(This blog article is in progress)

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• 1 Tawhid
• Five Pillars of Tawhid
• 2 The Final Prophet ﷺ
• 3 The Holy Quran
• 4 The Beatific Vision
• 5 Surrendering to Allah
• 6 Interpreting Allah's Attributes
• 7 Specialties of the Prophet ﷺ
• 8 Allah's Providence and Knowledge
• 9 Predestination
• 10 The Throne
• 11 The Angels, the Prophets, and the Books
• 12 People of the Qiblah
• 13 Salvation
• 14 Faith
• 15 Major Sins
• 16 Leadership
• 17 The Unseen
• 18 Actions and Ability
• 19 The Companions
• 20 The Righteous
• 21 Signs of the Last Day
• 22 Sectarianism and Extremism
• Footnotes

Introduction

• ﷽: قَالَ العَلَّامَةُ حُجَّةُ الإِسلَامِ أبو جَعفرٍ الوَرَّاقِ الطَّحَاوِيّ السَّلَفِيّ المِصْرِيِّ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ : هَذَا ذِكْرُ بَيَانِ عَقِيدَةِ أهلِ السُّنَّةِ وَالجَمَاعَةِ عَلىَ مَذْهَبِ فُقَهَاءِ المِلَّةِ: أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ الكُوفِيّ، وَأبِي يُوسُف يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهيِمَ الأَنْصَارِيّ، وَأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الحَسَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيّ، رِضْوَانُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أجْمَعِينَ وَمَا يَعْتَقِدُونَ مِنْ أُصُولِ الدِّينِ، وَيَدِينُونَ بِهِ لِرَبِّ العَالَمِينَ.

al-Imam Hujjat al-Islam Abu Jafar al-Warraq al-Tahawi (239–321 AH) of the pious predecessors from Egypt, said: This announces the declaration of the aqidah of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jamaah, as stated and demonstrated by the scholars of this sect: Abu Hanifah al-Numan b. Thabit al-Kufi, Abu Yusuf Yaqub b. Ibrahim aI-Ansari, and Abu Abdullah Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Shaybani, stating the essentials of Islamic faith and the fundamentals rules of submission to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

1 Tawhid

• (١) نَقُولُ فِي تَوحِيدِ اللهِ مُعْتَقِدِينَ بِتَوفِيقِ اللهِ: إِنَّ اللهَ وَاحِدٌ^[1]، (٢) لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ^[2]، (٣) وَلا شَىْءَ مِثلُهُ^[3]، (٤) وَلا شَىْءَ يُعْجِزُهُ^[4]، (٥) وَلا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ^[5].

1 We say about the oneness of Allah, believing in the guidance of Allah, that Allah is one 2 without any partner. 3 There is nothing like Him. 4 There is nothing that can weaken Him. 5 There is nothing worthy of worship but Him.

• (٦) قَدِيمٌ بِلا ابْتِدَاءٍ، دَائِمٌ بِلا انْتِهَاءٍ^[6]، (٧) لا يَفْنَى وَلا يَبِيدُ، (٨) وَلا يَكُونُ إِلاَّ مَا يُرِيدُ^[7].

6 He is the eternal without a beginning and enduring without end. 8 He will never perish, nor come to an end. 9 Nothing happens except what He wills.

• (٩) لا تَبْلُغُهُ الأَوْهَامُ، وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الأَفْهَامُ^[8]،  (١٠) وَلا يُشْبِهُ الأَنَامَ^[9]، حَيٌّ لاَ يَمُوتُ، (١١) قَيُّومٌ لا يَنَامُ^[10].

9 No imagination can fully conceive of Him and no understanding can fully comprehend Him. 10 He does not resemble any created being. 11 He is living and He never dies, always sustaining and never sleeping.

• (١٢) خَالِقٌ بِلا حَاجَةٍ^[11]، (١٣) رَازِقٌ بِلا مُؤْنَةٍ^[12]، (١٤) مُمِيتٌ بِلا مَخَافَةٍ^[13]، (١٥) بَاعِثٌ بِلاَ مَشَقَّةٍ^[14].

12 He creates without a need to create, 13 and He provides for His creation without any effort. 14 He causes death with no fear of consequences, 15 and He resurrects without any difficulty.

• (١٦) مَا زَالَ بِصِفَاتِهِ قَدِيماً قَبْلَ خَلْقِهِ، لَمْ يَزْدَدْ بِكَوْنِهِمْ شَيْئاً لَمْ يَكُنْ قَبْلَهُمْ مِنْ صِفَتِهِ. وَكَمَا كَانَ بِصِفَاتِهِ أَزَلِيًّا، كَذَلِكَ لا يَزَالُ عَلَيْهَا أَبَدِيًّا. (١٧) لَيْسَ بَعْدَ خَلْقِ الخَلْقِ اسْتَفَادَ اسْمَ الخَالِقِ، وَلا بِإحْدَاثِهِ البَرِيَّةِ اسْتَفَادَ اسْمَ البَارِئِ. (١٨) لَهُ مَعْنَى الرُّبُوبِيَّةِ وَلا مَرْبُوبَ، وَمَعْنَى الخَالِقِ وَلا مَخْلُوقَ. (١٩) وَكَمَا أَنَّهُ مُحْيِي المَوْتَى بَعْدَمَا أَحْيَا، اسْتَحَقَّ هَذَا الاسْمَ قَبْلَ إِحْيَائِهِمْ،كَذَلِكَ اسْتَحَقَّ اسْمَ الخَالِقِ قَبْلَ إِنْشَائِهِمْ.

16 He has existed with His timeless Attributes before His creation, which added nothing to His essence that was not already among His Attributes. As His Attributes were before creation, so will they continue forever. 17 It is not because He created the creation that He earned the name, The Creator, nor by His making it did he earn the name, The Maker. 18 He has the quality of Lordship without requiring anything to Lord over, and the quality of being the Creator without requiring anything to create. 19 Just as He resurrects the dead after they first had life, He deserved this name before He brought them to life. Likewise, He deserved the name of The Creator before He produced them.

• (٢٠) ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، (٢١) وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ إِلَيْهِ فَقِيرٌ، (٢٢) وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ عَلَيْهِ يَسِيرٌ، (٢٣) لاَ يَحْتَاجُ إِلىَ شَىْءٍ، (٢٤) لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَىْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ.

20 This is because He has power over all things 21 and all things are in need of Him. 22 Every matter is easy for Him. 23 He has no need of anything, 24 for there is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.

• (٢٥) خَلَقَ الخَلْقَ بِعِلْمِهِ،  (٢٦) وَقَدَّرَ لَهُمْ أَقْدَارًا،  (٢٧) وَضَرَبَ لَهُمْ ءَاجَالاً،  (٢٨) وَلَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَهُمْ، وَعَلِمَ مَا هُمْ عَامِلُونَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَهُمْ،  (٢٩) وَأَمَرَهُمْ بِطَاعَتِهِ وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِهِ.

25 He created the creation with His knowledge. 26 He decreed destinies for them. 27 He set for them life spans. 28 Nothing was hidden from Him before He created them. He knew what they would do before He created them. 29 He commanded them to obey Him and He forbade them to disobey Him.

• (٣٠) وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ يَجْرِي بِتَقْدِيرِهِ وَمَشِيئَتِهِ، (٣١) وَمَشِيئَتُهُ تَنْفُذُ. (٣٢) لاَ مَشِيئَةَ لِلعِبَادِ إِلاَّ مَا شَاءَ لَهُمْ، فَمَا شَاءَ لَهُمْ كَانَ، وَمَا لَمْ يَشَأْ لَمْ يَكُنْ.

