The Aqeedah(CREED) - Class 4

The Deviation from the Correct Aqeedah

has many causes, Let find out:-

1. Ignorance of the Correct Aqeedah 

Its because of turning away from learning and teaching it, or lack of attention or concern for it until a generation is raised not knowing the Aqeedah and not knowing that which opposes it and what contradicts it. The truth is then deemed to be falsehood and falsehood to be truth, as Umar Ibn Khattab (radhi allahu anhu) said, 'Verily, the bonds of Islam will be destroyed one by one, when there arise in Islam people who do not know or recognize Jahiliyah (ignorance).'

2. Bigotry (ta'assub) 

It reflects towards that, which the ancestors were upon and adhering to it even if it was false, and abandoning what opposes it, even if it was the truth. As Allah says, 'When it is said to them, 'Follow what Allah has sent down.' They say, 'Nay! We shall follow what we found our fathers following.' (Would they do that!) Even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided?' [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 170]

 

3. Blind-Following (Taqleed) 

 By accepting people's statements in Aqeedah without knowing its proof or level of authenticity, as is the case of the Jahmiyyah and Mutazilah, and Ash'aaris and Soofis and others, whereby they (blindly) followed their scholars of deviation who preceded them and thus, they were misguided and went astray from the correct beliefs.

 

4. Extremism or Exaggeration (in honoring) the Awliya

And Saliheen (the righteous) and raising them above their status where it is believed that they bring benefits and prevent harm, in a manner, which none has the ability except Allah. Taking them as intermediaries between Allah and His creation in fulfilling needs and answering the duaa until the matter turns into their worship other than Allah. Seeking nearness to their tombs through sacrifices, vows (nadhr), supplication, seeking aid and asking for help like what occurred among the people of Nuh u regarding the pious, when they said, 'You shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave Wadd, nor Suwa', nor Yaghuth, nor Ya'uq, nor Nasr (names of the idols).' [Soorah Nuh (71):23] Such is the case of the grave-worshippers of today in many countries.

 

5. Negligence in pondering over the universal and Qur'aanic Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc) of Allah, and being overwhelmed by the facts and figures of the material civilization until they think that this is from the man's ability alone, and they glorify man, and attribute these accomplishments to his (man's) endeavors and experiments alone, as Qaroon said, 'This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.' [Soorah al-Qasas (28): 78] and as man says, 'This is for me (due to my merit),' [Soorah Fussilat (41): 50]

'Only because of knowledge (that I possess) I obtained it.' [Soorah az-Zumar (39): 49]

They do not ponder or look at the glory of the One, Who originated this universe, and bestowed in it these magnificent wonders, and He, Who originated man and conferred upon him the ability to derive and utilize these benefits. 'While Allah has created you and what you make!' [Soorah as-Saffat (37): 96]

'Do they not look in the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all things that Allah has created.' [Soorah al-A'raf (7): 185]

'Allah is He, Who has created the heavens and the earth and sends down water (rain) from the sky, and thereby brought forth fruits as provision for you; and He has made the ships to be of service to you, that they may sail through the sea by His Command; and He has made rivers (also) to be of service to you. And He has made the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses, to be of service to you; and He has made the night and the day, to be of service to you. And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you count the Blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them.' [Soorah Ibraheem (14): 32-34]

 

6. Largely houses have become empty of the correct guidelines. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said, 'Every child is born upon Fitrah (natural inborn instinct which recognizes his Lord), but his parents make him a Jew, a Christian or a fire-worshiper.' [Agreed upon] Thus, parents play a big role in setting right the child's way of life.

7. Lack of importance to the means of teaching and spreading knowledge in most of the Islamic world. More often, the methods of teaching do not give much importance to the religious part, or they are careless in this regard from the beginning. The means of transmitting knowledge, whether textual, audio-visual or verbal have mostly become tools of destruction and misguidance, or they are more involved in material and entertaining obsessions. They do not care about building (good) character, instilling the correct Aqeedah, or combating the misguided trends, until there arises a generation defenseless against the army of Ilhad (misguidance).