[The Creed of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jamaa'ah]
Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah [Allâh's Mercy on him]
[Which he wrote for the people of Wâsit – a city in Iraq between Basra and Kufah]
Translation: Aboo Aamir Al-Atharee
Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah – may Allâh bestow mercy on him –wrote:
In the Name of Allâh the Most Beneficent Most Compassionate Praise to Allâh Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth to make it reign over all religions, and Allâh suffices as a Witness.
After that:
This is the Aqeedah (Creed) of the Victorious and Saved Sect (that will be) till the coming of the Hour; Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah (the People of Sunnah and Unity).
The Creed is belief in Allâh, His angels, His books, His Messengers, resurrection after death, and the belief in predestination – good and bad.
As for the belief in Allâh, it includes the belief in the description Allâh made for Himself in His Book without distorting it, so also the in what His Messenger described Him with without distortion (tahreef) and denial (ta'teel), neither framing (takyeef) nor likening (tashbeeh). Rather they believe in the fact that Allâh the Majestic:
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. [Shuurah: 11]
Thus, they will not deny Him of what He described Himself with nor distort the words from their right perspectives. They will not swerve when describing the Names and Ayât (Signs and Verses) of Allâh. They will not frame nor liken the Attributes of Allâh to those of His creation because He Allâh the Glorified has none like unto Him nor none equal to Him, nor a partner. He cannot be equated with His creation (in Attributes), Mighty is He, the Most High.
He the Most Sublime knows about Himself and about others. He is the most truthful and best in speech, than his creation.
His Messengers are truthful; they should be held so. They are unlike those who say about Allâh what they do not know. Allâh the Mighty said:
Glorified be your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He is Free) from what they attribute unto Him! And peace be on the Messengers! And all the praise and thanks be to Allâh, Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and All that exists). [As-Safaat: 180-182].
Thus Allâh purified Himself from what the opponents of the Messengers describe Him with, and He sent peace upon the Messengers for safety ffrom what they said (about Him) from reduction and fault. Allâh the Glorified indeed combined in what He describes and names Himself with between negation and affirmation.
Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah will not shun what the Messengers have come with. That is the Straight Path; the Path of those whom Allâh bestowed His favour, among the Prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs and the pious.
It has come within the earlier statement (that Allâh indeed combined in what He describes and names Himself with between negation and affirmation) what He describes Himself with in Sûrah Ikhlâs; the Sûrah which is equal to one-third of the Qur'ân wherein Allâh the Mighty said:
Say (O Muhammad): "He is Allâh, (the) One. Allâh-us-Samad (the Self-Sufficient Master, whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." [Al-Ikhlâs: 1-4].
So also, it comes within what Allâh describes Himself with in the greatest Verse of His Book [Ayat-ul-Kursî]; that is where He says:
Allâh! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects All that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is He that can intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî (footstool) extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. and He is the Most High, the Most Great. [Al-Baqarah: 255].
This is the reason anybody that recites the Verse in the night will have a guard over him from Allâh; the devil will not be able to come near him until morn.
[As for His Attribute of Knowledge (al-Ilm),]
This Word of Allâh the Mighty illustrates that:
He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of everything. [Al-Hadîd: 3]
And this:
And put your trust (O Muhammad) in the Ever Living One Who dies not. [Fur'qân: 58].
And this:
And He is the All-Knower, the All-Wise. [At-Tahrîm: 2].
The All-Knower, the All-Aware. [At-Tahrîm: 3]
He knows that which goes into the earth and that which comes forth from it, and that which descend from the heaven and that which ascends to it. [Saba: 2].
And with Him are the keys of the ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a clear Record. [Al-An'âm: 59].
And no female conceives or gives birth, but with his knowledge. [Al-Fâtir: 11].
…that you may know that Allâh has power over all things, and that Allâh surrounds (comprehends) all things in (His) Knowledge. [At-Talaaq: 12].
[As for His Attributes of Providing (Ar-Rizq) and Possession of Power (al-Quwwah)]
His Word the Mighty illustrates them:
Verily, Allâh is the All-Provider, Owner of power, the Most strong. [Adh-Dhariyaat: 58].
