Aqeedah of Ahl al Sunnah: Ashari, Maturidi, Hanbali | Shaykh Mohammad Hasan al-Dido

Qindeel

9 Mar 202304:25

Summary

TLDRThis transcript discusses the foundation of Islamic belief, focusing on the importance of knowledge and faith in building civilizations. It delves into the core tenets of Islamic creed, such as belief in God, angels, scriptures, prophets, the afterlife, and predestination. The speaker contrasts orthodox Sunni schools of thought—like the Hanbali, Ash'ari, and Maturidi—with deviant sects such as the Mu'tazila and Jabriya. The overall message highlights the legitimacy of various Sunni schools of theology and law, emphasizing unity despite differences in interpretation and jurisprudence.

Takeaways

📚 Knowledge is the foundation for building civilization and reviving the glories of the past.
☝️ The core of belief (Aqidah) is faith in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and destiny (both good and bad).
📖 True belief is what was brought by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and understood by his companions, not influenced by later philosophical or theological schools.
⚖️ Differences in jurisprudence (fiqh) arose after the time of the Companions and Followers (Tabi'un), and these are acceptable as long as they align with the core teachings of Islam.
💡 Philosophical or intellectual attempts that go against divine texts are considered innovations (bid'ah) and lead to misguidance.
🚫 Deviant theological sects like the Mu'tazilites, Jahmites, Qadariyyah, and Jabariyyah are rejected due to their divergence from the original sources.
✅ Accepted ijtihad (independent reasoning) must remain within the boundaries of the Quran and Sunnah, which is the methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah (people of the Sunnah).
📜 There are three primary Sunni theological schools: the Salafi/Athari (followers of Ahmad ibn Hanbal), the Ash'ari (founded by Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari), and the Maturidi (followers of Abu Mansur al-Maturidi).
🤝 Despite differences, these Sunni theological schools share a common foundation in belief and practice, allowing for diversity within unity.
🔄 Scholars within these schools are not criticized for their efforts in ijtihad, as long as their methodology remains in line with the principles of Islam.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the script?
-The main theme of the script is about the development of civilization through knowledge, the importance of foundational Islamic beliefs, and the differences between various Islamic theological schools of thought.
What are the six pillars of faith mentioned in the script?
-The six pillars of faith mentioned are belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and predestination (both good and evil).
What is the distinction made between 'original belief' and 'innovations' in Islamic thought?
-The script distinguishes 'original belief' as what was taught by Prophet Muhammad and understood by his companions, while innovations refer to later intellectual efforts that either deviate from or attempt to reconcile Islamic teachings with philosophical or intellectual questions.
What does the script mention about the role of philosophical questions in Islamic theology?
-The script highlights that philosophical questions sometimes led to efforts to reconcile perceived contradictions or to answer intellectual challenges, but such attempts could be classified as either orthodox or heterodox depending on their adherence to the original texts.
What does the script say about the emergence of theological sects?
-The script mentions the emergence of several theological sects, such as the Mu'tazilites, Jahmites, Qadariyyah, and Jabriyyah, which introduced various innovations and diverged from the core Islamic beliefs taught by Prophet Muhammad.
Who are some of the notable figures associated with the Salafi school mentioned in the script?
-The Salafi school is associated with scholars like Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Abu Muhammad, Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari, al-Darimi, Ibn Khuzaymah, and others.
How does the script differentiate between the three main Sunni schools of theology?
-The three main Sunni schools of theology mentioned are: the Athari (Salafi) school, associated with figures like Ahmad ibn Hanbal; the Ash'ari school, founded by Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, who initially followed Mu'tazilism before reverting to Sunni orthodoxy; and the Maturidi school, associated with Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, which is closely related to the Ash'ari school with minor differences.
How does the script compare Islamic theological schools with the Islamic jurisprudential schools?
-The script compares the theological schools (Athari, Ash'ari, and Maturidi) with the jurisprudential schools (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali), emphasizing that just as the ummah accepted the existence of different legal schools, it also tolerated diversity in theological thought as long as the core principles were upheld.
What is the view on independent reasoning (ijtihad) in Islamic theology according to the script?
-The script allows for independent reasoning (ijtihad) as long as it adheres to the foundational texts and principles of Islam. However, ijtihad that contradicts the core tenets or goes against the teachings of the Prophet is classified as heretical.
What is the script’s conclusion on the unity of the Islamic community regarding different schools of thought?
-The script concludes that the Islamic community, despite the existence of different schools of thought in both theology and jurisprudence, remains united in its adherence to the core principles of Islam. Differences in interpretation are permissible as long as they do not contradict the fundamentals of the faith.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Foundation of Knowledge and Faith

The first paragraph emphasizes the importance of knowledge and faith in building a strong civilization. It highlights the fundamental beliefs in Islam, including faith in God, His angels, scriptures, messengers, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree (both good and bad). The text explains that these core beliefs were brought by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from God and were understood and followed by his companions. The paragraph makes it clear that these core beliefs were established before the development of different theological schools of thought, which only emerged after the time of the companions and their successors.

🕌 Divergence in Theological Schools

This section delves into how interpretations of Islamic beliefs evolved. It explains that later theological efforts, especially concerning philosophical questions or perceived contradictions, were attempts to reconcile or explain complex issues. The text discusses two types of ijtihad (independent reasoning): one that deviates from the core texts and becomes heretical, and another that aligns with the original message of Islam. The paragraph mentions deviant schools like the Mu'tazilites and Jahmites, which strayed from traditional beliefs, and contrasts them with orthodox approaches, such as those followed by the Ahl al-Sunnah (People of the Sunnah).

