AQEEDAH OF A MUSLIM
Asalam o alaikum wr wb. Had been thinking since long time to start something on aqeeda. Most books on this topic, according to people, are dry (i dont mean to say 'not good'! Who am i to say that to books written by great scholars). What i mean is, most people do not read them because they believe they are hard to understand and do not attract the attention of readers immediately. So i would like to share one statement of a great scholar which sums the aqeedah of a Muslim and will make it easier for everyone to understand insha Allah.
Imaam Aboo ‘Amr al-Awzaa‘ee (rahima ullah) said:
“Stick to the tracks of the predecessors even if people reject you. And beware of the opinions of people even if they beautify them with speech."
(Authentically narrated by Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr in Jaami‘ Bayaan al-‘Ilm, vol. 2, p. 114 and by al-Haafiz ath-Thahabee in Siyar A‘laam al-Nubalaa, vol. 7, p. 120.)
This one statement is so Jame'aa (illustrating and vast) that if we ponder over it, we will grasp the understanding of what the aqeedah of a Muslim should be.
"Tracks of predecessors" mean (footsteps of our salaf i-e Sahaba, Tabieen, Taba Tabieen and great scholars who followed them). Even if people call us "Extremists, Mullahs, Fools" or whatever, we should follow that. This is a touch stone test for understanding Islam. Just like to see if gold is pure or not, a test known as 'touch stone test' is done. Similarly when understanding Islam, this is the criteria. We have to see that if we are understanding the Quran, hadith according to the understanding of the salaf or according to our thinking and of those who beautify their speeches for show off?
Speech can have magic on anyone. Today we see, many so-called scholars and philosophers and doctors and researchers coming on television channels and explaining Islam according to their understanding with beautiful words and attractive speech. And some coming and degrading Islam with the power of speech. Sadly those whose aqeedah is not strong and who do not realize this rule "understanding deen like our salaf understood" get impressed by those so-called scholars philosophers etc etc. So always remember these two things.
1- Understanding deen (everything related to deen i-e Quran interpretation, Hadith interpretation or anything related to Islam) the way Salaf (sahaba, tabieen, taba tabieen and those scholars who followed them) understood and explained.
2- Not to get impressed by mere speech and personal opinions of people even if they are very attractive and full of scientific terms. But look back to the way of salaf and see if they understood it like these speakers are explaining or not.
Allah Almighty gave this rule in the Holy Quran:
“Whoever contradicts the Messenger after guidance has been made clear to him, and follows a way other than that of the believers, I will leave him to his own means, and put him in hell; an evil end.” (Soorah an-Nisaa’, 4: 115)
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