Then continuing it with the Shahadah

وأَشْهَدُ أَن لاَّ إلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ إِقْرَارًا بِهِ وَتَوْحِيدًا‏‏

I bear witness there is none worthy to be worshipped but Allah alone, without any partners, establishing by it His oneness.

Which means I affirm and I accept with all truthfulness, strong belief that no one is worthy to be worshipped except Allah alone, with all His perfections. No one is worthy to be worshipped except Him alone and there is no partner to Him. Affirming it with ones’ heart and tongue with all sincerity to Allah alone(tauwheed) in all our worship, words and actions. And the greatest means to get near to it(this affirmation) is the Aqidathus salafiyyah¹. This book carries the matters related to this subject. And by correcting the Aqidah, one can correct his actions, make it acceptable(for reward) and his matters will be made straight.

Shaykh As Saylani (حفظه الله):

If your Aqidah is not correct, not authentic, not firm, whatever you do(deeds, worship etc) will not be accepted and you will not be in the straight path. Getting yourself established with correct Aqidah will correct all your actions, make it acceptable and all your matters will come into a right form. (your behaviour, thinking, dealing, attitudes, all of it is rectified from correct Aqidah).

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ تسليمًا مَزِيدًا

And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, and his companions with abundant peace.

The witness to the Messenger-ship of the Prophet of Allah and the worship of Allah alone (Tauheed) is combined together. Either one of it will not be complete without the other. We have to realise that the description of prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as His slave and messenger, perfection of his messenger-ship in a complete sense and that he is above all of humans in all perfect attributes. And witness of the slave (Ashhadu Anna Muhammadur Rasoolullah) will never be acceptable or won't be truthful till the slave(of Allah) believes in all of what has been informed by Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم), follows all the orders which has been given and keeps away from all of what has been forbidden by Rasoolullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). With these matters, witnessing of the oneness of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) & with the belief of your messenger for his prophethood, shahadah (First Pillar of Islam) comes into action.

Then Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said,

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَهَذَا اعْتِقَادُ الْفِرْقَةِ النَّاجِيَةِ الْمَنْصُورَةِ إِلَى قِيَامِ السَّاعَةِ‏ أَهْلِ السُّنَّةِ وَالْجَمَاعَةِ‏‏

وَهُوَ الإِيمانُ بِاللهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْبَعْثِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ والإِيمَانِ بِالْقَدَرِ خِيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ‏‏

To proceed: This is the Aqeedah of the victorious sect², the victorious and the successful sect till Yawm al Qiyamah, Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah³. It is to have faith in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers and belief of the life after death and to have Iman of what Allah decreed, the good and the bad.

Musannif, Imaam Abdur Rahman Bin Nasir As Sa’di (رحمه الله) says that this book has collected for you the Aqeedah which saves you from destruction and naughtiness. This Aqeedah is going to save you from destruction and from the naughtiness of your soul. It will lead you to the good of the world and the Aahirah(hereafter), which has been inherited by Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), taken from the book of Allah and the tradition of Rasoolullahi (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

This is what Sahabah were upon, those who followed them and those who will remain in their path till the day of Yawm Al Qiyamah. In which Allah has guaranteed the victory over them by the tongue of His Messenger, the victory will be till Yawm Al Qiyamah. The victory for us will be by the blessing of this Aqeedah, acting upon it, application of it and standing(firmly) on it in all matters of religion. The Asl (foundation) of that is to have faith on the six things which Quran and Sunnah⁴ has mentioned in many places, in general and in detailed manner, with firmness. From which is the famous hadith of Jibril, ‘when it was questioned to Rasoolullahi (صلى الله عليه وسلم). What is Iman? Prophet Muhammad said it is to have faith in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers and belief of the life after death and to have Iman of what Allah decreed, the good and the bad’. This book, from the first to last is an explanation to this six basics. This is the introduction of ash-Shaykh Abdur Rahman Ibn Naasir As Sa’di (رحمه الله) for the wordings of Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) introduction to his book of Al Aqeedatul Wasitiyah.

Shaykh As Saylani (حفظه الله):

Insha Allah, we will be starting with Shaykh Abdur Rahman Ibn Naasir As Sa’di’s explanation of Al Aqeedatul Wasitiyah trying to first study that and go over it. We will benefit better and also where needed i will try to recall points to help us realize things on it. Know that a muslim to make his ‘dunya’ (world) better, ‘Aahirah’ the hereafter better, is to get his Aqeedah corrected. The Aqeedah which Rasoolullah replied when Jibril asked ‘Mal Iman?’ What is Iman? What did Rasoolullah reply with? this is the Aqeedah, i.e. to have faith in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Prophets and the life after death and to have faith on the decree which Allah is written the good and the bad⁵.

Now this Aqeedatul Waasitiyyah actually is from the complete explanation of these pillars of iman, trying to place you with its proper understanding.