[As for His Attributes of Hearing (As-Sam'u) and Seeing (Al-Basar),]
His Word the Mighty illustrates them:
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. [Ash-Shuurah:11]
And this:
Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allâh) gives you! Truly, Allâh is ever AllHearer, AllSeer. [An-Nisâ: 58].
[As for His Attributes of Wish (Al-Irâdah) and Will (Al-Mashee'ah)]
These Words of Allâh the Mighty illustrate them:
It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden:
'That which Allâh wills (will come to pass)! There is no power but with Allâh'. [Al-Kahf: 39].
If Allâh had willed, they would not have fought against one another, but Allâh does what He likes. [al-Baqarah: 253].
Lawful to you (for food) are all the beasts of cattle except that which will be announced to you (herein), game (also) being unlawful when you assume Ihrâm for Hajj or 'Umrah (pilgrimage). Verily, Allâh commands that which He wills. [Al-Maaidah:1].
And whomsoever Allâh wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islâm, and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if He is climbing up to the sky. [Al-An'âm: 125].
[As for His Attribute of Loving (Al-Mahabbah),]
His Word the Mighty:
And do good. Truly, Allâh loves Al-Muhsinûn (the good-doers). [al-Baqarah: 195].
And be equitable. Verily! Allâh loves those who are equitable. [al-Hujurât: 9].
So long, as they are true to you, stand you true to them. Verily, Allâh loves the pious. [At-Taubah: 7].
Truly, Allâh loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves (by taking a bath and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for their prayers, etc.). [Al-Baqarah: 222].
Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you of your sins. [Aal-'Imrân: 31].
Allâh will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him [Al-Mâidah: 54].
Verily, Allâh loves those who fight in His cause in rows (ranks) as if they were a solid structure. [As-Saff: 4].
[As for His Attributes of Love and Mercy,]
These Words of Allâh illustrate them,
And He is Oft-Forgiving, Full of Love (towards the pious who are real true believers of Islâmic Monotheism), [Al-Buruuj: 14].
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful; [An-Naml: 30]
Our Lord! You comprehend all things in Mercy and Knowledge [Al-Ghâfir: 7].
And He is ever Most Merciful to the believers. [Al-Ahzâb: 43].
And My Mercy embraces all things. [Al-'Arâf: 156].
Your Lord has written Mercy for Himself [Al-An'âm: 54].
And He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [Yûnus: 107].
But Allâh is the Best to guard, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy. [Yûsuf: 64].
[As for the Attributes of Pleasure (Ar-Ridaa) and Anger (Al-Ghadab),]
These Words of Allâh illustrate both:
Allâh well-pleased with them, and they with Him. [Al-Bayyinah: 8].
And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allâh are upon him [An-Nisâ: 193].
That is because they followed that which angered Allâh, and hated that which pleased Him. [Muhammad: 28].
So when they angered us, We punished them [Az-Zukhruf: 55].
But Allâh was averse to their being sent forth, so He made them lag behind [At-Taubah: 46].
Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do. [As-Saff: 3].
[As for His Attributes of Arrival and Coming (on the Day of Resurrection)],
Allâh's Words the Mighty illustrate those:
Do they then wait for anything other than that Allâh should come to them in the shadows of the clouds and the angels? (Then) the case would be already judged. [Al-Baqarah: 210].
Do they then wait for anything other than that the angels should come to them, or that your Lord should come, or that some of the signs of Your Lord should come (i.e. portents of the Hour e.g., rising of the sun from the west)! [Al-An'âm: 158].
Nay! When the earth is ground to powder. And your Lord comes with the angels in rows [Al-Fajr: 21-22].
And (remember) the Day when the heaven shall be rent asunder with clouds, and the angels will be sent down, with a grand descending. [Al-Fur'qân: 25].
[As for His Attributes of Having a Face, Two Hands and Two Eyes],
These words of Allâh the Mighty illustrate that,
And the Face of your Lord Full of Majesty and Honour will abide forever. [Ar-Rahmân: 27].
