The Belief of the People of Truth (Al-Mulha Fi I'Tiqad Ahl Al-Haqq) - Al-Izz Ibn 'Abd Al-Salam Al-Shafii

7/30/2019 The Belief of the People of Truth (Al-Mulha Fi I'Tiqad Ahl Al-Haqq) - Al-Izz Ibn 'Abd Al-Salam Al-Shafii

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-belief-of-the-people-of-truth-al-mulha-fi-itiqad-ahl-al-haqq-al-izz 1/16



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TheBeliefofthePeopleofTruthTheBeliefofthePeopleofTruthTheBeliefofthePeopleofTruthTheBeliefofthePeopleofTruth 1111(Al-MulhaFīI’tiqādAhlal-Haqq )

Sultānal Sultānal Sultānal Sultānal- -- -‘Ula ‘Ula ‘Ula ‘Ulamāal māal māal māal- -- -‘ ‘‘ ‘IzzIzzIzzIzzIbn‘Abdal Ibn‘Abdal Ibn‘Abdal Ibn‘Abdal- -- -Salā Salā Salā Salām mm m2222TranslatedandEditedbyDr.GFHaddad

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Exordium

IntIntIntIntheNameofAllah,theAllheNameofAllah,theAllheNameofAllah,theAllheNameofAllah,theAll----Beneficent,theMostMerciful.Beneficent,theMostMerciful.Beneficent,theMostMerciful.Beneficent,theMostMerciful.AllpraisebelongstoAllahtheOwnerofpower andmajesty, infinitemightandperfection, favorandmunificence, theOne,andOne Alone,Unique,Everlasting,Whoneitherbegetsnorisbegotten,anduntoWhomnothingcompares.

WhatAllahIsNot

Heisnotabodyendowedwithform.Heisnotasubstanceconfinedbyboundaryormeasurement.HeresemblesnothingandnothingresemblesHim.DirectionsandsidesdonotencompassHim.NeithertheearthsnortheheavenscontainHim.

1Inal-‘Izzibn‘Abdal-Salām,Rasa’ilal-Tawhid (p.11-27)andIbnal-Subki,Tabaqatal-Shafi‘iyyaal-Kubra (8:219-229).2

‘Abdal-Azīzibn‘Abdal-SalāmibnAbūal-Qāsimibnal-Hasan,‘Izzal-Dīnal-SulāmiwasborninDamascusin577H.AShafi’īscholar,hewaseducatedinDamascusandwasnicknamedtheSultanofScholars.In599AHhemovedtoBaghdad,thenreturnedtoDamascustoteachandleadtheFridayprayersatthezāwiyaofImāmGhazalī,andlaterattheUmayyadMosque.Ibn‘Abdal-SalāmcondemnedtherulerofGreaterSyriaal-SālihIsma’īlibnal- AdalfromthepulpitforhissurrenderofthePalestinianfortressSafadtotheCrusaders.Hewasimprisonedforthisaction.Whenfinallyfreed,hemovedtoCairo,wherehewasappointedasjudgeandimāmoftheFridayprayer.HegainedsuchprestigethathewasabletoforcetheIslamiccodeoflawwithnearimpunityinthefaceofrulersand weak-willedpersonalities.HelaterresignedfromhispositionasjudgetoworkonanumberofoutstandingworksonShafi’ī jurisprudence, Qur’ānic explanation, the bases of Islamic rulings, formal legal opinion, government, andSufism.ItisrecordedthathekeptthecompanyofAbulal-Hasanal-Shadhilī,founderoftheShadhilītarīqa,andthatheauthorednumerousworksontasawwufthatarenowlost.HediedinCairoattheageofeighty-one.



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HisPreternity(Beginninglessness)

HewasbeforeHebroughtplaceandtimeintoexistence,andHeisnowasHeeverwas. 3

HisActs

Hecreatedcreaturesas wellas theiractions. Hedecreed the extentof their sustenanceand thetermoftheirlives.EverybenefitfromHimisfromHisfavor,andeverypunishmentis fromHisjustice....HewillnotbequestionedastowhatHedoes,buttheywillbequestioned.HewillnotbequestionedastowhatHedoes,buttheywillbequestioned.HewillnotbequestionedastowhatHedoes,buttheywillbequestioned.HewillnotbequestionedastowhatHedoes,buttheywillbequestioned.(21:23) He establishedHimselfoverthegloriousThrone in thewaythat He says andthemeaningHeintends, “established” in a manner transcending contact (mumāssa) , settledness (istiqrār) , fixity(tamakkun) ,indwelling(hulūl) ,ormovement(intiqāl) .4

Exaltedis AllahtheGreatest,the Most High,farabove theclaimsof the people oferrorandmisguidance!NevercantheThronecarryHim,rathertheThroneandtheThrone-BearersarecarriedupbythesubtletyofHisinfinitemight,andallarepowerless(maqhūrūn) inHisgrasp.5

HisKnowledge

HeencompassesallthingswithHisknowledge.Heknowsthenumberofallthingshatexist.Heis wellawareoftheburiedrecessesoftheheartsandthemovementsofthought.

3Cf.hadithoftheProphet:kānaallāhuwalāshay’ama‘ahu/ghayruhu/qablahu –“AllahexistedandnothingexistedtogetherwithHim/otherthanHim/beforeHim.”NarratedfromBuraydabyal-Hakimin al-Mustadrak (2:341), who declared it sound (sahīh) – al-Dhahabi concurred – and from ‘Imran ibnHusayn by Bukhari, IbnHibbanwithtwosoundchainsinhis Sahih (14:7#6140,14:11#6142),andIbnAbiShayba inhisMusannaf .See Appendix,“AllahisnowasHeeverwas.”4Seetheappendixentitled“Istiwā’ isaDivineAct”inourtranslationofBayhaqi’sal-Asma’waal-Sifat ,publishedseparately.Notethatthe“Salafis”denymostoftheabove:“The‘Salafis’andIbnTaymiyyaassertthatsettlednesstakesplaceovertheThrone….IbnTaymiyyastrenuouslyassertsthatAllahdescends,andcanbeabove (fawq) andbelow(taht) ‘withouthow’….andthattheschoolofthe Salaf istheaffirmationofeverythingthattheQur’anstatedconcerning aboveness (fawqiyya) , belowness (tahtiyya) , and establishment over the Throne.” Abu Zahra, al- Madhahibal-Islamiyya (p.320-322).IbnRushdinSharhal-‘Utbiyya statedthatMalik’spositionis:“TheThroneis

notAllah’slocationofsettledness(mawdi‘istiqrārAllāh) .”AsquotedinFathal-Bari (1959ed.7:124#3592).5“WeassertthatAllahestablishedHimselfoverthethronewithoutHisneed(hāja) norsettlement(istiqrār) uponit,forHeitisWhopreservestheThroneandotherthanitwithoutneedinganyofthem.”AbuHanifa, Wasiyyaal- Imamal-A‘zamilaAbi‘Amr‘Uthmanal-Batti (p.10).“AllahestablishedHimselfovertheThroneinthesensethatHe said and the meaning that He wills, with an establishment that transcends touch, settlement, location,immanence,anddisplacement.TheThronedoesnotcarryhim,rathertheThroneanditscarriersarecarriedbythesubtleness ofHispower, subduedunder Hisgrip.” Al-Ash‘ari,al-Ibana‘anUsulal-Diyana ,Mahmuded.(p.21);Sabbaghed.(p.35),astranslatedinShaykhHishamKabbani’sIslamicBeliefsandDoctrineAccordingtoAhlal- Sunna (p.169).“ThecarrieroftheThroneandofitscarriersisinrealityAllahHimself.”AbuSulaymanal-Khattabi(d.386)asquotedinBayhaqi,al-Asma’waal-Sifat (al-Hashidied.2:279-280).



