Al-Usool Ath-Thalaathah by Shaykh Ahmad Musa Jibril

▶️ This is  because the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam thought it was sufficient to hear the Shahaadah of many and did not request that they know the proofs of Tawheed and  ‘Aqeedah, and the accumulation of the Hadith on this are authentic and Mutawaatir (متواتر). 

▶️ That is a statement of an-Nawawi. Ibn ‘Aqeel Rahimahullah said it is not a goal to know the proof. To know the proof is just means to make your belief firm, and if this happens without knowing proof that is sufficient. 

▶️In the fourth volume of his book Al-Fasil (الفصل) (around or after page thirty five), Ibn Hazm said everyone else other than the Mu’tazilah said anyone who believes in his heart a true  belief without any doubts, says it on his tongue (Laa Ilaaha Illallah Muhammadur-Rasoolullah), accepts everything the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam came with is the truth and denounces everything other than that then he is a believer even if he is a Muqallid  and proof is not a prerequisite.

▶️ In his book on Usool (Rawdhat An-Naadhir (الناظر روضة)),  Ibn Qudaamah said the Imaan of a Muqallid (a follower or imitator) is good.

▶️Of the  contemporary scholars commenting on Rawdhat An-Naadhir, Shanqeeti Rahimahullah  followed along in that opinion.

▶️ Like I mentioned earlier, Safaareeni said the truth on the  matter that no one can evade is the validity of the belief of a Muqallid.

▶️I mentioned to you  what Shaykh Ali al-Khudhayr (may Allah hasten his release), Ibn ‘Uthaymeen and many  others said. 


✔️Now we are done with the first matter of the four introductory matters.

✨The first matter is  knowledge, which is to know Allah, the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and  the religion with proof. ✨

📖 بِسْـمِﷲِالرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

📑 THE FOUR INTRODUCTORY MATTERS

TOPIC :
THE FIRST INTRODUCTORY MATTER - KNOWLEDGE

SUB TOPIC :
◼  IS TAQLEED PERMISSIBLE IN MATTERS OF ‘AQEEDAH?
■  PROOFS THAT TAQLEED IS PERMISSIBLE IN THE MATTERS OF AQEEDAH
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⚫ PROOFS THAT TAQLEED IS PERMISSIBLE IN THE MATTERS OF AQEEDAH (part-2)

5⃣ The next proof is one of the proofs Ibn ‘Uthaymeen emphasised.

⚠️ Ignorant people and  laymen cannot do Ijtihaad (اجتهاد), encompass proof, memorise it and rationalise it.

▶️ When  you are telling them they have to know the proof, in reality you are asking them something  which is above their means and Allah said in the Qur’an:

💫 Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. (Surat al-Baqarah: 286)

🔸 What is obligatory and the objective is that one firmly believes without any doubt, whether it is through proof or through following.

🔸 Most of the Fuqahaa’ (فقهاء) said if you cannot  force laymen to know proofs on matters of Fiqh because it is too big of a hardship on them, 

▶️ we cannot force them to learn proofs on matters of ‘Aqeedah because that is an even bigger hardship on them.

💫 Let me give you the summary in English.

Dhumaam Ibn Tha’labah came to the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He tethered his camel by the door and he told the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam I am going to be harsh on you.

He is a Bedouin, their nature was  a little bit different and he is trying to tell the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam my nature  is a little bit different. He said which one of you is Ibn Abdul-Muttalib?

The Prophet  sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said I am Ibn Abdul-Muttalib.

He said you are Muhammad? He said I am Muhammad.

So he said I am going to be harsh on you, I am not going to take it  personal and you do not take it personal. 

He began to ask the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam about the Oneness of Allah.

Then  he said did Allah send you.?

And the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said yes, Allah sent  me with the Oneness of Allah.

Then he began to ask him about each Faraa’idh of the five  pillars, asking him by Allah was he sent to convey that.

After he asked and he believed, he  raised his hand and said O Messenger of Allah, I shall not add to these matters nor shall I  subtract from them. I am going to believe in these matters that you just told me about. He  asked a few questions about the Oneness of Allah, the Shahaadah, the Faraa’idh and the  five pillars, and he accepted from the truthfulness of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu  ‘alayhi wa sallam.