Everything will perish save His Face. [Al-Qasas: 88].
What prevents you from prostrating yourself to one whom I have created with both My Hands. [Saad: 75].
The Jews say: "Allâh's Hand is tied up (i.e. He does not give and spend of His Bounty)." Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for what they uttered. Nay, both His Hands are widely outstretched. [Al-Mâidah: 64].
So wait patiently (O Muhammad for the decision of your Lord, for verily, you are under Our Eyes [At-Tuur: 48].
And we carried him on a (ship) made of planks and nails, floating under Our Eyes, a reward for him who had been rejected! [Al-Qamar: 13-14].
And I endued you with Love from Me, in order that you may be brought up under My Eye, [Ta-Ha: 39].
[Also on Attributes of Hearing and Seeing],
These words of Allâh illustrate that,
Indeed Allâh has heard the statement of she (Khaulah bint Tha'labah) that disputes with you (O Muhammad) concerning her husband (Aus bin AsSâmit), and complains to Allâh. And Allâh hears the argument between you both. Verily, Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Seer. [Mujâdilah: 1]
Indeed, Allâh has heard the statement of those (Jews) who say: "Truly, Allâh is poor and we are rich!" [Aal-'Imrân: 181] .
Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private counsel? (Yes We do) and Our Messengers (appointed angels in charge of mankind) are by them, to record. [Az-Zukhruf: 80].
Verily! I am with you both, hearing and seeing. [Ta-Ha: 46].
Knows he not that Allâh does see (what he does)? [Al-'Alaq: 14].
Who sees you (O Muhammad) when you stand up (alone at night for Tahajjud Prayers). And your movements among those who fall prostrate (along with you to Allâh In the five compulsory congregational prayers). Verily! He, Only He, is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. [Shua'arâ: 218-220].
And say (O Muhammad) "Do deeds! Allâh will see your deeds, and (so will) his Messenger and the believers. [Taubah: 105].
[As for His Attributes of Plotting, Scheming and Being Severe in Punishment],
These words of Allâh illustrate that,
And He is mighty In strength and Severe In punishment. [Ar-Ra'd: 13].
And they (disbelievers) plotted [to kill 'Îsa (Jesus)], and Allâh planned too. And Allâh is the Best of the planners. [Aal-'Imrân: 54].
So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. [An-Naml: 50].
Verily, they are but plotting a plot (against You O Muhammad). And I (too) am planning a plan. [At-Taariq: 15-16].
[As for His Attributes of Pardon, Forgiveness of Sins, Mercy and Honour],
These Words of Allâh illustrate that,
Whether you (mankind) disclose (by good words of thanks) a good deed (done to you in the form of a favour by someone), or conceal it, or pardon an evil, ... Verily, Allâh is ever OftPardoning, AllPowerful. [An-Nisâ: 149].
Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allâh should forgive you? And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [An-Nûr: 22].
[As for His Attributes of Honour and Ability],
These Words of Allâh illustrate that,
But honour, power and glory belong to Allâh, His Messenger (Muhammad), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not. [Al-Munaafiquun: 8].
And what Allâh said about Iblîs said:
"By Your Might, then I will surely mislead them all," [Sâd: 82].
[As for His Attributes of Mightiness and Greatness],
Allâh the Mighty said:
Blessed be the Name of your Lord (Allâh), the Owner of Majesty and Honour. [Ar-Rahmân: 78].
[Other Attributes of Allâh],
His Statement the Mighty:
So worship Him (Alone) and be constant and patient in His worship. Do you know of any who is similar to Him? [Maryam: 65].
And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." [Al-Ikhlâs: 4].
Then do not set up rivals unto Allâh (in worship) while you know (that He alone has the right to be worshipped). [Al-Baqarah: 22].
And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allâh as rivals (to Allâh). They love them as they love Allâh. [Al-Baqarah: 165].