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HisSevenMainAttributes6

Heisliving(hayy) ,willing(murīd) ,hearing(samī‘) ,seeing(basīr) ,knowing(‘alīm) ,mighty(qadīr) ,

andspeaking(mutakallim) withabeginningless (qadīm) pre-existent(azalī) speechconsistingneitherinletter(harf) norvoice(sawt) .7

HisSpeechDoesNotMaterialize

ItmustneverbeimaginedthatHisspeechturnstoinkontabletsandpagesorintoadesign(shakl) madevisibletotheeyesandthepupils,asclaimedbythepeopleofgrossanthropomorphism (al-hashw) anddissimulation(al-nifāq) .Rather,theactofwritingisofthedoingofhumanbeings,andtheiractsmustneverbeimaginedtobewithoutbeginning.

Note thatitisobligatory tohold thetabletsand pagesinthe utmost respectas they pointto Allah’sEntity(dhāt) ,justasitisobligatorytoholdHisNamesintheutmostrespectbecausetheypointtoHisEntity.ItisarightduetoeverythingthatpointstoAllahorrelatestoHimthatitbeheldingreatreverenceandthatitssanctity (hurma) bekept.HenceitisobligatorytoreveretheKa‘ba,theProphets,thedevout(al-‘ubbād) ,andthescholarsofknowledge (al-‘ulamā’) .

Ipassbythehouses–Layla’shouses– AndIkissthiswall,andthatwall;ItisnottheloveofhousesthathasobsessedmyheartButtheloveofthosewhohavedwelledinthem.8

BecauseofsomethingsimilartothiswekisstheBlackStone,anditisforbiddenforsomeoneina

stateofminorimpuritytotouchavolumeoftheQur’an:whetheritbethelinesofitstext,oritsblankmargins,oritsleatherbinding,orthepouchinwhichitiskept.9

6Thesearethe sifātma‘nawiyya or“Attributespertainingtoforms.”Al-Sanusisaid:(Hashiyaal-Bajuri p.61-75):“NecessaryforHimaresevenAttributes,namedsifātal-ma‘āni [“AttributesofForms”],whicharepower(al-qudra) , will(al-irāda) ,knowledge(‘ilm) ,life(al-hayāt) ,hearing(al-sam‘) ,sight(al-basar) ,speech(al-kalām) .Nextthereareseven attributes called sifātma‘nawiyya [“Attributes Pertaining toForms”], inseparablefrom thepreviousseven,namely: His being powerful, willing, knowing, living, hearing, seeing, and speaking.” TheMu‘tazila denied the“Attributes of Forms” butaccepted the“Attributes Pertaining toForms.” Their reasoningfordoingso was that Allah isperfectandcompleteinHimselfandthereforenot inneed,forexample,ofanattributeofknowledgeby whichHeknows,forHeisAll-KnowinginHisessence.Theyclaimedthatthelogicalconsequenceofthe“Attributesof Forms” was“multiplicityof beginningless entities” (ta‘addudal-qudamā’) . This reasoning was refuted by the

entiretyof Ahlal-Sunna scholars.Seeal-Buti,Kubraal-Yaqinatal-Kawniyya (p.119n.).7 Al-Qurtubi(d.671)statedinhisTafsir orcommentaryofQur’anentitled al-Jami‘liAhkamal-Qur’an ,concerningtheverseThemonthofRamadaninwhichwasrevealedtheQur’anThemonthofRamadaninwhichwasrevealedtheQur’anThemonthofRamadaninwhichwasrevealedtheQur’anThemonthofRamadaninwhichwasrevealedtheQur’an(2:185)whichcontainsthephrase: Allah Allah Allah Allahdesires ease foryou...desires ease foryou...desires ease foryou...desires ease foryou...: “The verse indicates that Allah iswilling (murīd) witha beginningless, pre-existent will whichstandsinadditiontoHisEntity.Thisistheschool(madhhab) of Ahlal-Sunna .Likewise,Heisknowledgeable withtrueknowledge,ablewithtrueability,livingwithtruel ife,hearingwithtruehearing,seeingwithtruesight,andspeaking with true speech. All these are pre-existent existential meanings superadded to the Essence (ma‘āniwujūdiyya azaliyya zā‘ida ‘alā al-dhāt) .” See Appendix, “Allah’s Names Are Ordained and Non-Inferable.”Concerningtheverse AndOurworduntoa thing,whenWe intend it, is AndOurworduntoa thing,whenWe intend it, is AndOurworduntoa thing,whenWe intend it, is AndOurworduntoa thing,whenWe intend it, isonly thatWesayuntoit:Be!and it isonlythatWesayuntoit:Be!anditisonlythatWesayuntoit:Be!anditisonlythatWesayuntoit:Be!anditis(16:40)al-Qurtubisays:“ThereisevidenceinthisversethatAllahAlmightywillsallphenomena–goodandbad,beneficentandharmful.”8DiwanMajnunLayla ,p.170.9Inourtimeacertainscholarhasclaimedthatitwaspermissibleformenstruatingwomenandthoseinastateofmajordefilement(junub) torecite,touch,andcarrytheQur’an.ThiswasrefutedbyShaykhHasan‘Alial-Saqqafin



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Therefore, woe to him who assertsthatAllah’spreternal speechis in any way formedof theutterancesofhumanbeings,orofdesignspennedinink!

HisNinety-NineNamesAndTheEnduringGoodDeeds

Thebeliefofal-Ash‘ari–mayAllahhavemercyonhim–consistsinwhattheNinety-NineNamesof Allah have indicated, by which He has named Himself in His Book and in the Sunna10 ofAllah’sMessenger. Allah’sNames, inturn,are incorporated (mundarija) into fourphrases.Thesephrases aretheEnduringGoodDeeds. 11

SubhānAllāh

Thefirstphraseis subhānAllāh or“GlorifiedisAllah!”Themeaningofthesetwowordsinthelanguage of the Arabs is transcendence (al-tanzīh) and negation (al-salb) . The phrase consists in thenegationofallblemishorimperfectionfromAllah’sEssenceandAttributes.AllthedivineNamesthatdenote negation are incorporated into this phrase. For example, al-Quddūs , “the Most Holy,” whichmeansmostpureofallblemish,and al-Salām ,“Security,”asHeissecurefromanydefect.

Al-HamduLillāh

Thesecondphraseisal-hamdulillāh or“AllpraisebelongstoAllah!”Itconsistsinaffirmingallkinds of perfection for His Essence and Attributes. Accordingly, all of His Names that form anaffirmation,suchas al-‘Alīm ,theOmniscient; al-Qadīr ,theOmnipotent; al-Samī‘ ,theAll-Hearing;andal-Basīr ,theAll-Seeing–allthesenamesareincorporatedintothissecondphrase. Wehave thusnegated,bysaying subhānAllāh ,anyconceivableblemishordefect,andwehaveaffirmed,bysayingal-hamdulillāh ,everymannerofperfection(kamāl) everknown,andeverytraitofmajesty(jalāl) everseen.

