Al-Aqeedah al-

Wâsitiyyah Of Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah [Allâh's Mercy on him]

[Which he wrote for the people of Wâsit – a city in Iraq between

Basra and Kufah]

Translation: Ishâq bn AbdirRaheem

All rights reserved.

Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah – may Allâh bestow mercy on him –

wrote:

In the Name of Allâh the Most Beneficent Most Compassionate

Praise to Allâh Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the

Religion of Truth to make it reign over all religions, and Allâh

suffices as a Witness.

I testify there is none worthy of worship except Allâh Alone; He has

no partner. I establish this for Him and I testify to His Oneness.

I also testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. May Allâh

exalt him, his household, Companions, and may He send increasing

peace on them.

After that:

This is the Aqeedah (Creed) of the Victorious and Saved Sect (that

will be) till the coming of the Hour; Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah (the

People of Sunnah and Community).

The Creed is belief in Allâh, His angels, His books, His Messengers,

resurrection after death, and the belief in predestination – good

and bad.

As for the belief in Allâh, it includes the belief in the description

Allâh made for Himself in His Book without distorting it, so also the

in what His Messenger described Him with without distortion

(tahreef) and denial (ta'teel), neither framing (takyeef) nor likening

(tashbeeh). Rather they believe in the fact that Allâh the Majestic:

There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.

[Shuurah: 11]

Thus, they will not deny Him of what He described Himself with nor

distort the words from their right perspectives. They will not swerve

when describing the Names and Ayât (Signs and Verses) of Allâh. They

will not frame nor liken the Attributes of Allâh to those of His creation

because He Allâh the Glorified has none like unto Him nor none equal to

Him, nor a partner. He cannot be equated with His creation (in

Attributes) Mighty is He, the Most High.

He the Most Sublime knows about Himself and about others. He is the

most truthful and best in speech, than his creation.

His Messengers are truthful; they should be held so. The Messengers are

unlike those who say about Allâh what they do not know this is why

Allâh the Mighty said:

Glorified be your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He is Free) from

what they attribute unto Him! And peace be on the Messengers! And

all the praise and thanks be to Allâh, Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind,

jinns and All that exists). [As-Safaat: 180-182].

Thus Allâh purified Himself from what the opponents of the Messengers

describe Him with, and He sent peace upon the Messengers for safety of

what they said (about Him) from reduction and fault.

Allâh the Glorified indeed combined in what He describes and names

Himself with between negation and affirmation.

Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah will not shun what the Messengers have

come with. That is the Straight Path; the Path of those whom Allâh

bestowed His favour, among the Prophets, the truthful ones, the

martyrs and the pious.

It has come within the earlier statement (that Allâh indeed combined in

what He describes and names Himself with between negation and

affirmation) what He describes Himself with in Sûrah Ikhlâs; the Sûrah

which is equal to one-third of the Qur'ân wherein Allâh the Mighty said:

. . .

.

Say (O Muhammad): "He is Allâh, (the) One. Allâh-us-Samad (the Self-

Sufficient Master, whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor

drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-

equal or comparable unto Him." [Al-Ikhlâs: 1-4].

So also, it comes within what Allâh describes Himself with in the greatest

Verse of His Book [Ayat-ul-Kursî]; that is where He says:

Allâh! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He),

the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects All that exists.

Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is

in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is He that can intercede

with Him except with His permission? He knows what happens to them

(His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the

Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge

except that which He wills. His Kursî (footstool) extends over the

heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and

preserving them. and He is the Most High, the Most Great. [Al-

Baqarah: 255].

This is the reason anybody that recites the Verse in the night will have a

guard over him from Allâh; the devil will not be able to come near him

until morn.

[As for His Attribute of Knowledge (al-Ilm),]

This Word of Allâh the Mighty illustrates that:

.

He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after

him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near

(nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of everything.

[Al-Hadîd: 3]

And this:

And put your trust (O Muhammad) in the Ever Living One Who dies

not. [Fur'qân: 58].

And this:

.

And He is the All-Knower, the All-Wise. [At-Tahrîm: 2].

.

The All-Knower, the All-Aware. [At-Tahrîm: 3]

He knows that which goes into the earth and that which comes forth

from it, and that which descend from the heaven and that which

ascends to it. [Saba: 2].

And with Him are the keys of the ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows

them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and

in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the

darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a clear

Record. [Al-An'âm: 59].

And no female conceives or gives birth, but with his knowledge. [Al-

Fâtir: 11].

…that you may know that Allâh has power over all things, and that

Allâh surrounds (comprehends) all things in (His) Knowledge. [At-

Talaaq: 12].

[As for His Attributes of Providing (Ar-Rizq) and Possession of Power

(al-Quwwah)]

His Word the Mighty illustrates them:

Verily, Allâh is the All-Provider, Owner of power, the Most strong.

[Adh-Dhariyaat: 58].

[As for His Attributes of Hearing (As-Sam'u) and Seeing (Al-Basar),]

His Word the Mighty illustrates them:

There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.

[Ash-Shuurah:11]

And this:

Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allâh) gives you! Truly,

Allâh is ever All­Hearer, All­Seer. [An-Nisâ: 58].

[As for His Attributes of Wish (Al-Irâdah) and Will (Al-Mashee'ah)]

These Words of Allâh the Mighty illustrate them:

It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden: 'That

which Allâh wills (will come to pass)! There is no power but with Allâh'.

[Al-Kahf: 39].

If Allâh had willed, they would not have fought against one another,

but Allâh does what He likes. [al-Baqarah: 253].

Lawful to you (for food) are all the beasts of cattle except that which

will be announced to you (herein), game (also) being unlawful when

you assume Ihrâm for Hajj or 'Umrah (pilgrimage). Verily, Allâh

commands that which He wills. [Al-Maaidah:1].

And whomsoever Allâh wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islâm, and

whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and

constricted, as if He is climbing up to the sky. [Al-An'âm: 125].

[As for His Attribute of Loving (Al-Mahabbah),]

His Word the Mighty:

And do good. Truly, Allâh loves Al-Muhsinûn (the good-doers). [al-

Baqarah: 195].

And be equitable. Verily! Allâh loves those who are equitable. [al-

Hujurât: 9].

So long, as they are true to you, stand you true to them. Verily, Allâh

loves the pious. [At-Taubah: 7].

Truly, Allâh loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves

those who purify themselves (by taking a bath and cleaning and

washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for their prayers, etc.).

[Al-Baqarah: 222].

Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow

me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the

Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you of your sins. [Aal-'Imrân:

31] .

Allâh will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him [Al-

Mâidah: 54].

Verily, Allâh loves those who fight in His cause in rows (ranks) as if they

were a solid structure. [As-Saff: 4].

[As for His Attributes of Love and Mercy,]

These Words of Allâh illustrate them,

And He is Oft-Forgiving, Full of Love (towards the pious who are real

true believers of Islâmic Monotheism), [Al-Buruuj: 14].