And say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, Who has not begotten a son (nor an offspring), and Who has no partner in (His) Dominion, nor He is low to have a Walî (helper, protector or supporter). And magnify Him with all the magnificence." [Al-Isrâ: 111].
Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allâh. His is the Dominion, and to Him belong all the praises and thanks, and He is Able to do all things. [At-Taghaabun: 1].
Blessed be He Who sent down the criterion (of right and wrong, i.e. this Qur'ân) to his slave (Muhammad) that he may be a warner to the 'Alamîn. He to whom belongs the Dominion of the heavens and the earth, and who has begotten no son (children or offspring) and for whom there is no partner in the Dominion. He has created everything, and has measured it exactly according to its due measurements. [Al-Fur'qân: 1-2].
No son (or offspring or children) did Allâh beget, nor is there any Ilâh (god) along with Him; (if there had been many gods), behold, each god would have taken away what He had created, and some would have tried to overcome others! Glorified be Allâh above all that they attribute to Him! All-Knower of the unseen and the seen! Exalted be He over all that they associate as partners to Him! [Al-Mu'minûn: 91-92].
So put not forward similitudes for Allâh (as there is nothing similar to Him, nor He resembles anything). Truly! Allâh knows and you know not. [An-Nahl:74].
Say (O Muhammad): "(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are AlFawâhish (great evil sins, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allâh for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allâh of which you have no knowledge." [Al-araaf: 33].
[As for His Attributes of Sitting over the Throne and Being in High Place],
These Words of Allâh illustrate that,
The Most Beneficent (Allâh) Istawâ (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). [Ta-Ha: 5].
That has also come in seven (different) places in the Qur'ân;
Indeed your Lord is Allâh, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then He rose over the Throne [Al-'Arâf: 54] .
Surely, your Lord is Allâh Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then rose over the Throne [Yûnus: 3].
Allâh is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then, He rose above the Throne. [Ar-Ra'd: 2].
The Most Beneficent (Allâh) rose over the (Mighty) Throne. [Ta-Ha: 5].
Then He rose over the Throne. [Al-Fur'qân: 59].
Allâh it is He Who has created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them in six days. Then He rose over the Throne. [As-Sajdah: 4].
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then rose over the Throne. [Al-Hadîd: 4].
And (remember) when Allâh said: O 'Îsa (Jesus)! I will take you and raise you to Myself. [Aal-'Imrân: 55].
But Allâh raised Him ['Îsa (Jesus)] up (with his body and soul) unto Himself [An-Nisâ: 158].
To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (the goodly words i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allâh unless and until they are followed by good deeds) [Al-Fâtir: 10].
"O Hâmân! Build me a tower that I may arrive at the ways. "The ways of the heavens, and I may look upon the Ilâh (God) of Mûsa (Moses) but verily, I think him to be a liar." [Al-Ghâfir: 36-37].
Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allâh), will not cause the earth to sink with you, then behold it shakes (as in an earthquake)? Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allâh), will not send against you a violent whirlwind? Then you shall know how (terrible) has been My warning? [Al-Mulk: 16-17].
[As for His Attribute of Being Close],
Allâh the Mighty said:
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then rose over the Throne. He knows what goes into the earth and what comes forth from it, what descends from the heaven and what ascends thereto. And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be. And Allâh is the All-Seer of what you do. [Al-Hadîd: 4].
There is no Najwa (secret counsel) of three, but He is their fourth (with his knowledge, while He himself is over the Throne, over the seventh heaven), nor of five but He is their sixth (with His Knowledge), not of less than that or more, but He is with them (with His Knowledge) wheresoever they may be; and afterwards on the Day of Resurrection, He will Inform them of what they did. Verily, Allâh is the All-Knower of everything. [Al-Mujâdilah: 7].
"Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allâh is with us." [At-Taubah: 40].
Verily! I am with you both, hearing and seeing. [Ta-Ha: 46].
Truly, Allâh is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and those who are Muhsinûn (good-doers). [An-Nahl: 128].
And be patient. Surely, Allâh is with those who are patient. [Al-Anfaal: 46].
"How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allâh's Leave?" and Allâh is with the patient ones. [Al-Baqarah: 249].
