THE AQAA'ID OF ISLAM

Aqaa’id (belief) is a very important aspect of a Muslim’s life. Failure to believe, or holding beliefs that deviate from those taught by Islam, leads to Kufr and Shirk, the gravest of sins.

Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur’an:

“Shirk is the worst injustice.” (31:13)

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) states in a Hadith:

“The most serious of the major sins is to associate someone with Allah Ta’ala.”

Shirk and Kufr are so severe that no a’mal (actions) are accepted from the one guilty of them. The individual who commits Shirk or Kufr after having been a believer sees all their good deeds nullified. Their Nikah (marriage) becomes invalid, and they deserve execution in an Islamic state unless they make Tawbah (repentance). In such a case, they must renew their Nikah and perform Hajj-e-Fard again, even if they have already completed it.

The minimum qualification for entering Jannah is Imaan (faith). Since Shirk and Kufr directly negate this qualification, they make Jannah forbidden for the one guilty of them.

“Allah has definitely forbidden Jannah for the one who attributes a partner to Allah, and his abode shall be the Fire.” (5:72)

It is therefore imperative to thoroughly understand the doctrines and beliefs that a Muslim must hold. Without this understanding, there is a significant risk of unknowingly falling into Kufr and Shirk.

Here are some of these beliefs:

1. Allah Ta'ala created the entire universe; it did not exist before His creation.

2. Allah Ta’ala is unique and does not depend on anything. He did not beget nor was He begotten. He has no wife and no equal.

Allah is alive and has power over all things. Nothing escapes His knowledge. He sees everything, listens, and speaks. However, He does not speak as we do, for we need a tongue to speak.

Allah does whatever He wills, and no one can prevent Him. He is the One worthy of worship, and He has no partner. He has mercy on His servants. He is the Master and is without fault. It is He who protects His servants from all kinds of difficulties. He is noble and possesses greatness. He is the Creator of all that exists. He was not created. Subhanallaah!

He forgives all sins. He is powerful and generous. It is He who gives us our rizq (sustenance). When He wills, He decreases the rizq of some and increases that of others. He can dishonour or honour anyone. He is just and has great patience. He holds great esteem for Ibaadah (worship) and devotion. He accepts Duas. He is the Leader, the One who directs everything. No one directs Him.

He does nothing without wisdom. He organises everything and straightens everything. Having created everything, He will revive everything on the Day of Qiyamah. He gives life and death.

He is known by His attributes, but no one knows His nature. Everything that happens in this world occurs by His orders. Not a single atom can move without His command.

He does not sleep nor doze off. He is not tired of maintaining the universe. He has no fault.

3. Allah has always existed, and He is eternal.

4. Nothing is comparable to Allah. He is unique in His nature.

5. His attributes are eternal and will never disappear.

6. His attributes and qualities are incomparable. He does not possess any of the qualities of His creatures, which are mortal by nature. Allah is beyond all perishable and temporary things.

7. In the Qur'an Sharif and the Hadith Sharif, where Allah Ta’ala is described with attributes and qualities also possessed by creatures, their meanings must be left to Allah Ta’ala Himself. We must believe in them without delving into the details. At most, we can interpret them in a way that is fitting and appropriate to the greatness of Allah Ta’ala.

8. Allah Ta’ala knows everything that happens in the universe, and nothing occurs without His will. This is Taqdir (destiny). Both good and evil are makhluq (created), originating from the Creator, and they have their purpose according to the wisdom of Allah Ta’ala.

9. Allah Ta’ala has given the mind and intelligence to Insaan (man) so that he can distinguish between good deeds and bad deeds. Man himself has no power to create. Allah Ta’ala is pleased with good deeds and displeased with bad deeds.
10. Allah Ta’ala has not imposed anything on His servants that is beyond what they can bear.
11. Allah Ta’ala is not accountable to anyone. What He does is His Fazl (favour).
12. Allah Ta’ala has sent many Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam) to guide people to the straight path. The Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam) are ma’sum (infallible). Only Allah Ta’ala knows the exact number of the Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam). As for the figure of 124,000 mentioned in some Ahaadith, it does not hold such a solid status to be considered in relation to Aqaa’id.