Muslims got divided on this subject. Whole ummah says that we will believe in the pillars of Islam & the pillars of Iman but in realizing it, they are corrupt.

For example, ‘Imanu Billah’ Believe in Allah, they have defined it in their own ways on how they want to believe in Allah, so they ended up losing faith in His names and attributes (by rejecting it or misinterpreting it). This is the worst damage, the first point of Iman is ‘Imanu Billah’ in that we (as muslims) are lost.

Then there is a sect who has argument with believing in angels.

And there is a community who has problem in understanding the Book, Quran in which Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has sent Al-Muhqamaat⁶ and Al-Muthasabihaat⁷ verses and the methodology to understand it. Allah has said that the base of this book is Muhqamaat, ‘wa uharu Muthasabihaat’ other muthasabihaat are there, so in that they deviated in understanding the book and Allah has said those who have disease in their heart they will be searching the muthasabihaat of this Quran for achieving their goals/desires⁸. These people deviated in pillar of believing in scriptures.

Then comes ‘Rusoolihi’ the belief in prophets/messengers, the community has damaged themselves in the way they obey the Prophet, submit to the orders and prohibitions of the Prophet.

They have wronged themselves either in accepting the Prophet’s message or submitting to act upon it. Accepting the Prophet’s message means the study of the authenticity (of the hadees). There are sects who want to check the authenticity with their rational thinking. Whatever leads to his feeling, he accepts it. Whatever challenges his demands and desires, he refuses with the excuse of knowledge in argumentation.

And there is another group after accepting the hadith they have mis-quoted, mis-interpreted that out of context and plays them the way they want to get them under their desirable way in application.

All these are the problem in the subject of believing in prophets. If they have submitted to the Prophethood clearly, they wouldn’t play in the Prophetic narrations(in accepting them, in its verification, in its meaning and in its application).

And then there is a community that has denied the life after death, the life inside the grave and yawm al Qiyamah. They have denied these matters and many corruptions has come up.

Then the worst thing is the deviations in ‘Qada wal Qadr’, in pre-Decree, where they ended up in denying, instilling doubts in the attributes of Allah and giving their own meanings to it. They brought many deviated ideologies and principles. (Leading scholars) Aimatus Sunnah, Aimatus Salaf, Aimatul Aqeedah, they have grown for us, a very beautiful grass (meaning they have shown a clear path, clear guidance) in realizing and identifying these innovators(misguided groups). We can get down and study with them(scholars of sunnah). Innovators are in billions, Ahlul Bid’ah are in millions but rules are very simple. You will chase them in your finger tips (meaning you will identify them at the very beginning and can be cautious). Aimatus Sunnah(leading scholars of sunnah) have taught us, very beautifully about the seventy three sects, to realize its basics, all of them are divided into main six groups.

Al Khawarij, Al Mu’tazilah, Shi’ah, Al Qadariyyah, Al Jabariyyah, Al Murji’ah - six groups. As a theoretical study, on the theological form of the concepts, six main groups, each group divides into twelve, 6 * 12 = 72 sects. The original, saved sect is Rasoolullah and Sahabas(and their followers). Thus, in total 73 as it has come in the authentic hadees⁹.

It has been explained by Imaam Ibnu Jauwzee¹⁰ in his book “Talbis Iblis”, explained by Imam Abdul Qahir Al Bagdadi¹¹ in Kitab “Al Farq binal Firq”, Imam Al Shahrastaani¹² in “Al minal wan Nihal”, Imam Ibnu Hazm Al Andalusi¹³ in “Al Fasl fil minal wan nihal” and many other Imaams. So if we can really identify, what are these main six forms of theoretical (concept) divisions (In the theology that means in the study of creed). You can know and picturize the way they are categorized. The first and the worst is the Mu’tazilahs who came up placing the texts(Islamic evidences) attacked by rationals. People may say deviated talks on al-Qadr came earlier to other thoughts, Mu’tazilah is the Madrasah (school) which came late. But we would like to clarify that the fitnah of I’tizal (denial/withdrawal) comes from the time of Adam

قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍۢ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍۢ

(Allâh) said: "What prevented you (O Iblîs) that you did not prostrate yourself, when I commanded you?" Iblîs said: "I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay."

(Surah A’raaf:12)

Imam Shahrastaani said that among the matters leading mankind to misguidance is pride, second is the thinking ‘I can understand’. First matter is pride and the second is to follow ‘my thinking is better than what’s been given to me’(meaning I can understand the truth in better way than what is being given or revealed to me by Allah). That is the form of pride by which Shaytan got into the curse of Allah. The Mu’tazilah sect has the same portion of pride, deviation which led shaytan to the curse of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى). They think to be smarter, study the Quran, Sunnah (the revealed texts) and try to understand it with their competency (intellect,skills). They don't study the blessed knowledge, al-Ilm of Quran and sunnah, in the mode of submission(in order to submit to Allah and follow His messenger).

