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!