AllāhuAkbar

Afterwhatwehavenegatedandaffirmed,therestillremainsmuchofimmenseimportancewhichisinvisibleandunknowabletous.Thismatterisrealizedinbroadtermsbyoursaying: Allāhuakbar ,“Allahisgreater!”–andthisisthethirdphrase–inthesensethatHeisfargreateryetthanallwehavenegatedandaffirmed. This is themeaningof theProphet’s saying:“Icannot sufficientlyextolYourpraise! Verily,YouarejustasYouhaveglorifiedYourself.” 12Accordingly,allofHisNameswhichformpraisebeyond

abookentitledI‘lamal-Kha’idbiTahrimal-Qur’an‘alaal-Junubwaal-Ha’id (“TheAppraisaloftheInvestigatorIntotheInterdictionoftheQur’antoThoseinaStateofMajorDefilementandWomeninTheirMenses”).10SeeAppendix,“TheMeaningofSunna .”11SeeAppendix,“TheEnduringGoodDeeds.”



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whatcanbeknownandseen,suchasal-A‘lā ,“theHighest,”andal-Muta‘āl ,“theSublime”–thesenamesareincorporatedintooursaying Allāhuakbar .

LāIlāhaIllallāh

Since there exists a being whose standing is such as we have mentioned, we now negate allpossibilitythatthereexistanyothersimilarbeingorrival.Weaccomplishthisbysayinglāilāhaillallāh ,“ThereisnoGodexceptAllah”:thisisthefourthphrase. Indeed, Godhead (al-ulūhiyya) attaches by right to deservingness of worship (istihqāq al- ‘ubūdiyya) ,whilenonedeservesworshipexceptHeWhopossessesalltheattributeswehavementioned.ItfollowsthatthoseofHisNamesthatcompriseall[Hisqualities]inabroadsense,suchas al-Wāhid ,“theOne”;al-Ahad ,“theOneAlone”;Dhual-jalālwaal-ikrām ,“TheOwnerofMajestyandMunificence”–alltheseareincorporatedintooursaying: lāilāhaillallāh . Allahdeservesto be worshippedprecisely because it is obligatory forHimto possess all thedifferentattributesofmajestyandperfectionwhichno-onecandescribenorcount:

Thewondersofyourbeautydonotcometoanend,Justlikethesea;thereforeextolitwithoutrestraint!

GlorifiedisHeforHismagnificentrankandsovereignty! All thatare in theheavensandthe All thatare in theheavensandthe All thatare in theheavensandthe All thatare in theheavensandtheearthentreatHimearth entreatHimearthentreatHimearth entreatHim (55:29)dueto theirutterdependenceonHim.Every dayHe exercises universalEveryday Heexercises universalEvery dayHe exercises universalEveryday Heexercises universalpowerpowerpowerpower (ibid .), for He is able to so. To Him belong all creation, commandment, sovereignty, anddominion,whilecreaturesare powerless inHisgrasp: And theheavensarerolled in His righthand And theheavensarerolled inHis righthand And theheavensarerolled in His righthand And theheavensarerolled inHis righthand

(39:67),HepunisheswhomHewillandHeshowsmercyuntowhomHewiHepunisheswhomHewillandHeshowsmercyuntowhomHewiHepunisheswhomHewillandHeshowsmercyuntowhomHewiHepunisheswhomHewillandHeshowsmercyuntowhomHewill,anduntoHimyouwillbell,anduntoHimyouwillbell,anduntoHimyouwillbell,anduntoHimyouwillbeturnedturnedturnedturned(29:22).Therefore,glorifiedisHeWhopre-existsallinHisEssenceandAttributes,theReviverofthedeadWhobringstheremainsbacktogether,Whoknowsallthatwasandallthatshallbe.

TheAll-InclusivenessOf Al-HamduLillāh

TheEnduringGoodDeedscouldeasilybeincorporatedintoasinglephraseoutofthefourasageneralheading,andthatis al-hamdulillāh .As‘AliibnAbiTalibsaid:“IfIwishedtoloadacamel with[booksexplaining]al-hamdulillāh ,Icouldeasilydoso.” Indeed,glorificationispraise,andpraiseconsistsinaffirmingperfection(ithbātal-kamāl) atone

time,andnegatingimperfection(salbal-naqs) atanother;nowdeclaringimpotencetocomprehend,andnowaffirmingthatHeisaloneinowningallperfection.Beingaloneinowningallperfectionisamongthehighestlevelsthatcommandeulogyanddenoteperfection (mina‘lamarātibal-madhwaal-kamāl) ,andsothis phrase comprises all that we havementioned about the Enduring Good Deeds. For the definitearticleinthephrase[literally,“All the praisebelongstoAllah”]signifiesthecomprehensiveinclusionofthegenusofeulogyandpraise–theknownaswellastheunknown.Norcananyfacetofpraisebefoundnottoapplytowhatwehavementioned.Norisanyonedeservingofdivinity(al-ilāhiyya) exceptHeWhopossessesalltheattributeswhichwehaveestablished.

12Narrated from ‘A’isha and ‘Ali in the Nine Books [al-Bukhari’sSahih , Muslim’sSahih , the fourSunan ofal-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah, the twoMusnad s of Ahmad and al-Darimi’s, and Malik’sMuwatta’ ]exceptBukhariandDarimi.



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TheWell-DefinedAndUniversalDoctrine

This is the belief to which none fails to subscribe: neither angel brought near, nor prophet-messenger, nor anyone in the different religious communities (milal) except those whom Allah hasabandoned so that they follow their lusts and disobey their Lord. Such people are engulfed in basephysicality,thrownoutofdoors,andfargonefromthatExaltedPresence.Itisthelotofwhoeverwasprevented(hujiba) inthislifefromhallowingHimandknowingHim,tobepreventedinthenextlifefromreceivingHismunificenceandseeingHim.

Consenttotheabsentee’sabsence:Suchisanoffensethatcarriesitsownpunishment.

The foregoingformsthegeneralprinciplesofal-Ash‘ari’sdoctrine–mayAllahhavemercyonhim–aswellasthoseoftheSalaf orPredecessors 13andthePeopleofthePathandtheTruth.14Itstandsinrelationtoitsowndetailedelucidationlikeadropofwaterinrelationtoasurgingocean:

YouhaveappearedandnolongerremainhiddenfromanyoneExcepttheblindwhoareoblivioustothemoon.

TheAnthropomorphists

Thegrossanthropomorphists(al-Hashwiyya) wholikenAllahtocreation (al-mushabbiha) areoftwotypes:the firstmakenoattemptto hidetheiranthropomorphism. And they think that theyhave And they think that theyhave And they think that theyhave And they think that theyhave

somethingtostandupon.No,indeed!Theyarebutliars.somethingtostandupon.No,indeed!Theyarebutliars.somethingtostandupon.No,indeed!Theyarebutliars.somethingtostandupon.No,indeed!Theyarebutliars.(58:18)Thesecondtypecamouflagethemselves withtheschooloftheSalaf ,hopingtherebytogainsomethingfromill-gottenproperty,ifonlyscrapstotakewiththem.

