INTELLECTUAL AQEEDA
أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ (35) أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بَل لَا يُوقِنُونَ (36)
“Were they created of nothing, or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, they have no firm belief.” [TMQ Tur: 35-36]
A Relatively large number of people spend their whole lives searching for the reason of existence without much avail. These people are not able to judge as to what is good and what is bad. They are unable to differentiate between what to accept and what to reject; what to follow, what not. they do not know which way of life they should follow and which they should not.
Some of us are able to solve these problems but still remain in confusion, and are unable to solve the problems we face in our day to day lives. We have rampant economic problems every where, war in our countries, oppression and anarchy prevalent every where.
In more specific words the Muslim ummah is at the height of decline any civilization could go into. Why is it so.
Today, the Islamic Ummah is lacking in thoughts, so it is naturally deprived of the productive way of thinking. The present generation did not receive from its preceding generation any ideas, be they Islamic or non-Islamic and naturally; it did not receive a productive way of thinking. Nor did it attain by itself any thoughts or a productive way of thinking. As a result, it is natural for this generation to be seen in poverty, despite the abundance of material resources in its lands. Likewise, it is natural to have no scientific discoveries and industrial inventions even though it studies the theories of these discoveries and inventions and is aware of them. This is because it is impossible to rush to gain them in a productive way, unless it possesses a productive way of thinking i.e. unless it has thoughts and it is creative in using their thoughts in life. Therefore, it is inevitable for the Muslims to establish for themselves thoughts and a productive way of thinking. Thereafter, they will be able to proceed, based on that, to acquire material wealth, make scientific discoveries, and industrial inventions. Unless they do this, they will not proceed a single step; rather they will continue to go around in a vicious circle, exhausting their mental and physical efforts, only to end up exactly where they began. The present generation of Muslims has not even adopted a basic thought which contradicts their ideology of Islam, which we aim to establish amongst them. If it had done so, it would have been able to fully comprehend the Islamic ideology given to it, because this comprehension would have resulted from a clash between the Islamic ideology and the one carried by this generation, making the Ummah realise the correctness of the Islamic ideology. Rather, the current Islamic generation is empty of any thought and of any productive way of thinking. Instead, it inherited the Islamic thoughts as an academic philosophy, in the same way that the Greeks inherited the philosophies of Aristotle and Plato. It also inherited Islam as rituals and religious dogma, in the same way the Christians inherited Christianity. At the same time, it became fascinated with Capitalism after witnessing its successes, and not through comprehending the validity of its thoughts; and from its submission to its rules, and not from comprehending how these solutions emanate from the Capitalist viewpoint of life. Therefore, the Ummah is devoid of the Capitalist thoughts intellectually, although it lives according to the Capitalist way of life. The Ummah also became devoid of the Islamic thoughts in practice, although it conducts some of its rituals and studies its thoughts.
The tendency of this generation towards the Capitalist ideas went far beyond just reconciling Islam with the Capitalist laws and solutions. It has now reached such an extent that there is a feeling of Islam being incapable of solving contemporary problems of life, and there is an urge to take Western laws as they are, without even reconciling them with Islam. The Ummah came to see no harm in giving up Islamic rules and adopting others, in order to progress with the civilised world, and catch up with the Capitalist and Socialist nations, considering them as progressed peoples. As for those who adhere to Islam, they have the same tendency towards the Capitalist thoughts, but they still try to reconcile them with Islam. However, those who try to reconcile Islam with other thoughts have no influence in life, nor do they have any presence in society, i.e. in the actual relationships that go on between the people.
It is the time to realize that solutions of our problems do not belong to any false system; rather solutions belong to Islam. Human being is limited and created so we need a revealed guidance from our creator to solve all our problems. Islam came to solve human problems. Shortly I’m going to explain in details some basic key points on our interrelations regarding Muslim Ummah.