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful; [An-Naml:

30]

Our Lord! You comprehend all things in Mercy and Knowledge [Al-

Ghâfir: 7].

And He is ever Most Merciful to the believers. [Al-Ahzâb: 43].

And My Mercy embraces all things. [Al-'Arâf: 156].

Your Lord has written Mercy for Himself [Al-An'âm: 54].

And He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [Yûnus: 107].

But Allâh is the Best to guard, and He is the Most Merciful of those

who show mercy. [Yûsuf: 64].

[As for the Attributes of Pleasure (Ar-Ridaa) and Anger (Al-Ghadab)],

These Words of Allâh illustrate both:

Allâh well-pleased with them, and they with Him. [Al-Bayyinah: 8].

And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to

abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allâh are upon him [An-

Nisâ: 193].

That is because they followed that which angered Allâh, and hated that

which pleased Him. [Muhammad: 28].

So when they angered us, We punished them [Az-Zukhruf: 55].

But Allâh was averse to their being sent forth, so He made them lag

behind [At-Taubah: 46].

Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do. [As-

Saff: 3].

[As for His Attributes of Arrival and Coming (on the Day of

Resurrection)],

Allâh's Words the Mighty illustrate those:

Do they then wait for anything other than that Allâh should come to

them in the shadows of the clouds and the angels? (Then) the case

would be already judged. [Al-Baqarah: 210].

Do they then wait for anything other than that the angels should come

to them, or that your Lord should come, or that some of the signs of

Your Lord should come (i.e. portents of the Hour e.g., rising of the sun

from the west)! [Al-An'âm: 158].

.

Nay! When the earth is ground to powder. And your Lord comes with

the angels in rows [Al-Fajr: 21-22].

And (remember) the Day when the heaven shall be rent asunder with

clouds, and the angels will be sent down, with a grand descending. [Al-

Fur'qân: 25].

[As for His Attributes of Having a Face, Two Hands and Two Eyes],

These words of Allâh the Mighty illustrate that,

And the Face of your Lord Full of Majesty and Honour will abide

forever. [Ar-Rahmân: 27].

Everything will perish save His Face. [Al-Qasas: 88].

What prevents you from prostrating yourself to one whom I have

created with both My Hands. [Saad: 75].

The Jews say: "Allâh's Hand is tied up (i.e. He does not give and spend

of His Bounty)." Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for what

they uttered. Nay, both His Hands are widely outstretched. [Al-

Mâidah: 64].

So wait patiently (O Muhammad for the decision of your Lord, for

verily, you are under Our Eyes [At-Tuur: 48].

.

.

And we carried him on a (ship) made of planks and nails, floating under

Our Eyes, a reward for him who had been rejected! [Al-Qamar: 13-14].

And I endued you with Love from Me, in order that you may be

brought up under My Eye, [Ta-Ha: 39].

[Also on Attributes of Hearing and Seeing],

These words of Allâh illustrate that,

Indeed Allâh has heard the statement of she (Khaulah bint Tha'labah)

that disputes with you (O Muhammad) concerning her husband (Aus

bin As­Sâmit), and complains to Allâh. And Allâh hears the argument

between you both. Verily, Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Seer. [Mujâdilah: 1]

Indeed, Allâh has heard the statement of those (Jews) who say: "Truly,

Allâh is poor and we are rich!" [Aal-'Imrân: 181] .

Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private

counsel? (Yes We do) and Our Messengers (appointed angels in charge

of mankind) are by them, to record. [Az-Zukhruf: 80].

Verily! I am with you both, hearing and seeing. [Ta-Ha: 46].

Knows he not that Allâh does see (what he does)? [Al-'Alaq: 14].

. .

.

Who sees you (O Muhammad) when you stand up (alone at night for

Tahajjud Prayers). And your movements among those who fall

prostrate (along with you to Allâh In the five compulsory

congregational prayers). Verily! He, Only He, is the All-Hearer, the All-

Knower. [Shua'arâ: 218-220].

And say (O Muhammad) "Do deeds! Allâh will see your deeds, and (so

will) his Messenger and the believers. [Taubah: 105].

[As for His Attributes of Plotting, Scheming and Being Severe in

Punishment],

These words of Allâh illustrate that,

And He is mighty In strength and Severe In punishment. [Ar-Ra'd: 13].

And they (disbelievers) plotted [to kill 'Îsa (Jesus)], and Allâh planned

too. And Allâh is the Best of the planners. [Aal-'Imrân: 54].

So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived

not. [An-Naml: 50].

. .

Verily, they are but plotting a plot (against You O Muhammad). And I

(too) am planning a plan. [At-Taariq: 15-16].

[As for His Attributes of Pardon, Forgiveness of Sins, Mercy and

Honour],

These Words of Allâh illustrate that,

Whether you (mankind) disclose (by good words of thanks) a good

deed (done to you in the form of a favour by someone), or conceal it,

or pardon an evil, ... Verily, Allâh is ever Oft­Pardoning, All­Powerful.

[An-Nisâ: 149].

Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allâh should forgive

you? And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [An-Nûr: 22].

[As for His Attributes of Honour and Ability],

These Words of Allâh illustrate that,

But honour, power and glory belong to Allâh, His Messenger

(Muhammad), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not. [Al-

Munaafiquun: 8].

And what Allâh said about Iblîs said:

"By Your Might, then I will surely mislead them all," [Sâd: 82].

[As for His Attributes of Mightiness and Greatness],

Allâh the Mighty said:

Blessed be the Name of your Lord (Allâh), the Owner of Majesty and

Honour. [Ar-Rahmân: 78].

[Other Attributes of Allâh],

His Statement the Mighty:

So worship Him (Alone) and be constant and patient in His worship. Do

you know of any who is similar to Him? [Maryam: 65].

And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." [Al-Ikhlâs: 4].

Then do not set up rivals unto Allâh (in worship) while you know (that

He alone has the right to be worshipped). [Al-Baqarah: 22].

And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allâh

as rivals (to Allâh). They love them as they love Allâh. [Al-Baqarah:

165].

And say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, Who has not begotten

a son (nor an offspring), and Who has no partner in (His) Dominion, nor

He is low to have a Walî (helper, protector or supporter). And magnify

Him with all the magnificence." [Al-Isrâ: 111].

Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies

Allâh. His is the Dominion, and to Him belong all the praises and

thanks, and He is Able to do all things. [At-Taghaabun: 1].

.

.

Blessed be He Who sent down the criterion (of right and wrong, i.e.

this Qur'ân) to his slave (Muhammad) that he may be a warner to the

'Alamîn. He to whom belongs the Dominion of the heavens and the

earth, and who has begotten no son (children or offspring) and for

whom there is no partner in the Dominion. He has created everything,

and has measured it exactly according to its due measurements. [Al-

Fur'qân: 1-2].

.

No son (or offspring or children) did Allâh beget, nor is there any Ilâh

(god) along with Him; (if there had been many gods), behold, each god

would have taken away what He had created, and some would have

tried to overcome others! Glorified be Allâh above all that they

attribute to Him! All-Knower of the unseen and the seen! Exalted be

He over all that they associate as partners to Him! [Al-Mu'minûn: 91-

92].