TheymakeashowofpietybeforepeopleWhilegoingaroundlookingforcash.15

Theywishtogainyourconfidencewiththatoftheirpeople.Theywishtogainyourconfidencewiththatoftheirpeople.Theywishtogainyourconfidencewiththatoftheirpeople.Theywishtogainyourconfidencewiththatoftheirpeople.(4:91)

TheBeliefoftheSalaf

The school of the Predecessors is but the upholding ofAllah’s oneness(al-tawhīd) and of Histranscendence (al-tanzīh) ,withoutascribingabodytoHim(al-tajsīm) norlikeningHimtocreation(al-

13“The established technical definition of the term salaf is: the first three centuries in the age of this MuslimCommunity, theCommunityof ourMaster Muhammad, uponhim blessingsand peace. Thisis derived fromhissayingaccordingtothenarrationoftheTwoShaykhs[BukhariandMuslim]from‘AbdAllahibnMas‘ud:‘Thebestofpeoplearemycentury,thenthosethatfollowthem,thenthosethatfollowthelatter.Afterthattherewillcomepeoplewhowillbeeagertocommitperjurywhenbearingwitness.’”Al-Buti,al-Salafiyya ,Introduction.14“ThePeopleofthePathandtheTruth”refersto Ahlal-Sunna ingeneral–asinthetitle–andissometimesusedintherestrictedsensetomeantheSufis.15Mahmudal-Warraq(d.~230),citedinal-‘Uqdal-Farid (3:216)andal-Kashkul (2:216).



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tashbīh) .Likewise,alltheinnovatorsclaimthattheyfollowtheschoolofthePredecessors,justasthepoetsaid:

EachoneproclaimshiskinshiptoLaylaButLayladoesnotconfirmitforanyofthem.16

Howcan itbe foistedupontheSalaf thattheybelievedinascribingabodytoAllahandlikeningHim tocreation, or that they kept quiet when innovations appeared, so thereby going againstAllah’sorder And cover not truthwith falsehood,nor conceal the truthknowingly And covernot truthwith falsehood,nor conceal the truth knowingly And cover not truthwith falsehood,nor conceal the truthknowingly And covernot truthwith falsehood,nor conceal the truth knowingly (2:42),His saying And And And AndrememberwhenAllahtookacovenantfromthePeopleoftheScripture,rememberwhenAllahtookacovenantfromthePeopleoftheScripture,rememberwhenAllahtookacovenantfromthePeopleoftheScripture,rememberwhenAllahtookacovenantfromthePeopleoftheScripture,tomakeitknownandcleartotomakeitknownandcleartotomakeitknownandcleartotomakeitknownandcleartomankindandnottohideitmankindandnottohideitmankindandnottohideitmankindandnottohideit(3:187),andHissayingThatyoumayexplainclearlytomankindwhathasThatyoumayexplainclearlytomankindwhathasThatyoumayexplainclearlytomankindwhathasThatyoumayexplainclearlytomankindwhathasbeenrebeenrebeenrebeenrevealedforthem vealedforthem vealedforthem vealedforthem(16:44)?

TheScholars’DutyisPatternedAfterThatofProphets

The scholars of knowledge are the inheritors of the Prophets.17 It is obligatory for them tocommunicateandexplainwhatever isobligatory forProphetsto communicateand explain.Allah said:Let there arise out of you a nation who invite to goodness, and enjoin right conduct and forbidLet there arise out of you a nation who invite to goodness, and enjoin right conduct and forbidLet there arise out of you a nation who invite to goodness, and enjoin right conduct and forbidLet there arise out of you a nation who invite to goodness, and enjoin right conduct and forbidindecency.indecency.indecency.indecency.(3:104)AmongthefoulestindecenciesaretoascribeabodytoAllahandtolikenHimtocreation;andofthehighestgoodistheupholdingofAllah’sonenessandtranscendence.

TheJihadoftheSalaf AgainstInnovators

ThePredecessorswere silentonly before innovationsappeared.Thereafter– this I swearbythe

Lordoftheheavenwhichgivesthereturningrainandtheearthwhichsplitsopenwithvegetationtheheavenwhichgivesthereturningrainandtheearthwhichsplitsopenwithvegetationtheheavenwhichgivesthereturningrainandtheearthwhichsplitsopenwithvegetationtheheavenwhichgivesthereturningrainandtheearthwhichsplitsopenwithvegetation!(86:11-12)– they sprung into actionandwent toworkagainstthe innovationsthat appeared.Theyrepressedthemwith lastingefficiencyanddeterredtheirproponentswithaterribleswiftsword.Theyrefutedtheproponents of absolute free will (al-Qadariyya) , the followers of Jahm ibn Safwan (al-Jahmiyya) , theproponentsofdeterminismorfatalism(al-Jabriyya) ,andotherinnovators.They struggledinHiscausestruggledinHiscausestruggledinHiscausestruggledinHiscauseasoneoughttostruggle.asoneoughttostruggle.asoneoughttostruggle.asoneoughttostruggle.(23:78)

TheDutyofJihadAgainstAnthropomorphists

StruggleforAllah(al-jihād) isoftwotypes.Oneconsistsinstrikingtheenemywithdisputationanddemonstration, the other in striking him with sword-blows and spears. Now, what on earth is the

differencebetweenconfrontingtheHashwiyya indisputation andconfrontingany other innova-tors?18Unlessitwereforsomewickednessburieddeepinsidethehearts,andaberrantbeliefhiddenwithin–[theywouldnotobject]! TheyseektohidefrommenandseeknottohidefromAllah;butHeiswithTheyseektohidefrommenandseeknottohidefromAllah;butHeiswithTheyseektohidefrommenandseeknottohidefromAllah;butHeiswithTheyseektohidefrommenandseeknottohidefromAllah;butHeiswiththemwhenbynight theyholddiscourthemwhenbynight theyholddiscourthemwhenbynight theyholddiscourthem when bynight they holddiscourse displeasingunto Him.sedispleasingunto Him.sedispleasingunto Him.sedispleasingunto Him. (4:108)Should one ofthem be askedaboutsomethingrelatedtogrossanthropomorphismhepromptlyorderssilenceconcerningit,whereasifhe is asked about other than anthropomorphism among the innovations – at that time he answers

16Diwanal-Sababa 3.17SeeAppendix,“TheScholarsaretheInheritorsofProphets.”18Thisquestionisstillunansweredtodaybythosewhoobjecttoconfrontingcertaingrievousheresiesonthegroundsthat“weshouldbeunited.”Theauthor’sintentistobringtolighttheirhiddenagreementwiththedeviationswhichtheyareunwillingtodenounce.



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truthfully. Ifhis inner disposition (bātinuhu) did not harbor notionsofascribinga body to AllahandlikeningHimtocreation,hewouldcertainlyhaveansweredbyupholdingAllah’sonenessanddeclaringHistranscendence.

Fromitsinceptionuntilnow,thatparticularsectofinnovatorshavebeenlaiduponwithshamehavebeenlaiduponwithshamehavebeenlaiduponwithshamehavebeenlaiduponwithshame wherevertheyarefound wherevertheyarefound wherevertheyarefound wherevertheyarefound(3:112). Asoftenastheylightafireforwar,Allahextinguishesit.Theireffort Asoftenastheylightafireforwar,Allahextinguishesit.Theireffort Asoftenastheylightafireforwar,Allahextinguishesit.Theireffort Asoftenastheylightafireforwar,Allahextinguishesit.Theireffortisforcorisforcorisforcorisforcorruptionintheland,andAllahlovesnotcorrupters.ruptionintheland,andAllahlovesnotcorrupters.ruptionintheland,andAllahlovesnotcorrupters.ruptionintheland,andAllahlovesnotcorrupters.(5:64)Nosoonerdoesanopportunityloomforthemonthehorizonbuttheyjumptoit,norachanceforcausingconfusion(fitna) buttheypounceonit.