[As for His Attribute of Talking],
Allâh the Mighty said,
And who is truer in statement than Allâh? [An-Nisâ: 87].
And whose words can be truer than those of Allâh?. [An-Nisâ: 122].
And (remember) when Allâh will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O 'Îsa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! [Al-Mâidah: 116].
And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in Truth and in justice. [Al-An'âm: 115].
And to Mûsa (Moses) Allâh spoke directly. [An-Nisâ: 164].
To some of them Allâh spoke (directly); [Al-Baqarah: 256].
And when Mûsa (Moses) came at the time and place appointed by Us, and his Lord spoke to him, [Al-'Arâf: 143].
And we called him from the right side of the mount, and made him draw near to Us for a talk with him [Mûsa (Moses)]. [Maryam: 52].
And (remember) when your Lord called Mûsa (saying): Go to the people who are Zhâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doing)… [Ash-Shua'arâ: 10].
And their Lord called out to them (saying): Did I not forbid you that tree…? [Al-'Arâf: 22].
And (remember) the Day (Allâh) will call to them, and say: "What answer gave you to the Messengers?" [Al-Qasas: 65].
[Al-Qur'ân is the Word of Allâh the Most High (it is not created)]
And if anyone of the polytheists (idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh) seeks your protection then grant Him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allâh (the Qur'ân)… [At-Taubah: 6].
In spite of the fact that a party of them (Jewish rabbis) used to hear the word of Allâh [the Taurât (Torah)], then they used to change it knowingly after they understood it. [Al-Baqarah: 75].
They want to change Allâh's Words. [Al-Fat'h: 15].
And recite what has been revealed to you (O Muhammad) of the Book (the Qur'ân) of your Lord (i.e. recite it, understand and follow its teachings and act on its orders and preach it to men). None can change His Words [al-Khahf: 27].
Verily, this Qur'ân narrates to the Children of Israel Most of that about which they differ. [An-Naml: 76].
And this is a Blessed Book (the Qur'ân) which We have sent down [Al-An'aam: 155].
Had We sent down this Qur'ân on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allâh. [Al-Hashr: 21].
And when We change a Verse [of the Qur'ân, i.e. cancel (abrogate) its order] in place of another, and Allâh knows the best of what He sends down, they (the disbelievers) say: "You (O Muhammad) are but a forger." Nay, but most of them know not. Say (O Muhammad) Ruh-ul-Qudus [Jibrael (Gabriel)] has brought it (the Qur'an) down from your Lord with truth, that it may make firm and strengthen (the faith of) those who believe and as a guidance and glad tidings to those who have submitted (to Allâh as Muslims). And indeed We know that they (polytheists and pagans) say: "It is only a human being who teaches him (Muhammad)." The tongue of the man they refer to is foreign, while this (the Qur'ân) is a clear Arabic tongue. [An-Nahl: 101-103].
[The Fact that the Believers will See Their Lord the Mighty on the Day of Resurrection],
Some faces that Day shall be shining (and radiant). Looking at their Lord (Allâh); [Al-Qiyâmah: 22-23].
On thrones, looking (at all things). [Al-Mutaffifîn: 23].
For those who have done good is the best (reward, i.e. Paradise) and even more (i.e. having the honour of glancing at the Countenance of Allâh) [Yûnus: 26].
There they will have all that they desire, and We have more (for them, i.e. a glance at the All-Mighty, All-Majestic). [Qâf: 35].
The likes of the foregoing (from the beginning of the book) are many in the Book of Allâh; however whoever ponders over the Qur'ân in quest for guidance from it will have the way of the truth made clear to him.
[Belief in What the Messenger Described Allâh the Majestic with]
[Firstly, this should be known about] the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam: The Sunnah interprets, explains, indicates and expresses the Qur'ân.
[Thus] whatever description the Messenger - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - made of Allâh the Mighty and Sublime, in authentic ahâdith that have been accepted by the people of knowledge, must be believed.