Establishing Our Faith Through Rational Debate
Islam addressed the greatest problem and solved it in a manner that agrees with man's nature, convinces his mind, and fills his heart with tranquility. Islam made the rational acceptance of this solution a condition for embracing it.
As I said before we believe we are created and Therefore, Islam is built upon one basis, i.e. the ‘aqeedah, which states there is behind man, life and the universe a creator, who created all of them and created everything: He is Allah . This Creator created everything out of nothing. His existence is indispensable and he is not created. All things depend for their existence on him and he does not depend on anything.
Allah Says in Holy Quran addressing himself:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (1) اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ (2) لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ (3) وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ (4)
“Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him.” [TMQ Al-Ikhlas:1-4]
But we have to proof existence of Allah by rational contraception. That because Allah says:
وَمِنْ آَيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآَيَاتٍ لِلْعَالِمِينَ
"And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. Behold! herein indeed are signs for men of knowledge." [TMQ Ar-Rum: 22]
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآَيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ
"Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alteration of night and day, these are indeed signs for men of understanding." [TMQ Aali-Imran: 190]
The Islamic Belief and subsequently the Islamic way of life has an intellectual basis. Therefore, Islam is neither a religion nor a set of values and rituals that arise from Blind Faith. Rather, Islam is an intellectual belief from which emanates a comprehensive system of life, be it for individuals or society.
To understand the unique system that Islam offers necessitates the explanation of the Islamic belief i.e. the belief in God, Allah (swt) in Arabic, and the Word of God, the Qur’an.
Anyone who has the mental faculty can comprehend from things that can be sensed that they have a creator. This is because what is noticed in all of them is that they are imperfect, weak and dependent, so they are definitely created. Man is limited, because he grows in every aspect to a certain limit that he cannot surpass. Life is limited, because it manifests itself only in individuals, and what is noticed by the senses is that it is concluded with the individual. The universe is limited, because it is the sum of celestial bodies, and each body is limited; and the sum of limited things is self-evidently limited. Thus, man, life, and the universe are definitely limited. When we ponder on the limited (thing), we see that it is not eternal, otherwise it would not have been limited, and therefore, it must be created by something else, which is the Creator of man, life and the universe. This Creator, is either
· Created by someone else
· Creator of himself, or
· Eternal whose existence is limitless
It is absolutely false that he is created by someone else, because he would then be limited. It is also false that he is the creator of himself and could not be rationally considered as the Creator. As for being self-created, the ramification of which would be he is created by himself and creating himself simultaneously. This is simply absurd. Hence, the creator must limitless. He is Allah.
We can smash both the biggest theories related to universal creation; big bang–big crunch theory and
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لَنْ يَخْلُقُوا ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا لَهُ وَإِنْ يَسْلُبْهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيْئًا لَا يَسْتَنْقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالْمَطْلُوب
All of them failed miserably.
It has been proven that man is created by Allah and that religiousness is innate in man, since it is one of his instincts. Thus, man, by his nature, sanctifies his Creator, and this sanctification means worship, which is the relationship between man and his Creator. Leaving this relationship without organisation will lead to turmoil and to worshipping other than the Creator. Therefore, it is necessary to organise this relationship with a correct system which cannot emanate from man, because he cannot comprehend the nature of the Creator in order to set up this relationship between himself and the Creator. Hence, this system must come from the Creator. Since the Creator has to convey this system to man, therefore there should be messengers to convey to the people the deen of Allah.
So it is necessary to know of true religion which is sent from the creator of the universe that men do not go astray. Islam is only religion which can be rationally proved undoubtfully. Greatest miracle of Islam is the glorious Quran. As for the proof that the Qur'an is revealed by Allah, it is well known that the Qur'an is an Arabic book conveyed by Muhammad. Thus, it is either from the
· Arabs
· Muhammad, or
· Allah
It is not possible that it be from any other except these three since it is Arabic in language and style.
It is false to say that the Qur'an comes from the Arabs because it challenged them to bring forth anything similar to it.