So put not forward similitudes for Allâh (as there is nothing similar to

Him, nor He resembles anything). Truly! Allâh knows and you know

not. [An-Nahl:74].

Say (O Muhammad): "(But) the things that my Lord has indeed

forbidden are Al­Fawâhish (great evil sins, every kind of unlawful

sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of

all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with

Allâh for which He has given no authority, and saying things about

Allâh of which you have no knowledge." [Al-araaf: 33].

[As for His Attributes of Sitting over the Throne and Being in High

Place],

These Words of Allâh illustrate that,

The Most Beneficent (Allâh) Istawâ (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in

a manner that suits His Majesty). [Ta-Ha: 5].

That has also come in seven (different) places in the Qur'ân;

Indeed your Lord is Allâh, Who created the heavens and the earth in six

days, and then He rose over the Throne [Al-'Arâf: 54] .

Surely, your Lord is Allâh Who created the heavens and the earth in six

days and then rose over the Throne [Yûnus: 3].

Allâh is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can

see. Then, He rose above the Throne. [Ar-Ra'd: 2].

The Most Beneficent (Allâh) rose over the (Mighty) Throne. [Ta-Ha: 5].

Then He rose over the Throne. [Al-Fur'qân: 59].

Allâh it is He Who has created the heavens and the earth, and all that is

between them in six days. Then He rose over the Throne. [As-Sajdah:

4].

He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then

rose over the Throne. [Al-Hadîd: 4].

And (remember) when Allâh said: O 'Îsa (Jesus)! I will take you and

raise you to Myself. [Aal-'Imrân: 55].

But Allâh raised Him ['Îsa (Jesus)] up (with his body and soul) unto

Himself [An-Nisâ: 158].

To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it

(the goodly words i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allâh

unless and until they are followed by good deeds) [Al-Fâtir: 10].

"O Hâmân! Build me a tower that I may arrive at the ways. "The ways

of the heavens, and I may look upon the Ilâh (God) of Mûsa (Moses)

but verily, I think him to be a liar." [Al-Ghâfir: 36-37].

.

.

Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allâh), will not

cause the earth to sink with you, then behold it shakes (as in an

earthquake)? Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven

(Allâh), will not send against you a violent whirlwind? Then you shall

know how (terrible) has been My warning? [Al-Mulk: 16-17].

[As for His Attribute of Being Close],

Allâh the Mighty said:

.

He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then

rose over the Throne. He knows what goes into the earth and what

comes forth from it, what descends from the heaven and what ascends

thereto. And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may

be. And Allâh is the All-Seer of what you do. [Al-Hadîd: 4].

There is no Najwa (secret counsel) of three, but He is their fourth (with

his knowledge, while He himself is over the Throne, over the seventh

heaven), nor of five but He is their sixth (with His Knowledge), not of

less than that or more, but He is with them (with His Knowledge)

wheresoever they may be; and afterwards on the Day of Resurrection,

He will Inform them of what they did. Verily, Allâh is the All-Knower of

everything. [Al-Mujâdilah: 7].

"Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allâh is with us." [At-Taubah: 40].

Verily! I am with you both, hearing and seeing. [Ta-Ha: 46].

Truly, Allâh is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and

those who are Muhsinûn (good-doers). [An-Nahl: 128].

And be patient. Surely, Allâh is with those who are patient. [Al-Anfaal:

46].

"How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allâh's Leave?"

and Allâh is with the patient ones. [Al-Baqarah: 249].

[As for His Attribute of Talking],

Allâh the Mighty said,

And who is truer in statement than Allâh? [An-Nisâ: 87].

And whose words can be truer than those of Allâh?. [An-Nisâ: 122].

And (remember) when Allâh will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O

'Îsa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! [Al-Mâidah: 116].

And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in Truth and in justice. [Al-

An'âm: 115].

And to Mûsa (Moses) Allâh spoke directly. [An-Nisâ: 164].

To some of them Allâh spoke (directly); [Al-Baqarah: 256].

And when Mûsa (Moses) came at the time and place appointed by Us,

and his Lord spoke to him, [Al-'Arâf: 143].

And we called him from the right side of the mount, and made him

draw near to Us for a talk with him [Mûsa (Moses)]. [Maryam: 52].

And (remember) when your Lord called Mûsa (saying): Go to the

people who are Zhâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doing)… [Ash-

Shua'arâ: 10].

And their Lord called out to them (saying): Did I not forbid you that

tree…? [Al-'Arâf: 22].

And (remember) the Day (Allâh) will call to them, and say: "What

answer gave you to the Messengers?" [Al-Qasas: 65].

[Al-Qur'ân is the Word of Allâh the Most High (it is not created)]

And if anyone of the polytheists (idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the

Oneness of Allâh) seeks your protection then grant Him protection, so

that he may hear the Word of Allâh (the Qur'ân)… [At-Taubah: 6].

In spite of the fact that a party of them (Jewish rabbis) used to hear the

word of Allâh [the Taurât (Torah)], then they used to change it

knowingly after they understood it. [Al-Baqarah: 75].

They want to change Allâh's Words. [Al-Fat'h: 15].

And recite what has been revealed to you (O Muhammad) of the Book

(the Qur'ân) of your Lord (i.e. recite it, understand and follow its

teachings and act on its orders and preach it to men). None can change

His Words [al-Khahf: 27].

Verily, this Qur'ân narrates to the Children of Israel Most of that about

which they differ. [An-Naml: 76].

And this is a Blessed Book (the Qur'ân) which We have sent down [Al-

An'aam: 155].

Had We sent down this Qur'ân on a mountain, you would surely have

seen it humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allâh. [Al-

Hashr: 21].

.

.

.

And when We change a Verse [of the Qur'ân, i.e. cancel (abrogate) its

order] in place of another, and Allâh knows the best of what He sends

down, they (the disbelievers) say: "You (O Muhammad) are but a

forger." Nay, but most of them know not. Say (O Muhammad) Ruh-ul-

Qudus [Jibrael (Gabriel)] has brought it (the Qur'an) down from your

Lord with truth, that it may make firm and strengthen (the faith of)

those who believe and as a guidance and glad tidings to those who

have submitted (to Allâh as Muslims). And indeed We know that they

(polytheists and pagans) say: "It is only a human being who teaches

him (Muhammad)." The tongue of the man they refer to is foreign,

while this (the Qur'ân) is a clear Arabic tongue. [An-Nahl: 101-103].

[The Fact that the Believers will See Their Lord the Mighty on the Day

of Resurrection],

. .

Some faces that Day shall be shining (and radiant). Looking at their

Lord (Allâh); [Al-Qiyâmah: 22-23].

On thrones, looking (at all things). [Al-Mutaffifîn: 23].

For those who have done good is the best (reward, i.e. Paradise) and

even more (i.e. having the honour of glancing at the Countenance of

Allâh) [Yûnus: 26].

