Actions and Words are only Valid and Accepted When They are Based on Sound `Aqidah

Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah (adherents to the Sunnah and the Muslim mainstream) acknowledge all attributes that is affirmed by Allah in His book and by the Prophet (peace be upon him) in his Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) without Tamthil (likening Allah's Attributes to those of His Creation) or Ta`til (negation of the meaning or function of Allah's Attributes). Therefore, their opinions are free from contradictions, and they act upon all the relevant evidence. It is the constant Law of Allah that those who adhere to the truth brought by His Messengers and are sincere to Allah in their endeavors, Allah will surely grant them success and make their evidence prevail. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Nay, We fling (send down) the truth (this Qur??n) against the falsehood (disbelief), so it destroys it, and behold, it (falsehood) is vanished. Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And no example or similitude do they bring (to oppose or to find fault in you or in this Qur??n), but We reveal to you the truth (against that similitude or example), and the better explanation thereof.
(Part No. 1; Page No. 19)

In his Famous Book on Tafsir (exegesis of the meanings of the Qur'an), Al-Hafizh Ibn Kathir (may Allah be merciful to him) had a good comment in his explanation of the Ayah (Qur'anic verse) where Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Indeed, your Lord is All?h, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He rose over (Istaw?) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). We are citing it here for its great importance: "People have many opinions regarding this matter but this is not the place to cite them. We just have to follow the way of the Salaf (righteous predecessors) in this issue, such as Malik, Al-Awza`y, Al-Thawry, Al-Layth ibn Sa`d, Al-Shafi`y, Ahmad, Is-haq ibn Rahawayh and other Muslim Imams of the past and present; that is, to acknowledge them (Allah's Attributes) as they are stated without Takyif (descriptive designation of Allah's Attributes), Tashbih (comparison), Ta`til or Ta'wil (allegorical interpretation). The literal outward meaning that crosses the minds of anthropomorphists is negated with respect to Allah, for nothing created has any resemblance to Him. There is nothing like Him; and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. It is as the Imams, including Nu`aym ibn Hammad Al-Khuza`y, the teacher of Al-Bukhari, said, 'Anyone who compares Allah to His creation or denies the attributes with which Allah has described Himself has committed Kufr (disbelief). There should be no Tashbih concerning the attributes described by Allah or His Messenger. Anyone who affirms what is mentioned in the explicit Ayahs and authentic Hadiths in a way that befits the Magnificence of Allah and negates any imperfection in Him follows the right path." End of the quote of Ibn Kathir (may Allah be merciful to him).

Belief in the angels involves belief in them generally as well as in detail. A Muslim should believe that Allah created angels to obey Him, whom He described as: ...honoured slaves They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His Command. He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him. There are different types of angels. Every type has a role. Some angels are in charge of carrying the Throne, some are in charge of Paradise and Hellfire, and some are in charge of recording people's deeds. We must believe in the angels specifically named by Allah and His Messenger, such as Jibril (Gabriel), Mika'il (Michael), Malik who is in charge of Hellfire, and Israfil who is assigned to blow the horn.
(Part No. 1; Page No. 20)

They are mentioned in authentic Hadiths. It is authentically narrated from `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: Angels were created from light, Jinn from a smokeless flame of fire, and Adam from that which you have been told (i.e. sounding clay like the clay of pottery). (Related by Muslim in his Sahih) The same applies to belief in Divine Books. Muslims must generally believe that Allah sent down Scriptures to His Messengers and Prophets to show His Rights as their God and call people to the truth. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Indeed, We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. Allah (Exalted be He) also says: Mankind were one community and All?h sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them He sent down the Scripture in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed.

We must believe in the Books that Allah mentioned by name, such as the Tawrah (Torah), the Injil (Gospel), the Zabur (Book revealed to Prophet Dawud [David]), and finally the Qur'an. The Qur'an being the last and best Book that stands as a witness over all previous Books, confirming the truth mentioned in them or revealing the distortions made in them. This is the Book that the entire Muslim nation must follow and rule according to its law, along with the authentic Hadiths reported from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allah (Exalted be He) sent Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to both mankind and Jinn, and sent down to him the Qur'an to judge between people according to it. Allah made it a healing for what is in the breasts, a clarification of everything, and guidance and mercy for the believers. Allah (Exalted be He) says: And this is a blessed Book (the Qur??n) which We have sent down, so follow it and fear All?h (i.e. do not disobey His Orders), that you may receive mercy (i.e. be saved from the torment of Hell). And: And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur?an) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to All?h as Muslims). And: Say (O Muhammad ??? ???? ???? ????): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of All?h - to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. L? il?ha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in All?h and His Messenger (Muhammad ??? ???? ???? ????), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad ??? ???? ???? ????), who believes in All?h and His Words [(this Qur??n), the Taur?t (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also All?h?s Word: "Be!" - and he was, i.e. ?Is? (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), ?????? ??????], and follow him so that you may be guided."
(Part No. 1; Page No. 21)

There are many Ayahs carrying this meaning. The same applies to belief in messengers. We must believe in messengers in general and some of them in detail. We must believe that Allah sent messengers to His servants as bearers of glad tidings, warners, and callers to the truth. Anyone who positively responds to their call shall attain happiness, whereas those who contradict them will bring upon themselves failure and regret. Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah (peace be upon him) is the last and best of the Prophets, as Allah (Glorified be He) says: And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): ?Worship All?h (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) T?gh?t (all false deities i.e. do not worship T?gh?t besides All?h).? Allah (Exalted be He) also says: Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against All?h after the (coming of) Messengers. And: Muhammad (??? ???? ???? ????) is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of All?h and the last (end) of the Prophets. Any prophet whose name was mentioned by Allah or authentically reported from the Messenger (peace be upon him) must be believed in personally and specifically. Among these Messengers are Nuh (Noah), Hud (Eber), Salih (Shaloh), Ibrahim (Abraham) and many others (may peace and blessings be upon them, their family, and followers).