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِثْلِهِ مُفْتَرَيَاتٍ وَادْعُوا مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
"Say, bring ten surahs like unto it." [TMQ Hud: 13]
When Arabs failed to do so Allah reduced the challenge:
وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِنْ مِثْلِهِ وَادْعُوا شُهَدَاءَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
"Say, bring one surah like unto it." [TMQ Yunus: 38]
They tried to bring the like of it but they failed to do so. Hence, this book is not of their speech because they were unable to bring the like, of it, though it challenged them, and they tried to bring the like of it. It is also false to say that it is from Muhammad, since Muhammad is one of the Arabs, and whatever the height of his genius, he is a human being and a member of his community and nation. Since the Arabs themselves had failed to bring the like of it, this also applies to Muhammad, the Arab, that he could not bring the like of it. Thus, it is not from him. Moreover, Muhammad has left saheeh ahaadeeth and mutawaatir ahaadeeth, whose authenticity is beyond doubt. If any of these ahaadeeth were to be compared with any verse of the Qur'an, there would be no similarity between them in style. He used to utter the revealed verse and say the hadeeth at the same time and yet there is a difference between them in style. Whenever any man attempts to diversify his speech, it will remain similar in style, because it is a part of him. Since there is no similarity between the hadeeth and the verse in style, the Qur'an is absolutely not Muhammad speech. Besides this, none of the Arabs, who were the most versed with the styles of the Arabic speech, alleged that the Qur'an is Muhammad speech, or that it is similar to his speech. The only thing that they claimed was that Muhammad had brought it from a Christian youth called Jabr. Allah refuted what they claimed and said:
وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا يُعَلِّمُهُ بَشَرٌ لِسَانُ الَّذِي يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِيٌّ وَهَذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِيٌّ مُبِينٌ
"We know indeed that they say it is a man that taught him. The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear." [TMQ An-Nahl: 103]
Since it is proved that the Qur'an is neither the speech of the Arabs nor the speech of Muhammad, it is definitely the speech of Allah, and consequently it is a miracle for the one who brought it. Because Muhammad brought the Qur'an, and the Qur'an is the speech of Allah and His divine law, and because no one brings Allah's Shari’ah (law) except the Prophets and the Messengers, then accordingly Muhammad must definitely be a prophet and messenger, by rational proof.
This is an intellectual proof for the iman in Allah and in the message of Muhammad_, and that the Qur'an is the speech of Allah. Once man has reached this solution, he can move to the thought about the life of this world and to establish sound and productive concepts about it. This solution becomes the basis upon which the ideology, which serves as the way of revival, is built. It is also the basis upon which the civilisation of this ideology rests, the basis from which its systems emanate, and the basis upon which its state is established. Thus, the basis upon which Islam is established, both the idea and method, is the Islamic ‘aqeedah. After this rational discussion, the iman in the Shari’ah is not based on the mind. Rather, one must surrender completely to all that which was revealed from Allah.
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
"But no, by your Lord, they can have no (real) faith, until they make you judge in all the disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept them with the fullest submission." [TMQ An-Nisa: 65]
And;
إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَنْ يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
“The only saying of the believers, when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say: ‘We hear and we obey.’” [TMQ An-Nur: 51]
We Are the Best of the Nations
Allah Says is the glorious Quraan:
“And who is better in speech than he who invites (men) to Allah and does righteous deeds, and says:’I am one of the Muslims’.” [TMQ Fussilat: 33]
Allah has created human beings and guided them. He created us in the best of forms and gave us knowledge to understand what is good and what is evil. Those who can recognize Allah and follow his laws, they are the best among best and those who are rebellious to him they are the worst of worst. He says:
وَالْعَصْرِ (1) إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ (2) إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ (3)
“By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.” [TMQ Al-`Asr: 1-3]
Allah addresses Muslims as best of peoples. The thing which differentiates Muslim from a kafir is, we understand what maroof is and they do not understand. So Allah says:
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَوْ آَمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ مِنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
“You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin the ma’roof and forbid the munkar, and you believe in Allah” [TMQ Al `Imran: 110]
So this is a part of our imaan that we must carry the dawah to Islam and Allah made it obligatory. It is a worship with which the da’wah carrier seeks closeness to his Lord, and knows that its status is high, by which Allah raises him in this world and in the Hereafter.