There they will have all that they desire, and We have more (for them,

i.e. a glance at the All-Mighty, All-Majestic). [Qâf: 35].

The likes of the foregoing (from the beginning of the book) are many in

the Book of Allâh; however whoever ponders over the Qur'ân in quest

for guidance from it will have the way of the truth made clear to him.

[Belief in What the Messenger Described Allâh the Majestic with]

[Firstly, this should be known about] the Sunnah of the Messenger of

Allâh : The Sunnah interprets, explains, indicates and expresses the

Qur'ân.

[Thus] whatever description the Messenger made of Allâh the Mighty

and Sublime, in authentic ahâdith that have been accepted by the

people of knowledge, must be believed in.

[Such as the Attribute of Allâh's Descent the Mighty and Sublime (to

the Earth Heaven)]

For instance, as contained in the statement of the Messer of Allâh :

Indeed, our Lord used to descend to the earth heaven every night when

the night is in its last one-third. He will say: Who will invoke Me then I

will grant his invocation; who will ask Me (for anything) then I will make

for him what he asks; who will ask Me forgiveness then I will forgive him.

[Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].

[Attribute of Joy]

The Messenger of Allâh said:

Allâh indeed shows greater joy regarding a slave than any of you will

show joy regarding his ride…. [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].

[Attribute of Laughter]

The Messenger of Allâh said:

Allâh laughs about two men; one that killed the other yet both of them

entered the Jannah. [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].

[Attribute of Wonderment]

The Messenger of Allâh said:

Our Lord is indeed shows surprise at (the sense of) hopelessness from His

slaves while His tidings are near; He watches you as you show great

despair and hopelessness. He then begins to laugh while He knows that

the way-out is nigh. [Hasan hadith].

[Attribute of Heel and Leg for Allâh]

The Messenger of Allâh said:

The Hell will continue to be filled (with its inmates) while it says: 'Are

there more?'

Until the Lord of Majesty will dip His Leg into it – [a narration says:] His

Heel with which He will mix it together then the Hell will say: 'Enough!

Enough!' [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].

[Attribute of Talking]

The Messenger of Allâh said:

Allâh the Majestic said: 'O Aadam!' Aadam would reply: 'I am at your

service (O Lord).' Then Allâh would call out: 'Indeed Allâh commands you

to take a collection (of people) from your offspring to the Hell.' [Bukhâri

and Muslim recorded it].

Another is the statement of the Messenger of Allâh said:

There is none among you except that his Lord will talk to him without any

interpreter between both.

[Attribute of Allâh Being in High Place and Sitting on the Throne]

The Messenger of Allâh said regarding the incantation for the sick:

Our Lord Allâh Who is in the Heaven, glorified is Your Name. It is Your

command that holds sway in the heaven and earth. Place Your Mercy on

earth as Your Mercy is the heaven; forgive us of our major and minor

sins, You are the Lord of the pure (believers). Cause to descend upon us a

mercy of Yours and a healing of Yours upon this ailment. [The Messenger

of Allâh said afterwards: '(If he makes the supplication), the sick will be

healed)']. The hadith is sound; Abû Dâwud and others recorded it.

[Translator's note: The hadith is declared as being extremely weak by

Ash-Shaykh Al-Albâni in Daeef Sunan Abee Dâwud (839)] and Daeef Al-

Jâmi (5422).

The Messenger of Allâh also said:

Will you not trust me while I am the trustworthy one of the One in the

heaven. [The hadith is authentic].

The Messenger of Allâh also said:

The Throne is upon the Water and Allâh is upon the Throne, and He

knows what you do. [Sound hadith recorded by Abû Dâwud and others.]

[Translator's note: The hadith is declared weak by Ash-Shaykh Al-Albâni

in As-Silisilah Ad-Daeefah (1247)].

And what the Messenger of Allâh asked the maid-servant:

'Where is Allâh?' She replied: 'In the Heaven.' He said: 'Who am I?' She

replied: 'You are the Messenger of Allâh.' He then said: 'Free her because

she is a believer.' [Muslim recorded it].

[Attribute of Closeness of Allâh]

The Messenger of Allâh said:

The best of Eemaan is that you should know that Allâh is with you (with

His Knowledge) wherever you may be. [A sound hadith].

[Translator's note: The hadith is declared weak by Ash-Shaykh Al-Albâni

in As-Silisilah Ad-Daeefah (2589)].

The Messenger of Allâh also said:

When any of you stands up in prayer, he should not spit towards his face

nor to his right because Allâh is indeed by his face. He should spit to his

left or underneath his foot. [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].

The Messenger of Allâh also said:

O Allâh, Lord of the seven heavens and the earth; Lord of the Mighty

Throne. Or Lord and Lord of all things; the Grower of seeds (of plant and

trees), the Revealer of At-Taurah, Injeel and Qur'ân; I seek refuge with

You from the evil of myself and from the evil of every beast which You

have subdued. You are the First there was nothing before You; You are

the Last, there will be nothing after You; You are the Highest, there is

nothing over You; You are the One Alone in dominion, nothing can

dominate You. Help me pay my debt; enrich me out of poverty. [Muslim

recorded it].

The Messenger of Allâh also said to the Companions when they raised

their voices while saying the words of remembrance:

O people, be gentle over one another. Indeed you are not calling a deaf

nor an absent person, you are calling an All-Hearer, All-Seer and the One

close. Surely, the One you call is closer to any of you than the neck of his

beast of ride. [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].

[The Believers Will See Their Lord in Jannah]

The Messenger of Allâh said:

Surely, you will see your Lord as you see the moon on its clearest night;

you will not be blurred from seeing Him. If you can strive not to be

prevented from observing the prayer before the sunrise and sunset, do

so. [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].

Among other ahâdîth wherein the Messenger of Allâh informed about

His Lord what he reported about Him.

[Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah are the Most Balanced among the Islamic

Sects as Regard the Issues of Actions of Allâh, Promise of Threat (for

the unbelievers on the Day of Resurrection), Names of Eemaan and

Companions of the Messenger of Allâh ]

Thus Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah believe in (all the attributes that have

come in the Sunnah) as they believe in what Allâh informed about

Himself in His Book; they believe in them without distorting, denying,

framing and likening (their meanings). They are the people most

balanced among the sects of the Ummah just as the Ummah (of Islam) is

the most balanced among all the nations.

They are the most balanced with regard to the Attributes of Allâh the

Majestic, among the people of denial – the Jahmiyyah (who deny all the

Attributes of Allâh), and the people of likening – the Mushabbihah (who

liken Allâh's Attributes to those of His creation).

They are also the most balanced as regard the Actions of Allâh, among

the Jabariyyah (the fatalists) and the Qadariyyah (deniers of Allâh's

predestination), and others.

They are the most balanced with regard to the promise of threat from

Allâh (to the sinful ones), among the Murji'ah (who say faith is a matter

of the heart alone) and the Wa'eediyyah (who give a literal meaning to

all the threat of punishment against the sinners in the Qur'ân) among

the Qadariyyah, and others.

