah. Verily, it is the Party of Allah that will be the successful.” (Qur’an, 58:22)

We believe that Iman (faith) is belief, sayings and actions (of the heart, tongue and limbs), it increases by the good deeds and decreases by the bad deeds, and it can be negated by major shirk, kufr, nifaq or bid’ah (major polytheism, disbelief, hypocrisy or innovations).

Imam ‘Abdur-Razzaq bin Hammam said, “I heard Ibn Khareej, Sufyan ath-Thawree, Ma’mar, Sufyan Ibn ‘Uyaynah and Malik Ibn Anas saying, “Iman is statement and action, it increases and decreases.” (Al-Intiqa’, p. 34)

Imam al-Shafi’ie said, “Iman is statement and action, it increases and decreases.“ (Manaaqib al-Shafi’ie, 1/387)

We believe the pillars of Iman are belief in Allah (in the manner of Tawheed), His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, The Hereafter, The Fate and Destiny (its good and bad).

The Prophet (pbuh) said that Iman is, “That you have Iman in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your Iman in the Divine Decree, its good and evil.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

We believe in following the middle path, between extremism and negligence in beliefs, sayings, actions and Islamic work. We are, hence, between the Khawarij and the Murj’iah in Iman; between the Jabariyyah and Qadariyyah in Qadar; between the Mu’attilah and Mushabbihah in the al-Asma’ was-Sifat; and between the negligent and the extreme in da’wah and jihad.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “The Deen is very easy, and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be exaggerators, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights.” (Fath al-Bari, page 102, volume 1)

We believe that the Deen (way of life) of Islam is complete and that it offers complete guidance in every aspect of human life, whether in belief or matters of politics (ruling and judging), economics, social life, personal conduct, and so forth. So with us, the only Deen with Allah is al-Islam.

“Truly, the (only) Deen with Allah is al-Islam.” (Qur’an, 3:19)

“And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur’an) as an explanation for everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allah as Muslims).” (Qur’an, 16:89)

We believe that any leader of a state who rules and judges by other than the Sharia of Allah is a disbelieving Taghout (false god).

“And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the Kafiroon.” (Qur’an, 5:44)

“Or have they partners with Allah (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed.” (Qur’an, 42:21)

Methodology in Islamic work

We believe that even though it has been destined by Allah that the Ummah would divide and spilt into various sects and groups, unity based on the Qur’an and Sunnah (as understood by the Salaf) is still obligatory, and disunity based upon partisanship is prohibited by the Sharia.

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. Qur’an), and be not divided among yourselves.” (Qur’an, 3:103)

“And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient…” (Qur’an, 8:46)

We believe it is obliged upon us, as an Ummah worldwide, to be united under one leader and state (khaleefah and khilafah) that rules and judges our affairs by the Sharia of Allah; and we believe that in the absence of this state, the Ummah is obliged to seek it and work towards establishing it.

“And so judge (you O Muhammad SAW) between them by what Allah has revealed and follow not their vain desires.” (Qur’an, 5:49)

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “…And whoever dies whilst there was no bay’ah (allegiance or a pledge) on his neck (to a khaleefah), he dies a death of jahiliyyah.” (Sahih Muslim)

“And those who disbelieve are allies to one another, (and) if you (Muslims of the whole world collectively) do not do so (i.e. become allies, as one united block with one khaleefah – chief Muslim ruler for the whole Muslim world to make victorious Allah’s Religion of Islamic Monotheism), there will be fitnah (wars, battles, polytheism, etc.) and oppression on earth, and a great mischief and corruption (appearance of polytheism).” (Qur’an, 8:73)

We believe da’wah, commanding good and forbidding evil, and jihad are obligations upon the Ummah collectively and its individuals, all according to their capability, circumstances and reality.

“So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can.” (Qur’an, 64:16)

“Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma’roof (i.e. Tawheed and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (shirk, kufr and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful.” (Qur’an, 3:104)

“Invite to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur’an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.” (Qur’an, 6:125)

“The believers, men and women, are Awliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma’roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden).” (Qur’an, 9:71)

“Jihad (fighting in Allah’s Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.” (Qur’an, 2:216)

We believe that a group or a party of people from this Ummah, known as at-Ta’ifah al-Mansoorah, will always be victorious over the enemies of Islam, not harmed by those who oppose them or those who abandon them and they will remain victorious until the Day of Resurrection.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “There shall always remain a group from my Ummah, apparent upon the truth, until the Command of Allah comes and they are apparent.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

“There shall always remain a group from my Ummah, upholding the affair of Allah, not being harmed by those who seek to mislead them, nor by those who oppose them, until the Command of Allah comes, and they are upon that.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

“There shall always remain a group from my Ummah apparent upon the truth. They will not be harmed by those who forsake them until the Command of Allah comes, and they are like that.” (Sahih Muslim)

“There shall always remain a group from my Ummah fighting upon the truth, until the Day of Judgement.” (Sahih Muslim)

We believe the Ummah is faced with confusion about which group to be with and follow from the different vying sects, groups and parties – many of whom are only pleased with what is with them from leaders, statements and opinions (although this is not a characteristic of all of them). In this situation of confusion, we believe it is upon the Ummah to study the attributes and characteristics of at-Ta’ifah al-Mansoorah, the Victorious Group, and to stand with them in giving victory to and establishing the Deen of Allah – each according to his capability, circumstances and reality.

“O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.” (Qur’an, 47:7)

“O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his Deen (Islam), Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allah, and never afraid of the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He wills…” (Qur’an, 5:54)

We believe that absolute obedience or following is only to Allah and his Messenger (for the sake of Allah), after that the opinions or positions of any scholar, Imam, activist or group will be investigated; if they are correct, they are accept, and if they are incorrect, they will be rejected.

It is narrated that Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad all said: “Everyone’s opinion could be accepted or rejected except that of the one buried in this grave (pointing to the grave of the Prophet).” Masaa’il al-Imam Ahmad, p.276)

This is what we strive to be upon and call to, by the will of Allah. Any mistakes we make, in relation to the above, are only from our ignorance and weakness, and any good is only from Allah alone.

“If Allah helps you, no one can overcome you; and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can help you? And in Allah (Alone) let believers put their trust.” (Qur’an, 3:160)

Message to the Ummah – its individuals and its groups

Our dear brothers and sisters we humbly requests that if you see or hear from our sayings, actions or written works, any deviation from the Book of Allah and Sunnah of our beloved Messenger Muhammad(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), that you advise us and correct us, and make du’a for our correction and guidance. And we ask Allah for help and sincerity in accepting sincere advice.

It is reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “A believer is a mirror for his brother.” (Abu Dawud)

Point of benefit: A mirror always shows us our actual image. It doesn’t hide our imperfections or blemishes. The mirror isn’t in a quest to make us happy or sad by showing us otherwise. It simply shows us how we are. It is that honest and truthful.