[Such as the Attribute of Allâh's Descent the Mighty and Sublime (to the Earth Heaven)]
For instance, as contained in the statement of the Messenger of Allâh - salaLlaahu laihy wa sallam:
Indeed, our Lord used to descend to the earth heaven every night when the night is in its last one-third. He will say: Who will invoke Me then I will grant his invocation; who will ask Me (for anything) then I will make for him what he asks; who will ask Me forgiveness then I will forgive him. [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].
[Attribute of Joy]
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - said:
Allâh indeed shows greater joy regarding a slave than any of you will show joy regarding his ride…. [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].
[Attribute of Laughter]
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - said:
Allâh laughs about two men; one that killed the other yet both of them entered the Jannah. [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].
[Attribute of Wonderment]
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - said:
Our Lord is indeed shows surprise at (the sense of) hopelessness from His slaves while His tidings are near; He watches you as you show great despair and hopelessness. He then begins to laugh while He knows that the way-out is nigh. [Hasan hadith].
[Attribute of Heel and Leg for Allâh]
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - said:
The Hell will continue to be filled (with its inmates) while it says: 'Are there more?' Until the Lord of Majesty will dip His Leg into it – [a narration says:] His Heel with which He will mix it together then the Hell will say: 'Enough! Enough!' [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].
[Attribute of Talking]
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - said:
Allâh the Majestic said: 'O Aadam!' Aadam would reply: 'I am at your service (O Lord).' Then Allâh would call out: 'Indeed Allâh commands you to take a collection (of people) from your offspring to the Hell.' [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].
Another is the statement of the Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - said:
There is none among you except that his Lord will talk to him without any interpreter between both.
[Attribute of Allâh Being in High Place and Sitting on the Throne]
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - said regarding the incantation for the sick:
Our Lord Allâh Who is in the Heaven, glorified is Your Name. It is Your command that holds sway in the heaven and earth. Place Your Mercy on earth as Your Mercy is the heaven; forgive us of our major and minor sins, You are the Lord of the pure (believers). Cause to descend upon us a mercy of Yours and a healing of Yours upon this ailment. [The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - said afterwards: '(If he makes the supplication), the sick will be healed)']. The hadith is sound; Abû Dâwud and others recorded it.
[Translator's note: The hadith is declared as being extremely weak by Ash-Shaykh Al-Albânee in Daeef Sunan Abee Dâwud (839)] and Daeef Al-Jâmi (5422).
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - also said:
Will you not trust me while I am the trustworthy one of the One in the heaven. [The hadith is authentic].
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - also said:
The Throne is upon the Water and Allâh is upon the Throne, and He knows what you do. [Sound hadith recorded by Abû Dâwud and others.]
[Translator's note: The hadith is declared weak by Ash-Shaykh Al-Albânee in As-Silisilah Ad-Daeefah (1247)].
And what the Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - asked the maid-servant:
'Where is Allâh?' She replied: 'In the Heaven.' He said: 'Who am I?' She replied: 'You are the Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam.' He then said: 'Free her because she is a believer.' [Muslim recorded it].
[Attribute of Closeness of Allâh]
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - said:
The best of Eemaan is that you should know that Allâh is with you (with His Knowledge) wherever you may be. [A sound hadith].
[Translator's note: The hadith is declared weak by Ash-Shaykh Al-Albânee in As-Silisilah Ad-Daeefah (2589)].
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - also said:
When any of you stands up in prayer, he should not spit towards his face nor to his right because Allâh is indeed by his face. He should spit to his left or underneath his foot. [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - also said:
O Allâh, Lord of the seven heavens and the earth; Lord of the Mighty Throne. Or Lord and Lord of all things; the Grower of seeds (of plant and trees), the Revealer of At-Taurah, Injeel and Qur'ân; I seek refuge with You from the evil of myself and from the evil of every beast which You have subdued. You are the First there was nothing before You; You are the Last, there will be nothing after You; You are the Highest, there is nothing over You; You are the One Alone in dominion, nothing can dominate You. Help me pay my debt; enrich me out of poverty. [Muslim recorded it].
The Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - also said to the Companions when they raised their voices while saying the words of remembrance:
O people, be gentle over one another. Indeed you are not calling a deaf nor an absent person, you are calling an All-Hearer, All-Seer and the One close. Surely, the One you call is closer to any of you than the neck of his beast of ride. [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].
[The Believers Will See Their Lord in Jannah]
The Messenger of Allâh said:
Surely, you will see your Lord as you see the moon on its clearest night; you will not be blurred from seeing Him. If you can strive not to be prevented from observing the prayer before the sunrise and sunset, do so. [Bukhâri and Muslim recorded it].
Among other Ahâdîth wherein the Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - informed about His Lord what he reported about Him.
[Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah are the Most Balanced among the Islamic Sects as Regard the Issues of Actions of Allâh, Promise of Threat (for the unbelievers on the Day of Resurrection), Names of Eemaan and Companions of the Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam]
Thus Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah believe in (all the attributes that have come in the Sunnah) as they believe in what Allâh informed about Himself in His Book; they believe in them without distorting, denying, framing and likening (their meanings). They are the people most balanced among the sects of the Ummah just as the Ummah (of Islam) is the most balanced among all the nations.
They are the most balanced with regard to the Attributes of Allâh the Majestic, among the people of denial – the Jahmiyyah (who deny all the Attributes of Allâh), and the people of likening – the Mushabbihah (who liken Allâh's Attributes to those of His creation).
They are also the most balanced as regard the Actions of Allâh, among the Jabariyyah (the fatalists) and the Qadariyyah (deniers of Allâh's predestination), and others.
They are the most balanced with regard to the promise of threat from Allâh (to the sinful ones), among the Murji'ah (who say faith is a matter of the heart alone) and the Wa'eediyyah (who give a literal meaning to all the threat of punishment against the sinners in the Qur'ân) among the Qadariyyah, and others.
They are the most balanced as regard the names of Eemaan, among the Huruuriyah (a sect among the kharijites who declare any act of sin as a sin that takes one out of the pale of Islam) and the Mu'tazilah (the dissenters who base every matter of faith upon human reasoning), the Mur'jiah and the Jahmiyyah.
They are the most balanced as regard the Companions of the Messenger of Allâh, among the Rawaafid (the Shia) and the Khawaarij (the kharijites).
[Belief in the Last Day is part of Belief in Allâh]
Among what comes between belief in Allâh the Majestic as we have said is belief in what Allâh describes Himself with in His Book and what has variously come from His Messenger (as a report) and which the Salaf of the Ummah have agreed upon:
That Allâh the Majestic is above His heavens upon His Throne; separated from His creation even though He the Majestic is still with them wherever they may be – He knows all that they do. Allâh combines between those two (that He is far away above the heavens yet He knows all what the people do) in His Words:
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then rose over the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). He knows what goes into the earth and what comes forth from it, what descends from the heaven and what ascends thereto. And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be. And Allâh is the All-Seer of what you do. [Al-Hadîd: 4].
The meaning of "He is with you" is not that He mixes with His creation because that is not indicated in the language construction rather it (the notion that Allâh mixes with His creation) goes contrary to what the Salaf of the Ummah had come to agree upon, and (it contradicts) the natural state upon which Allâh has created His creation.
The moon is a sign among the signs of Allâh – in fact one of the minutest signs of Allâh; it is there in the heaven yet it goes with a traveller – and other than him – wherever he (the traveller) might be.
Allâh the Majestic is above His Throne yet He watches, guards and looks over His creation – among other things that come within the meaning of Lordship (rububiyyah) of Allâh.
All these things said by Allâh – that He is above His Throne, that He is with us – are truth in reality, they need no distortion but should be guarded from faulty thoughts like if the apparent meaning of Allâh being in the heaven is thought to mean that the heaven casts shade upon Allâh, or that it contains Him the Majestic. Such a thought is falsehood as the People of Knowledge and Faith have come to agree. Indeed, it is Allâh Whose Kursiyy (Footstool) contains all the heavens and the earth; He holds the heavens and the earth from falling; He holds the heaven from falling upon the earth except by His Leave. From among His Signs is the fact that the heaven and the earth remain under His control.
