The Creed (1/2)

The first requirement for a person who has accepted Islam as his way of life is to understand and accept certain teachings or elements of knowledge that one can know only from revelation. These are called the creed or Aqidah. The correct Aqidah has been revealed by all the Prophets, but most precisely in the Qura’n and sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). One learns the Aqidah as taught by the early generations of Muslims and by the great scholars who demonstrated their piety and true understanding about Islam.

The Aqidah of a Muslim may be differentiated into the following five beliefs: belief in Allah; the final judgement; revelation through angels, books and messengers; charity; and prayer, as described in Surah al-Baqarah, verse 177:

It is not piety that you turn your faces towards East or West – But truly pious is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day, and the angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; and spend of his substance, out of love for Him, upon his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and those who ask, and for the freeing of human beings from bondage; and is steadfast in prayer, and gives regular charity; and (truly pious are) they who keep their promises whenever they promise, and are firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and in times of peril. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.

Allah

1. The Creator of the universe is Allah, the All-knowing, the Almighty, and the One who needs no help. This is also demonstrated by the beauty and complexity of this universe. The parts of the universe each need one another in order to ensure their existence and stability. A single part cannot exist without the others.

Such a beautiful universe cannot come into existence without the design and sustenance of Allah the Almighty. Allah the Almighty has said:

 “If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both! But glory be to Allah, the Lord of the Throne; (Far Exalted is He) above what they attribute to Him.” [Qur’an, Surah Al-Anbiya’, 21:22]

2. Allah created this world with a purpose, and everything in it has its own divinely ordained purpose. Allah has the attribute of completeness, so everything he does has purpose and coherence. Allah’s purpose and goals for creating this world can be known only through His messengers or Words. Allah the Almighty has said:

 “Did you then think that We had created you in jest, and that you would not be brought back to us (for account)? Therefore Exalted be Allah, the King, the Reality: There is no god but He, the Lord of the Throne of Honour!” [Qur’an, Surah Al-Mu'minun, 23:115-116]

3. The purpose of life in this world is to know, serve and worship Allah. Allah the Almighty has said:

 “I have created jinns and men, that they may serve Me. No sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me. For Allah is He who gives (all) sustenance, the Lord of Power, Steadfast (forever).” [Qur’an, Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56-58]

4. The attributes of Allah are unlimited. The Qur’an mentions 99 attributes and many verses show the completeness of His uluhiyyah (godliness or worthiness to be worshipped). Among these attributes alqayyum (the self-subsisting), almuqaddam (the promoter and albaqi (the eternal, as distinct from makhluk, or His creation. He has no son, no father, and no comparison. He does not need help from His creatures but His creatures do need help from Him. He is unique (al abid) in His being, attributes, work, and leadership. He is al ’alim (all-knowing), al hayy (the living), at wasi’ (the all-embracing), and has many other attributes unknown to us).

Final judgement

1. Paradise is the reward for the obedient mumin (believer) and hell-fire is the punishment for disbelievers. Allah the Almighty has said:

 “(When) some will be in the Paradise, and some in the blazing fire.” [Qur’an, Surah Ash-Shurah, 42:7]

2. All members of mankind are able to do good and avoid evil through their effort and will, but one cannot do good without help and good fortune (taufiq) from Allah. Allah the Almighty has said:

 “By the soul and the proportion and order given to it, and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right - truly he succeeds who purifies it, and he fails that corrupts it.” [Qur’an, Surah Al-A’raf, 7-10]

 “Every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds.” [Qur’an, Surah Al-Muddathir, 74:38]

3. One should remain close to Allah whether alone or not. Allah, the Almighty has said:

 “Do you not see that Allah knows (all) that is in the heavens and on earth? There is not a secret consultation among three persons but He is the fourth among them nor between five but He is the sixth - nor between fewer nor more but He is in their midst, where so ever they be, in the end will He tell the truth of their conduct, on the Day of Judgement. For Allah has full knowledge of all things.” [Qur’an, Surah Al-Mujadilah, 58:7]

Revelation

1. Allah has sent His messengers with the Books of revelation so that all of mankind may know Allah, their purpose in this world, and their final destination. Prophet Muhammad (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is the final prophet among the prophets that Allah has sent. He was helped and strengthened by Allah with the Qur’an, the only miracle that lasts forever.

2. Allah Alone has the right to make laws. The Shari’ah or law of Allah cannot be overruled. A Muslim is limited to ijtehad or intellectual effort in deriving laws from the shari’ah Allah the Almighty has said:

 “Whatever it be wherein you differ, the decision thereof is with Allah: Such is Allah my Lord: in Him I trust, and to Him I turn?” [Qur’an, Surah Ash-Shurah, 42:10]

3. Human traditions and the opinion of the earlier generations of Muslim scholars in ta’wil (interpretation of the Qur’an and hadith) are important. The ta’wil made by the scholars of the later generations should not cause bitter arguments between traditionalist and modernist groups.

(Continued)