📖 The Schools of Sunni Creed

Here, the focus shifts to the three major theological schools of Sunni Islam: the Athari (or Salafi) school, which is based on traditionalist interpretations, the Ash'ari school led by Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, and the Maturidi school, associated with Abu Mansur al-Maturidi. The text outlines the key figures of each school, noting that while these schools differ in their approach to certain theological issues, they remain within the fold of Sunni Islam. The paragraph explains that these differences are seen as variations of scholarly interpretation, much like the different schools of Islamic jurisprudence (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali).

🤲 Unity in Diversity Among Sunni Schools

The final paragraph addresses the broader acceptance of these theological schools within the Sunni tradition. It emphasizes that, just as the Muslim community has embraced different legal schools (madhhabs) in jurisprudence, they have also accepted the diversity of theological schools. The paragraph reinforces that all Sunni schools agree on fundamental principles and that differences are mainly in areas open to ijtihad (interpretation). It concludes by stating that scholars who engage in valid ijtihad are rewarded, regardless of whether their conclusions are right or wrong, as long as they remain within the bounds of the faith.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Faith (الإيمان)

Faith refers to belief in essential spiritual principles like God, His angels, His scriptures, and the Day of Judgment. In the video, it emphasizes that belief in these core principles is foundational to the Islamic creed and not subject to personal interpretation or sectarian differences.

💡Creed (العقيدة)

Creed in this context refers to the set of beliefs a Muslim must hold, including belief in God, the Prophets, and predestination. It forms the basis of what is expected of a person’s faith, as described in the script, aligning with traditional teachings brought by Prophet Muhammad.

💡Sectarianism (مذاهب)

Sectarianism refers to the division of Islamic thought into different schools of thought or sects. The script highlights that these divisions emerged after the time of the early generations of Muslims (Companions and Successors) and stresses that the original beliefs were unified, warning against sects that deviate from foundational principles.

💡Sunni Schools of Theology (مذاهب أهل السنة)

The Sunni Schools of Theology refer to the main theological frameworks followed by Sunni Muslims. These include the Athari, Ash'ari, and Maturidi schools, which differ slightly in their approaches but agree on core beliefs. The script specifically mentions the three main Sunni theological schools, focusing on their adherence to foundational Islamic principles.

💡Innovative Interpretations (اجتهاد بدعي)

Innovative Interpretations refer to theological ideas that deviate from core Islamic teachings and introduce unorthodox concepts. The video condemns these interpretations, labeling them as ‘innovative’ and thus not valid according to the principles laid out by the early generations of Muslims.

💡Predestination (القدر)

Predestination is the belief that all events, good or bad, happen according to God's will and plan. It’s one of the six articles of faith mentioned in the script, underscoring its importance in the overall theological framework of Islamic belief.

💡Companions of the Prophet (أصحاب الرسول)

The Companions of the Prophet are those who lived during the time of Prophet Muhammad and followed his teachings. The script emphasizes that the early Muslims, including the Companions, adhered to a unified belief system and that sectarian differences only arose later.

💡Ahl al-Hadith (أهل الحديث)

Ahl al-Hadith refers to scholars and followers who adhere strictly to the hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet) as the primary source for religious rulings and theology. The script explains this as one of the key theological schools, commonly referred to today as the Salafi movement, though the term 'Salafi' was not originally applied.

💡Ash'ari Theology (الأشعرية)

Ash'ari Theology is a school of thought founded by Al-Ash'ari, who initially followed the rationalist Mutazila school but later turned to a more orthodox interpretation. The script mentions Al-Ash'ari’s shift back to the Sunni framework, illustrating how his theological school became a key part of Sunni orthodoxy.

💡Maturidi Theology (الماتريدية)

Maturidi Theology is another major Sunni theological school that is closely aligned with Ash'ari thought but differs on a few points. The video script mentions Maturidi as a respected and established school within Sunni theology, particularly in its association with the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.

Highlights

Knowledge is the foundation of building civilizations and reviving the glory of past generations.

The core of faith (Aqeedah) is belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and predestination (both good and bad).

These fundamental beliefs were brought by the Prophet Muhammad and understood by his companions. They were not associated with any sects or schools of thought that emerged later.

The division of schools of thought only began after the time of the Companions and their followers.

The differences beyond the fundamental beliefs are related to jurisprudential issues and philosophical questions, which emerged as a result of personal interpretations.

Innovative interpretations that contradict core texts and principles, leading to heretical views, are rejected.

Examples of deviant theological sects include the Mu'tazila, Jahmiyya, Qadariyya, and Jabriyya.

Accepted schools of thought that align with core beliefs are known as the Sunni schools of thought in creed.

Three prominent Sunni theological schools are the Athari (often associated with Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal), the Ash'ari (founded by Al-Ash'ari), and the Maturidi (founded by Al-Maturidi).

The Athari school is based on a literal understanding of the Quran and Hadith without delving into rationalistic interpretations.

The Ash'ari school was founded by Al-Ash'ari, who was initially a Mu'tazilite but returned to Sunni thought and became a key figure in defending traditional beliefs.

The Maturidi school, founded by Abu Mansur Al-Maturidi, is closely aligned with the Ash'ari school but differs in certain theological points.

Despite differences in jurisprudential and theological interpretations, the Sunni schools of thought agree on the core beliefs and principles.

These theological schools are similar to the major Sunni schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali), and the Muslim community has accepted their diversity.

Scholars from different theological schools were respected and did not accuse each other of heresy as long as they adhered to the core beliefs of Sunni Islam.