30 Everything that occurs is according to His decree and will. 31 His will is always accomplished. 32 The will of the servants is only what He wills for them. Whatever He wills for them comes to be, and whatever He does not will for them does not come to be.

• (٣٣) يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ، وَيَعْصِمُ وَيُعَافِي فَضْلاً، وَيُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ، (٣٤) وَيَخْذُلُ وَيَبْتَلِي عَدْلاً. (٣٥) وَكُلُّهُمْ يَتَقَلَّبُونَ فِي مَشِيئَتِهِ بَيْنَ فَضْلِهِ وَعَدْلِهِ.

33 He guides whomever He wills and he protects them and secures them as grace. 34 He leads astray whomever He wills and he humiliates them and He puts them to trial in justice. 35 All of them go back and forth by His will, between His grace and His justice.

• (٣٦) وَهُوَ مُتَعَالٍ عَنِ الأَضْدَادِ وَالأَنْدَادِ. (٣٧) لاَ رَادَّ لِقَضَائِهِ، (٣٩) وَلاَ مُعَقِّبَ لِحُكْمِهِ، (٤٠) وَلاَ غَالِبَ لِأَمْرِهِ.

36 He is Exalted beyond having opposites or enemies. None can repel His decree, amend His judgment, or overpower His command.

• (٤١) ءَامَنَّا بِذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ، (٤٢) وَأَيْقَنَّا أَنَّ كُلًّا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ.

41 We believe is all of this, 42 and we firmly believe that everything is from him.

Five Pillars of Tawhid

Allah…

1. He is eternal with no beginning
2. He is everlasting with no end
3. He is not created
4. He is not similar to creation
5. He is not subject to change

2 The Final Prophet ﷺ

• (٤٣) وَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ عَبْدُهُ المُصْطَفَى، وَنَبِيُّهُ المُجْتَبَى، وَرَسُولُهُ المُرْتَضَى، (٤٤) وَإِنَّهُ خَاتَمُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ، وَإِمَامُ الأَتْقِيَاءِ، وَسَيِّدُ المُرْسَلِينَ، وَحَبِيبُ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ.

43 Muhammad ﷺ is His chosen servant, His selected prophet, and His Messenger with whom He is well pleased. 44 He is the seal of the prophets, the leader of the righteous, the master of the Messengers, and the beloved of the Lord of worlds.

• (٤٥) وَكُلُّ دَعْوَةِ نُبُوَّةٍ بَعْدَ نُبُوَّتِهِ فَغَيٌّ وَهَوًى. (٤٦) وَهُوَ المَبْعُوثُ إِلىَ عَامَّةِ الجِنِّ وَكَافَّةِ الوَرَى بِالحَقِّ وَالهُدَى وَبِالنُّورِ وَالضِّيَاءِ.

45 Every claim to prophecy after him is falsehood and deceit. 46 He has been sent to all of the jinn and the entirety of humanity with truth, guidance, light, and illumination.

3 The Holy Quran

• (٤٧) وَإِنَّ القُرْءَانَ كَلَامُ اللهِ، مِنْهُ بَدَا بِلاَ كَيْفِيَّةٍ قَوْلاً، (٤٨) وَأَنْزَلَهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَحْيًا، (٤٩) وَصَدَّقَهُ المُؤْمِنُونَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ حَقًّا.

47 The Quran is the word of Allah. It originally came from Him, without ascribing modality to His speech. 48 He sent it down upon His messenger as revelation. 49 The believers accept all of that as the truth.

• (٥٠) وَأَيْقَنُوا أَنَّهُ كَلَامُ اللهِ تَعَالىَ بِالحَقِيقَةِ، (٥١) لَيْسَ بِمَخْلُوقٍ كَكَلَامِ البَرِيَّةِ، (٥٢) فَمَنْ سَمِعَهُ فَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ كَلَامُ البَشَرِ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ، وَقَدْ ذَمَّهُ اللهُ وَعَابَهُ وَأَوْعَدَهُ بِسَقَرَ حَيْثُ قَالَ تَعَالىَ: سَأُصْلِيهِ سَقَرَ.

50 They are certain that it is the word of Allah Almighty in reality. 51 It is uncreated, unlike the speech of creatures. 52 Whoever hears it and imagines that it is human speech has committed unbelief. Allah has blamed him, censured him, and threatens him with Fire, wherein the Almighty said, I will burn him in the Fire,

• (٥٣) فَلَمَّا أَوْعَدَ اللهُ بِسَقَرَ لِمَنْ قَالَ: إِنْ هَذَا إِلاَّ قَوْلُ البَشَرِ، عَلِمْنَا وَأَيْقَنَّا أَنَّهُ قَوْلُ خَالِقِ البَشَرِ، وَلاَ يُشْبِهُ قَوْلَ البَشَرِ. (٥٤) وَمَنْ وَصَفَ اللهَ بِمَعْنىً مِنْ مَعَانِي البَشَرِ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ، (٥٥) فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ هَذَا اعْتَبَرَ، وَعَنْ مِثْلِ قَوْلِ الكُفَّارِ انْزَجَرَ، وَعَلِمَ أَنَّهُ بِصِفَاتِهِ لَيْسَ كَالبَشَرِ.

53 When Allah threatens with the Fire those who said, This is only human speech, we know with certainty that it is the speech of the Creator of humanity and it does not resemble the speech of humanity. We know and firmly believe that the Quran is the word of the Creator of mankind and that it is does not resemble that of humans. 54 Whosoever attributes Allah with (even one) attribute of human beings becomes a blasphemer. 55 Anyone who grasp this should take note of it, and refrain from saying things such as the unbelievers say. They should know that He, and His Attributes, is not like human beings.

4 The Beatific Vision

• (٥٦) وَالرُّؤْيَةُ حَقٌّ لأَهْلِ الجَنَّةِ بِغَيْرِ إِحَاطَةٍ وَلاَ كَيْفِيَّةٍ كَمَا نَطَقَ بِهِ كِتَابُ رَبِّنَا : وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَاضِرَةٌ إِلَى رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ،^[15] (٥٧) وَتَفْسِيْرُهُ عَلىَ مَا أَرَادَهُ اللهُ تَعَالىَ وَعَلِمَهُ،

56 The Vision of the people of Paradise is true, without being all-encompassing and without modality. As expressed in the Book of our Lord, Faces on that Day will be radiant, looking at their Lord, 57 The explanation of this is as Allah Almighty intended and knows.

• (٥٨) وَكُلُّ مَا جَاءَ فِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ الحَدِيثِ الصَّحِيحِ عَنِ الرَّسُولِ ﷺ فَهُوَ كَمَا قَالَ وَمَعْنَاهُ عَلَى مَا أَرَادَ.^[16] (٥٩) لاَ نَدْخُلُ فِي ذَلِكَ مُتَأَوِّلِينَ بِآرَائِنَا وَلاَ مُتَوَهِّمِينَ بِأَهْوَائِنَا،

58 Everything that has come in authentic narrations from the Messenger ﷺ is as he said and it means what he intended. 59 We do not insert our own opinions in it, nor do we imagine it according to our whims.

5 Surrendering to Allah

• (٦٠) فَإِنَّهُ مَا سَلِمَ فِي دِينِهِ إِلاَّ مَنْ سَلَّمَ للهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلِرَسُولِهِ ﷺ وَرَدَّ عِلْمَ مَا اشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْهِ إِلَى عَالِمِهِ. (٦١) وَلاَ تَثْبُتُ قَدَمٌ فِي الإِسْلامِ إِلاَّ عَلىَ ظَهْرِ التَّسْليِمِ وَالاسْتِسْلَامِ.