He accepted Imaan with no doubt and he left. 

▶️An-Nawawi commented on this Hadith in Sharh Muslim and he said this is proof of what the  Imaams went to, that laymen followers who believe do not have to know proof as a condition of them being believers.

▶️ An-Nawawi went on to say it is sufficient for them that they have firm belief with no doubt or hesitation, unlike what al-Mu’tazilah said.

▶️ An-Nawawi  said it is derived from this Hadith. Why is it derived from this Hadith? Because the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam approved Dhumaam on his belief of believing without any proof. 

▫️There was no exchange of proof in there▫️.

✔️ He was never questioned or asked do you know these proofs? Do you know this miracle and do you know that miracle?
✔️So that is proof that  one does not have to know the proof. 

6⃣ The next proof is that when the Sahaabah entered the lands of the non Arabs, they accepted the Imaan of the people.

▶️ The Bedouins and the non Arabs, none of them were  ordered to sit and recite proof, nor were some quizzed and nor were some tested as to what is your proof that you believe in Laa Ilaaha Illallah Muhammadur-Rasoolullah (like that  which al-Mu’tazilah say). 

🔸Look at the sayings of some of the scholars. An-Nawawi said whoever says Shahaadah truly believing in it, even if he is a Muqallid (a follower or imitator), he is a believer.

📖 بِسْـمِﷲِالرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

📑 THE FOUR INTRODUCTORY MATTERS

TOPIC :
THE FIRST INTRODUCTORY MATTER - KNOWLEDGE

SUB TOPIC :
◼  IS TAQLEED PERMISSIBLE IN MATTERS OF ‘AQEEDAH?
■  PROOFS THAT TAQLEED IS PERMISSIBLE IN MATTERS OF AQEEDAH
________________________

⚫ PROOFS THAT TAQLEED IS PERMISSIBLE IN MATTERS OF AQEEDAH (Part 1)


1️⃣ The first one is that Allah directed people to ask the people of knowledge. If you do not know something, Allah directed you to ask the people of knowledge. Allah said in the Qur’an:

💫 So ask of those who know the Scripture [learned men of the Tawraah (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], if you know not. (Surat an-Nahl: 43)

💫 So ask the people of the Reminder [Scriptures - the Tawraah (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel)] if you do not know. (Surat al-Anbiyaa’: 7)

🌟 Ask the people of knowledge

❓ Ask what? He did not say what to ask about (the substance of it).

▶️ In Arabic, this is called Hathf Fil-Muta’allaq (المتعلق في حذف). He did not say what to ask about.

❓Is it principle matters of Islam (Tawheed) or is it general Fiqh matters? It is not there, that is Hathf Fil-Muta’allaq.

✔️ The answer is all of that.
 Tawheed, the first encompasses all of that whether it may be matters of Tawheed like we are studying here or secondary matters which are Fiqh matters (like Zakah, Hajj, Salah and the details of that). That is proof that one’s Imaan is good if he asks.

2⃣ The second proof is that Allah said in the Qur’an:

💫 Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may get instructions in (Islamic) religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware (of evil).
(Surat at-Tawbah: 122)

🔺 The meaning of it is that a knowledgeable group need to stay back and warn the other people when they return to them, so that they may be aware of the evil and the good and know the difference.

📚 Basically, a group of people should stay back and teach this religion.

▶️ In this verse, warn is sufficient. Teachers stay back and teach and others follow, and it also did
not say proof like the first verse.

3⃣ The third proof is that Allah says to the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:

💫 So if you (O Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) are in doubt concerning that which We
have revealed unto you, [i.e. that your name is written in the Tawraah (Torah) and the Injeel
(Gospel)] then ask those who are reading the Book [the Tawraah (Torah) and the Injeel
(Gospel)] before you. Verily, the truth has come to you from your Lord. So be not of those
who doubt (it). (Surat Yunus: 94)

▫️Meaning if you are in doubt O Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (and of course the
Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had no doubts), then ask other people.

✔️ So laymen can ask and follow. In all of these it says ask, but it does not also include that you have to know any proof in it. It does not state that you have to know, memorise or find out the proof.

