Fundamentals of Islamic Belief
Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,
In these last few days of Ramadan, we should maximize our time in increasing our Ibadah and leave no regret when leaving Ramadan. When we look back at the last 20 days of fasting, we realize that abstaining from food and drink is only a small part of it, in reality, it is one of the methods that helps us to gain the Taqwa of Allah and get closer to Him. You may invite some non-Muslim friends to fast with you, but most of them wouldn’t be able to fast for 30 days like us, because they don’t understand who they are fasting for, and who they are doing this for. This is why, to first understand clearly who we are doing all of these good deeds for, is far more important than the deeds, especially in these last days of Ramadan, we need to keep on reminding ourselves of this reality while we are focused on our Dhikr and remembrance of Allah.
When the prophets of Allah begin spreading the message of Islam, they do not begin with anything except the fundamental understandings of Tawhid, the Oneness of Allah. Without the correct understanding, none of the good deeds, including the fasting that we have been doing for the last 20 days, will be beneficial.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَقَدِمْنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ مِنْ عَمَلٍۢ فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هَبَآءًۭ مَّنثُورًا
Then We will turn to whatever ˹good˺ deeds they did, reducing them to scattered dust. [25:23]
If the reasons behind our good deeds are not because of Allah, if we don’t have the right understanding of who Allah is, then whatever good deeds that we have previously done, will be like dust.
There are three fundamental principles in our Aqeedah, our core belief. If we can preserve them and understand them and follow them, then they will serve as a shield to protect us against doubts and suspicions in Islam.
The first principle is that we don’t take our belief except from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, the word of Allah and the teachings of the Prophet (SAW). We don’t take our beliefs from dreams or illusions or guesses, nor do we add our own beliefs into Islam. This is similar to when you have a firm belief that a chef from a restaurant can make good food, you don’t need to doubt the ability of the chef to know the basic things such as how to wash the vegetables, how to cut them or how to turn on the fire. After already knowing how good this chef is, there is no need to take our own ways and doubt his ability. Of course, you have to first do your own research and find out the evidences that show how good this chef is, and once you are convinced, then you should rely on his abilities. Similarly in Islam, after we do our research and truly understand the greatness of Allah and understand His abilities and His attributes, then there is no need to doubt the things that He commands us to do, or even propose another idea or solution to the things that He has already told us to do.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
واعتصموا بحبل الله جميعا ولا تفرقوا
Hold firmly to the rope of Allah, and do not be divided. [3:102]
فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
Those who have believed in the Prophet, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful. [7:157]
The light mentioned in this verse is the Qur’an which Allah has commanded us to follow. The Prophet (SAW) also said:
عَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ، عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ
So hold tight to my Sunnah and the examples of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who will come after me. Adhere to them and hold onto them.
The second principle is that we do not interpret our beliefs except by the way of how the Early Companions understood the Qur’an and Sunnah. The reason behind that is that they were the most intelligent generation and Allah has praised them for their understanding, and Allah has chosen these people for the Prophet (SAW) and chosen them to witness the revelations to the Prophet alongside him. Allah (SWT) has praised the Sahabah in Surah al-Fath:
لَّقَدْ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ
Certainly Allāh was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you during the Bay’at al-Ridwan. [48:18]
Allah also said:
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍۢ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ
Those who have migrated with the Prophet (the Muhajireen) and the Helpers (the Ansar) those who followed them in goodness, Allāh is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him [9:100]
This shows the importance of following the opinions of the early companions rather than following our own thoughts and our own interpretations of the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet, which is a common mistake made by many Muslims and even non-Muslims who are trying to understand the essence of Islam. For example, if we would like to learn how to play basketball properly, then we should learn from professional basketball players instead of random people on the streets. If we want to learn any skill properly, then surely we should learn from those who are the best at it, and the ones who are the best at practicing Islam were the early companions.
The third principle is that we don’t delve into things that are beyond the Ilm al-Ghayb using our minds. The pillars of our faith are mainly based on the unseen, for example, belief in Allah, in the angels, in Jinn, in the day of judgment, we only accept and believe in what is mentioned to us, and we shouldn’t go beyond what is hidden from us. Our minds and imagination have their limits, similar to our vision, our eyes have their limits; our hearing has its limits. There are things in this world that our minds will not be able to comprehend in this world, so as Muslims, one of the qualities that we should have is to believe in the unseen, even when we cannot feel or sense them. This is mentioned in the very beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah:
ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ
This is a book that has no doubt, and it is a guidance for the Muttaqin, those who have Taqwa in Allah, and these are the people who believe in the unseen.