They are the most balanced as regard the names of Eemaan, among the

Huruuriyah (a sect among the kharijites who declare any act of sin as a

sin that takes one out of the pale of Islam) and the Mu'tazilah (the

dissenters who base every matter of faith upon human reasoning), the

Mur'jiah and the Jahmiyyah.

They are the most balanced as regard the Companions of the Messenger

of Allâh , among the Rawaafid (the Shia) and the Khawaarij (the

kharijites).

[Belief in the Last Day is part of Belief in Allâh]

Among what comes between belief in Allâh the Majestic as we have said

is belief in what Allâh describes Himself with in His Book and what has

variously come from His Messenger (as a report) and which the Salaf

of the Ummah have agreed upon:

That Allâh the Majestic is above His heavens upon His Throne; separated

from His creation even though He the Majestic is still with them

wherever they may be – He knows all that they do. Allâh combines

between those two (that He is far away above the heavens yet He knows

all what the people do) in His Words:

He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then

rose over the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). He knows

what goes into the earth and what comes forth from it, what descends

from the heaven and what ascends thereto. And He is with you (by His

Knowledge) wheresoever you may be. And Allâh is the All-Seer of what

you do. [Al-Hadîd: 4].

The meaning of "He is with you" is not that He mixes with His creation

because that is not indicated in the language construction rather it (the

notion that Allâh mixes with His creation) goes contrary to what the

Salaf of the Ummah had come to agree upon, and (it contradicts) the

natural state upon which Allâh has created His creation.

The moon is a sign among the signs of Allâh – in fact one of the minutest

signs of Allâh; it is there in the heaven yet it goes with a traveller – and

other than him – wherever he (the traveller) might be.

Allâh the Majestic is above His Throne yet He watches, guards and looks

over His creation – among other things that come within the meaning of

Lordship (rububiyyah) of Allâh.

All these things said by Allâh – that He is above His Throne, that He is

with us – are truth in reality, they need no distortion but should be

guarded from faulty thoughts like if the apparent meaning of Allâh being

in the heaven is thought to mean that the heaven casts shade upon

Allâh, or that it contains Him the Majestic. Such a thought is falsehood as

the People of Knowledge and Faith have come to agree. Indeed, it is

Allâh Whose Kursiyy (Footstool) contains all the heavens and the earth;

He holds the heavens and the earth from falling; He holds the heaven

from falling upon the earth except by His Leave. From among His Signs is

the fact that the heaven and the earth remain under His control.

[That Allâh is Close and With (His creation) Does Not Negate His Being

in High Place]

Among that (i.e. the matter of the Creed) is that Allâh is close to His

creation granting (their invocations) as He combines between the two in

His Words:

And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then

(answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I

respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me

(without any mediator or intercessor). [Al-Baqarah: 186].

So also is the statement of the Messenger of Allâh :

'Indeed the One you call is closer to you than the neck of your beast of

ride.'

So also is what is mentioned in the Book of Allâh and the Sunnah of His

Messenger with regards to His closeness and His being with (His

creation); this does not negate what has been mentioned with regards

to His being in a High Place and Above (His creation). Allâh the Majestic

has nothing comparable to Him in all His Attributes; He is the Most High

in His closeness and the Closest in His being in the High Place.

[Qur'ân is the Word of Allâh Uncreated]

Among what belief in Allâh and His Books entails is the belief in the fact

that the Qur'ân is the Word of Allâh that was revealed yet uncreated. It

came from Him and to Him it will return; and that Allâh spoke it in

reality.

And that this Qur'ân that Allâh revealed upon Muhammad is the Word

of Allâh in reality; not the word of other than Allâh. It is not proper to

say it is just a telling (hikaayah) from the Word of Allâh, or that it is just

an expression. Rather when people even recite it or write it in the

leaves, that does not remove it from being the Word of Allâh in reality.

[What is known is] that a statement is usually attributed to the person

that made it in the beginning, not to the person that transmitted it later.

The Qur'ân is therefore the Word of Allâh – letters and meanings. The

letters do not constitute Allâh's Words without their meanings, nor the

meanings without their letters.

[The Believers' Seeing Their Lord the Majestic on the Day of

Resurrection]

It also comes within what we have mentioned as regard the belief in

Allâh, His Books, His angels and His Messengers, the belief that the

believers will see Him on the Day of Resurrection with the eyes on their

heads as they see the sun clearly when there is no cloud obstructing

their sight, and as they see the moon in its clearest night with nothing

obstructing their view. They will see their Lord the Majestic while they

are on the grounds of the resurrection, and they will see Him after they

might have entered the Jannah as Allâh will permit.

[Belief in the Trial, Punishment and Enjoyment of the Grave]

From the belief in the Last Day is the belief in all what the Prophet had

said would come to pass after death. Thus they (Ahlus-Sunnah wal-

Jamaa'ah) believe in the trial of the grave so also its punishment and

enjoyment.

As for the trial, people will be definitely tried in their graves. It will be

said to man: Who is your Lord? What is your religion? And who is your

Prophet? Then:

Allâh will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm

in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allâh alone and none

else), and in the Hereafter…

The believer would thus reply: My Lord is Allâh, Islâm is my religion and

Muhammad is my Prophet.

As for the doubting person, he would say: 'Ah! Ah! I don't know; I heard

people say something and I said it.' Then he would be hit with a iron rod

from which he would make a sound that would be heard by all things

except humans; if humans were to hear it they would become

transfixed.

Then after this trial, it is either to bliss or punishment.

[The Major Resurrection and Its Events]

The condition will be so until the Major Resurrection (Al-Qiyâmah Al-

Kubrah) would take place, [the trial and stay in the grave is a Minor

Resurrection], after which the souls would be returned to their

respective bodies.

The Resurrection which Allâh the Majestic informs of in His book and

which has come upon the tongue of His Messenger and which the

Muslims (i.e. their scholars) have agreed upon will take place.

People will rise from their graves to the Lord of the Worlds; they will rise

barefoot, naked and non-circumcised. The sun will come closer to them

and they will be covered in sweat then the scales will be put forward and

the deeds of the slaves will be weighed.

.

.

Then, those whose scales (of good deeds) are heavy, - these, they are

the successful. And those whose scales (of good deeds) are light, they

are those who lose their ownselves, In Hell will they abide. [Mu'minûn:

102-103].

Then the scrolls will be spread; these are the scrolls that contain the

deeds (of the slaves). Some will receive their book with their right hands,

some with their left and some from their behind; as Allâh the Majestic

said:

And We have fastened every man's deeds to his neck, and on the Day

of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a book which he will find

wide open. (It will be said to him): "Read your book. You yourself are

sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day."

Allâh would thus bring the creation to account.

[Allâh Bringing the Creation to Account]

He the Majestic will go into private with a believer and the latter will

confess his sins; that has been described in the Book (of Allâh) and the

Sunnah (of His Messenger ).