4️⃣ The fourth proof is in the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam

◻️ In Sahih Muslim. The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said whoever says Laa Ilaaha Illallah Muhammadur-Rasoolullah, then his wealth and his blood has become inviolable.
They become sacred, no one can touch it and Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala will hold him
accountable and ask him.

 Why was his blood and wealth held sacred and inviolable?

✔️ He said as long as he says Laa Ilaaha Illallah Muhammadur-Rasoolullah.

❓Did he say whoever says Laa Ilaaha Illallah with proof? He merely said whoever says Laa Ilaaha Illallah. If proof was obligatory to know, he would have added that and it would have been in the Hadith.

📖 بِسْـمِﷲِالرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

📑 THE FOUR INTRODUCTORY MATTERS

TOPIC :
THE FIRST INTRODUCTORY MATTER - KNOWLEDGE

SUB TOPIC :
◼  IS TAQLEED PERMISSIBLE IN MATTERS OF ‘AQEEDAH?
■  THE SUMMARY OF THE FIRST TWO OPINIONS
________________________

⚫ THE SUMMARY OF THE FIRST TWO OPINIONS

▶️ The summary of the first two opinions is that if one is at a level where he is able to maintain proof and attain it, then he should seek proof in ‘Aqeedah and other matters.

▶️ That is why we study this in such detail. Now if one is a layman or one who is not able to absorb and comprehend the proof, then he does not need to know the proof as long as he is firm on his belief with no doubts.

▶️ In both situations, one who accepts Imaan without knowing proof is considered a believer, whether he is knowledgeable or not and whether he is a layman or not.

▶️ The opinion that said one must know proof, they impose upon one to know proof as the
first obligation.

◼️ The Mu’tazilah said the first obligation is that you need to seek reasoning and proof. That is the first obligation they impose upon one.

◻️ The simple response to that is that the proof is sought to get the goal. If someone achieves the correct guidance by following and imitating, then he has achieved the goal.

▶️As-Safaareeni gave a summary quote on this matter. He said the truth on this matter that no one can evade is the validity of the belief of a follower. A follower meaning one who imitates someone else (one who does Taqleed).

▶️ Taqleed means to get to the right path, and this person chose a way to get to the right path. What he is saying is that proof is meant to get to the right path, so if someone gets it by doing Taqleed then he has achieved the goal.

▶️ An-Nawawi also agreed and gave statements similar to this in Sharh Muslim (مسلم شرح).

▶️ Shaykh Ali al-Khudhayr said it is permissible to follow in ‘Aqeedah matters, as long as you are firm in what you supposedly imitate, follow and do Taqleed in and have absolutely no doubts, even if you do not know the Daleel.

💫 May Allah hasten his release from the Arabian Peninsula prisons, he was among the scholars who were taken on the same day with the same issue as Shaykh Naasir al-Fahd. Ibn ‘Uthaymeen followed along with that same conclusion and said it is permissible to follow in matters of ‘Aqeedah, as long as one has no doubts.

📖 بِسْـمِﷲِالرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

📑 THE FOUR INTRODUCTORY MATTERS

TOPIC :
THE FIRST INTRODUCTORY MATTER - KNOWLEDGE

SUB TOPIC :
◼  IS TAQLEED PERMISSIBLE IN MATTERS OF ‘AQEEDAH?
■  THE THIRD OPINION: LOOKING INTO THE PROOF IS HARAAM
________________________

⚫ THE THIRD OPINION: LOOKING INTO THE PROOF IS HARAAM

⏩ The third opinion is that looking into proof is Haraam, because if you are not qualified then looking into proof could cause you to go astray.

➡ This is attributed to some of the followers of Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal.



▶ I am going to take this last opinion out because I think it is really taken out of context and that it is an exceptional saying for some of the very, very few who may be searching into proof ignorantly, which may cause them to have doubts.

▶ Someone who cannot comprehend proof to the point that it is actually going to cause a counter affect and get him to be misguided must go to a scholar to go through that proof. So we will take that out because it is taken in a special context.

📖 بِسْـمِﷲِالرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

📑 THE FOUR INTRODUCTORY MATTERS

TOPIC :
THE FIRST INTRODUCTORY MATTER - KNOWLEDGE

SUB TOPIC :
◼  IS TAQLEED PERMISSIBLE IN MATTERS OF ‘AQEEDAH?
■  THE SECOND OPINION: IT IS NOT OBLIGATORY TO KNOW THE PROOF
________________________

⚫ THE SECOND OPINION: IT IS NOT OBLIGATORY TO KNOW THE PROOF

➡ The second opinion is that you do not have to know the proof.

⏩ Following the saying of a scholar, imitating, mimicking and following the scholar (Taqleed) is a way to go about and it is accepted, as long as you are firm in your faith and you have no doubts (that is important).

➡ That is the opinion of the overwhelming majority of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah.



🔘 The first opinion is that you must know the proof as a condition for your belief, basically the Mu’tazilah.

🔘 The second opinion is that you do not need to know the proof as long as you follow in the truth, without having any hesitation or doubt.

📖 بِسْـمِﷲِالرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

📑 THE FOUR INTRODUCTORY MATTERS

TOPIC :
THE FIRST INTRODUCTORY MATTER - KNOWLEDGE

SUB TOPIC :
◼ IS TAQLEED PERMISSIBLE IN MATTERS OF ‘AQEEDAH?
■ THE FIRST OPINION: YOU MUST KNOW THE PROOF
________________________

⚫ THE FIRST OPINION: YOU MUST KNOW THE PROOF

➡ The first opinion is you have to know proof for matters of ‘Aqeedah.

⏩ If you do not know the proofs for the matters of ‘Aqeedah, your Imaan is rejected.

➡ This is what ar-Raazi, Abu al-Hasan al-Aamidi and the overwhelming majority of the Mu’tazilah said.

➡ Abu al-Mudhaffar as-Sam’aani said it is not permissible for a layman to blindly follow in matters of ‘Aqeedah, according to some of the Fuqahaa’ and the philosophists. You must know proof from the Qur’an, Ijmaa’, Qiyaas or whatever it may be (pertaining to your ‘Aqeedah) and the Mu’tazilah resort a lot to ‘Aql(عقل).

📖 بِسْـمِﷲِالرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

📑 THE FOUR INTRODUCTORY MATTERS

TOPIC :
THE FIRST INTRODUCTORY MATTER - KNOWLEDGE

SUB TOPIC :
▪IS TAQLEED PERMISSIBLE IN MATTERS OF ‘AQEEDAH?

________________________

❓Can you do Taqleed (تقليد) (which is following or imitating) of a Shaykh, scholar or a knowledgeable person in matters of ‘Aqeedah or must you know the proof?

❓Is it a  prerequisite to know the proof?

❓ Is your Imaan accepted if you do not know the proof?

🔸We  have a man who is knowledgeable and one who is ignorant, they take their Shahaadah, they  fully believe in Tawheed and they have no doubt in it but they do not know the proofs. If  you ask them for the proofs, they are not going to know it.

🔴The scholars talked about this  matter under:

SIHHATI ĪMAN IL MUQALLIDI FIL AQAIDI

▫️Muqallid is the imitator.

❓ Is the Imaan of one who is an imitator good or not?

🔸The author says  you need to know proof for these matters.

🔘 Do you really need to know them as a must or is it a recommendation and is your Imaan accepted or not? This is what the scholars discussed.

▶️Many think this is an easy matter but in reality it is not and it is fought on two different  fronts. 

1⃣ The first front is the major one, and that is between the sect of the Mu’tazilah (معتزلة) on  one side and Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah (us) on the other side.

▶️ One of the many  characteristics of the Mu’tazilah is that they reject the faith of one who does not know proof  of the matters of ‘Aqeedah.

▶️ Some attribute this to the sect of the Ashaa’irah (أشاعرة) and  they say that the Ashaa’irah also request the same as the Mu’tazilah.

▶️  However al-Qushayri  and other scholars of the Ashaa’irah said it is not true that Abu al-Hasan al-Ash’ari (the  father of the Ashaa’irah) said that and that he the father of the Ashaa’irah (which we believe he later recanted from) believes that the belief of a Muqallid is true.

🔸So basically it is  between Ahlus-Sunnah and al-Mu’tazilah and

2⃣ number two, it is between Ahlus-Sunnah  themselves.

🔲 Overall, there are three opinions on this matter.