[That Allâh is Close and With (His creation) Does Not Negate His Being in High Place]
Among that (i.e. the matter of the Creed) is that Allâh is close to His creation granting (their invocations) as He combines between the two in His Words:
And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). [Al-Baqarah: 186].
So also is the statement of the Messenger of Allâh - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam:
'Indeed the One you call is closer to you than the neck of your beast of ride.'
So also is what is mentioned in the Book of Allâh and the Sunnah of His Messenger - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - with regards to His closeness and His being with (His creation); this does not negate what has been mentioned with regards to His being in a High Place and Above (His creation). Allâh the Majestic has nothing comparable to Him in all His Attributes; He is the Most High in His closeness and the Closest in His being in the High Place.
[Qur'ân is the Word of Allâh Uncreated]
Among what belief in Allâh and His Books entails is the belief in the fact that the Qur'ân is the Word of Allâh that was revealed yet uncreated. It came from Him and to Him it will return; and that Allâh spoke it in reality.
And that this Qur'ân that Allâh revealed upon Muhammad - salaLlahu alayhi wa sallam - is the Word of Allâh in reality; not the word of other than Allâh. It is not proper to say it is just a telling (hikaayah) from the Word of Allâh, or that it is just an expression. Rather when people even recite it or write it in the leaves, that does not remove it from being the Word of Allâh in reality. [What is known is] that a statement is usually attributed to the person that made it in the beginning, not to the person that transmitted it later. The Qur'ân is therefore the Word of Allâh – letters and meanings. The letters do not constitute Allâh's Words without their meanings, nor the meanings without their letters.
[The Believers' Seeing Their Lord the Majestic on the Day of Resurrection]
It also comes within what we have mentioned as regard the belief in Allâh, His Books, His angels and His Messengers, the belief that the believers will see Him on the Day of Resurrection with the eyes on their heads as they see the sun clearly when there is no cloud obstructing their sight, and as they see the moon in its clearest night with nothing obstructing their view. They will see their Lord the Majestic while they are on the grounds of the resurrection, and they will see Him after they might have entered the Jannah as Allâh will permit.
[Belief in the Trial, Punishment and Enjoyment of the Grave]
From the belief in the Last Day is the belief in all what the Prophet had said would come to pass after death. Thus they (Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah) believe in the trial of the grave so also its punishment and enjoyment.
As for the trial, people will be definitely tried in their graves. It will be said to man: Who is your Lord? What is your religion? And who is your Prophet? Then:
Allâh will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allâh alone and none else), and in the Hereafter…
The believer would thus reply: My Lord is Allâh, Islâm is my religion and Muhammad is my Prophet. As for the doubting person, he would say: 'Ah! Ah! I don't know; I heard people say something and I said it.' Then he would be hit with a iron rod from which he would make a sound that would be heard by all things except humans; if humans were to hear it they would become transfixed.
Then after this trial, it is either to bliss or punishment.
[The Major Resurrection and Its Events]
The condition will be so until the Major Resurrection (Al-Qiyâmah Al-Kubrah) would take place, [the trial and stay in the grave is a Minor Resurrection], after which the souls would be returned to their respective bodies.
The Resurrection which Allâh the Majestic informs of in His book and which has come upon the tongue of His Messenger r and which the Muslims (i.e. their scholars) have agreed upon will take place.
People will rise from their graves to the Lord of the Worlds; they will rise barefoot, naked and non-circumcised. The sun will come closer to them and they will be covered in sweat then the scales will be put forward and the deeds of the slaves will be weighed.
Then, those whose scales (of good deeds) are heavy, - these, they are the successful. And those whose scales (of good deeds) are light, they are those who lose their ownselves, In Hell will they abide. [Mu'minûn: 102-103].
Then the scrolls will be spread; these are the scrolls that contain the deeds (of the slaves). Some will receive their book with their right hands, some with their left and some from their behind; as
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