60 For none is safe in his religion except those who surrender themselves to Allah Almighty and to His Messenger ﷺ, and relinquishes the knowledge of what is ambiguous to the One who knows it. 61 The foundation of ones Islam is not firm unless it is upon outward submission and surrender.

• (٦٢) فَمَنْ رَامَ عِلْمَ مَا حُظِرَ عَنْهُ عِلْمُهُ وَلَمْ يَقْنَعْ بِالتَّسْلِيمِ فَهْمُهُ حَجَبَهُ مَرَامُهُ عَنْ خَالِصِ التَّوْحِيدِ، وَصَافِي المَعْرِفَةِ، وَصَحِيحِ الإِيمَانِ، فَيَتَذَبْذَبُ بَيْنِ الكُفْرِ وَالإِيمَانِ وَالتَّصْدِيقِ وَالتَّكْذِيبِ، وَالإِقْرَارِ وَالإِنْكَارِ، مُوَسوِسًا تَائِهًا شَاكًّا، لاَ مُؤْمِنًا مُصَدِّقًا، وَلاَ جَاحِداً مُكَذِّبًا.

62 For whoever wishes to know what is forbidden and is not satisfied with surrender, his understanding will be veiled from pure monotheism, gnosis, and sound faith. He will veer between unbelief and faith, confirmation and denial, acceptance and rejection. Compulsive, disagreeable, doubtful, and deviant, he is not a true believer, nor a stubborn denier.

6 Interpreting Allah's Attributes

• (٦٣) وَلاَ يَصِحُّ الإِيمَانُ بِالرُّؤْيَةِ لأَهْلِ دَارِ السَّلاَمِ لِمَنْ اعْتَبَرَهَا مِنْهُمْ بِوَهْمٍ أَوْ تَأَوَّلَهَا بِفَهْمٍ، (٦٤) إِذْ كَانَ تَأوِيلُ الرُّؤْيِةِ وَتَأْوِيلُ كُلِّ مَعْنًى يُضَافُ إِلَى الرُّبُوبِيَّةِ بِتَرْكِ التَّأْوِيلِ وَلُزُومِ التَّسْلِيمِ، وَعَلَيهِ دِينُ المُسْلِمِينَ.

63 Faith in the vision of the people of the Abode of Peace is not correct for those among them who express it as an illusion or who interpret it with their own limited understanding, as the correct interpretation of the Vision, 64 and the interpretation of every meaning related to the Lordship of Allah, is by abandoning interpretation and adhering to surrender. This is the religion of the Muslims.

• (٦٥) وَمَنْ لَمْ يَتَوَقَّ النَّفْيَ وَالتَّشْبِيهَ زَلَّ وَلَمْ يُصِبِ التَّنْزِيهَ. فَإِنَّ رَبَّنَا جَلَّ وَعَلَا مَوْصُوفٌ بِصِفَاتِ الوَحْدَانِيَّةِ، مَنْعُوتٌ بِنُعُوتِ الفَرْدَانِيَّةِ، لَيْسَ فِي مَعْنَاهُ أَحَدٌ مِنَ البَرِيَّةِ. (٦٦) وَتَعَالَى عَنِ الحُدُودِ وَالغَايَاتِ، وَالأَرْكَانِ وَالأَعْضَاءِ وَالأَدَوَاتِ، لاَ تَحْوِيهِ الجِهَاتُ السِّتُّ كَسَائِرِ المُبْتَدَعَاتِ.

65 Whoever does not guard himself from negating the Attributes of Allah or likening Allah to something else has strayed and has not correctly understood the transcendence of Allah. For our Lord Almighty is described with the Attributes of Oneness, qualified with the qualities of uniqueness. He does not have the characteristics of any creature. 66 He is Exalted above any limits, ends, supports, limbs, or tools. He is not contained by six directions like the rest of created things.

7 Specialties of the Prophet ﷺ

• (٦٧) وَالمِعْرَاجُ حَقٌّ، وَقَدْ أُسْرِيَ بِالنَّبِيّ ﷺ وَعُرِجَ بِشَخْصِهِ فِي اليَقَظةِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، ثُمَّ إِلَى حَيْثُ شَاءَ اللهُ مِنَ العُلَى، (٦٨) وَأكْرَمَهُ اللهُ بِمَا شَاءَ، وَأَوْحَى إِليْهِ مَا أَوْحَى، مَا كَذَبَ الفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَى، فَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلّمَ فِي الأَخِرَةِ وَالأُولَى.

67 The Ascension to Heaven is true. The Prophet ﷺ was taken by night and ascended in person during wakefulness, to the heavens and then to whichever heights Allah willed for him. 68 Allah honored him as He willed and He revealed to him what He revealed, His heart was not mistaken about what he saw, Allah blessed him and granted him peace in the Hereafter and in this world.

• (٦٩) وَالحَوْضُ الَّذِي أَكْرَمَهُ اللهُ تَعَالَى بِهِ غِيَاثًا لأُمَّتِهِ حَقٌّ. (٧٠) وَالشَّفَاعَةُ الَّتِي ادَّخَرَهَا لَهُمْ حَقٌّ، كَمَا رُوِيَ فِي الأَخْبَارِ.

69 The Fountain, with which Allah Almighty honored him as nourishment for his nation, is true. 70 The Intercession, which he deferred for them until the Day of Resurrection, is true as related in the narrations.

8 Allah's Providence and Knowledge

• (٧١) وَالمِيثَاقُ الَّذِي أَخَذَهُ اللهُ تَعَالَى مِنْ ءَادَمَ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ حَقٌّ. (٧٢) وَقَدْ عَلِمَ اللهُ تَعَالَى فِيمَا لَمْ يَزَلْ عَدَدَ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الجَنَّةَ، وَعَدَدَ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ جُمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً، فَلَا يُزَادُ فِي ذَلِكَ العَدَدِ وَلاَ يَنْقُصُ مِنْهُ،

71 The Covenant that Allah Almighty took from Adam and his progeny is true. 72 Allah Almighty has always known the number of those who would enter Paradise and the number of those who would enter Hellfire, a single allocation. This number will neither increase nor decrease.

• (٧٣) وَكَذَلِكَ أفْعَالَهُمْ فِيمَا عَلِمَ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يَفْعَلُوهُ، (٧٤) وَكُلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ لِمَا خُلِقَ لَهُ. (٧٥) وَالأَعْمَالُ بِالخَوَاتِيمِ، (٧٦) وَالسَّعِيدُ مَنْ سَعِدَ بِقَضَاءِ اللهِ تَعَالَى، وَالشَّقِيُّ مَنْ شَقِيَ بِقَضَاءِ اللهِ تَعَالَى.

Likewise for the actions of people, as He knows among them what they would do. Everyone is facilitated for what was created for him. Deeds are judged as they are at the end of life. Those who are blessed are blessed by the Decree of Allah, and those who are damned are damned by the decree of Allah.

• (٧٧) وَأَصْلُ القَدَرِ سِرُّ اللهِ تَعَالَى فِي خَلْقِهِ، لَمْ يَطَّلِعْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ وَلاَ نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ. (٧٨) وَالتَّعَمُّقُ وَالنَّظَرُ فِي ذَلِكَ ذَرِيعَةُ الخِذْلاَنِ، وَسُلَّمُ الحِرْمَاِن، وَدَرَجَةُ الطُّغْيَانِ، فَالحَذَرَ كُلَّ الحَذَرِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ نَظَرًا وَفِكْرًا وَوَسْوَسَةً،

77 The basis of the Providence is that it is a secret of Allah Almighty in His creation. It has not been shown to an angel near to Him, nor to a prophet He sent. 78 Delving and investigating deeply into that is a cause of loss, a ladder to deprivation, and a degree of transgression. Thus, take extreme caution from that type of investigation, thinking, and insinuation.