To establish the truthfulness of the Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam), Allah Ta’ala made them perform miracles, known as Mu’jizah. Among the Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam), Hadhrat Aadam (Alaihis Salaam) was the first to be sent, and the last was Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam). Among them are many notable Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam), such as Hadhrat Nuh (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Ibrahim (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Isma'il (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Ishaaq (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Ya'qub (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Yusuf (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Dawud (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Suleiman (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Ayyub (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Musa (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Harun (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Zakariyya (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Yahya (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Isa (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Ilyas (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Alyaca (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Yunus (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Lut (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Idris (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Zulkif (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Swaalih (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Hud (Alaihis Salaam), and Hadhrat Shu’aib (Alaihis Salaam).

13. To be a mu'min, one must believe in all the Prophets of Allah Ta'ala, both those whom we know and those whom we do not know.

14. Not all the Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam) have the same rank. Some have higher ranks than others. Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) holds the highest rank of all the Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam). After him, no one will receive prophethood. He is the Prophet for all mankind until Qiyamah.

15. Allah Ta'ala made Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) travel with his body and soul at night from Makkah to Bayt-ul-Muqaddas, and from there, across the seven heavens and beyond, before returning to Makkah. This journey is known as the Mi'raaj (ascension) and Isra.

16. There are creatures of Allah, created from Nur (light), who are invisible to our sight. These are the Mala'ikah (Angels). Allah Ta'ala has entrusted them with various tasks. They never disobey the Creator and carry out whatever work is assigned to them. Four well-known Mala'ikah are: Hadhrat Jibril (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Mika'il (Alaihis Salaam), Hadhrat Izra'il (Alaihis Salaam), and Hadhrat Israfil (Alaihis Salaam). Allah Ta'ala has also created other creatures from fire, known as the jinn. Jinn are usually invisible to human eyes and can be either good or bad, with the worst and most notorious being Iblis (Shaytaan).

17. A Muslim who performs the Ibaadah of Allah Ta'ala, avoids sin, refrains from attachment to material comforts, and follows Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) in all aspects of life becomes a friend and favourite of Allah Ta'ala. Such a person is called a Wali. At times, a Wali may perform supernatural acts known as karaamat.

18. A Wali can never become equal to a Prophet (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam), even if he reaches a very high rank.

19. A Muslim can be very close to Allah Ta'ala, but as long as he is sane, he must abide by the Shari'ah. He is not exempt from any law. Salah, Roza (fasting), and other Ibaadahs remain Farz (obligatory) upon him. Similarly, he must abstain from all sins.

20. One whose behaviour does not align with Islamic principles cannot be a Wali, even if he outwardly performs miraculous acts. His supernatural powers may come from Shaytaan and have nothing to do with Mu'jizah or Karaamat. Such acts are rather the result of magic (jaadu). One should not believe in such individuals.

21, Sometimes, a Wali receives messages in his dreams or even while awake. Such messages are known as Ilhaam (inspiration) and Kashf. If the message aligns with the Shari'ah, it is acceptable; otherwise, it should be rejected.

22. The principles of Deen are established in the Qur'an-e-Karim and the Ahaadith. The introduction of things that contradict these established principles is Bid'ah (innovation), a very serious sin.

23. Allah Ta'ala revealed several books to various Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam). The four most well-known books are:

• Taurah revealed to Hadhrat Musa (Alaihis Salaam)
• Zabur revealed to Hadhrat Dawud (Alaihis Salaam)
• Injil revealed to Hadhrat Isa (Alaihis Salaam)
• Quran Karim, the final divine message, revealed to Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam).

After the Quran Karim, no other book will be revealed. The message of the Quran Karim will remain until Qiyamah.

All revealed books, except for the Quran Karim, have been manipulated and falsified by their respective recipients. However, Allah Ta'ala has promised the preservation of the Quran Karim. No one can add to or take away anything from it.