As for belief in the Last Day, it comprises belief in all the events that Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) informed us about, which shall occur after death, such as the trial of the grave, and the torment or bliss in the grave, and the horros and distresses of the Day of Resurrection, such as Sirat (the bridge over the Fire), Mizan (the Scales for weighing deeds), punishment and reward, records of deeds that shall be laid open which people shall receive in their right hand, their left hand or behind their back. It also includes belief in the Hawd (the Prophet's Basin in the Hereafter), Paradise, Hellfire, the believers seeing and speaking to Allah (Glorified be He), and the other things mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah. Every Muslim has to believe in all these matters as taught by Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him).

With regard to belief in predestination, it consists of four elements:
First: The belief that Allah knows what happened in the past and what will happen in the future, and all matters of His creatures, their sustenance, lifetime, deeds, and all other issues; nothing is hidden from Him.
(Part No. 1; Page No. 22)

Allah (Glorified be He) says: Verily, All?h is the All-Knower of everything. And: ...that you may know that All?h has power over all things, and that All?h surrounds all things in (His) Knowledge.

Second: The belief that Allah has records of everything He predestined. Allah (Glorified be He) says: We know that which the earth takes of them (their dead bodies), and with Us is a Book preserved (i.e. the Book of Decrees). And: ...and all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Book. And: Know you not that All?h knows all that is in the heaven and on the earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book (Al-Lauh-al-Mahf?z). Verily that is easy for All?h.

Third: The belief that the Will of Allah is inevitably executed. Whatever He wills, will be; and whatever He does not, will never be. Allah (Glorified be He) says: Verily, All?h does what He wills. And: Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be!" - and it is! And: And you cannot will unless (it be) that All?h wills - the Lord of the ?Alam?n (mankind, jinn and all that exists).

Fourth: The belief that Allah (Exalted be He) is the Creator of all things that exist. There is no creator or Lord except Him. Allah (Glorified be He) says: All?h is the Creator of all things, and He is the Wak?l (Trustee, Disposer of affairs, Guardian) over all things. And: O mankind! Remember the Grace of All?h upon you! Is there any creator other than All?h who provides for you from the sky (rain) and the earth? L? il?ha ill? Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turning away (from Him)?

According to Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah, belief in these four elements constitutes the belief in predestination. However, some followers of Bid`ah (innovation in the religion) deny some of these aspects. Furthermore, belief in Allah includes believing that Iman is translated into words and deeds whose power increases by performing acts of obedience and decreases by committing sins. It is also not permissible to declare a Muslim to be a Kafir (disbeliever) for committing a sin below the level of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and Kufr (disbelief), such as Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage), robbery, Riba (usury/interest), intoxication, and disobedience to parents and other major sins, as long as the person concerned does not regard them as lawful. Allah (Glorified be He) says: Verily, All?h forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills.

Moreover, it is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that Allah will bring out of the Fire those who have as much as a mustard of faith in their heart. Another aspect of belief in Allah is love and hate, and loyalty and disassociation for the sake of Allah. Thus, a believer should love and support believers, and dislike and oppose Kafirs (disbelievers). Foremost among the believers of this nation are the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet). Hence, Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah love them, support them, and believe that they were the best of people after the prophets, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The best people are those living in my generation, and then those who will follow them, and then those who will follow the latter. (Agreed upon by Imams Al-Bukhari and Muslim) They also believe that the best among them was Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, then `Umar Al-Faruq, then `Uthman Dhu Al-Nurayn, then `Aly Al-Murtada (may Allah be pleased with them all), then the Ten Sahabah given the glad tidings of entering Paradise, then the rest of Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them all). Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah remain silent regarding the disputes that arose among the Sahabah knowing that they were Mujtahids (scholars qualified to exercise juristic effort to infer expert legal rulings), who would be doubly rewarded if their view was true and would receive only a single reward if their view was incorrect. Furthermore, they love and support the believing household of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his wives, the Mothers of the Believers, asking that Allah be pleased with them. On the other hand, they disavow the approach of Al-Rawafid (a Shiitic group) who hate and revile the Sahabah and exceed the proper limits regarding Ahl-ul-Bayt (members of the Prophet's extended Muslim family) placing them in a higher rank than that which Allah has given them. They also disavow the approach of Al-Nawasib (A deviant Islamic sect slandering `Aly ibn Abu Talib and the family of the Prophet) who harm Ahl-ul-Bayt with words or actions.
(Part No. 1; Page No. 24)

The correct `Aqidah with which the Messenger (peace be upon him) was sent is all that is mentioned in this brief speech. This is the `Aqidah of the Saved Sect, namely, Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: A group of people from my Ummah (nation based on one creed) will remain victorious (and on the right path), and those who desert or oppose them shall not be able to do them any harm until Allah's Command is executed (i.e. Resurrection is established). He (peace be upon him) also said: The Jews split into seventy one sects, all of which are in Hellfire except one; the Christians split into seventy two sects, all of which are in Hellfire except one; and this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of which are in Hellfire except one. The Sahabah said, 'Which sect is that, O Messenger of Allah?' He (peace be upon him) said, 'Those who follow the very same (path) that I and my Companions follow.'" This is the correct `Aqidah that every Muslim is obliged to follow and remain steadfast in it, and beware of anything that opposes it.

Source: http://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/fatawaChapters.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=5&PageNo=1&BookID=14

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