What is Aqeedah?

[Caliph]

There are 3 aqeeda, and 2 main, which people follow. Like the ash'ari. But can you explain me the diffrences?

[suleimanibnsalim]

There are 3 aqeeda, and 2 main, which people follow. Like the ash'ari. But can you explain me the diffrences?

Brother, these things aren't learnt from an Internet forum. The 'aqidah of the layperson is simple. It is only when begin to have personal doubts that you should enquire - and again, this refers to enquiring from a qualfiied scholar. If you are just doing this for the sake of debating with another, please just drop the idea.

Basically, we have the Shi'ah, the Khawarij etc and other such 'aqidah groups. Then we have 'ahl as-sunnah', which differentiates us from the other groups.

Within ahl as-sunnah:

Essentially, there are two approaches to ahl as-sunnah 'aqidah: [1] the ash'ari/maturidi approach (they only differ in minute details); [2] the way of the 'atharis'/salafis as they like to call themselves. Historically, the hanafis have been maturidis, the shafi'is and malikis have been ash'aris, and the hanbalis have been split between ash'ari influence, athari/salafi influence and sometimes, outright anthropomorphism. The places where these two differ are many; the prominent places, however, lie in matters of asma' was-sifat (Names and Attributes), where the ash'aris either believe in tafwid al-ma'na (submitting the meaning to Allah) or ta'wil (interpretation, in accordance with principles of the language, not contradicting the source texts, and not accompanied by certainty). The 'atharis'/salafis, on the other hand, believe in ithbaat i.e. affirming the mutashaabih sifaat, while claiming to know the meaning, and affirming a 'howness' (kayfiyyah), though claiming not to know the kayfiyyah (tafwid al-kayfiyyah). The ash'aris would reply, saying that, having a 'kayfiyyah' (howness), by definition, means human qualities and attributes, which Allah has negated for Himself. Hence we submit the meaning to Allah - and this is the way of the salaf, as we believe.

was-salam

[Caliph]

People ask you for your aqeedah, so I say Maturidi. I don't know why, I just say because I'm hanafi and they pretty much follow this aqeeda. I can't speak with any scholars, where I live there is no one. And this is very basic to know your aqeedah.

[suleimanibnsalim]

People ask you for your aqeedah, so I say Maturidi. I don't know why, I just say because I'm hanafi and they pretty much follow this aqeeda. I can't speak with any scholars, where I live there is no one. And this is very basic to know your aqeedah.

No, the obligation of 'knowing your 'aqidah' has nothing to do with ash'aris, maturidis and atharis - this is your misunderstanding, brother, and what I was trying to get at.

Surat al-Ikhlas suffices for that purpose.

The only reason the ash'ari and maturidi schools developed were to repel people's doubts, such as the 'creation of the Qur'an' brought up by mu'tazilah, the rejecting of companions by the rafidis etc Hence, those issues are covered in our texts. That is not to say that those issues are any more important than others -- it is just that the doubts arised and were clarified. If one does not have these doubts in the first place, one is not obligated, and in fact, one should not study these issues without due reason and caution.

was-salam

[Caliph]

So I shouldn't study my aqeedah, that's what you are saying?

[Abu.Hurairah]

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

the following book contains the basic islamic beliefs that every muslim should know.
http://www.themajlis.co.za/books/KITAABULIMAAN.PDF

[suleimanibnsalim]

So I shouldn't study my aqeedah, that's what you are saying?

Study 'Aqidah in depth [1] if you have personal doubts you'd like clarified -- making it Fard 'Ayn; [2] if you want to serve your community by specializing in a science, in the same way medicine can be Fard Kifayah - and this is only if you have a personal aptitude for it.

Otherwise, many scholars and sufis alike have mentioned the many problems that arise as a result of indulgence in such a science -- the top mutakallimun were all of this opinion, particularly towards the end of their lives. Imam al-Ghazali's last book was Iljam al-'Awwam 'An 'Ilm al-Kalam "Keeping the laypeople away from 'Ilm al-Kalam ('Aqidah)".



was-salam

[amr123]

Otherwise, many scholars and sufis alike have mentioned the many problems that arise as a result of indulgence in such a science -- the top mutakallimun were all of this opinion, particularly towards the end of their lives. Imam al-Ghazali's last book was Iljam al-'Awwam 'An 'Ilm al-Kalam "Keeping the laypeople away from 'Ilm al-Kalam ('Aqidah)".

akhi.

Bro, whats the minimum aqeedah a layman should be knowing?

Will knowing the 6 articles of faith suffice?

1- Belief in the Oneness of Allah.
2- Belief in the Angels.
3- Belief in the Revelations (Books) of Allah.
4- Belief in the Prophets.
5- Belief in Resurrection after Death and Day of Judgment.
6- Belief in Predestination (Qadar).


Is the above enough?

[suleimanibnsalim]

akhi.

Bro, whats the minimum aqeedah a layman should be knowing?

Will knowing the 6 articles of faith suffice?

1- Belief in the Oneness of Allah.
2- Belief in the Angels.
3- Belief in the Revelations (Books) of Allah.
4- Belief in the Prophets.
5- Belief in Resurrection after Death and Day of Judgment.
6- Belief in Predestination (Qadar).


Is the above enough?

Yes, definately, provided you have no further doubts! Those were the 6 pillars of 'aqidah explicitly mentioned in Hadith Jibril.

It may be a good idea, though (and this is the ash'ari in me speaking ) to familliarise yourself with the necessary attributes of Allah (Existance, begininglessness, endlesness, different to creation, self-subsisting, One, power, will, knowledge, life, hearing, seeing, speech), and the attributes of the prophets (truthfulness, trustworthiness, conveying the message, intelligence, infallibility). This is just to organize things; we all know and believe in these things by definition.

[amr123]

Yes, definately, provided you have no further doubts! Those were the 6 pillars of 'aqidah explicitly mentioned in Hadith Jibril.

It may be a good idea, though (and this is the ash'ari in me speaking ) to familliarise yourself with the necessary attributes of Allah (Existance, begininglessness, endlesness, different to creation, self-subsisting, One, power, will, knowledge, life, hearing, seeing, speech), and the attributes of the prophets (truthfulness, trustworthiness, conveying the message, intelligence, infallibility). This is just to organize things; we all know and believe in these things by definition.

Ok, in 'Reliance of a traveller' I have seen a summary. Didn't feel like reading it, so i won't be obsessed with this topic.
Suratul Ikhlas speak volumes. Especially the part 'Allahussamad'. I think that should suffice for the time being.

for the help Akhi.