24. Those who saw Nabi-e-Kareem (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) during their lifetime and had faith are the Sahabah (Radiyallahu anhum). They hold a very high rank. The greatest Wali cannot reach the rank of the last Sahabi (Radiyallahu anhu). A Muslim must hold respect and muhabbat (love) for the Sahabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu anhum) in his heart.

As for the differences among the Sahabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu anhum), it should be understood that their motivations were rooted in the quest for Haqq (truth). Therefore, one should not misinterpret their discussions or think ill of any of them. They deserve all the respect that befits their ranks.

There are four Sahabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu anhum) who hold the highest ranks of all:

• Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiyallahu anhu), the first to embrace Islam and the first caliph,
• Hadhrat Umar (Radiyallahu anhu), the second caliph,
• Hadhrat Usman (Radiyallahu anhu), the son-in-law of Nabi-e-Karim (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) and the third caliph, and
• Hadhrat 'Ali (Radiyallahu anhu), the cousin and son-in-law of Nabi-e-Karim, the fourth caliph.

25. The children and wives of Nabi-e-Karim (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) must be respected. Among the children, Hadhrat Fatimah (Radiyallahu anha) holds the highest rank, and among the wives, Hadhrat Khadijah (Radiyallahu anha) and Hadhrat 'Aisha (Radiyallahu anha).

26. He is not a Muslim who does not accept what Allah Ta'ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) have conveyed, or who entertains doubts about their words. Denying Allah Ta'ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) on any matter or mocking their words is tantamount to Kufr. Imaan is lost through such attitudes.

27. Refusing to accept the clear interpretations of the Qur'an-e-Karim and the Hadith Sharif and interpreting them as one pleases is considered bad-deen (irreligious).

28. Considering a sin as halaal is also Kufr, which annuls the Imaan.

29. The most serious sin, apart from Kufr and Shirk, does not annul Imaan as long as it is recognised as such. However, in any case, it weakens and diminishes the brilliance of Imaan. It is very likely that, in the long run, Imaan will disappear.

30. Not fearing Allah Ta'ala or becoming despondent about the Creator is also Kufr.

31. Allah has granted mankind the five senses with which to apprehend material things. However, there are certain matters that cannot be known except through the will of the Creator. For example, the details of Aalam-e-Barzakh (the period between death and the Day of Qiyamah), the punishment of the Qabr (grave), Jannah, Jahannam, the future, and destiny.

All these matters constitute the knowledge of the unseen ('Ilm-ul-Ghaib). This is an attribute of Allah Ta'ala, the One who has absolute knowledge of the unseen without any intermediary. This knowledge belongs exclusively to the Supreme Being. He is, therefore, the only one who is 'Aalim-ul-Ghaib. However, Allah Ta'ala can also inform the Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam) of the unseen through Wahi (revelation) and the Auliya-e-Kiraam through Ilhaam and Kashf.

32. Asking someone to predict fate or the future and firmly believing in that person is also Kufr.

33. Declaring someone a kaafir or sending curses upon them are very serious sins. If the person is a Muslim, we do not have the right to curse them. And, if they are a kaafir, who can say in what state they will die?

In any case, we do not have the right to specify the person we are cursing. However, it is permissible to curse bad behaviour in general. For example, "Cursed are the tyrants, the liars...," "Curse upon those who neglect Salah...," etc.

However, those who have been specifically named and cursed by Allah Ta'ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam), or those who have been called kaafir, we can also call them kaafir or curse them without committing a sin.

34. Allah Ta'ala is the Supreme Authority. He is not accountable to anyone and has the power to punish minor sins while forgiving major sins.

35. A Muslim can do Taubah at any time during his life and will be forgiven. However, when the last hour (sakraat) comes, and his eyes are unveiled and he sees the Farishtas (angels), the doors of forgiveness will be closed. At that time, neither Taubah nor Imaan will be accepted.

36. He who dies in the state of Shirk or Kufr will not be forgiven.
All sins, including Shirk and Kufr, are forgivable if one repents (Taubah) while alive, before the sakraat.

[English version of "Les Aqaa'id de l'Islâm" – Al Haadi – Vol. 2 No. 8]