Promoting Muslim Brotherhood and Unity
Islam came to solve human problems. Unlike many other way of life, Islam emphasis on collectivity. Maximum rituals of Islam e.g. Salah, hajj etc. are collective rituals. Islam gives importance on Muslim brotherhood and unity. Allah describes the believers as being brothers. Muslims share the same beliefs, work towards the same goals and share the same code of behavior. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy.” [TMQ Al-Hujurat: 10]
In the hadith of ‘Umar it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor deserts him. Whoever helps to remove the hardship of his brother, will have his difficulties removed by Allah in this world and in the Hereafter. One who covers the shortcomings of another Muslim, will have his faults covered up in this world and the next by Allah.”
For this brotherhood Allah order us to have a strong bond with our fellow brothers. Muslim reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that Allah's Messengers (saw) said:
“A Muslim owes six obligations towards another Muslim: when you meet him, salute him saying 'Assalamu Alaikum; when he invites you, accept his invitation; when he (or she) solicits your advice, advise him (or her) sincerely; when he (or she) sneezes and praises Allah, respond with the supplication Yarhamuka Allah (Allah have mercy on you); when he falls sick, visit him; on his death, join his funeral.”
All of these obligations made us different from other people. Muslims are strongly tight up with bond of imaan. Therefore a Muslim must loves another muslim. If we look at many quaanic ayah and sayings of Rasulallah (saw) we will see that Islam teaches us to love our brothers, hide their faults, standby their side when they need, protect them from enemy and be like a mirror to each other. Allah says:
“The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practise regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is exalted in power, wise.” [TMQ At-Tawbah: 71]
It is related by Abu Musa Ash’ari (ra) that The Messenger of Allah said:
"The connection between Muslims is like that of a strong building - one part strengthens another." The Prophet then showed this by interlocking the fingers of one hand with those of the other (that Muslims should remain united and combined - thereby strengthening one another).”
And, on the authority of Abu Dardaa` (ra) who said that the Prophets (saw) said:
“Whoever defends his brother's honour, Allah will protect his face from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.”
For that reason Allah addressing Ansars (People of Madina who gave protection to Muslims brothers):
“But those who before them, had homes (in Medina) and had adopted the Faith, show their affection to such as came to them for refuge, and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter), but give them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their (own lot). And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls, they are the ones that achieve prosperity”. [TMQ Al-Hashr: 9]
So, it an essential part of our aqeeda that we must love our muslim brothers from our heart. The hadith of Anas (ra) reported by al-Bukhari states that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“None of you will taste the sweetness of Imaan until a man does not love a person except for Allah’s sake.”
Similar hadith is mentioned by Huthaifah (ra), the Prophet said:
"Whoever does not take an interest in the affairs and problems of the Muslims, he is not of them. And whoever’s state is such that, each morning and evening, he is not loyal and earnest to Allah, his Apostle, His Book, the Islamic ruler and towards the Muslims, as a whole, he is not of them."
The Messenger (saw) showed us the great reward of the believer who loves for his brother that which he loves for himself. He wishes good for his brother in this world and the hereafter as much as he can. Many related sayings of prophet (saw) show us importance of brotherhood. Some of them mentioned here:
Hadith of Anas (ra) which states that the Prophet (saw) said:
‘None of you can be a true believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.’
Also at-Tabaraani reported with a trustworthy chain of transmitters which is classed as hasan ahadith on the authority of Zayd b. Thabit that the Messenger of Allah (saw):
“Allah continues to help a servant so long as he goes on helping his brother.”