Imam Al-Lalikae¹⁴ (رحمه الله) very clearly explains that the position of Mu’tazilah in understanding the Quran and sunnah were not in the theme of submitting to it. They came challenging the text (Quran and sunnah). They choose from it what they like and they chop off what they don’t like. So these are the forms by which they were educated. They all said that the pillars of Iman are six but they defined it as they wished.

Now, this book, Al Aqidathul Wasitiyah comes to us to explain the pillars of Iman as revealed (to prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) without the corruptions of these sects. If we take the original mode of what is Arkaanul Imaan (six pillars of Iman) very clearly and learn it properly, you will know how strong they are to build us. It will make us stand firm and battle anything on the globe. And know that Ahlul Bidah (people of innovations), it is their foolishness, making their own roads. Instead of submitting to the pillars of Iman taught by prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), ahlul bidah have drawn their own ways to make people strong in Islam. The latest among those (misguided) ways is the six numbers of Jamat ath-tabligh¹⁵. They think that it would make them a better Muslim.

They have replaced six pillars of Iman which Rasoolullah taught us with some other six matters. They are calling muslims to that ‘six’, they are not calling people to the six pillars of Iman to which Rasoolullah called to. This is the sickness of mankind. Everyone make up their study and research thinking they can do better. No! Religion is not to be produced. Religion is not to be established in the way we like or we want. Religion is to be followed. As Abdullah ibn Mas’ud radiallahu anhu said addressing the tabi’eens, he said (Arabic text)

عن، إبراهيم، قال: قال عبد الله: ‌‌‌اتبعوا ‌ولا ‌تبتدعوا ‌فقد ‌كفيتم، ‌وكل ‌بدعة ‌ضلالة

Ibrahim An-Nakhayee narrated that Abdullah ibn Mas’ood said: It is plenty enough for you to Follow and do not innovate, because every Bid’ah is misguidance.¹⁶

He said this to whom? It was said to the tabi’eens, the students of Sahabah. He advised them to follow the religion and not to invent religion. This is because of the carefulness, cautiousness in preserving the sunnah. The Tabi’eens were firm but still he found students not careful enough, so he had to advise them. What if Abdullah ibn mas’ud saw us today?! what will we be addressed with?!

The much of inventions (religious innovations), very less of following and adopting (of sunnah). So, When we are learning Aqidah, we should know that we are not trying to explore something out of our smartness. We are trying to understand what has been revealed to us, to know the six pillars of Iman and understand the true way to get our imaan, basic foundation strong. Once we have strengthened our imaan, we can see happiness, contentment in our life, seeking the pleasure of Allah in all our manners, behaviour and attitude, even though we don’t have sophistications in this world. You will be certain about the correctness of your actions. You won’t be in a shaky, messy life, in doubtfulness. Because you are acting upon correct Eeman, not upon blind faith.

Previously, you might have done something because people said so. But now (after learning Aqidah), you are doing it due to the emaan from the heart, it originates from ones heart. That is why Imams of sunnah emphasize more on Aqidah, importantly on the pillars of Iman. One of those imams, Imam Ibn taymiyyah’s work is here before us. On our study, I would like to bring benefit to all of us from Imam Abdur Rahman Naasir as saadi’s explanation inshaa allah. You all shall take notes of what’s needed and try to understand it in the proper concept so that what we study will be firm in our hearts strong than the whisperings of desire into our ears. Imaan shall settle down in our hearts firmly. Even we learn a little, let us get it digested better and understand it with the help of the explanation of Ash-Shaykh Abdur Rahman Naasir as saa’di (رحمه الله) from his book “Tanbihatul Latifa Ala Ma Ahkamat Alaihi Al Aqeedathul Wasitiyah Minal Mabahitul Manifa”.

References:

1. Aqidathus Salafiyyah refers to the creed (Aqidah) of the Sahabah and those who followed them. The terms Aqidathus Salafiyyah, Aqidathus Salaf, Aqidathu Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’h, Aqidathu Ahlul Hadees Wal Athar, all refers to the knowledge of emaan (and its branches) taught to us by prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

2,3. Taaifathul Mansoorah, Ashaabul Hadees, Firqatun Najiyyah are all names and attributes of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’h (people who follow the path of our prophet and his companions) from the sunnah and statements of Salaf.