• (٧٩) فَإِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى طَوَى عِلْمَ القَدَرِ عَنْ أَنَامِهِ وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنْ مَرَامِهِ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالىَ فِي كِتَابِهِ: لاَ يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْأَلُونَ. (٨٠) فَمَنْ سَأَلَ لِمَ فَعَلَ فَقَدْ رَدَّ حُكْمَ الكِتَابِ، وَمَنْ رَدَّ حُكْمَ الكِتَابِ كَانَ مِنَ الكَافِرِينَ.

79 For Allah Almighty has hidden the knowledge of providence from His creatures and has prohibited them from seeking it: As said by Allah Almighty in His Book, He will not be questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned. 80 Whoever asks why He did something has rejected the judgment of the Book, and whoever rejects the judgment of the Book is among the unbelievers.

• (٨١) فَهَذِهِ جُمْلَةُ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِليهِ مَنْ هُوَ مُنَوَّرٌ قَلبُهُ مِنْ أَولِيَاءِ اللهِ تَعَالَى، وَهِيَ دَرَجَةُ الرَّاسِخِينَ فِي العِلْمِ. ل(٨٢) أَنَّ العِلْمَ عِلْمَانِ: عِلْمٌ فِي الخَلْقِ مَوجُودٌ، وَعِلْمٌ فِي الخَلقِ مَفْقُودٌ، فَإِنْكَارُ العِلْمِ المَوْجُودِ كُفْرٌ، وَادِّعَاءُ العِلْمِ المَفْقُودِ كُفْرٌ، (٨٣) وَلاَ يَثْبُتُ الإِيمَانُ إِلاَّ بِقَبُولِ العِلمِ المَوجُودِ وَتَرْكِ طَلَبِ العِلْمِ المَفْقُودِ.

81 This is the summary of what is needed by those who have enlightened hearts among the allies of Allah Almighty. It is the degree of those rooted in knowledge, 82 for knowledge in the creation is of two types: accessible knowledge and inaccessible knowledge. To deny accessible knowledge is unbelief, and to claim to know what is inaccessible is unbelief. 83 Faith is only affirmed by accepting accessible knowledge and abandoning pursuit of inaccessible knowledge.

9 Predestination

• (٨٤) وَنُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّوحِ وَالقَلَمِ وَبِجَمِيعِ مَا فِيهِ قَدْ رُقِمَ. (٨٥) فَلَوِ اجْتَمَعَ الخَلْقُ كُلُّهُمْ عَلَى شَىْءٍ كَتَبَهُ اللهُ تَعَالَى فِيهِ أَنَّهُ كَائِنٌ لِيَجْعَلُوهُ غَيْرَ كَائِنٍ لَمْ يَقْدِرُوا عَلَيْهِ. وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا كُلُّهُمْ عَلَى شَىْءٍ لَمْ يَكْتُبْهُ اللهُ تَعَالىَ فِيهِ لِيَجْعَلُوهُ كَائِنًا لَمْ يَقْدِرُوا عَلَيْهِ.

84 We believe in the Preserved Tablet, the Pen, and in everything inscribed on it. 85 If all creation gathered against something Allah Almighty had decreed to be, that they try to make it not exist, they would have no power to do so. If all of them gathered against something Allah had not decreed to be, that they try to bring it into existence, they would have no power to do so.

• (٨٦) جَفَّ القَلَمُ بِمَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ إِلَى يَومِ القِيَامَةِ، (٨٧) وَمَا أَخْطَأَ العَبْدَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُصِيبَهُ، وَمَا أَصَابَهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُخْطِئَهُ.

86 The Pen has dried of what will be until the Day of Resurrection. 87 Whatever a person has missed, he would have never received. Whatever he received, he would have never missed.

• (٨٨) وَعَلَى العَبْدِ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ أَنَّ اللهَ قَدْ سَبَقَ عِلْمُهُ فِي كُلِّ كَائِنٍ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ، (٨٩) فَقَدَّرَ ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرًا مُحْكَماً مُبْرَمًا لَيْسَ فِيهِ نَاقِضٌ وَلاَ مُعَقَّبٌ وَلاَ مُزِيلٌ وَلاَ مُغَيّرٌ وَلاَ مُحَوَّلٌ وَلاَ نَاقِصٌ وَلاَ زَائِدٌ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ فِي سَمَاوَاتِهِ وَأَرْضِهِ..

88 The servant must know that the knowledge of Allah of all that exists in His creation has already preceded. 89 He measured all of that with precise measurement, judgment, and finality. There is nothing to reduce it, nor amend it, nor remove it, nor change it, nor divert it, nor decrease it, nor add to it.

• (٩٠) وَذَلِكَ مِنْ عَقْدِ الإِيمَانِ وَأُصُولِ المَعْرِفَةِ وَالاعْتِرَافِ بِتَوحِيدِ اللهِ تَعَالىَ وَرُبُوبِيَّتِهِ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالىَ فِي كِتَابِهِ : وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَْئٍ فَقَدَّرَهُ تَقْدِيرًا وَقَالَ تَعَالىَ : وَكَانَ أَمْرُ اللهِ قَدَرًا مَقْدُورًا، (٩١) فَوَيْلٌ لِمَنْ صَارَ لِلّهِ تَعَالَى فِي القَدَرِ خَصِيماً، وَأَحْضَرَ لِلنَّظَرِ فِيهِ قَلْبًا سَقِيمًا، لَقَدِ الْتَمَسَ بِوَهْمِهِ فِي فَحْصِ الغَيْبِ سِرًّا كَتِيمًا، وَعَادَ بِمَا قَالَ فِيهِ أَفَّاكًا أَثِيمًا.

90 All of that is among the beliefs of faith, the fundamentals of gnosis, and the recognition of the oneness of Allah Almighty and His Lordship, as the Almighty said in His book, He created all things and measured them with precise measurement, And the Almighty said, The command of Allah is a decisive decree, 91 Then woe to him whose heart becomes ill regarding providence. He has traversed the path of his delusions in investigating the Unseen, its secrets and hidden aspects. He ends up as a sinful liar due to what he said.

10 The Throne

• (٩٢) وَالعَرْشُ وَالكُرْسِيُّ حَقٌّ، وَهُوَ مُسْتَغْنٍ عَنِ العَرْشَ وَمَا دُونَهُ، مُحِيطٌ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَفَوْقَهُ، وَقَدْ أعْجَزَ عَنِ الإِحَاطَةِ خَلقَهُ.

92 The Throne and the Footstool are true. He is independent of the Throne and whatever is beneath it. He encompasses all things and He is above it, and what He has created is incapable of encompassing Him.

11 The Angels, the Prophets, and the Books

• (٩٤) وَنَقُولُ: إِنَّ اللهَ اتَّخَذَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلًا، (٩٥) وَكَلَّمَ مُوسَى تَكلِيمًا إِيمَانًا وَتَصْدِيقًا وَتَسلِيمًا.

94 We say that Allah has taken Abraham as an intimate friend, 95 and that He spoke directly to Moses, faithfully, truthfully, and in surrender to Allah.

• (٩٦) وَنُؤْمِنُ بِالمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّبِيّينَ وَالكُتُبِ المُنَزَّلَةِ عَلىَ المُرْسَلِينَ، (٩٧) وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا عَلىَ الحَقِّ المُبِينَ.

96 We have faith in the angels, the Prophets, and the Books revealed to the Messengers. 97 We testify that they were all upon the clear truth.