AhmadIbnHanbal’sInnocenceofTheirHeresies

AhmadibnHanbalandthe illustriousonesofhis companions,aswell astherestof thelearnedscholars ofthePredecessorsare completelyinnocentbeforeAllah ofwhathasbeenattributedtothemandinventedintheirname.19HowcananyonebelievethatAhmadibnHanbalandothersofthescholarsofknowledgeheldthatAllah’spreternalqualityisintrinsicallytheverysameasthepronunciationoftherecitersandtheinkofthescribes(wasfAllāhal-qadīmbidhātihihuwa‘aynlafzal-lāfizīnwamidādal- kātibīn) !20 –when Allah’squalityis beginningless,while thoseutterances(alfāz) areoriginatedintime(hāditha) ,asreasondictatesandtransmittedevidenceexplicitlystates?

ProofsAgainstThePreternalityofRecitationAndWriting

Allahhas declaredthecontingentnature(hudūth) [ofrecitationandwriting]in threepassagesofHisBook.ThefirstpassageisHissaying:NevercomesthereuntothemanewreminderNevercomesthereuntothemanewreminderNevercomesthereuntothemanewreminderNevercomesthereuntothemanewreminder(dhikr) (dhikr) (dhikr) (dhikr) fromfromfromfrom

theirLordtheirLordtheirLordtheirLord(21:2).Hehasreferredtowhatwascomingtothemas“new”(muhdath) .Therefore,whoeverclaimsthatitisbeginninglesshasrebuttedAllah.21

Yes,this“new”isasign(dalīl) pointingtothebeginningless,justasifweshouldwritetheexaltedNameofAllahona pieceof paper:thepreternalLordwouldnottherebybecomeindweltorincarnate(hāllan) in that paper. Similarly, if thebeginningless quality is writtendown some-where, that writtenqualitydoesnotbecomeindweltwherethewritingtookplace.

19Ibnal-JawziwroteintheintroductionofhisDaf‘Shubahal-Tashbih :“Ihaveadvisedbothfollowerandleaderinthose terms: Colleagues! Youare adherents andfollowers of ourmadhhab . Your greatest Imam isAhmad ibnHanbal,mayAllahhavemercyonhim,whosaid,underthelashoftheordeal:‘HowcanIsaywhatwasneversaid?’

Therefore,bewareofinnovatinginhismadhhab whatisnotfromhim!...Donotintroduceintothemadhhab ofthisman oftheSalaf ,AhmadIbn Hanbal, what his thought does not contain.” SimilarlyIbn ‘Asakir narrated inhisTabyin (Saqqaed.p.164-165)thatthehadithmasterIbnShahinal-Hanbali(d.385)said:“Tworighteousmenhavebeenafflictedduetoevilpeople:Ja‘faribnMuhammadandAhmadibnHanbal.”Ibnal-Salah(d.643) said:“Twoimamshavebeenafflictedbecauseoftheirfollowersalthoughtheyareinnocentofthem:AhmadibnHanbalwastried with the anthropomorphists (al-mujassima) , and Ja‘far al-Sadiq with the [Shi‘i] Rejectionists (al-Rāfida) .”QuotedbyIbnal-SubkiinhisQa‘ida(p.43),alsofoundinhisTabaqatal-Shafi‘iyyaal-Kubra (2:17).20SeeAppendix,“TheControversyOver thePronunciationoftheQur’an”andal-Bayhaqi’sdocumentationinourtranslationofal-Asma’waal-Sifat ,publishedseparately.21ImamAhmadsaidofthisverse:“Itispossiblethat‘new’referstothebringingdowntousofthereminder,nottothereminderitself,anditispossiblethatthereminderbeotherthantheQur’an,suchastheProphet’s reminderandhisadmonishingthem.”Relatedbyal-Bayhaqiinal-Asma’waal-Sifat (al-Kawtharied.p.235;al-Hashidied.1:572-573#499)andIbnKathirinhisal-Bidayawaal-Nihaya (10:361).SeeAppendix,“TheControversyoverthePronunciationoftheQur’an”.



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ThesecondpassageisAllah’ssaying:Butnay!IswearbyallthatyouseeandallthatyouseenotButnay!IswearbyallthatyouseeandallthatyouseenotButnay!IswearbyallthatyouseeandallthatyouseenotButnay!Iswearbyallthatyouseeandallthatyouseenotthatitisindeedthespeechofanillusthatitisindeedthespeechofanillusthatitisindeedthespeechofanillusthatitisindeedthespeechofanillustriousmessenger.triousmessenger.triousmessenger.triousmessenger.(69:38-40)Themessenger’sspeechisanattributeofhis,andthequalityofthiscontingent(hādith) isitselfacontingentwhichpointstothepreternalspeech

(yadullu‘alāal-kalāmal-qadīm) .Andwhoever claims that themessenger’s speechisbeginninglesshasrebuttedtheLordoftheworlds. AllahdidnotcontentHimselftomerelydeclaretheabovebutHesworetoitwithamostperfectoath and said: But nay! I swear by all that you see and all that you see not.But nay! I swear by all that you see and all that you see not.But nay! I swear by all that you see and all that you see not.But nay! I swear by all that you see and all that you see not. Into this oath areincorporatedHisEssenceandAttributes,andHiscreationbesides. ThethirdpassageisHissaying:Butnay!Butnay!Butnay!Butnay!Iswearbytheplanets,thestarswhichriseandset,andIswearbytheplanets,thestarswhichriseandset,andIswearbytheplanets,thestarswhichriseandset,andIswearbytheplanets,thestarswhichriseandset,andthecloseofnight,andthebreathofmorning,thatthisisintruththewordofanhonoredmessenger.thecloseofnight,andthebreathofmorning,thatthisisintruththewordofanhonoredmessenger.thecloseofnight,andthebreathofmorning,thatthisisintruththewordofanhonoredmessenger.thecloseofnight,andthebreathofmorning,thatthisisintruththewordofanhonoredmessenger.(81:15-19)

ProofsAgainstThoseWhoConfuseLetterandVoice

One wonders at those who say: “The Qur’an is a combination of letter and voice” (al-Qur’ānmurakkabunminharfinwasawt) andthenclaimthatallthatisfoundinthevolumeofQur’an(al-mushaf) whenthereisnot,inthevolume,otherthantheletteralone(harfmujarrad) ,withoutvoice.Thereisnotinitanyletterformedofvoice.Fortheletterwhichisuttered(al-harfal-lafzī) isnotthesameasthewrittencharacter(al-shaklal-kitābī) .Forthat reasononeperceives byear theletterwhich isuttered, withoutseeingit,andoneobservesbyeyesightthewrittencharacter,withouthearingitwiththeears.MayAllahnotincreaseamongtheMuslimsthenumberofthepeopleofinnovationandpassion,misguidanceandseduction!