4. Refer to Surah Baqarah:285, Surah An-Nisa:136, Hadith of Jibreel recorded in Sahih Al Buhari and Muslim, etc.

5. Meaning of the hadees: Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, one day, a man appeared with very white clothes and very black hair. There were no signs of travel on him and we did not recognize him. He sat in front of the Prophet, rested his knees by his knees, and placed his hands on his thighs. The man said, “O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.” The Prophet said, “Islam is to testify there is none worthy to be worshipped except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to give charity, to fast the month of Ramadan, and to perform pilgrimage to the House if a way is possible.” The man said, “You have spoken truthfully.” We were surprised that he asked him and said he was truthful. He said, “Tell me about faith(Iman).” The Prophet said, “Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in His decree, its good and its harm.” The man said, “You have spoken truthfully. Tell me about Ihsaan.” The Prophet said, “Excellence is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He surely sees you.” The man said, “Tell me about the final hour.” The Prophet said, “The one asked does not know more than the one asking.” The man said, “Tell me about its signs.” The Prophet said, “The slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and you will see barefoot, naked, and dependent shepherds compete in the construction of tall buildings.” Then, the man returned and I remained. The Prophet said to me, “O Umar, do you know who he was?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” The Prophet said, “Verily, he was Jibriel who came to teach you your religion.” (Sahih Muslim)

6,7,8. Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says:

هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِنْهُ ءَايَـٰتٌۭ مُّحْكَمَـٰتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَـٰبِهَـٰتٌۭ ۖ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌۭ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَـٰبَهَ مِنْهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ ٱلْفِتْنَةِ وَٱبْتِغَآءَ تَأْوِيلِهِۦ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَٱلرَّٰسِخُونَ فِى ٱلْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ كُلٌّۭ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ

It

is He Who has sent down to you (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) the Book (this Qur’ân). In it are Verses that are

entirely clear

, they are the foundations of the Book [and those are the Verses of Al-Ahkâm (commandments), Al-Fara’id (obligatory duties) and Al-Hudud (legal laws for the punishment of thieves, adulterers)]; and others not entirely clear. So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking Al-Fitnah (polytheism and trials), and seeking for its hidden meanings, but none knows its hidden meanings save Allâh. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord." And none receive admonition except men of understanding. (Tafsir At-Tabarî). (Surah Ala’Imran:7)

9. Allaah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “My nation will divide into 73 sects; all of them shall be in the Fire except one, and it is the Jamaa`ah; the united body upon the truth.” It was said, “Who are they, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “That which I and my companions are upon today.” Reported by At-Tirmidhi (2641), by al-Haakim and by others. Imam Albani graded it to be Hasan. Based on this hadees and historical evidences, …..

10. He is ‘Abu’l-Faraj Jamal al-Din Abdul Rahman ibn Ali Ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Ibn Ubayd Allah Ibn al-Jawzi al-Qurashi al Tamimi al Bakri al-Baghdadi al-Hanbali (509/510-597H), Al-Imam, al-'Allamah, al-Hafidh, al-Mufassir authored many books such as Sifat us-Safwa, Zad al-Masir, Talbis Iblis, etc.

11. He is Imam Abu Mansur Abdel-Qahir al-Baghdadi (429H), a scholar of ash’ari creed.

12. He is Abu al-Fath al-Shahrastani (548H). He discussed various deviated sects in islam, their doctrines, their sub-sects, etc in his book mentioned above. Though he is a great scholar who authored beneficial works, he fell into certain deviation in matters of creed and other branches. Scholars of sunnah guided us about his deviations.

13. He is Abu Muhammad 'Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Hazm al-Andalusi (384-456H), one of the most learned of his time in Andalusia, author of the famous ‘Muhalla’. His books are also to be studied under guidance of scholars as his stance in certain matters of creed differ from Ahlus Sunnah.

14. He is Abu al-Qassim Hibatullah ibn al-Hasan at Tabari al-Lalaka'i (418H), a great scholar, author of encyclopedia elaborating the creed/methodology of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’h “Sharh Usul I’thiqaa’d”.

15. Jamat at-tabligh is group founded by Imam Muhammad Ilyas Qandelvi, followers of Chisti-Sūfi tariqa, in India. Scholars of Ahlus sunnah declared this group to be from misguided sects. Six princples of this sect is 1) Kalimah (Declaration of Faith), 2)Salat (Prayers), 3) Ilm and Zikr (Knowledge and remembrance), 4)Ikramul Muslimeen (Respect to Muslims), 5) Ikhlas (Sincerity), 6) Da’wah & Tabligh (Inviting and Propagating). Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’h will stick to the principles of prophet and his companions whereas all deviated sects in the history of this ummah have their own deviated principles. Shaykh As Saylani (حفظه الله) explains that this group neglect learning about six pillars of Iman and promote shirk, kufr, Bid'ah by framing their own six principles.

16. Recorded by Imam Abu Haitham Zuhair ibn Harb in His Kitab Al-Ilm and Ash-Shaykh Al-Albani has Clarified it as Saheeh in His Tahqeeq and Ta’leeq of the Book (Hadeeth No.54, Page no. 26)

Tahqeeq Tanbeehathul Latheefah - Part 3 (Transcription)