12 People of the Qiblah

• (٩٧) وَنُسَمِّي أَهْلَ قِبْلَتِنَا مُسْلِمِينَ مُؤْمِنِينَ، مَا دَامُوا بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مُعْتَرِفِينَ، وَلَهُ بِكُلِّ مَا قَالَهُ وَأَخْبَرَ مُصَدِّقِينَ غَيْرَ مُنْكِرِينَ.

We call the People of our Qiblah Muslims and believers as long as they acknowledge what the Prophet ﷺ brought, and accept it as true and everything that he said and told us about.

• (٩٨) وَلاَ نَخُوضُ فِي اللهِ وَلاَ نُمَارِي فِي دِينِ اللهِ، (٩٩) وَلاَ نُجَادِلُ فِي القُرْءَانِ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ كَلَامُ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ، نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الأَمِينُ، فَعَلَّمَهُ سَيِّدَ المُرْسَلِينَ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ وَهُوَ كَلَامُ اللهِ تَعَالَى، لاَ يُسَاوِيهِ شَىْءٌ مِنْ كَلَامِ المَخْلُوقِينَ، وَلاَ نَقُولُ بِخَلْقِهِ.

98 We do not speak vainly about Allah, nor do we argue about the religion of Allah. 99 We do not dispute over the Quran. We testify that it is the speech of the Lord of the worlds, sent down by the Trustworthy Spirit (Angel Gabriel), who taught it to the master of the Messengers, Muhammad ﷺ It is the speech of Allah Almighty, in no way equal to the speech of creatures. We do not claim it is His creation

• (١٠٠) وَلاَ نُخَالِفُ جَمَاعَةَ المُسْلِمِينَ، وَلاَ نُكَفِّرُ أَحَدًا مِنْ أَهْلِ القِبْلَةِ بِذَنْبٍ مَا لَمْ يَسْتَحِلَّهُ، (١٠١) وَلاَ نَقُولُ لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعِ الإِيمَانِ ذَنْبٌ لِمَنْ عَمِلَهُ.

100 Nor do we oppose the united community of Muslims. We do not excommunicate anyone who prays toward Mecca due to a sin, as long as he does not claim it to be lawful, 101 nor do we say sins do not harm the faith of those who commit them.

13 Salvation

• (١٠٢) نَرْجُو لِلمُحْسِنِينَ مِنَ المُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْ يَعْفُوَ عَنْهُمْ وَيُدْخِلَهُمُ الجَنَّةَ بِرَحْمَتِهِ، (١٠٣) وَلاَ نَأمَنُ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَلاَ نَشْهَدُ لَهُمْ بِالجَنَّةِ، (١٠٤) وَنَسْتَغْفِرُ لِمُسِيئِهمْ وَنَخَافُ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ نُقَنِّطُهُمْ.

102 We hope that Allah will pardon the good-doers among the believers and admit them into Paradise by His mercy. 103 We cannot guarantee it for them and we cannot testify that they will be in Paradise. 104 We seek forgiveness for the sinful, we fear for them, yet we do not despair over them.

• (١٠٥) وَالأَمْنُ وَالإِيَاسُ يَنْقُلاَنِ عَنْ مِلَّةِ الإِسْلَامِ، وَسَبِيلُ الحَقِّ بَيْنَهُمَا لأَهْلِ القِبْلَةِ.

105 Guarantee or despair (of entering Paradise) both remove one from the religion of Islam. The way of truth is between them both regarding the people who pray towards Mecca.

14 Faith

• (١٠٦) وَلاَ يَخْرُجُ العَبْدُ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ إِلاَّ بِجُحُودِ مَا أَدْخَلَهُ فِيهِ. (١٠٧) وَالإِيمَانُ هُوَ الإِقْرَارُ بِاللَّسَانِ وَالتَّصْدِيقُ بِالجَنَانِ. (١٠٨) وَجَمِيعُ مَا صَحَّ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ مِنَ الشَّرْعِ وَالبَيَانِ كُلُّهُ حَقٌّ.

106 No servant is expelled from the faith except by disavowing what made him enter into it. 107 Faith consists of affirmation by the tongue and acceptance by the soul. 108 All of what is authentic from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, of the Law and clear teachings are true.

• (١٠٩) وَالإِيمَانُ وَاحِدٌ، وَأَهْلُهُ فِي أَصْلِهِ سَوَاءٌ وَالتَّفَاضُلُ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالخَشْيَةِ وَالتُّقَى وَمُخَالَفَةِ الهَوَى وَمُلَازَمَةِ الأَوْلَى. (١١٠) وَالمُؤْمِنِينَ كُلُّهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ الرَّحْمَانِ، وَأَكْرَمُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللهِ أَطْوَعُهُمْ وَأتْبَعُهُمْ لِلقُرْءَانِ.

109 Belief is, at the essence, the same. All believers are the same as far as the fundamentals of faith. However, they vary in ranks due to the variation in their pious worship to Allah, their rejection of ill-desires, and prioritizing duties and deeds. 110 All the believers are “awliya” (loyals to) of Allah and the most noble  of them to Allah are those who are the most obedient and who most closely follow the Quran.

• (١١١) وَالإِيمَانُ هُوَ الإِيمَانُ بِاللهِ، وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ، وَكُتُبِهِ، وَرُسُلِهِ، وَاليَومِ الآخِرِ، وَالقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ، وَحُلْوِهِ وَمُرِّهِ مِنَ اللهِ تَعَالَى. (١١٢) وَنَحْنُ مُؤْمِنُونَ بِذَلِكَ كُلّهِ، لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِن رُسُلِهِ وَنُصَدِّقُهُمْ كُلُّهُمْ عَلَى مَا جَاءُوا بِهِ.

111 Belief consists of belief in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and belief that the Decree - both the good of it and the bad of it, the sweet of it and the bitter or it - is all from Allah. 112 We believe in all these things. We do not make any distinction between any of His messengers, we accept as true what all of them brought.

15 Major Sins

• (١١٣) وَأَهْلُ الكَبَائِرِ مِنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ فِي النَّارِ لاَ يَخْلُدُونَ إِذاَ مَاتُوا وَهُمْ مُوَحِّدُونَ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا تَائِبِينَ

Those who commit major sins among the nation of Muhammad ﷺ may be in Hellfire but will not reside there forever, if they die while they are monotheists, even if they have not repented.

• (١١٤) بَعْدَ أَنْ لَقُوا اللهَ عَارِفيِنَ مُؤْمِنِينَ، وَهُمْ فِي مَشِيئَتِهِ وَحُكْمِهِ، إِنْ شَاءَ غَفَرَ لَهُمْ وَعَفَا عَنْهُمْ بِفَضْلِهِ، كَمَا ذَكَرَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ : وَيِغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ، وَإِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُمْ فِي النَّارِ بِعَدْلِهِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنْهَا بِرَحْمَتِهِ وَشَفَاعَةِ الشَّافِعِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِ طاَعَتِهِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُهُمْ إِلَى جَنَّتِهِ،

114 After they meet Allah knowing faith, they are subject to His will and His judgment. If He wills, He will forgive them and pardon them by His grace, as mentioned by the Almighty in His book, He forgives whatever is less than idolatry for whomever He wills. If He wills, He will punish them in Hellfire by His justice. Thereafter, He will bring them out of Hellfire by His mercy and the intercession of intercessors among those obedient to Him, then raise them to Paradise.

