BENEFIT 90: I'm already a Muslim, why do I need to study ’Aqīdah?
24 January 2024 • 1.5K views
Sheikh Fawzān raḥimahullāh wrote:
“Teaching Muslims correct ‘Aqīdah does not mean we have judged them to be disbelievers. But rather, we teach them (correct) ‘Aqīdah in order for them to know it thoroughly and to be aware of that which nullifies it and falls contrary to it. So it is essential to learn Tawḥīd, since this is the basis & foundation. And no one refrains from learning Tawḥīd except one of two individuals:
1⃣. An ignorant person; and the ignorant one is given no weight
Or
2⃣. A bigoted deviant; who wishes to avert people from the ‘Aqīdah of pure Tawḥīd and to conceal from them his own false beliefs as well other false beliefs that are ascribed to Islām.
‘Umar ibn Al-Khaṭṭāb raḍhiyallāhu ‘anhu said: “Soon the bonds of Islām will be
loosened bit by bit, because people will enter into Islām but will be unaware of Jāhiliyyah (ignorant practices).”
[Related by Ibn Taymiyyah in his Majmū‘ Fatāwā (10/301)]
Hudhayfah Ibn Al-Yamān, one of the distinguished Companions raḍhiyallāhu ‘anhu said: “People used to ask the Messenger ﷺ about good, but I used to ask him about evil, for fear of falling into it.
[Related by Al-Bukhāri (no. 3606) and Muslim (no.1847)]
What this means is that we desire that they should be thoroughly aware of the correct Islamic ‘Aqīdah; so as to cling to it, and to be aware of what opposes it; so as to keep far away from it.
Allāh the most high said whilst addressing His Prophet ﷺ:
{فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّهُۥ لَاۤ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِۗ واللهُ یَعۡلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمۡ وَمَثۡوَىٰكُمۡ}
“So have knowledge about
لا إله إلا الله
(i.e, have knowledge that none has the right to be worshipped except Allāh), and seek forgiveness for your sins, and for the believing men and women.”
[Sūrah Muḥammad: 19]
Allāh the most high said:
{وَمَا كَانَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لِیَنفِرُوا۟ كَاۤفَّةࣰۚ فَلَوۡلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرۡقَةࣲ مِّنۡهُمۡ طَاۤىِٕفَةࣱ لِّیَتَفَقَّهُوا۟ فِی ٱلدِّینِ وَلِیُنذِرُوا۟ قَوۡمَهُمۡ إِذَا رَجَعُوۤا۟ إِلَیۡهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَحۡذَرُونَ}
“It is not necessary for the believers to march forth all at once. Only a party from each group should march forth, leaving the rest to gain religious knowledge then enlighten their people when they return to them, so that they ˹too˺ may beware ˹of evil˺.”
[Sūrah At-Tawbah 122]
Also, the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “If Allāh wants good for a person, He gives him understanding of the religion.
[Related by Bukhāri from the ḥadīth of Mu‘āwiyah]
The meaning of this ḥadīth is that, if Allāh does not want to good for a person, He does not give him understanding of the religion.
So it is essential to aquire sound knowledge and understanding of the religion; because if a person does not have sound knowledge he may fall into dangers without realising it. So the one who says, I don't need to learn ‘Aqīdah, it is as if he is saying, I do not need to gain understanding of the religion. And this is said by either an ignorant person, or one who is misguided.”
📚 Source: Al-Istiqāmah magazine [issue 8 Shawwāl (1418H/ Feb 1998)]