As for the unbelievers, they are not going to be weighed such that their

good deeds will be measured against their evil deeds for they have no

good deeds (in stock) but their deeds will be counted such that they will

be brought to face them and they will own up for them and with them

they will become despicable.

[The Pond Prepared for the Prophet; Its Description]

On the grounds of the Day of Resurrection, there is a Pond prepared for

the Prophet , its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey; its

vessels are as many as the number of the stars in the sky, its length is a

month's travel, its width is also a month's travel, whoever takes a drink

from it will never become thirsty again.

[Walking over As-Sirât (the Bridge Over the Hell)]

As-Sirât is placed over the middle of the Hell; it s the Bridge between the

Hell and Paradise, people will walk over it according to magnitude of

their deeds. Some will walk over it in a twinkle of an eye, some like a

lightning, some like a breeze, some like a fast horse, some like a camel,

some will run over it, some will walk and some will crawl over it. There

are some people they will be seized over it and thrown into the Hell. The

Bridge has forks that seize people (into the Hell) according to their

deeds. Whoever walks over the Bridge (and crosses to the other side)

will enter Paradise.

When people walk over the Bridge they will be stopped at (another)

Bridge between the Paradise and Hell, that is where the scores between

the people (Muslims) will be settled as a retribution. Thus when they are

cleansed and purified (from the scores), they will be granted the

permission to enter the Paradise.

[The First to Have the Door of Paradise Opened for is Muhammad ]

The first person to have the Door of Paradise opened for is Muhammad

, and the first to enter the Paradise among the nations is the nation of

Muhammad (that is, the Muslims).

[Intercession]

The Prophet will have the benefit of making three intercessions:

The First Intercession: He will make an intercession for those standing

at the Resurrection for judgement to be made upon them, that is after

the Prophets – Aadam, Nûh, Ibrâhîm, Mûsa and Îsa bn Maryam – might

have refused to make the intercession; then it will fall upon him .

The Second Intersession: He will make an intercession for the people of

Jannah that they should be allowed to enter it.

These two intercessions above are only his.

The Third Intercession: He will make an intercession for those guilty of

punishment in the Hell. This intercession is for him, the rest of the

Prophets, the truthful ones and others beside them. He will make the

intercession for those guilty of punishment in the Hell that they should

not be made to enter it. And an intercession for those who have entered

the Hell (among the Muslims who believe in the Oneness of Allâh) that

they should be released from it.

Allâh will also remove some people from the Hell even with no

intercession made for them; rather He will release them out of His

Favour and Mercy. There will remain some space in the Paradise not

occupied by the people of the world thus Allâh will create some people

for the Paradise and they will enter it.

The variety of what the Last Day will contain include the accountability,

reward, punishment, Paradise and Hell. The detail of that is mentioned

in the Book revealed from the heaven and the legacy of knowledge

transmitted from the Prophets, and knowledge inherited from

Muhammad ; all those are sufficient, enough. Whoever strives to know

it will discover it.

[From the Fundamentals of Ahlu-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah is the Eemaan in

Decree and Predestination]

The Saved Sect from the Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah believe in

predestination – good and bad.

Belief in predestination is of two levels and each of the level contains

two other phenomena.

The First Level: The belief that Allâh the Majestic, with His Aforetime

Knowledge with which He is described as not being removable from

Him, knows what the creation would do. He knows all their affairs such

as their obedience (to Allâh and His Messenger), their disobedience,

provisions and life-spans. Then He wrote the proportions of the creation

in the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuudh).

What Allâh first created was the Pen; He the Majestic said to it: 'Write.'

The Pen replied: 'What do I write?' He the Majestic said: 'Write that will

be till the Day of Resurrection.'

Therefore whatever affects a human been has not been decreed to

elude him, and whatever eludes him has not been decreed to affect him;

the pens have dried and the scrolls have been folded, as Allâh the

Majestic said:

Know you not that Allâh knows all that is In heaven and on earth?

Verily, it is (all) in the Book (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz). Verily! That is easy for

Allâh. [Hajj: 70].

He also said:

No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the

Book of decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz), before We bring it into existence.

verily, that is easy for Allâh.

This proportion (upon which He created things) are in accordance to His

Knowledge the Majestic; they fall within their respective places as a

whole and details. He the Majestic did write in the Preserved Tablet

what He wished.

When the body of the foetus is created but before the soul is breathed

into it, He will send an angel to it commanding him on four things. It will

be said to him (the angel): 'Write his provision, his deed, whether he will

be unlucky or blissful, and the like.'

This proportion was denied by the extremists among the Qadariyyah of

old, but those who deny it today are few.

As for the Second Level it is Will of Allâh that is open and His Ability that

is all-encompassing. This is the belief in the fact that it is what Allâh the

Majestic wills that will be; whatever He does not will, will not be. There

is no mobility or immobility in the heavens and the earth except by the

Will of Allâh the Majestic; there cannot be in His Dominion what He has

not willed. Allâh has power over all that exists and that does not exist.

There is no creation on earth or in the heaven except that it is Allâh the

Majestic that created it; there cannot be other creator nor another lord

beside Him.

Despite that, Allâh commands His slaves to obey Him and follow His

Messengers; He forbade them from transgressing against Him. Indeed

Allâh loves the pious, the good-doers and the just. He is pleased with

those who believe and do good deeds; He does not love the unbelievers

nor is He pleased with the transgressors. And He does not command of

evil. He is not pleased with non-belief for His slaves nor does He love

corruption.

The slaves act no doubt but it is Allâh that created all their acts. The

slave is (either) a believer (or) an unbeliever; a pious person or an evil

person; an observer of prayer or an observer of fast.

The slaves have ability over their deeds, and they have a will. Allâh

created them, their ability and will, as Allâh the Majestic said:

.

.

To whomsoever among You who wills to walk straight. And you will not,

unless (it be) that Allâh wills, the Lord of the 'Alamîn. [Takwîr: 28-29].

This level of Qadar (that is the Second Level), all the people of

Qadariyyah deny it; they are the people the Messenger of Allâh

named Majuus (the Fire worshippers) of this Ummah.'

Also some people who establish this level of Qadar go to the extreme in

doing so such that they unclothe the slave from any ability and will (in

carrying out his actions); they also remove Wisdom and Benevolence of

Allâh from His Deeds and Judgements.

[Eemaan is Statement and Action]

From among the fundamentals of the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-

Jama'ah is:

That the Deen and Eemaan are statements and actions. Statement of the

heart and the tongue; actions of the heart, the tongue and the limbs.

That the Eemaan increases with obedience (to Allâh) and decreases with

disobedience (to Him).

And the Ahlus-Sunnah with that, do not declare the people of the Qiblah

(that is, the Muslims) out of the pale of Islam absolutely due to

transgressions and sins they commit, as the Khawaarij do. Rather

brotherhood of faith remains between them even with the sins (of

others). As Allâh the Majestic said:

But, if the killer is forgiven by the brother (or the relatives, etc.) of the

killed against blood money, then adhering to it with fairness and

payment of the blood money, to the heir should be made In fairness.