• (١١٥) وَذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى تَوَلَّى أَهْلَ مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْهُمْ فِي الدَّارَيْنِ كَأَهْلِ نُكْرَتِهِ الّذِينَ خَابُوا مِنْ هِدَايَتِهِ وَلَمْ يَنَالُوا مِنْ وِلاَيَتِهِ. (١١٦) اللَّهُمَّ يَا وَليَّ الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَهْلِهِ ثَبِّتْنَا عَلَى الإِسْلَامِ حَتىَّ نَلْقَاكَ بِهِ.

115 This is because Allah Almighty is the ally of those who recognize Him and He will not deal with them in the two abodes as if they were the people who rejected Him, who failed to follow His guidance and did not earn His guardianship. 116 O Allah, Guardian of Islam and its people, keep us firmly upon Islam until we meet You.

• (١١٧) وَنَرَى الصَّلاَةَ خَلْفَ كُلِّ بَرٍّ وَفَاجِرٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ القِبْلَةِ، وَعَلَى مَنْ مَاتَ مِنْهُمْ.

117 We lean to validate doing the prayer behind any of the people of the Qiblah whether pious or sinful, and doing the funeral prayer over any of them when they die.

• (١١٨) وَلاَ نُنَزِّلُ أَحَدًا مِنْهُمْ جَنَّةً وَلاَ نَارًا، وَلاَ نَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِكُفْرٍ وَلاَ بِشِرْكٍ وَلاَ بِنِفَاقٍ مَا لَمْ يَظْهَرْ مِنْهُمْ شَىْءٌ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، وَنَذَرُ سَرَائِرَهُمْ إِلَى اللهِ تَعَالَى.

118 We do not declare any of them to be in Paradise or Hellfire. We do not accuse them of unbelief, nor idolatry. The people who pray towards Mecca are not excommunicated, nor accused of hypocrisy, as long as they have not openly demonstrated anything of that. We leave their inner secrets to Allah Almighty.

• (١١٩) وَلاَ نَرَى السَّيْفَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ إِلاَّ مَنْ وَجَبَ عَلَيْهِ السَّيْفُ.

We do not raise the sword against anyone from the nation of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, except against those whom it is necessary to fight (such as violent rebels and criminals).

16 Leadership

• (١٢٠) وَلاَ نَرَى الخُرُوجَ عَلَى أَئِمَّتِنَا وَوُلاَةِ أَمُورِنَا وَإِنْ جَارُوا، (١٢١) وَلاَ نَدْعُو عَلَيْهِمْ، وَلاَ نَنْزعُ يَدًا مِنْ طَاعَتِهِمْ، وَنَرَى طَاعَتَهُمْ مِنْ طَاعَةِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَرِيضَةً مَا لَمْ يَأمُرُوا بِمَعْصِيَةٍ، (١٢٢) وَنَدْعُو لَهُمْ بِالصَّلَاحِ وَالمُعَافَاةِ.

120 We do not rebel against our leaders or those in charge of our affairs, even if they are tyrannical. 121 We do not supplicate against them, nor withdraw from obedience to them. We view obedience to them as obedience to Allah Almighty, an obligation, as long as they do not order disobedience to Allah. 122 We supplicate on their behalf for righteousness and wellness.

• (١٢٣) وَنَتْبَعُ السُّنَّةَ وَالجَمَاعَةَ، (١٢٤) وَنَجْتَنِبُ الشُّذُوذَ وَالخِلَافَ وَالفُرْقَةَ.

123 We follow the Sunnah and the majority community, committed to the Sunnah and the majority community. We avoid anomalous opinions, differences, and sectarianism.

• (١٢٥) وَنُحِبُّ أَهْلَ العَدْلِ وَالأَمَانَةِ، (١٢٦) وَنُبْغِضُ أَهْلَ الجَوْرِ وَالخِيَانَةِ.

125 We love the people of justice and trustworthiness, for love of the people of justice is among the perfection of faith. 126 We hate the people of injustice and treachery.

• (١٢٧) وَنَقُولُ اللهُ أعْلَمُ فِيمَا اشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْنَا عِلْمُهُ.

127 We say, Allah knows best, regarding matters the knowledge of which is unclear to us.

• (١٢٨) وَنَرَى المَسْحَ عَلَى الخُفَّيْنِ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالحَضَرِ كَمَا جَاءَ فِي الأَثَرِ.

128 We accept wiping over socks in ablution, for the traveler and the resident, as has come in the narrations.

• (١٢٩) وَالحَجُّ وَالجِهَادُ مَاضِيَانِ مَعَ أُولِي الأَمْرِ مِنْ المُسْلِمِينَ بَرِّهِمْ وَفَاجِرِهِمْ إِلَى قِيَامِ السَّاعَةِ، لاَ يُبْطِلُهُمَا شَىْءٌ وَلاَ يَنْقُضُهُمَا.

129 Hajj pilgrimage and jihad in the way of Allah are continuous, under those with authority among the Muslims, the righteous and wicked among them, until the establishment of the Hour. Nothing invalidates or rescinds them.

17 The Unseen

• (١٣٠) وَنُؤْمِنُ بِالكِرَامِ الكَاتِبِينَ، فَإِنَّ اللهَ قَدْ جَعَلَهُمْ عَلَيْنَا حَافِظِينَ،

130 We have faith in the noble recording angels, for Allah has appointed them over us as guardians.

• (١٣١) وَنُؤْمِنُ بِمَلَكِ المَوْتِ المُوَكَّلِ بِقَبْضِ أَرْوَاحِ العَالَمِينَ،

131 We have faith in the angel of death charged with seizing the souls of those in the worlds.

• (١٣٢) وَبِعَذَابِ القَبْرِ لِمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ أَهْلًا، (١٣٣) وَسُؤَالِ مُنْكَرٍ وَنَكِيرٍ فِي قَبْرِهِ عَنْ رَبِّهِ وَدِينِهِ وَنِبِيِّهِ عَلَى مَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ الأَخْبَارُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَعَنِ الصَّحَابَةِ رِضْوَانُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِمْ. (١٣٤) وَالقَبْرُ رَوْضَةٌ مِنْ رِيَاضِ الجَنَّةِ أَوْ حُفْرَةٌ مِنْ حُفَرِ النِّيرَانِ.

We have faith in the punishment of the grave for those who deserve it and the questioning in the grave by the two angels, Munkar and Nakir, about ones Lord, religion, and prophet, as has come in reports from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and from the companions, may Allah be pleased with them. The grave is either one of the meadows of Paradise or one of the pits of Hellfire.

• (١٣٥) وَنُؤْمِنُ بِالبِعْثِ وَجَزَاءِ الأَعْمَالِ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ وَالعَرْضِ وَالحِسَابِ وَقِرَاءَةِ الكِتَابِ وَالثَّوَابِ وَالعِقَابِ وَالصِّرَاطِ وَالمِيزَانِ.

We have faith in the Resurrection and the recompense for actions on the Day of Resurrection, the presentation of deeds, the reckoning, and the reading of the book of deeds, the reward and punishment, the Bridge over Hell and the Scale.

• (١٣٦) وَالجَنَّةُ وَالنَّارُ مَخْلُوقَتَانِ لاَ تَفْنَيَانِ أَبَدًا وَلاَ تَبِيدَانِ، (١٣٧) وَإِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ الجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ قَبْلَ الخَلْقِ وَخَلَقَ لَهُمَا أَهْلًا، (١٣٨) فَمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى الجَنَّةَ فَضْلًا مِنْهُ وَمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى النَّارِ عَدْلاً مِنْهُ، (١٣٩) وَكُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ لِمَا قَدْ فُرِغَ لَهُ وَصَائِرٌ إِلَى مَا خُلِقَ لَهُ.