ProofsAgainstThoseWhoClaimTheMushaf IsPreternal

Asfor thosewhosay thatthepreternaldivinequalityis indweltinthevolumeofQur’an:theyarecompelled toconclude, if thevolumeof Qur’anisdestroyedby fire, that Allah’spreternalqualitywasburnt–mostexaltedisHehighabovewhattheysay!Itisacharacteristicofwhatisbeginninglessnottobesubjecttochangenorannihilation,forthesecertainlynegatebeginninglessness. IftheyshouldclaimthattheQur’aniswritteninthevolumeofQur’anwithoutindwellinginit,asal-Ash‘arisaid,thenwhydotheycurseal-Ash‘ari–mayAllahhavemercyonhim?22Iftheysayotherthanthat,thenSeehowtheyinventliesaboutAllah!Thatofitselfisflagrantsin.SeehowtheyinventliesaboutAllah!Thatofitselfisflagrantsin.SeehowtheyinventliesaboutAllah!Thatofitselfisflagrantsin.SeehowtheyinventliesaboutAllah!Thatofitselfisflagrantsin.(4:50) AndontheDayof AndontheDayof AndontheDayof AndontheDayofResurrectionyouwillseethosewholiedconcernResurrectionyouwillseethosewholiedconcernResurrectionyouwillseethosewholiedconcernResurrectionyouwillseethosewholiedconcerningAllahwiththeirfacesblackened.IsnotthehomeofingAllahwiththeirfacesblackened.IsnotthehomeofingAllahwiththeirfacesblackened.IsnotthehomeofingAllahwiththeirfacesblackened.Isnotthehomeof

thescornersinhell?thescornersinhell?thescornersinhell?thescornersinhell?(39:60)

22Ibn‘AsakirwroteinhisTabyin (Saqqaed.p.151):“TheMu‘tazila said:‘Allah’sspeechiscreated,invented,andbroughtintobeing.’TheHashwiyya whoattributeabodytoAllahsaid:‘Thealphabeticalcharacters (al-hurūfal- muqatta‘a) ,thematerialsonwhichtheyarewritten,thecolorsinwhichtheyarewritten,andallthatisbetweenthetwocovers[ofthevolumesofQur’an]isbeginninglessandpreternal(qadīmaazaliyya) .’Al-Ash‘aritookamiddleroadbetweenthemandsaid:‘TheQur’anisAllah’sbeginninglessspeechunchanged,uncreated,notofrecentoriginintime,norbroughtintobeing.Asforthealphabeticalcharacters,thematerials,thecolors,thevoices,theelementsthataresubjecttolimitations(al-mahdūdāt) ,andallthatissubjecttomodality(al-mukayyafāt) intheworld–allthisiscreated,broughtintobeing,andinvented.’”



10

AsforAllah’ssaying:ThatthisisindeedanobleQur’aninaBookkepthiddenThatthisisindeedanobleQur’aninaBookkepthiddenThatthisisindeedanobleQur’aninaBookkepthiddenThatthisisindeedanobleQur’aninaBookkepthidden (56:77-78),theimamsoftheArabic languageagreethatthereisdefinitelyanellipsis(kalimamahdhūfa) inHissaying:inaBookkepthiddeninaBookkepthiddeninaBookkepthiddeninaBookkepthidden:anditisobligatorytounderstandthisellipsistomean:“writteninaBookkept

hidden.”Thisisduetothereasonswehavementionedabove,andinaccordancetothecriteriaofreason(al-‘aql) whichtestifiestodivineonenessandtheveracityofthePropheticMessage.

ProofsAgainstThoseWhoRejectReason

Reason is the indispensable condition of legal responsibility (manāt al-taklīf) according to theconsensusofMuslims.However,reasonwasnotadducedasaproofforpreternality (lamyustadallbial- ‘aql‘alāal-qidam) :itissufficientthatitwitnessestoit.Nowtheydonotlistentoitstestimony,althoughthedivineLawhas longdeclared reasonan uprightwitness(al-shar‘qad‘addalaal-‘aql) , accepting itstestimony,andhasevenadduceditasaproofincertainpointsofitsBook.Examplesaretheinferenceof[thelogicaltruthof]revival(al-i‘āda) from[theknownfact]oforigination(al-inshā’) ;orAllah’ssaying:Iftherewere,intheheavIftherewere,intheheavIftherewere,intheheavIftherewere,intheheavensandtheearth,othergodsbesidesAllah,therewouldhavebeenconfusioninensandtheearth,othergodsbesidesAllah,therewouldhavebeenconfusioninensandtheearth,othergodsbesidesAllah,therewouldhavebeenconfusioninensandtheearth,othergodsbesidesAllah,therewouldhavebeenconfusioninboth!both!both!both!(21:22);orHissaying:HavetheynotconsideredthedominionHavetheynotconsideredthedominionHavetheynotconsideredthedominionHavetheynotconsideredthedominion(malak (malak (malak (malakū ūū ūt) t) t) t) oftheheavensandtheoftheheavensandtheoftheheavensandtheoftheheavensandtheearth,andwhatthingsAllahhascreated?earth,andwhatthingsAllahhascreated?earth,andwhatthingsAllahhascreated?earth,andwhatthingsAllahhascreated?(7:185) Miserable indeed is the failure of him who rejects a witness whom Allah has accepted, andinvalidatesaproofAllahhasproduced!Fortheyreferthemselves[only]towhatwastextuallytransmitted(al-manqūl) .23Becauseofthat,wehavecitedonlytextuallytransmittedproofs,andwehavekeptsecurelyhiddenthosebasedonreason:ifweneedthemwecanproducethem,otherwisewecanleavethemuntil wedo.

MoreProofsAgainstThePreternalityofRecitation

A group-transmitted (mashhūr) hadith states: “Whoever recites the Qur’an and pronounces itclearly and distinctly (a‘rabahu) receives ten blessings for each letter, and whoever recites it withoutpronouncing it clearly and distinctly receives one blessing for each letter.”24 However, what isbeginninglesscannotbemarredbyfaultyexpression(al-lahn) normadeperfectbymeansof clear anddistinctpronunciation.AndAllahsaid: Youwillberequitednothingotherthanwhatyouhavedone.Youwillberequitednothingotherthanwhatyouhavedone.Youwillberequitednothingotherthanwhatyouhavedone.Youwillberequitednothingotherthanwhatyouhavedone.(37:39)Therefore,ifHisProphetinformedusthatwewouldberewardedfortherecitationoftheQur’anheindicatedtherebythatsuchrecitationisoneofouractions–andouractionsarebynomeanswithoutbeginning.

23SeeAppendix,“TheLiteralistInvalidationofReason.”24ThishadithisweakinitsattributiontotheProphet,asindicatedbytheauthorinhisunattributivewayofcitingit,inaccordancewiththerequirementsoftheLawwhencitingaweakhadith.VariousformsofthenarrationarerelatedfromtheProphetthroughatleastfiveCompanions–hencethenomenclatureofmashhūr –butwithweakorveryweakchains,byal-BayhaqiinShu‘abal-Iman (5:241#2096-2097),Ibn‘Adiinal-Kamilfial-Du‘afa’ (7:2506),andal-Tabaraniasstatedbyal-HaythamiinthebookoftheMeritsoftheQur’aninMajma‘al-Zawa’id .Ofnoteisthe following saying of ‘Umar: “Recite the Qur’an and do not leave out its clear and distinct pronunciation.”Somethingcloseto itisalso related fromIbnMas‘ud,both narratedby IbnAbyShaybain hisMusannaf (1:158,2:160). There is a soundnarration from Ibn Mas‘ud narratedby al-Tirmidhi, who graded ithasan sahīhgharīb (“authentic,narratedby onlyoneCompanion”), whereby theProphet said:“Whoeverreadsone letterof theQur’anhasperformedagooddeed,forwhichhereceivestenthelikethereof.Idonotsaythat‘A.L.M.’‘A.L.M.’‘A.L.M.’‘A.L.M.’(2:1)arealetterbut‘A.’‘A.’‘A.’‘A.’isaletter,‘L.’‘L.’‘L.’‘L.’isaletter,and‘M.’‘M.’‘M.’‘M.’isaletter.”



