Forbidden to Speak without Knowledge !!!

Since it is an Asl not to precede or comment over what Allah and what the Messenger (saws) said, then naturally one can comment only upon acquiring knowledge.

Allah said:

“Say (O Muhammad): “(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al­ Fawahish (great evil sins, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, swearing etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression/rebellion, joining partners (in worship) with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge.”“ [7:33]

The one who utters without I'lm cannot claim to be from Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah, because to do so is a violation of the Asl. Anything uttered with knowledge of the Deen is a characteristic of the devil and Allah has specifically forbidden it in the Qur'aan:

“(Satan) commands you only what is evil and Fahsha (sinful), and that you should say against Allah what you know not.” [2:169]

The Biddah performed by people around the world was caused because the people desired to engage in an action without to acquire necessary ruling on the matter.

Forbidden to precede the divine text by Aql (ration)! There are many who refer to the judgement of the mind before the judgement of the Shari'ah. They give precedence to the mind over the divine text, which contain all the correct injunctions of Allah.

Anyone who gives precedence to his mind above the text is making his Aql the primary source of legislation and the Shari'ah of Allah secondary. The secular people are even more extreme, their only source of guidance is the Aql and at no point will they refer to Shari'ah.

The secularists define the concept of secularism as, ‘The ability to regulate the affairs of life without to refer to religious dictates.’

The action of giving precedence to the Aql over the naql (text) has become the modern day Jahiliyah. People from all walks of life are giving their own interpretation on what Islam should according to their own Hawah. People are presented with an eastern version of Islam, western version, sufi version etc. all of these versions have been concocted by the Kuffar but unfortunately carried by the masses amongst the Muslims. This is a direct result of taking the Aql over the naql.

Imam ibn Qayim said:

“The foundation of all fitna, when people forward the idea of ration before the text.”

The first to precede the text by Aql was Iblees. Allah ordered him to make sujud to Adam (as). Iblees rejected to do so because he claimed to be better than Adam (as) hence the superior should not bow to the inferior.

Allah said:

“[Iblis (Satan)] said: “I am better than he, You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.”“ [38:76]

Iblees made a very shallow remark. Allah does not need to be told from what substance Adam and Iblees were created. The comment should not be from what did Allah create man or jinn, rather it should be what is commandment of Allah. Allah created man from clay and jinn from fire, and it is an exclusive right of Allah to be obeyed, but Iblees questioned the command of Allah. Iblees preceded Allah by questioning the order of Allah and preferred to follow his Aql. Because of his disobedience Iblees will ultimately be thrown to the depths of Jahanam.

Abu Jafar at Tahawi said:
“People who are professionals in rationality (i.e. ahl Biddah) use to valuate their innovation based upon text, if they found the text to match with their views they would say, “this text is clear cut (muhkam)” and they use to refer to it.  But if the text differed with their views they would say, “the text has indefinite meaning (mutashabih)” and would suspend (from referring to it) and would make tafhweed (i.e. to leave the meaning to Allah and not attempt understand it) or they would distort the meaning by taweel (interpret it according to their own Hawah). Ahl As-Sunnah and never leave the clear cut text (to different meaning) and they never find contradiction between the text and the sound ration.” [Aqeedah Tahawiyyah page 399]

Imam Shatibi and ibn Qayim said similar to what Imam Abu Jafar said.
Allah said regarding those who follow Hawah and giving precedence to the Aql over the naql:
“But if they answer you not (i.e. do not believe in your doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allah? Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zalimoon (wrong-doers, disobedient to Allah, and polytheists).” [28:50]

There is two ways for a person, either one follows the divine commandments of Allah or they follow their own lust and desires which is void of any guidance. 

One must note that the sound ration/mind will never contradict the sound evidences. The fitrah is always in agreement with text. One must first refer to the Qur'aan and Sunnah and naturally the ration will agree with it. However the sound ration is subjective from person to person, if a person was raised amongst people of Biddah, Hawah, Kufr it would have effect on the person and pollute the sound judgement and the sound fitrah.

Abu Huraira narrated that Allah's Apostle (saws) said:
“No child is born except on Al-Fitra (Islam) and then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Magian, as an animal produces a perfect young animal: do you see any part of its body amputated?” [Sahih Bukhari]

Ahl As-Sunnah do not deny the role of the sound mind, and acknowledge that it will never contradict the sound evidences.  From the angle of responsibility only the one who has the sound mind is responsible and the insane are not accountable for their deeds.  Therefore the sound-mind does have an important role to play.  One can never recognize the reality unless a sound mind is present. Allah decreed that man would recognize the right and wrong by his fitrah (the sound mind).

Allah said:

“Then We have put you (O Muhammad) on a plain way of (Our) commandment. So follow you that (Islam its laws), and follow not the desires of those who know not. Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allah (if He wants to punish you). Verily, the Zalimun are Auliya to one another, but Allah is the Wali (Helper, Protector, etc.) of the Muttaqun (pious).” [45:18-19]

In these verses Allah made the distinction between the His way (i.e. the Shari'ah) and the way of the Hawah. Allah ordained Muhammad (saws) and the believers to follow the way of the Shari'ah and oppose the way Zalimun which is to follow the Hawah. So it is apparent that Allah created two clear divisions (the path of Shari'ah and the path of Hawah) but did not give an option which of the two a person can follow, rather Allah only allowed following the Shari'ah to be legitimate.

The one who is responsible and is accountable as previously stated is the one who is in possession of a sound mind.  The Aql is the mind, understanding, comprehending. The Aql is also the gift which Allah grants to the people and thus known as sane.  The Aql is also a conditional factor to be the Khalif (Muslim ruler), to pray, to do Hajj etc.  Allah spoke on many in the Qur'aan about the people who have sound mind and ration as the people who comprehend and understand.  This does not mean that a person who is rational can judge reality without referring to the evidence.

Allah said:
“And they will say: “Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!”“ [67:10]

We should not underestimate the importance of ration thought, as long as the ration is not used to judge reality rather it is used comprehend reality.  As stated before the sound mind will never contradict with the sound text (i.e. hadith sahih ahad), if there is a contradiction then the problem is with the person and not text, the person should take the text and reject his ration which has become polluted.  Even if there is no contradiction between the sound mind and sound text one should never precede the text by ration, one should regulate their thought process based upon the text.

Allah said:
“Those who avoid At-Taghoot by not worshipping them and turn to Allah in repentance, for them are glad tidings; so announce the good news to My slaves, Those who listen to the Word [good advice La ilaha ill-Allah] and follow the best thereof  those are (the ones) whom Allah has guided and those are men of understanding.” [39:17-18]

Those who listen to Wahi, are the people of guidance who have good comprehension. Their quality is that they list the text and then use the comprehension to understand. For the latter day people the firmest handhold would be to comprehend the text as explained by the ones who witnessed it revelation i.e. the Sahabah.

Unlike those who make ration the standard for judging (i.e. mutazillah) nor those who do not wish to use ration at all, Ahl As-Sunnah are between both these extreme and use ration only to understand/comprehend the reality but ensure it is all with control of Shari'ah.