Salaf-us-Saalih.com :: The Call of the Salaf is True Islam

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Amma ba’d

Importance of Believing and Not Doubting

Believing in the text (Qur’an and authentic Sunnah) when they reach you – without doubting or wavering – is from Eeman as well as having good manners with Allaah, as Shaikh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-’Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) explained in his highly beneficial book Upright Moral Character – A Concise Guide to Attaining Dignified Islaamic Character.

The Scholars, who are the Inheritors of the Prophets, stress the importance of believing in and submitting to what comes in the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah - not doubting it, nor giving precedence to one’s intellect above the Qur`an and authentic Sunnah.

For example, Abu Bakr (radiallaahu ‘anhu) was given the title “as-Siddiq” (the one who attested to the Truth), because he immediately believed when told of the Irsaa` wal Mi’raj that Allaah took His Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) on.

Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allaah) Who took His slave (Muhammad) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Haraam (at Makkah) to the farthest mosque (in Jerusalem), the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad) of Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. (Al-Isra, ayah 1)

Will you then dispute with him (Muhammad) about what he saw [during the Mi'raaj: (Ascent of the Prophet over the seven heavens)]. (An-Najm, ayah 12)

When Aboo Bakr was told by the Mushriks (polytheists) about the Israa` and Mi’raaj which his friend (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said to have undergone, he said:

If he has said this, then it is just as he has said. I believe him with regard to news coming from the heavens, so should I not believe him in this?

- [Reported by al Haakim (3/62), authenticated by al Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no 306).]

While teaching 40 Hadeeth of Imam An-Nawaawee (rahimahullaah) with the Sharh of Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah), a student said:

Shaytan will strike at that moment and will whisper for you to rely on your intellect (and reject the ayah or hadeeth)… This is how the deviant go astray (meaning they listen to shaytan, and obey his whisperings). …But you have to remember the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) did not speak of his own desire.

Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired. (An-Najm, ayat 3 and 4)

Meaning it is only revelation from Allaah – Subhanah (Who is free of any imperfection, error, deficiency, mistake). Allaah’s Promise is the Truth, and whose words can be truer than those of Allaah? (Of course, none). (An-Nisa`, aya 122)

Shaikh Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) said in his Sharh of Lum’atul I’tiqaad:

And the Muslim does not intefere in this using his own intellect and his own understanding because the matters of the ghayb cannot be truly perceived by the person’s intellect. Rather Eeman in the hidden and unseen is only founded upon submitting and believing in the reports from Allaah and His Messenger. …For Eemaan (true faith) is in fact nothing other than eeman in the ghayb (hidden and unseen). As for having true faith in something which has been witnessed, then there is no special distinction for any person in that! This would not be called ‘Eemaan.’

In explaining why the astray Mu’tazila reject the punishment of the grave, Shaikh Fawzaan said:

These misguided people gave precedence to their intellects over the textual evidences. So when their intellects could not perceive the Punishment of the Grave, they rejected it and denied the ahaadeeth about it.

The affairs of the ghayb (hidden and unseen) and the matters of the Hereafter cannot be perceived by the intellects and therefore there is no scope for the intellects to enter into them. Rather our beliefs in the matters of the ghayb (hidden and unseen) and the matters of the Hereafter are built upon the authentic reports about them. We do not say anything about these matters unless it is taken from an authentic evidence from the Book and the Sunnah.

The student relaying Shaikh Fawzaan’s Sharh of 40 Hadeeth Nawaawee said:

This is why (learning) Tawheed (and the Usool) is so important. …You must accept everything the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said. “La shak”, never doubt what the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said. It is wajibun that you accept everything the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said. It is wajib to obey him, imitate him, and take him as an example, and not innovate (in beliefs, statements or actions).

…And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it). (Al-Hashr, ayah 7)

And then said:

Yaqin (Certainty) comes with ‘Ilm (authentic, beneficial knowledge). Jahl (Ignorance) leads to Shuboohat (confusion, doubts).

Authentic Knowledge —-> Yaqin
Ignorance —————> Doubts

Post Courtesy: Maher ibn Ahmad Attiyeh al-Maqdisi via SalafisofFlorida mailing list

Related Link:

• Ilm-ul-Kalam (Knowledge Of Theological Rhetoric) – Ibn Baz
• Be Careful From Who You Take Your Deen From ! – Shaykh Ahmad ibn Bazmool
• A Precious Gem: The Ignorant Worshipper and the Immoral (Religious) Scholar - Ibn al Qayyim