It is recommended (mandoob) to meet another brother by that which makes him happy due to the hadith reported by at-Tabaraani, which is hasan, that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“The one who meets his brother with something his brother loves in order to make him happy then Allah ‘azza wa jalla will make him happy on the day of judgment.”
Mustadrak, Ibn Hibban in his Sahih on the authority of Anas (ra) who said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“No two men love one another, but the better of them is the one who is of greater love for his brother.”
It is sunnah also upon a Muslim to make du’a for his brother in his absence due to what Muslim narrated from Umm Dardaa who said: My master (i.e. Abu Dardaa, a reference of respect for her husband) reported that he heard Allah's Messenger (May peace be upon him) as say:
“He who supplicates for his brother in his absence, the Angel commissioned (for carrying supplication to his Lord) says: Ameen, and the same is for you also.”
Also it is recommended to meet his brother with a smiling face due to the hadith reported by Muslim on the authority of Abu Zarr who said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“Do not belittle even the smallest act of kindness, even if it were no more than meeting your brother with a smiling and cheerful face.”
So, therefore we must be careful of matter that all muslims around the globe are our brothers as long as they are strict to the point “la ilaha illahu mohammadur rasullah”. We must love our brother’s regardless ethnicity, colour or country. We must work for this unity and this will bring a peaceful world.
Fulfilling Our Human Duties
It should be noted that carrying the intellectual leadership by carrying the Islamic da’wah in order to revive the Muslims is undertaken because Islam alone can reform the world, and the true revival cannot be achieved without Islam, whether for the Muslims or others.
The da’wah to Allah was the mission of the Prophets who undertook it and via it they established the deen of their Lord.
Allah says:
“And certainly, you (O Muhammad) call them to a Straight Path.” [TMQ Al-Mu'minun: 73]
And;
“So unto this (deen) invite (O Muhammad) and stand firm and straight (on this path) as you are commanded.’” [TMQ Ash-Shura: 15]
And also;
“And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming): Worship Allah (alone), and avoid the Taghut (false gods, dieties etc).” [TMQ An-Nahl: 36].
So, therefore it one of the most importance duties on our shoulder to convey the true message of Islam; enjoys what is good and forbid what is evil. It is an obligation on us to work for an Islamic authority, because only through an Islamic authority we can achieve our goals. Only a god fearing state can revive this miserable condition of Muslim ummah, can relieve our pain or solve the poverty problem and can protect us from the cruel attack of our enemy or whatsoever afflictive condition. Implementation of can bring smile on our kid’s face. Only if there is an proper effectuation of Islam, we can rest on peace; both Muslims and Nonmuslims.
A call towards Lightness
Allah says addressing the importance of conveying true message to humanity:
"It is He who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and deen of Haqq, to prevail over all other religions even though the idolaters may abhor it." [At-Tubah: 33]
And;
“And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief ie worshipping others beside Allah) and the deen (worship) will all be for Allah alone.” [TMQ Al-Anfal: 39].
Prophet (saw) said:
“Let the one present convey it to the one absent.”
And the Messenger (saw) also says:
“Convey from me even if it is one ayah.” [Reported by Bukhari]
So as a Muslim, this is our call to the humanity to get rid of false belief. This is because, the message we got we must convey it. We call the humanity; both Muslim and nonmuslim, to lighten our hearts with lights of Islam: follow one lord Allah and the system brought by his messenger Mohammad (saw). This call is not for partial implementation of Islam on your life, this is a call to take Islam as an ideology, that is, fully implementation. Allah promised prosperity to those who obeys him. And also Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ
"Allah does not change the circumstances of any people until they have changed what is within themselves." [Ar-Ra’d: 11]
In this age of darkness, we are in loss. Our call is towards this change Allah mentioned to bring back success on every aspect of our life and hereafter.
-Written & compiled by: Jahan Moahammad
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