Let’s start with what “`Aqīdah” actually is
al-`Aqīdah
Linguistic: Fortitude, Foundation, Structure etc.
Islāmic: Religio-Academic Euphemism for the 6-Arkān/Pillars of al-Īmān (Islāmic-Belief/Faith).
What’re the 6-Arkān of al-Īmān?!!!
Good-Question…
…Answer:
1. Belief in Allah
2. Belief in al-Malā’ikah (Angels)
3. Belief in al-Kutub (Revelatory-Scriptures/Books)
4. Belief in ar-Rusul (Prophetic-Individuals/Messengers)
5. Belief in Yawm-il-Ākhir (the Last-Day/Judgment-Day)
6. Belief in al-Qadr wal-Qadhā’ (Decree&Providence)
(an-Nawawī)
Let’s unpack precisely what at-Tawhīd is
at-Tawhīd
Linguistic: Uniqueness, Unity, Oneness, Exclusivity, etc.
Islāmic: The Distinction of Allah (from Creation) with whatever Quality They possesses.
at-Tawhīd has 3-Categories:
1. Tawhīd-ur-Rubūbiyyah
Linguistic: Oneness-Of-Lordship
Islāmic: The Distinction of Allah (from Creation) via Their Actions.
2. Tawhīd-ul-Ulūhiyyah
Linguistic: Oneness-Of-Divinity
Islāmic: The Distinction of Allah (from Creation) via our Actions.
3. Tawhīd-ul-Asmā’ was-Sifāt-
Linguistic: Oneness-Of-Names&Characteristics
Islāmic: The Distinction of Allah (from Creation) via Their Names & Characteristics
Tawhīd-ul-Asmā’ was-Sifāt has 2-Categories:
1. Essential-
Characteristics (which are often derived from Names) that do not require Action.
2. Active-
Characteristics (which are often derived from Names) that require Action.
Various `Aqīdah-Concepts/Terms
ash-Shirk-
Linguistic: Association
Islamic: To worship other than Allah, or to ascribe something false to Allah.
ath-Thabūtiyyah
Linguistic: Affirmation/Establishment
Islamic: Whatever Allah affirms for Themselves via at-Tanzīl/Revelation.
as-Salbiyyah
Linguistic: Negation
Islāmic: Whatever Allah negates/prohibits for Themselves via at-Tanzīl.
at-Tahrīf
Linguistic: Distortion/Adulteration
Islāmic: The Corruption of at-Tanzīl and/or its Meanings.
at-Takyīf
Linguistic: How/Howness
Islamic: Questioning what Allah affirms/confirms for Themselves, either via The Qur’ān, or via as-Sunnah/the Prophetic-Tradition.
at-Tamthīl/at-Tashbīh/at-Tajsīm
Linguistic: Likeness, Assimilation, Anthropomorphism, Theophany, etc.
Islamic: Attempting to claim that Allah is “similar” to Creation and/or attempting to “equate” Creation to Allah.
at-Ta`tīl
Linguistic: Rejection
Islāmic: To reject whatever Allah affirms/confirms for Themselves, and/or whatever Allah reveals via The Qur’ān & as-Sunnah.
at-Tanzīh
Linguistic: Flawlessness/Perfection
Islāmic: Rejection of any&all Imperfections/Flaws, which’re attempted to be attributed to Allah from Creation.
Now, one would think that this would be the End-Of-Story Conclusion…Right?!!! Wrong Unfortunately, because of al-Ikhtilāf/Scholastic-Differing due to al-`Ibārāt/Theological-Interpretations: the Muslim-World for the past 12-Centuries, C.E. have been at each other’s Throats arguing over who has the “Correct-Creed”…Yeah, I know: it’s Fuckin-Retarded. But, at the Same-Time…as the Ole-Saying goes: “It is what it is.”. Amongst the Main-Source of al-Jadal/al-Khilāf/Argumentation between Muslims over al-`Aqīdah almost exclusively pertaining to the 1st-Rukn/Pillar of al-Īmān: Belief in Allah, known as the Religio-Concept “at-Tawhīd”.
`Aqā’id/Religio-Theological Schools
al-Jahmiyyah/Jahmism
Belief: Jahmīs deny Particular-Sifāt of Allah, like Eternal-Speech for example. Jahmism historically is notoriously known for claiming that The Qur’an was “created”.
Founder: Jahm ibn-Safwān (one of the Students/Followers of Ja`d ibn-Dirhām as well as a Contemporary of Ab-il-Hasan al-Ash`arī)
al-Mushabbihiyyah/Mushabbihism
Belief: Mushabbihīs claim that Allah is similar to the Creation, referring to Their Characteristics being “shared” amongst Created-Things/Beings.