136 Paradise and Hellfire are two creations that never end, nor perish. 137 For Allah Almighty created Paradise and Hellfire before the rest of creation, then He created people for them. 138 Whoever He wills enters Paradise due to His grace, and whoever He wills enters Hellfire due to His justice. 139 Everyone acts in accordance with what is decreed for him, becoming that for which he was created.

18 Actions and Ability

• (١٤٠) وَالخَيْرُ وَالشَّرُّ مُقَدَّرَانِ عَلىَ العِبَادِ.

Good and evil have both been decreed for the servants.

• (١٤١) وَالاسْتِطَاعَةُ التِي يَجِبُ بِهَا الفِعْلُ مِن نَحْوِ التَّوْفِيقِ الذِي لاَ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُوصَفَ المَخْلُوقُ بِهِ فَهِيَ مَعَ الفِعْلِ، (١٤٢) وَأَمَّا الاسْتِطَاعَةُ مِنْ جِهَةِ الصَّحَّةِ وَالوُسْعِ وَالتَّمَكُّنِ وَسَلاَمَةِ الآلاَتِ فَهِيَ قَبْلَ الفِعْلِ، وَبِهَا يَتَعَلَّقُ الخِطَابُ، وَهِيَ كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالىَ: لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهُا.

141 The ability required for an action is from divine facilitation, which cannot be ascribed to a created being, along with the action itself. 142 As for ability from the view of health, capacity, capability, and sound means, it is before the action itself, and what is related to these are addressed, as it was said by the Exalted, Allah holds no soul responsible except within its capacity.

• (١٤٣) وَأَفْعَالُ العِبَادِ خَلْقُ اللهِ وَكَسْبٌ مِنَ العِبَادِ.  (١٤٤) وَلَمْ يُكَلِّفْهُمُ اللهُ تَعَالَى إِلاَّ مَا يُطِيقُونَ، وَلاَ يُطَيَّقُونَ إِلاَّ مَا كَلَّفَهُمْ،

143 The actions of the servants are creations of Allah and are earned by the servants. 144 Allah Almighty does not hold them responsible unless they are capable, and they are not capable except for what they are responsible.

• (١٤٥) وَهُوَ تَفْسِيرُ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللهِ. نَقُولُ: لاَ حِيلَةَ لأَحَدٍ، وَلاَ حَرَكَةَ لأَحَدٍ وَلاَ تَحَوُّلَ لأَحَدٍ عَنْ مَعْصِيَةِ اللهِ إِلاَّ بِمَعُونَةِ اللهِ، (١٤٦) وَلاَ قُوَّةَ لأَحَدٍ عَلَى إِقَامَةِ طَاعَةِ اللهِ وَالثَّبَاتِ عَلَيْهَا إِلاَّ بِتَوفِيقِ اللهِ.

145 It is the explanation of the phrase, There is no movement or might but by Allah. We say there is no stratagem of anyone, nor transformation of anyone, nor movement of anyone in disobedience to Allah except by enablement from Allah. 146 None has the power to perform obedience to Allah and be firm upon it except by the facilitation of Allah.

• (١٤٧) وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ يَجْرِي بِمَشِيئَةِ اللهِ تَعَالىَ وَعِلْمِهِ وَقَضَائِهِ وَقَدَرِهِ. (١٤٨) غَلَبَتْ مَشِيْئَتُهُ المَشِيئَاتِ كُلَّهَا، وَغَلَبَ قَضَاؤُهُ الحِيَلَ كُلَّها. (١٤٩) يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ غَيْرُ ظَالِمٍ أَبَدًا، (١٥٠) تَقَدَّسَ عَنْ كُلِّ سُوءٍ وَحَيْنٍ، وَتَنَزَّهَ عَنْ كُلِّ عَيْبٍ وَشَيْنٍ لاَ يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْأَلُونَ.

147 All things occur by the will of Allah the Exalted, His knowledge, His decree, and His providence. 148 His will overpowers all other wills, and His decree overpowers all other stratagems. 149 He does whatever He wills, and He is never unjust, He is Exalted above every evil and defect, and free from every fault and imperfection He will not be questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.

• (١٥١) وَفِي دُعَاءِ الأَحْيَاءِ وَصَدَقَاتِهِمْ مَنْفَعَةٌ للأَمْوَاتِ، (١٥٢) وَاللهُ تَعَالَى يَسْتَجِيبُ الدَّعَوَاتِ وَيِقْضِي الحَاجَاتِ،

151 In the supplication of the living and their acts of charity are benefits for the dead. 152 Allah Almighty responds to supplications and fulfills needs.

• (١٥٣) وَيَمْلِكُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ وَلاَ يَمْلِكُهُ شَىْءٌ، (١٥٤) وَلاَ غِنَى عَنِ اللهِ تَعَالَى طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ، (١٥٥) وَمَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ اسْتَغْنَى عَنِ اللهِ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَصَارَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الحَيْنِ.

153 He controls all things and nothing has any control over Him. 154 None can be independent of Allah for as much as the blink of an eye. 155 Whoever considers himself independent of Allah for as much as the blink of an eye has committed unbelief and has become among of the people of perdition.

• (١٥٦) وَاللهُ يَغْضَبُ وَيَرْضَى لاَ كَأَحَدٍ مِنْ الوَرَى.

Allah is angered and pleased, yet not like anyone else besides Him.

19 The Companions

• (١٥٧) وَنُحِبُّ أصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَلاَ نُفْرِطُ فِي حُبِّ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ، وَلاَ نَتَبَرَّأ مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ، (١٥٨) وَنُبْغِضُ مَنْ يُبْغِضُهُمْ وَبِغَيْرِ الخَيْرِ يَذْكُرُهُمْ، وَلاَ نَذْكُرُهُمْ إِلاَّ بِخَيْرٍ، (١٥٩) وَحُبُّهُمْ دِينٌ وَإِيمَانٌ وَإِحْسَانٌ، وَبُغْضُهُمْ كُفْرٌ وَنِفَاقٌ وَطُغْيَانٌ.

157 We love the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. We do not exaggerate in our love for any of them, nor do we disown any of them. 158 We hate those who hate them or who mention them without good, for we do not mention them except with good. 159 Love for them is a part of religion, faith, and spiritual excellence, and hatred for them is unbelief, hypocrisy, and transgression.

• (١٦٠) وَنُثْبِتُ الخِلَافَةَ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَوَّلاً لأَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، تَفْضِيلًا لَهُ وَتَقْدِيمًا عَلَى جَمِيعِ الأُمَّةِ. ثُمَّ لِعُمَرَ بْنِ الخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، ثُمَّ لِعُثْمَانَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، ثُمَّ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ أبِي طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، (١٦١) وَهُمُ الخُلَفَاءُ الرَّاشِدُونَ وَالأَئِمَّةُ المُهْتَدُونَ.

160 We affirm the Caliphate after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ first went to [[Abu Bakr al-Siddiq]], may Allah be pleased with him, having virtue and priority over all others in the Muslim nation. Then, it was for [[Umar b. al-Khattab]], may Allah be pleased with him. Then, it was for [[Uthman b. Affan]], may Allah be pleased with him. Then, it was for [[Ali b. Abu Talib]], may Allah be pleased with him. 161 They are the righteous Caliphs and guided leaders.