[Al-Baqarah: 178].

And He the Majestic said:

.

And if two parties or groups among the believers fall to fighting, then

make peace between them both, but if one of them rebels against the

other, then fight you (all) against the one that which rebels till it

complies with the command of Allâh; then if it complies, then make

reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allâh

loves those who are equitable. The believers are nothing else than

brothers (in Islâmic religion). So make reconciliation between your

brothers [Al-Hujurât: 9-10].

[The Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah] do not totally take the Muslim

transgressor out of the religion neither do they say he will abide in the

Hell forever, as the Mu'tazillah do. Rather a Muslim transgressor still

comes within the description of faith absolute.

An example of that is the Statement of Allâh the Majestic:

(It is ordained that) he must set free a believing slave [Nisâ: 179].

And he may not come within the description of faith absolutely, as Allâh

the Majestic said:

The believers are only those who, when Allâh is mentioned, feel a fear

in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur'ân) are recited unto

them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith [Al-Anfaal: 2].

And the word of the Messenger of Allâh :

'A fornicator will not fornicate and remains a believer as he fornicates; a

thief will not steal and remains a believer as he steals, a drinker of liquor

will not drink it and remains a believer as he does so, and a pillager will

not pillage a lofty thing which people raise their eyes to and remains a

believer when he pillages it.'

They say (as regard the above): 'He is a believer with a decrease of faith.'

Or, 'A believer due to his faith but a transgressor due to his sin.' Thus he

is not given the absolute appellation of faith neither is he stripped of it

absolutely.

[Their Hearts and Tongues Are Safe Regarding the Companions of the

Messenger of Allâh ]

From the fundamentals of the Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah is their safe

hearts and tongues towards the Companions of the Messenger of Allâh

, as Allâh the Majestic describes them in His Words:

And those who came after them say: "Our Lord! Forgive us and our

brethren who have preceded us in faith, and put not in our hearts any

hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full

of kindness, Most Merciful. [Al-Hashr: 10].

And their obedience to the command of the Prophet as it has come in

his statement:

'Do not revile my Companions; I swear by He in Whose Hand is my soul, if

any of you were to spend the like of Mount Uhud as gold, it will not reach

the mudd of any of them (the Companions) nor its half.'

They accept what has come in the Book of Allâh and the Sunnah of the

Messenger regarding their excellence and status.

They rate those who spent (their wealth in the path of Islam) before the

Conquest of Makkah – the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah – and fought (in the

path of Allâh) over those who spent and fought after.

They rate the Muhâjirûn over the Ansâr. They believe in the fact that

Allâh said to the People of Badr – who were more than three hundred –

'Do as you like, I have forgiven you.' And that no person that made

allegiance under the Tree (of Hudaybiyyah) will enter the Hell, as the

Prophet informed about that. Indeed Allâh is pleased with them while

they are pleased with Allâh. They were more than one thousand four

hundred.

[The Ahlus-Sunnah Do Not Testify Jannah for Anybody Except He that

the Messenger of Allâh testified for]

They (the Ahlus-Sunnah) testify the Jannah for anyone the Messenger of

Allâh (specifically) testified it for; like the Ten, Thaabit ibn Shammaas,

and other than them among the Comapnions.

[That the Best of this Ummah after Its Prophet are Abû Bakr then Umar

then they used to make Uthmân the third and Alee the fourth]

They accept what the strong report from Ameerul-Mu'mineen, Alee bn

Abee Tâlib – may Allâh be pleased with him – 'that the best of this

Ummah after its Prophet is Abû Bakr then Umar.' Then they used to

make Uthmân the third and Alee the fourth – may Allâh be pleased with

them altogether – as the reports have indicated.

And as agreed by the Companions that Uthmân took precedence in

allegiance (that is, on the occasion of his being made the Khalîfah) with

the fact that some people in the Ahlus-Sunnah Enclave had a difference

of opinion on the issue of who takes precedence between Uthmân and

Alee after they had agreed over Abu Bakr and Umar taking precedence

(over the other two).

Some people rated Uthmân higher and they remained silent (about

Alee); or said Alee came fourth. Some people rated Alee while some

were indifferent (that is, they did not say which was which) but the

matter of Ahlus-Sunnah became settled on rating Uthmân over Alee. But

it should be known that this matter – of Uthmaan and Alee – is not

among the fundamental matters wherein anybody with an opposing

view (to the other position) can be declared as lost; this is the view of

the majority of the Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah in that they believe that

the Khalîfah after the Messenger of Allâh was Abu Bakr then Umar then

Uthmân then Alee.

Whoever criticizes any of their office as a Khalifah is lost than the donkey

of its owner.

[Love for the Family of the Prophet, Showing Friendship to Them,

Guarding Over the Prophet's Statement about Them]

They (the Ahlus-Sunnah) love the family of the Messenger of Allâh and

show friendship to them while they guard the Prophet's statement

about them as he said on the Day of Ghadeer Khumm (which occurred

on 18th day of Dhul-Hijjah) –

'I exhort you about the members of my family.'

He also said to Al-Abbaas, his uncle, after the later complained to him

that some Quraysh were critical of Banu Hâshim then he said:

'I swear by He in Whose Hands is my soul, they do not have (complete)

faith until they love you because of Allâh and because of my kinship (with

you).'

He also said:

'Indeed Allâh chose the Children of Ismail and from them He chose

Kanaanah then from the latter He chose Quraysh and from the latter He

chose the Children of Hâshim and from the latter He chose me.'

[Friendship to the Wives of the Prophet Especially Khadîjah and

Aaisha – may Allâh be pleased with them all]

They show friendship to the wives of the Messenger of Allâh – the

Mothers of the Believers. They believe they will be his wives in the

Hereafter. They show the friendship especially to Khadîjah – who was

the mother of most of his children, and the first to believe in him and

who supported him in his mission; Khadîjah was had a lofty position in

his sight.

So also is the friendship to As-Sidîqah bint As-Siddeeq (that is, Aaisha

bint Abee Bakr) about whom the Prophet said:

'The excellence of Aaisha over the women is like the excellence of

'thareed' (a loaf mixed with meat and stew) over the other types of food.'

[Innocence from the Methodology of the Rawâfid and the Nawâsib]

They free themselves from the path of the Rawâfid those who used to

show hatred towards the Companions, and revile them. And from the

path of the Nawâsib those who hurt the family of the Prophet in

words and actions.

[Refraining from what Occurred Between the Companions that There

Were Among them Those who Had Excuse, There were Those who

made Juristic Effort and Made It and Those Who Made Juristic Effort

and Missed It]

They used to refrain from what occurred among the Companions. They

do say: The reports that came vilifying them are either lies or additions

or reductions or what are presented in another way. As for the reports

authentic in this regard, the Companions had excuses thereof – rather

we say they jurists who made correct view or jurists who made errors.

Despite that, they do not say that each of the Companions was error-

free from major and minor sins; rather they could make errors in some

matters.