Founder: Muqātil ibn-Sulaymān al-Khurasānī
al-Qadariyyah/Qadarism
Belief: Qadarīs deny of the Belief in al-Qadr (Decree/Destiny). They claim that they’re “free” from the Qadr-Of-Allah via al-Mashī’ah/Freewill.
Founder: Abū-Yūnus Sinbuyah Aswārī & Ma`bad ibn-Juhanī (one of the Students/Followers of Jahm ibn-Safwān)
al-Jabariyyah/Jabarism
Belief: Jabarīs claim that Humans don’t possess al-Mashī’ah, and aren’t responsible for their Actions. As a Result, they also disbelieve in the Day of Standing.
Founder: Ja`d ibn-Dirhām
al-Murji’iyyah/Murji’ism
Belief: Murji’īs claim that Actions aren’t an aspect of al-Īmān. Also, they claim that al-Īmān neither increases or decreases.
Founder: Ghilān ibn Abī-Ghilān al-Qadarī
al-Ash`ariyyah/Ash`arism
Belief: Ash`arīs view that the Fitrah/Nature-Of-Allah is never to be compared to Creation, hence they conclude the “Necessity” to not view the Sifāt/Characteristics-Of-Allah as being Literal, Real, Actual, etc. Also, they’re also deeply rooted in Rationalism, Rhetoric, etc. (Furthermore) Ash`arīs are particularly notoriously known for imposing Unjust-Takfīr/Blasphemy against Fellow-Muslims whom’re Non-Ash`arīs, in spite of the Progenitor/Founder of Ash`arism making Deathbed-Repentance against Unjust-Takfīr against Muslim Non-Ash`arīs.
Founder: `Alī ibn-Ismā`īl ibn-Ishāq (AKA Abul-Hasan al-Ash`arī)
al-Mu`taziliyyah/Mu`tazilism
Belief: Mu`tazilīs highly focus on Rationalism&Rhetoric (based primarily upon Greco-Roman Philosophy). Also, they claim that Allah is similar to Creation. As well, they’re notoriously known for misinterpreting al-Mashī’ah/Freewill. In addition, they also claim that The Qur’an was “created”.
Founder: Wāsil ibn-`Atā’
Historical `Aqīdah Fun-Facts
1. All-Anbiyā’/Prophetic-Individuals (from Ādam/Adam to Muhammad [Peace be upon them altogether]) were Theological-Atharīs.
2. All-Muslims from All-Umum/Nations prior to the Revelation of The Qur’ān were Theological-Atharīs.
3. At least 90% of as-Sahābah/the Companions (May Allah be pleased with them altogether) were Theological-Atharīs.
4. All of the Progenitors/Founders of any of the 8-Surviving Madhāhib/Religio-Legal Schools were Theological-Atharīs.
https://gbwrites.com/2024/03/19/tafwidhvstawil/
Progenitors/Founders of the 8-Surviving Madhāhib:
al-Ja`fariyyah/Ja`farism
Progenitor/Founder: Ja`far ibn-Muhammad
az-Zaydiyyah/Zaydism
Progenitor/Founder: Zayd ibn-`Alī
al-Hanafiyyah/Hanafism
Progenitor/Founder: an-Nu`mān ibn-Thābit
al-Mālikiyyah/Mālikism
Progenitor/Founder: Mālik ibn-Anas
ash-Shāfi`iyyah/Shāfi`ism
Progenitor/Founder: Muhammad ibn-Idrīs ash-Shāfi`ī
al-Hanbaliyyah/Hanbalism
Progenitor/Founder: Ahmad ibn-Hanbal
al-Ibādhiyyah/Ibādhism
Progenitor/Founder: `Abdullah ibn-Ibādh
azh-Zhāhiriyyah/Zhāhirism
Progenitor/Founder: Dāwud ibn-`Alī ibn-Khalaf azh-Zhāhirī
https://gbwrites.com/2024/04/26/romance3aqidahs/
Historically, for the past 12-Centuries, A.H./C.E. (relative to the Revelation of The Qur’ān)-There’s sadly been so/too much Theological-Ikhtilāf/Differing amongst & between Muslims, regarding al-`Aqīdah/Islāmic-Theology. So much so, that the Popular-Idiom “`Aqīdah/Creed-Wars” has become a Pathetic-Staple within the Muslim-World for a Long-Time. Worse yet, these “`Aqīdah-Wars” have been something (amongst Other-Things) which Muslims have literally used, manipulated, etc. as Pseydo-Justifications to impose Unjust-Hujjah/Refutation, Unjust-Takfīr/Blasphemy, etc. against Fellow-Muslims. And, that of course has evolved into Unjust-Qattāl/Violence between Fellow-Muslims. Via the Western-World specifically, the United States especially, etc. the “`Aqīdah-Wars” have been used to attempt “Islāmizing” Gang-Culture amongst Muslims & within Muslim-Communities.
