BENEFIT 169: The first obligation upon the Mukallaf

Questioner: May Allah reward you with goodness and kindness. This questioner asks: Our esteemed Sheikh, we seek a detailed explanation and clarification regarding the statement of the theologians (ahlul-kalam) that the first obligation is to know Allāh through contemplation (النظر), or the intention to contemplate (القصد إلى النظر), or through doubt (الشك). What do they mean by this, what are their proofs, and how do we refute them? Sheikh Suleiman Al-Ruhaili, may Allah grant him success, says: Their statement "the first obligation" means the first thing required of a servant. According to Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah, as indicated by the texts and the consensus of the Salaf, the first obligation upon the morally responsible individual (المكلف) is Tawheed; to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger. When the Prophet ﷺ sent Mu'adh to the people of Yemen, he instructed him that the first thing to call them to is Tawheed; the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger. It was never reported from the Prophet ﷺ that if someone came wanting to accept Islam, he would tell him to go and contemplate first, then return. However, the people of innovation said that the first obligation upon the morally responsible individual is contemplation. Some of them said contemplation must be preceded by something. What is that? They said it is the intention, which is القصد. Thus, the first obligation is the intention to contemplate. Others said no, before intention and القصد, something must precede, which is doubt; because if one contemplates while already believing, there is no benefit in contemplation. So they say to him, if you are a monotheist, first doubt monotheism. Madness! If you are a monotheist, that is not appropriate! I seek refuge in Allah! You come with your natural disposition, with monotheism...I seek refuge in Allah! No, doubt! After doubting, contemplate the stars, the night, and the day, then establish Tawhid. This is certainly contrary to reason and revelation. Their source of ruin was down to them believing that the revelation does not lead to certainty, and that the intellect, which they called contemplation, is the path to certainty. Therefore, they believed that revelation must be preceded by certainty through contemplation, then comes monotheism and belief in revelation. This is intellectually and legally invalid. The speech of Allah provides definitive and certain knowledge. This is the belief of the simple Muslims. When they hear an Āyah, they say, "I believe in Allah." The authentic Hadiths of the Prophet ﷺ provide certainty and decisiveness to those who recognise the status of the Prophet ﷺ. This is the summary of the matter. Yes. Source: https://t.me/almanhajussalafi/520