The Companions had precedence and excellence that necessitates

forgiveness being granted what might have come from them of sins, if at

all there were. In fact, they are forgiven in a way those who came after

them are not forgiven because of what they possessed of good deeds

that obliterate sins; good deeds which those who came after them do

not possess.

It has come from the statement of the Messenger of Allâh about them

that:

'They are the best of the generations.'

And that: 'The mudd of any of them if he spends it will be better than

Mount Uhud spent by those after them.'

And if there were any sin from any of them perhaps he had repented on

its account or that he had some good deeds that had obliterated it, or

that he had been forgiven by the excellence of his precedence or by the

intercession of Muhammad – whom they were more entitled to his

intercession; or that he had been afflicted with a trial in life that served

as an expiation for him. If this is said what is said regarding real sins,

what about the matters wherein they expressed their juristic prowess

and wherein they hit the truth such that they would have two rewards,

and if they made a mistake they would have one reward while the error

would be forgiven?

Yet the proportion which is frown out among their actions is little, minor

and forgivable compared with the proportion with their excellence and

good actions (as expressed in their) belief in Allâh and His Messenger,

Jihâd in Allâh's path, Hijrah, being of help (to the Messenger of Allâh ),

beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds.

Whoever investigates the history of the people with knowledge and

proper sight; and investigates the favour Allâh bestowed upon them

would know with certainty that they are the best of the creation after

the Prophets. There was none like them and there can be none like

them. They were the best of the people in the generations of this

Ummah – which is the best and most glorious nations among the nations

with Allâh.

[Believing in the Miracles of Auliyâ (the Friends of Allâh)]

From among the fundamentals of the Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah is the

belief in the miracles of the Auliyâ, and the unusual things that Allâh

allows to occur in their hands in terms of knowledge and discoveries,

different abilities and effects; like the report from the gone nations in

Sûrah Khahf and others.

And hat occurred in the beginning of this Ummah from among the

Companions, the Taabiuun and the rest of the generations of the

Ummah. [The miracles] are still there and will be there till the Day of

Resurrection.

[Following the Legacy of the Messenger of Allâh and the path of the

Pious Forefathers among the Muhâjirûn and Ansâr]

Then from among the path of the Ahlus-sunnah Wal-Jama'ah is

following the legacy of the Messenger of Allâh in secret and the open.

And following the path of the predecessors among the Muhâjirûn and

the Ansâr. And following the testament of the Messenger of Allâh where

He said:

'Upon you is my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Khulafaa

after me; hold unto it and use your molar teeth to hold it. Be wary of

newly-introduced matters (in the Deen) indeed all innovations are

misguidance.'

They also know that the most truthful of speeches is the Speech of Allâh

and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad . They do

prefer the Speech of Allâh to the speech of all the people irrespective of

their forms. They prefer the guidance of Muhammad to the guidance

of any other person this is why they are called Ahlul-Kitaab Was-Sunnah.

And are also called Ahlul-Jama'ah because the Jama'ah is the coming

together while its opposite is staying apart. The term Jama'ah can be

used to refer to a people that come together (over a matter).

Ij'mâ is the Third Principle that is relied on in the matter of knowledge of

the Deen.

They (the Ahlus-Sunnah) used the Three Principles (Qur'ân, Sunnah and

the Ij'mâ) to measure what the people are upon in terms of statements,

secret and open deeds that have to do with the religion.

The Ij'mâ that is regarded is the one the Salafu-Saalih were upon

because it was after them a lot of differences set in, and the Ummah

became dispersed.

[Commanding what is Good and Forbidding What is Evil]

Plus the foregoing fundamentals, they [Ahlus-Sunnah Wal' Jama'ah]

used to command of what is good and forbid what is evil; under the

auspices of the Shariah.

[Jum'ah, Eids, Hajj, and Jihâd (Are Observed) Behind the Rulers]

They also see the observance of Hajj, Jihâd, Jum'ah, and Eids with the

rulers – whether they (the rulers) are righteous or otherwise. And they

used to guard over the congregational prayers.

[Sincere Postures to the Rulers, Scholars and Muslims]

They render as a duty from the religion, sincere postures to the Ummah.

[The Muslims Are A Body Like A Building Which Parts Sustain Each

Other]

They have the belief regarding the word of the Messenger of Allâh

that:

'Believers to believers are like a well-built structure whose parts sustain

one another.' Then the Messenger of Allâh held his fists together.

So also is his statement:

'The similitude of believers in their loving, having mercy and sympathy

for one another is like a body which when a limb complains thereof the

rest of the body cries of fever and insomnia.'

[Patience during Tribulations; Thankfulness in Ease and Pleasure with

Allâh's Decree]

They used to command of patience over a tribulation, thankfulness in

state of ease and pleasure with [Allâh's] Decree.

[Inviting to Excellent Character]

They call (others) to excellent character and lofty deeds. They used to

give regard the statement f the Messer of Allâh :

'The best of the believers in Eemaan is their best in character.'

[Commanding Pardon Regarding those Who Are Unjust to Them]

They used to see it as meritorious, that you join ties with those who

severe it from you, that you give he that holds back from you, and that

you pardon whoever acts unjustly to you.

[Commanding Goodness to the Parents] [Commanding Joining Ties of

Kinship], [Goodness to Neighbors, Orphans, the Poor, Wayfarers and

Meekness towards the Slaves]

They used to command goodness to parents.

Joining ties of kinship.

Goodness to the neighbour, orphans, the poor, wayfarers and meekness

to the slaves.

[Forbidding Deplorable Character Such as Pride and Insolence]

They used to forbid from pride, insolence, malice, and hurting others

rightfully or otherwise. They used to command of lofty character and

forbid from dirty character.

[The Saved Sect – the Victorious Party – Are those Who Are Upon the

Like of What the Prophet and His Companions Were Upon]

All what they say and do regarding this (the issue in this treatise) and

others, they used to follow the Book of Allâh and the Sunnah of His

Messenger .

Their path is the Deen of Islâm with which Allâh sent Muhammad . But

when the Prophet informed that:

'The Ummah would divide into seventy-three sects all of which would be

in the hell except one which is the Jama'ah.'

And there is in a hadith, where he said:

'They are those upon the like of what I am upon today and my

Companions.'

It is Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah that held to the pristine Islâm which is

free from stains.

There were among them the truthful ones, the martyrs, and the

righteous. So also were figures of guidance and lamps in darkness. They

were people of commendable traits and remarkable excellence. There

were valours among them. Among them were also the leaders of the

Deen, those whom the rest of the Muslims agreed as to their (being

upon) guidance and knowledge. They were the Victorious Group; those

whom the Prophet said about:

'It will not cease to be in my Ummah a group that would become

victorious on truth; those who oppose them will not hurt them nor those

who decry them, until the Hour will come.'

We ask Allâh the Mighty to make us among them and that He should not

cause our hearts to derail after He had guided us, and that He should

endow us with mercy from Him indeed He is the Bestower.

Allâh knows best.

May Allâh exalt and safeguard numerously Muhammad, his family and

Companions.