Articles

Aqida is the Essence of Mysticism
Author : Dr. Jadallah Bassam
Date Added : 27-11-2022

Aqida is the Essence of Mysticism

 

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah`s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

 

Straightening of life affairs is the aspiration of the highly motivated and people with high souls. This is a principle that continues rising steadily until it reaches the utmost of human wishes.

 

Scholars of Sharia have paid considerable attention to different types of perfection. The most important three are as follows: perfection of the intellect; which is the specialty of Theology, practical perfection; which is the specialty of Fiqh, and spiritual perfection, which is the specialty of mysticism.

 

The utmost degree of perfection is when man is enabled to carry out the highest of human functions, to be a slave to none but Almighty Allah. Therefore, the higher the degree of this perfection, the higher the degree of mysticism, and this is where the phrase "Aqida is the Essence of Mysticism" was derived.

 

This significant principle was emphasized by some of the greatest scholars from among Ahlussunnah Wal Jamaah, such as Al-Qushairi, Al-Ghazali, Al-Sheikh Zarook, and Tajudeen Al-Subki. Based on this important principle, the paths of accepted mysticism were founded.

 

Al-Qushairi Al-`Ash`ari introduced his book [Al-Risala Al-Qushairiyah] with aspects on Aqida. He {May Allah have mercy on him} said: "Beware! May Allah have mercy on you that the leaders of this sect have based their foundations on the valid principle of Tawheed /Islamic Monotheism." [Al-Risala Al-Qushairiyah, Sharfawi printing/ pp.84}. Therefore, the head of this method, Al-Junaid (May Allah have mercy on him) said: "Tawheed is differentiating between the creator (Allah) and the creation."

Al-Ghazali {May Allah have mercy on him} did the same when he dedicated the first part of his book [Ehyaa` Ulum Al-Deen] for Aqida since it is the essence of the religion of Islam. The same was done by Al-Subki in his book [Jam`u Al-Jawami`] where he gave precedence to issues on Aqida over issues on mysticism. It is as if he was saying that Aqida for mysticism is like the soul for the body. "The balance of Allah rests on three: the intellect, the Quran, and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH), and all these three are a must." [Hallu Ar-Romooz, pp.286].

 

According to scholarly consensus, belief is the essence of mysticism, so one who seeks mysticism without sound Aqida is like one chasing rainbows while the one who denies mysticism in its totality is characterized with narrow-mindedness.

 

The reason for writing this article is that some people claim that mysticism is contrary to knowledge, so I hope that this article along with the statements of the learned men of the faith have made things clear. And All perfect praise is due to Allah The Lord of The Worlds.

 

 

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author




Comments


Captcha


Warning: this window is not dedicated to receive religious questions, but to comment on topics published for the benefit of the site administrators—and not for publication. We are pleased to receive religious questions in the section "Send Your Question". So we apologize to readers for not answering any questions through this window of "Comments" for the sake of work organization. Thank you.




Summarized Fatawaa

Do certain vaginal discharges and incontinence of urine nullify ablution, and should underwear be changed?

A person afflicted with constant impurity due to urinary incontinence and vaginal discharges is obliged to make ablution for every obligatory prayer when its time is due, and after removing Najaasah (impurity), and wearing a clean diaper. He/she is obliged to pray immediately even if the impurity is being released, and he/she is obliged to remake ablution, and the aforementioned for every obligatory prayer.

My husband wanted to sell a piece of land that was his own, but his father insisted that he transfer the land in his (the father’s) name so that he could sell it at a higher price. Then, my husband and his father would split the price. After my father-in-law sold the land, he denied everything and refused to acknowledge my husband’s right. My father-in-law passed away a year ago, and my husband’s brothers divided the inheritance, refusing to acknowledge that this land was a trust held by their father for my husband until it was sold. Are they sinful for knowingly denying that the land belongs to my husband, and what is the ruling on praying against them?
 
 
 
 
 

All perfect praise be to Alalh, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.
Among the rights of the deceased upon their heirs are: preparing them for burial at death, settling their debts, returning people’s rights to them, executing their will, and then dividing their estate. What was mentioned in the question falls under the rights of others, even if they are among the heirs, and the deceased is not absolved of it unless it is returned to its rightful owners. This is because Allah, Almighty, forbids consuming others' wealth/properties unjustly. However, do not give up on seeking a solution by involving righteous and well - respected individuals who may have influence over them, in the hope that Allah guides them to goodness and correctness. As for supplicating against them, the prayer of the oppressed is not rejected, even if the oppressed person is not a Muslim. And Allah knows best.
 
 
 
 
 

What is the Du`a (supplication) of Istikhara (guidance prayer)?

O Allah, I consult You as You are All-Knowing and I appeal to You to give me power as You are Omnipotent, I ask You for Your great favor, for You have power and I do not, and You know all of the hidden matters. O Allah! If you know that this matter (then he should mention it) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and for my life in the Hereafter, or he said: "for my present and future life" then make it (easy) for me. And if you know that this matter is not good for me in my religion, my livelihood and my life in the Hereafter, or he said: "for my present and future life" then keep it away from me and take me away from it and choose what is good for me wherever it is and please me with it."

I have vowed that if Allah gave me what I wanted so bad, I would fast every Monday and Thursday to the rest of my life; unless there is a valid excuse hindering me from doing so. Fortunately, Allah gave me what I wanted, so I started fasting Mondays and Thursdays; however, I stopped out of laziness. What is the Sharia ruling on this?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah`s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Allah The Almighty described the righteous people of Jannah where He Said (What means): "They perform (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil flies far and wide." [Al-Insan/7]. Accordingly, you must do your best to fulfill your vow. However, if you are unable to do so, then feed a poor person for every missed day of fast (About half a JD), and if you are unable to do that, then offer expiation for breaking a vow, which is feeding ten poor Muslims (About half a JD for each), ask Allah for forgiveness and increase remembrance of Him. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.