11

Allah’sNamingoftheRecitationQur’ān

TheQur’anandtheSunnawerebroughttothepeopleinacontextofutterignoranceandinthe

midstof simple mindsand dull wits. Indeed, the wordqur’ān applies, both in the divine Law and inlanguage, to the beginningless object of description (al-wasf al-qadīm) ; but it also applies to thecontingentrecitation(al-qirā’aal-hāditha) .Allahsaid:UponUsresttheputtingtoUponUsresttheputtingtoUponUsresttheputtingtoUponUsresttheputtingtogetherthereofanditsgetherthereofanditsgetherthereofanditsgetherthereofanditsqur’ qur’ qur’ qur’ā āā ān.n.n.n.(75:17)Thatis:itsrecitation.25

For the act of recitation (al-qirā’a) is different from what is being read (al-maqrū’) : the act ofrecitation is of recent origin in time while what is being recited is beginningless. Similarly, when weremember or mention Allah, our remembrance is of recent origin while what is remembered isbeginningless.

Theforegoingisbutaglimpseoftheschoolofal-Ash‘arionthetopic.

IfHadhāmispeaks,believeher.VerilythetruthiswhatHadhāmispoke!26

TheDutytoSpeakOutAgainstAnthropomorphists

Thereistoomuchtobesaidonthetopic.Ifitwerenotincumbentuponthescholarstostrengthenthe Religion and undermine innovators, and if the gross anthropomorphists had not unleashed theirtongues in our time to commit calumnies against those who uphold Allah’s oneness, and to spreadcontemptagainst the words ofthosewhodeclareAllah’stranscendence– otherwise Iwould not havespokenatlengthonatopicsuchasthis,whichisclearasday.

However,AllahhasorderedustostruggleinthecauseofHisReligion.Theonlydifferenceisthatthescholar’s weapons arehis knowledge and histongue,while theking’s weaponsarehis swords andspears. Just as it is not allowed for kings to put down their weapons in the face of the atheists (al-

25 Al-Bukharinarrated inthefirstbookofhisSahih (BookofRevelation)aswellasMusliminhis Sahih (BookofPrayer,chapterentitled“ListeningtotheRecitation”):FromIbn‘AbbasconcerningthesayingoftheExalted: Donotmoveyourtonguewithit inorderto hastenit.Donotmoveyourtonguewithitin ordertohastenit.Donotmoveyourtonguewithit inorderto hastenit.Donotmoveyourtonguewithitin ordertohastenit.(75:16)Hesaid:“Allah’sMessengerexperiencedacertaindifficultyintheprocessofrevelation.Hewasofthose whowouldmovetheirlips[i.e.mnemonically,alongwithhearingrecitation].AndIshallmovemy lipsforyouinthe wayAllah’sMessengerusedtomovethem.” “ThenAllahsentdown:‘Donotmoveyourtonguewithitinordert‘Donotmoveyourtonguewithitinordert‘Donotmoveyourtonguewithitinordert‘Donotmoveyourtonguewithitinordertohastenit.ohastenit.ohastenit.ohastenit.[i.e.itsmemorization]ItsItsItsIts

gathering and recitation rest upon us.’gathering and recitation rest upon us.’gathering and recitation rest upon us.’gathering and recitation rest upon us.’” (75:16-17) Ibn ‘Abbas said: “That is: its gathering in your breast andsubsequentrecitation.” ‘AndwhenWereciteit,followitsrecital.’‘AndwhenWereciteit,followitsrecital.’‘AndwhenWereciteit,followitsrecital.’‘AndwhenWereciteit,followitsrecital.’(75:18)Ibn‘Abbassaid:“Thatis:listentoitandkeepsilent.” ‘ThenverilyuponUsrestsitsexposition.’‘ThenverilyuponUsrestsitsexposition.’‘ThenverilyuponUsrestsitsexposition.’‘ThenverilyuponUsrestsitsexposition.’(75:19)Ibn‘Abbassaid:“Thatis:UponUsrestsitsrecitationby yourself.”[ShaykhMustafaDibal-Bughainhiseditionofal-Tajridal-Sarih elaboratedittomean:thepermanencyof your memorization of it leading to its appearance on your tongue, also explained as the detailing of itsgeneralities, the elaborationofits complexities, the exposition ofwhatis init concerning the permitted and theforbidden,andotherthanthat.] “Afterthis,whenJibrilcametohimtheProphetwouldlisten,andafterJibrillefttheProphet wouldreciteitinthemannerJibrilhadrecitedit.”26LujaymibnSa‘borWasimibnTariq,asquotedin Lisanal-‘Arab intheentriesh-dh-m andr-q-sh ,alsoMughnial- Labib (#404),Shudhural-Dhahab (38:95), Awdahal-Masalik (1:131#482),Ibn‘Aqil’sTafsir (1:85#16),etc.This verseisa locusclassicus (shāhid) ofArabicgrammartoillustratethedialectoftheHijazconcerningthesyntagmfa‘āl .SeeIbnHishamal-Ansari’s(d.761)Qatral-Nada ,chapteronHadhām .



12

mulhidīn) andtheChristians(al-mushrikīn) ,27similarly,itisnotallowedforscholarstostilltheirtonguesinthefaceoftheheretics (al-zā’ighīn) andtheinnovators (al-mubtadi‘īn) .

WhoeverstruggleswithallhisstrengthforAllah’ssakesoastobringuphighAllah’sReligion,isgoingtobeworthyofAllah’swatchfulprotection,empoweredwithHisinvinciblestrength,defendedwithHissupport,andprotectedfromtheentirehostofcreation. AndifAllahwilledHecouldhavepun AndifAllahwilledHecouldhavepun AndifAllahwilledHecouldhavepun AndifAllahwilledHecouldhavepunishedishedishedishedthem(Himself),but(thusitisordained)thatHemaytrysomeofyoubymeansofothers.them(Himself),but(thusitisordained)thatHemaytrysomeofyoubymeansofothers.them(Himself),but(thusitisordained)thatHemaytrysomeofyoubymeansofothers.them(Himself),but(thusitisordained)thatHemaytrysomeofyoubymeansofothers.(47:4) ThosewhodeclareAllah’stranscendenceandHisonenesshavegivenandcontinuetogivethesameanswersforalltheworldtosee,ateverycelebrationandineveryplaceofassembly.Theydeclareitaloudintheschoolsandinthemosques.TheinnovationoftheHashwiyya ,however,hasbeenkepthiddenandconcealedinsecrecy.Theyhavebeenunabletobringitoutintotheopen,buttheyhaveinstilledittotheignorantmasses.Theyareonlybeginningtobringitoutintotheopeninourtime. Therefore we ask Allahto hastenthe ruin ofthatinnovation asis Hiscustom, and to let itshumiliationcometopassashasbeenHiswayinthepast,andaccordingtothepathofthosewhouphold Allah’stranscendenceandoneness,on which theFollowers(al-Khalaf) andthePredecessors(al-Salaf) havebothproceeded.MayAllahbewellpleasedwithallofthem.

