I hope you can offer some information to one who wants to learn true ‘aqeedah according to the method of the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them).
Firstly:
Islamic ‘aqeedah is not a theoretical and philosophical
method; action is an essential part of this ‘aqeedah. Hence the Ahl
al-Sunnah are agreed that eeman (faith) consists of both words and deeds, or
speaking with the tongue, believing in the heart and acting with the
physical faculties.
Whoever believes in Allaah as his Lord and God, will worship
Him and obey Him by praying, giving zakaah and so on.
Whoever believes in the Last Day and its reckoning and reward
or punishment, will be motivated thereby to do that which Allaah has
commanded and abstain from that which He has forbidden.
Whoever believes that Muhammad (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) is the Messenger of Allaah will therefore obey him,
follow his Sunnah and propagate his religion.
Thus the principles in which a person believes are translated
into actions and words and efforts. The stronger that faith grows in his
heart, the more its effects will be seen outwardly.
Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: “In the body there is a piece of flesh which, if it is sound, the
entire body will be sound, and if it is corrupt, the entire body will be
corrupt. It is the heart.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 52; Muslim, 1599.
Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Faith
is not the matter of wishes or outward appearances, rather it is that which
settles in the heart and is confirmed by one's actions.”
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him)
said: “If the heart is sound in terms of faith, knowledge and feelings, then
this will inevitably lead to the soundness of physical actions, such as
verbal statements and deeds. As the leading scholars of hadeeth said: Words
and deeds, both inward and outward. What is outward must follow what is
inward, so if what is inward is sound then what is outward will also be
sound, and if it (the former) is corrupt, (the latter) will also be corrupt.
Hence one of the Sahaabah said concerning the one who prayed carelessly: If
his heart had been humble and focused, his body would have been humble and
focused.
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 7/187
Secondly:
With regard to books which one may read about ‘aqeedah, there
are many, the greatest of which are the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His
Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), in which there
is protection and salvation for those who adhere closely to them. The
scholars were concerned with explaining and propagating sound ‘aqeedah, and
they wrote innumerable books on this topic. Among the most famous of these
books are the following:
Al-Sunnah by ‘Abd-Allaah ibn
Ahmad ibn Hanbal
Al-Tawheed by Ibn Khuzaymah
Sharh Usool I’tiqaad Ahl al-Sunnah
by al-Laalkaa’i
‘Aqeedat al-Salaf wa Ashaab al-Hadeeth
by al-Sabooni
al-‘Aqeedah al-Waasitiyyah by
Ibn Taymiyah [available in English translation]
al-‘Aqeedah al-Tahhaawiyyah wa Sharhuha
by Ibn Abi’l-‘Izz al-Hanafi
Lawaami’ al-Anwaar al-Bahiyyah
by al-Safaareeni
Ma’aarij al-Qubool by Haafiz
Hakami
Al-Irshaad ila Saheeh al-I’tiqaad
by Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan – this is an easy and useful book.
Thirdly:
With regard to applying this ‘aqeedah in real life, this is
done by learning it, propagating it, calling others to it, and refuting
those who go against it with wisdom and beautiful preaching. This is how
‘aqeedah is spread and its effects made manifest so that all people may
benefit from it.
Fourthly:
The way in which ‘aqeedah may be learned is to learn it
directly from those who believe in it and act accordingly. This is the
soundest and best way for those who are able to do it. For those who are far
away from scholars, they should refer to their commentaries, writings and
tapes, as well as asking about confusing matters and anything they do not
understand.
Fifthly:
If a person follows some of the teachings of Islam and
neglects others, by failing to do some of the obligatory duties or by
committing some of the acts that are forbidden, this is a shortcoming in his
faith and a weakness in his belief and his love for his Lord and His
religion. This is undoubtedly a fault in his ‘aqeedah.
Hence one of the basic principles of Ahl al-Sunnah
wa’l-Jamaa’ah is that faith increases by doing acts of worship and decreases
by doing acts of sin. These shortcomings and faults may erase faith
altogether, so that the person becomes an apostate from Islam, such as if he
stops praying. See question no. 5208 and
2182.
With regard to sins that do not reach the level of kufr, such
as withholding obligatory zakaah or looking at haraam things and so on,
these are things which cause faith to decrease.
Sixthly:
The Muslims need people to explain pure, correct ‘aqeedah to
them, that is based on the Qur’aan and Sunnah according to the understanding
of the righteous salaf. That is because of the widespread existence of
ignorance, innovations (bid’ah), myths and deviant schools of thought.
Every Muslim must be sincere towards himself first of all, by
learning correct aqeedah from trustworthy sources, then by propagating it
and teaching it to the people, by means of lessons and lectures, books,
publications and magazines, thus fulfilling the duty to convey the message
as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“(And remember) when Allaah took a covenant from those who
were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) to make it (the news of the
coming of Prophet Muhammad and the religious knowledge) known and clear to
mankind, and not to hide it”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:187]
“Let there arise out
of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining
Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and
forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has
forbidden). And it is they who are the successful”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:104]
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘This is my way; I invite unto Allaah
(i.e. to the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I
and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allaah, i.e. to the
Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism with sure knowledge). And Glorified
and Exalted be Allaah (above all that they associate as partners with Him).
And I am not of the Mushrikoon (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and
disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah; those who worship others along with
Allaah or set up rivals or partners to Allaah)’”
[Yoosuf 12:108]
And Allaah knows best.
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