Learning the Creed
By the noble Shaykh Saalih al Fawzaan al-Fawzaan[1]
[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 are contrary to it. Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamaan, one of
the distinguished Companions – radiallaahu ‘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 ibn
al-Khattaab radiallaahu ‘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 Islam
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 his 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
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 daa’ees (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 wudhoo (ablution) and those matters
which invalidate wudhoo. 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 own 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 matters that decrease and weaken it,
etc.] except one of two people: [1] an ignorant person – and the
ignorant person’s [view] is not to be given any weight; or [2] 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 case 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.”
[Soorah at-Tawbaa 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!