• (١٦٢) وَإِنَّ العَشَرَةَ الّذِينَ سَمَّاهُمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَبَشَّرَهُمْ بِالجَنَّةِ، نَشْهَدُ لَهُمْ بِالجَنَّةِ، عَلَى مَا شَهِدَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ، وَقَولُهُ الحَقُّ، وَهُمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ˺بْنُ أَبُو قَحَافَةَ˹، وَعُمَرُ ˺بْنُ الخَطّاب˹ وَعُثْمَانُ ˺بْنُ عَفّان˹، وَعَليٌّ ˺بْنُ ابي طالِب˹، وَطَلْحَةُ ˺بْنُ عُبَيْدِ الله˹، وَالزُّبَيْرُ ˺بْنُ عَوّام˹، وَسَعْدٌ ˺بْنُ ابي وَقاس˹، وَسَعِيدٌ ˺بْنُ زَيد˹، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَانِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ، وَأَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الجَرَّاحِ وَهُوَ أَمِينُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ، رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ.

162 The ten who were named by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, as being promised with Paradise, we testify that they are in Paradise due to what was testified for them by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his statements are true. They are are: (1) [[Abu Bakr al-Siddiq]], (2) [[Umar b. al-Khattab]] (3) [[Uthman b. Affan]], (4) [[Ali b. Abu Talib]], (5) [[Talhah b. Ubaydallah]], (6) [[Zubayr b. al-Awwam]], (7) [[Saad b. Abu Waqqas]], (8) [[Said b. Zayd]], (9) [[Abd al-Rahman b. Awf]], and (10) [[Abu Ubaydah Amir b. al-Jarrah]] who was the trustee of this nation, may Allah be pleased with them all.

• (١٦٣) وَمَنْ أَحْسَنَ القَوْلَ فِي أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ الطَّاهِرَاتِ مِنْ كُلِّ دَنَسٍ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِ المُقَدَّسِينَ مِنْ كُلِّ رِجْسٍ فَقَدْ بَرِئَ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ.

163 Whoever speaks well of the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his wives, pure of any defilement, and his sanctified progeny, he is innocent of any hypocrisy.

20 The Righteous

• (١٦٤) وَعُلَمَاءُ السَّلَفِ مِنْ السَّابِقِينَ وَمَنْ بَعْدَهُمْ مِنَ التَّابِعِينَ أَهْلُ الخَيْرِ وَالأَثَرِ، وَأَهْلُ الفِقْهِ وَالنَّظَرِ، (١٦٥) لاَ يُذْكَرُونَ إِلاَّ بِالجَمِيلِ وَمَنْ ذَكَرَهُمْ بِسُوءٍ فَهُوَ عَلىَ غَيْرِ السَّبِيلِ.

164 The scholars of the first generation who preceded us and those after them among the successors, the people of virtue, tradition, understanding, and insight, they are not mentioned but in a gracious way. 165 Whoever mentions them in an evil way, he is on a path different from their path.

• (١٦٦) وَلاَ نُفَضِّلُ أَحَدًا مِنَ الأَوْلِيَاءِ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ، (١٦٧( وَنَقُولُ نَبيٌّ وَاحِدٌ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الأَوْلِيَاءِ. (١٦٨) وَنُؤْمِنُ بَمَا جَاءَ مِنَ كَرَامَاتِهِمْ، وَصَحَّ عَنِ الثِّقَاتِ مِنْ رِوَايَاتِهِمْ

166 We do not prefer any of the saints of this nation over any of the prophets, upon them be peace. 167 We say that a single prophet is better than all the saints put together. 168 We have faith in what has come of their miraculous abilities and what has been authenticated in their narrations from trustworthy narrators.

21 Signs of the Last Day

• (١٦٩) وَنُؤْمِنُ بِأَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ مِنْ خُرُوجِ الدَّجَّالِ، وَنُزُولِ عِيْسَى بْنِ مَرْيَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، وَنُؤْمِنُ بِطُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا، وَخُرُوجِ دَابَّةِ الأَرْضِ مِنْ مَوْضِعِهَا.

169 We have faith in the signs of the Hour, such as the appearance of the False Messiah (al-Dajjal), and the descent from the heavens of Jesus the son of Mary, upon him be peace. We have faith in the rising of the sun from the West and in the emergence of the Beast from its place in the earth.

22 Sectarianism and Extremism

• (١٧٠) وَلاَ نُصَدِّقُ كَاهِنًا وَلاَ عَرَّافًا وَلاَ مَنْ يَدَّعِي شَيْئًا يُخَالِفُ الكِتَابَ وَالسُّنَّةَ وَإِجْمَاعَ الأُمَّةِ.

We do not believe in soothsayers and fortunetellers, nor whoever claims anything against the Book, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Muslim nation.

• (١٧١) وَنَرَى الجَمَاعَةَ حَقًّا وَصَوَابًا، وَالفُرْقَةَ زَيْغًا وَعَذَابًا.

We regard unity as truth and what is right, and sectarianism as deviation and punishment.

• (١٧٢) وَدِينُ اللهِ فِي الأرضِ وَالسَّمَاءِ وَاحِدٌ، وَهُوَ دِينُ الإِسْلَامِ، قال اللهُ تَعَالَى:إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللهِ الإِسْلامُ. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: وَرَضِيْتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلَامَ دِينًا، (١٧٣) وَهُوَ بَيْنَ الغُلُوِّ وَالتَّقْصِيرِ، وَبَيْنَ التَّشْبِيهِ وَالتَّعْطِيلِ، وَبَيْنَ الجَبْرِ وَالقَدَرِ، وَبَيْنَ الأَمْنِ وَالإِيَاسِ. (١٧٤) فَهَذَا دِينُنَا وَاعْتِقَادُنَا ظَاهِرًا وَبَاطِنًا، وَنَحْنَ بُرَءَاءُ إِلَى اللهِ مِنْ كُلِّ مَنْ خَالَفَ الّذِي ذَكَرْنَاُه وَبَيّنَّاهُ.

172 The religion of Allah on earth and in the heavens is one, and it is the religion of Islam. Allah Almighty said, Verily, the religion with Allah is Islam, And the Almighty said, I am pleased with Islam as your religion. 173 It is between exaggeration and belittlement, between comparing the Attributes of Allah to creation and negating them, between fatalism and unrestricted free will, and between guarantee and despair. 174 This is our religion and what we take as our creed, inwardly and outwardly. We disown before Allah Almighty all those who oppose what we have mentioned and clarified.

• (١٧٥) وَنَسأَلُ اللهَ تَعَالَى أَنْ يُثَبِّتَنَا عَلَى الإِيمَانِ وَيَخْتِمَ لَنَا بِهِ، وَيَعْصِمَنَا مِنَ الأَهْوَاءِ المُخْتَلِفَةِ وَالآرَاءِ المُتَفَرِّقَةِ وَالمَذَاهِبِ الرَّدِيَّةِ مِثْلِ المُشَبِّهَةِ وَالمُعْتَزِلَةِ وَالجَهْمِيَّةِ وَالجَبْرِيَّةِ وَالقَدَرِيَّةِ وَغَيْرِهِمْ مِنَ الّذِينَ خَالَفُوا السُّنَّةَ وَالجَمَاعَة وَحَالَفُوا الضَّلالَةَ، وَنَحْنُ مِنْهُمْ بَرَاءٌ وَهُمْ عِنْدَنَا ضُلَّالٌ وَأَرْدِيَاءٌ، وَبِاللهِ العِصْمَةُ وَالتَّوْفِيقِ.

175 We ask Allah the Exalted to keep us firm upon faith, seal our lives with it, and to protect us from various desires, sectarian opinions, and the doctrines of rejection, such as anthropomorphists (al-Mushabbihah), the rationalists (al-Mutazilah), those who deny the Attributes of Allah (al-Jahmiyyah), the fatalists (al-Jabriyah), the deniers of providence (al-Qadariyah), and others who oppose the united community and have made a pact of misguidance. We are innocent of them, for they are, to us, astray and ruined. And in Allah alone is protection and guidance.

Footnotes