TheyAttackAl-Ash‘ariforAttributingCausalitytoAllah

Itisawonderthattheyblameal-Ash‘aribecausehesaid:“Breaddoesnotsatiate,waterdoesnotquenchthirst,firedoesnotburn[inthemselves]”!ForthisdiscourseAllahHimselfhasrevealed–in itsmeaning–inhisBook.Indeed,satiation,quenching,andcombustionarephenomenawhichAllahalone

creates, since bread does not create satiation, nor does water create quenching, nor does fire createcombustion, although they are causes for such results. But the Creator is Himself the Causator (al- Musabbib) ,notthecauses.28 ThisisjustasAllahsaid:Youthrewnotwhenyoudidthrow,butAllahthrew.Youthrewnotwhenyoudidthrow,butAllahthrew.Youthrewnotwhenyoudidthrow,butAllahthrew.Youthrewnotwhenyoudidthrow,butAllahthrew.(8:17)HedeniedthatHisProphetwasthecreatorofthethrow,althoughhewasitscause.Allahalsosaid: Andthat itis Andthat itis Andthat itis Andthat itisHeWhomakeslaugh,andmakesweep,andthatitisHeWhogivesdeathandgiveslife.HeWhomakeslaugh,andmakesweep,andthatitisHeWhogivesdeathandgiveslife.HeWhomakeslaugh,andmakesweep,andthatitisHeWhogivesdeathandgiveslife.HeWhomakeslaugh,andmakesweep,andthatitisHeWhogivesdeathandgiveslife.(54:43-44)ThusHedissociatedmaking-laugh,making-weep,thegivingofdeathandoflifefromtheirrespectivecauses,attributingalltoHimself.

27

TheauthormeanstheMongolsandtheFrankswhowereattackingal-Shamatthetime.28SeeIbnKhafif’s‘Aqida§41(“Thingsdonotactoftheirownnature…”),publishedseparately.Cf.al-Zahawiin al- Fajral-Sadiq :“Fooddoesnotsate,nordoeswaterquenchthirst,nordoesmedicineheal.ButtheOnewhoistherealSatisfierofourhunger,theQuencherofourthirstandtheHealerofourillsisAllahalone.Thefood,thewater,themedicineareonlytheproximateorsecondarycauseswhichcustomhasestablishedonthesurfaceofthingsbyourmind’sregularassociationof themwithcertainconcomitantevents.”AstranslatedinTheDoctrineofAhlal- SunnaVersusthe“Salafi”Movement (p.86). Amanasked al-Tustari:“Whatissustenance?”Hesaid:“Perpetualdhikr .”Themansaid:“Iwasnotaskingaboutthat,butaboutwhatsustainsone.”Hereplied:“Oman!ThingsaresustainedbynothingbutAllah.”Themansaid:“Ididnotmeanthat,Iaskedyouaboutwhatisindispensible!”Hereplied:“Youngman,Allahisindispensible.”AbuNu‘aym, Hilya (10:218#15022).Thisis theconsensusof Ahlal- Sunna , asopposedto the Shi‘a, theMu‘tazila ,andthephilosopherssuchasal-FarabiandIbnRushd.ThelatterthreegroupssubscribedtoAristoteliancausality (al-‘illaal-aristiyya) i.e.thebeliefthatcausesaregivenadegreeofinherentcausality.IbnTaymiyyawasattackedforendorsingthisbeliefinhisal-Radd‘alaal-Mantiqiyyin (“AgainstLogicians”).Cf.al-Buti,al-Salafiyya (p.173).



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Similarly, al-Ash‘ari dissociated satiation, quenching, and combustion from their causes,attributingthemalltotheCreatorWhosaid: SuchisAllah,yourLord.ThereisnoGodsaveHSuchisAllah,yourLord.ThereisnoGodsaveHSuchisAllah,yourLord.ThereisnoGodsaveHSuchisAllah,yourLord.ThereisnoGodsaveHim,theim,theim,theim,theCreatorofallthings.Creatorofallthings.Creatorofallthings.Creatorofallthings.(6:102)IsthereanycreatorotherthanAllah?IsthereanycreatorotherthanAllah?IsthereanycreatorotherthanAllah?IsthereanycreatorotherthanAllah?(35:3)Nay,buttheydeniedwhatNay,buttheydeniedwhatNay,buttheydeniedwhatNay,buttheydeniedwhat

theycouldnotcomprehendandwhereoftheinterpretationhadnotyetcomeuntothem.theycouldnotcomprehendandwhereoftheinterpretationhadnotyetcomeuntothem.theycouldnotcomprehendandwhereoftheinterpretationhadnotyetcomeuntothem.theycouldnotcomprehendandwhereoftheinterpretationhadnotyetcomeuntothem.(10:39)DidDidDidDid youdenyMysignswhenyoucouldnotcompa youdenyMysignswhenyoucouldnotcompa youdenyMysignswhenyoucouldnotcompa youdenyMysignswhenyoucouldnotcompasstheminknowledge,orwhatwasityoudid?sstheminknowledge,orwhatwasityoudid?sstheminknowledge,orwhatwasityoudid?sstheminknowledge,orwhatwasityoudid?(27:84)

HowmanydoreproveatruthfulwordWhenitistheywhosufferfromdeficientunderstanding! 29

Therefore,glorytoHimWhohasapprovedofsomewhomHebroughtnearertoHim,andshown wrathtootherswhomHekeptfarfromHim.HewillnotbequestionedastowhatHedoes,buttheywillHewillnotbequestionedastowhatHedoes,buttheywillHewillnotbequestionedastowhatHedoes,buttheywillHewillnotbequestionedastowhatHedoes,buttheywillbequestioned.bequestioned.bequestioned.bequestioned.(21:23)

TruthandRightAreDearerThanLife

It is incumbent on every scholar of knowledge, when he sees truth brought low and rightundermined,tomustereverystrengthofhisinordertoassisttruthandright.Hemustconsiderhimselfmore deserving ofhumiliationand incapacitation than truthandright.If hestrengthensthe truthandbringsuphightheright,lethimbutseektheirshade,andcontenthimselfwithdropletsofwhatever[gain]maycomefromelsewhere.

Alittlefromyoubenefitsme,althoughThelittlethatcomesfromyoucannotbecalledlittle.

Toriskone’slifeinthecauseofstrengtheningtheReligionislicit.Thusitispermittedforheroic

individuals among the Muslims to plunge into the battle-ranks of the disbelievers. Similarly, to incurdanger intheactofcommandinggoodand forbiddingevil, aidingtoupholdthe basesofthe Religionthrough proofs and evidences, is licit. Whoever fears for his life is no longer obligated but merelyencouragedtodo it.Asforthosewhosaythatexposingone’slifetodangerisimpermissible, theyhavegonefarfromtruthandleftwhatisright.

AllahPrefersWhoeverPrefersHim

In sum, whoever prefers Allah above himself, Allah will prefer him. Whoever seeks Allah’sapprovalwithwhatangerspeople,Allahshallbewell-pleasedwithhimandshallmakepeoplepleased withhimalso.Butwhoeverseekspeople’sapprovalwithwhatdispleasesAllah,Allahshallbeangrywith

himandshallmakepeopleangrywithhimalso.Thereissuffi-ciency,inAllah’sapproval,fromthatofeverybodyelse.

SolongasYouaresweet,letalllifebebitter.SolongasYouarepleased,letallcreaturesbewroth.30

And

29 Al-Mutanabbi,Diwan (4:246).ComparewithImamTaqial-DinIbnal-Subki’s(d.756)descriptionofamajoranti- Ash‘arischolaras“onewhoselearningexceededhisintelligence”inhisal-Rasa’ilal-Subkiyya (p.151-152).30 AbuFirasal-Hamadani,Diwan (1:24).





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The Belief of the People of Truth (Al-Mulha Fi I'Tiqad Ahl Al-Haqq) - Al-Izz Ibn 'Abd Al-Salam Al-Shafii