https://gbwrites.com/2024/03/25/thehaqqoversuperhizbi/
I personally honestly don’t give a Fuck, as per which `Aqīdah-School one ascribes/subscribes to, so long as they’re Theologically-Muslim. But, once People start pontificating/promoting Unjust-Takfīr…that’s when I have to take a Stand. I’m 💯%-Opposed to Takfīr-Culture. And anyone whom co-signs it, I’ll always stand against them because of it. It’s because Takfīr-Culture is Mothafuckin-Evil & no Muslim has any Islāmic-Entitlement/Justification to be a Pontificate, Proponent, Promoter, etc. of Takfīr-Culture. Moreover, there’s akways a 50/50-Probability that we can be Dead-Ass Wrong about claiming that any Fellow-Muslim is a Kāfir/ Disbeliever…as Muhammad (Peace be upon them) stated:
a. “No Person accuses another of either being a Fāsiq/Sinner or a Kāfir (Disbeliever/Non-Muslim), except that he’s one himself, if the Other isn’t which he claimed.”
(al-Bukhārī)
b. “Whomever attributes/ascribes Kufr (Disbelief) to his Brother is just like his Killer/Murderer.”
(al-Bukhārī, at-Tirmidhī)
c. “If a Muslim calls someone a Kāfir (Disbeliever/Non-Muslim): if they are then let it be, otherwise they themselves are a Kāfir.”
(Abū-Dāwud)
https://gbwrites.com/2023/12/20/takfircultureisevilandcursed/
Now, why would any Muslim even want/desire to take the Risk of imposing at-Takfīr against Another-Muslim with the 50/50-Odds of them being Dead-Ass Wrong?!!! Make that Goofy-Shit make Sense. Even being Bold enough to take such a Risk is precisely the Reason I always say: There’s a Difference between Courage & Stupidity. However, sadly, Countless-Persons, for the past 12-Centuries, A.H./C.E. have foolishly taken That-Risk. I will not be That-Kind/Type of Risk-Taker. I know what I’m willing to meet Allah with & Unjust-Takfīr against Fellow-Muslims ain’t one of Those-Things.
https://gbwrites.com/2024/04/20/ignoranceapathy/
I’ve constantly/consistently been very forthright, as per my Collaborative-Efforts with Fellow-Muslims, to help me contribute to bridge Theological-Gaps between Fellow-Muslims. Reason being is because the Last-Thing which Muslims need (via the 14th-Century, A.H./21st-Century, C.E.) is to continue oppressing each other over Theological-Issues which existed Centuries before any of us alive were even Sperm-Cells & are very improbable to disappear within our Lifetimes. But, what we must do…should do…etc. is ensure that we stop using said Theological-Issues as Pseudo-Justifications to impose Oppression against one another. It’s always uncanny, when I think about the Evolution of “`Aqīdah-Wars”, specifically/especially amongst Muslims via the Western-World Region of the Muslim-World. Like, how/why did we ever allow ourselves to get caught-up in Theological-Beefs which began Centuries prior to any of our People being Muslim-Reverts/Muslim-Born?!!! This-Question remains imprinted upon my Sadr (Mind/Heart) on a Daily-Basis. And it truly hurts, that there’re Muslims anywhere on Earth whom have & whom still will impose Theft, Rape, Murder against Fellow-Muslims resulting from al-`Aqīdah being used as one of Countless Pseudo-Justifications to impose Muslim-On-Muslim Violence.
The Battle against these “`Aqīdah-Wars” is so Uphill&Stressful. Yet, at the Same-Time, any Contribution which I’ve towards eradicating it…it’ll always be worth my Time&Energy. As per Muslim-Issues, especially relative to the Region of the Muslim-World I personally hail from: the Elimination of “`Aqīdah-Wars” is a Necessary-Endeavor. Literally, the very Existence of “`Aqīdah-Wars” has been abundantly destructive to Countless Muslim-Communities via the Western-World. Speaking against & writing about the Ugliness of these “`Aqīdah-Wars” has become a Major-Staple of my Religio-Academic Research, moreover of my Religio-Activism.
Gareth Bryant
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