These are the three principles of Aqeedah, our core beliefs in Islam, and if we are able to hold onto them, then they should protect us from the Fitna and divisions within our own communities. May Allah (SWT) make us among those who understand His words, may Allah make us among those who are on the path of the righteous people, and may Allah strengthen our Iman.
BACK KHUTBAH
In these last few days of Ramadan, we should maximize our time in increasing our Ibadah and leave no regret when leaving Ramadan. When we look back at the last 20 days of fasting, we realize that abstaining from food and drink is only a small part of it, in reality, it is one of the methods that helps us to gain the Taqwa of Allah and get closer to Him. You may invite some non-Muslim friends to fast with you, but most of them wouldn’t be able to fast for 30 days like us, because they don’t understand who they are fasting for, and who they are doing this for. This is why, to first understand clearly who we are doing all of these good deeds for, is far more important than the deeds, especially in these last days of Ramadan, we need to keep on reminding ourselves of this reality while we are focused on our Dhikr and remembrance of Allah.
When the prophets of Allah begin spreading the message of Islam, they do not begin with anything except the fundamental understandings of Tawhid, the Oneness of Allah. Without the correct understanding, none of the good deeds, including the fasting that we have been doing for the last 20 days, will be beneficial.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَقَدِمْنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ مِنْ عَمَلٍۢ فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هَبَآءًۭ مَّنثُورًا
Then We will turn to whatever ˹good˺ deeds they did, reducing them to scattered dust. [25:23]
If the reasons behind our good deeds are not because of Allah, if we don’t have the right understanding of who Allah is, then whatever good deeds that we have previously done, will be like dust.
There are three fundamental principles in our Aqeedah, our core belief. If we can preserve them and understand them and follow them, then they will serve as a shield to protect us against doubts and suspicions in Islam.
The first principle is that we don’t take our belief except from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, the word of Allah and the teachings of the Prophet (SAW). We don’t take our beliefs from dreams or illusions or guesses, nor do we add our own beliefs into Islam. This is similar to when you have a firm belief that a chef from a restaurant can make good food, you don’t need to doubt the ability of the chef to know the basic things such as how to wash the vegetables, how to cut them or how to turn on the fire. After already knowing how good this chef is, there is no need to take our own ways and doubt his ability. Of course, you have to first do your own research and find out the evidences that show how good this chef is, and once you are convinced, then you should rely on his abilities. Similarly in Islam, after we do our research and truly understand the greatness of Allah and understand His abilities and His attributes, then there is no need to doubt the things that He commands us to do, or even propose another idea or solution to the things that He has already told us to do.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
واعتصموا بحبل الله جميعا ولا تفرقوا
Hold firmly to the rope of Allah, and do not be divided. [3:102]
فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
Those who have believed in the Prophet, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful. [7:157]
The light mentioned in this verse is the Qur’an which Allah has commanded us to follow. The Prophet (SAW) also said:
عَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ، عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ
So hold tight to my Sunnah and the examples of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who will come after me. Adhere to them and hold onto them.
The second principle is that we do not interpret our beliefs except by the way of how the Early Companions understood the Qur’an and Sunnah. The reason behind that is that they were the most intelligent generation and Allah has praised them for their understanding, and Allah has chosen these people for the Prophet (SAW) and chosen them to witness the revelations to the Prophet alongside him. Allah (SWT) has praised the Sahabah in Surah al-Fath:
لَّقَدْ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ
Certainly Allāh was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you during the Bay’at al-Ridwan. [48:18]
Allah also said:
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍۢ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ
Those who have migrated with the Prophet (the Muhajireen) and the Helpers (the Ansar) those who followed them in goodness, Allāh is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him [9:100]
This shows the importance of following the opinions of the early companions rather than following our own thoughts and our own interpretations of the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet, which is a common mistake made by many Muslims and even non-Muslims who are trying to understand the essence of Islam. For example, if we would like to learn how to play basketball properly, then we should learn from professional basketball players instead of random people on the streets. If we want to learn any skill properly, then surely we should learn from those who are the best at it, and the ones who are the best at practicing Islam were the early companions.
The third principle is that we don’t delve into things that are beyond the Ilm al-Ghayb using our minds. The pillars of our faith are mainly based on the unseen, for example, belief in Allah, in the angels, in Jinn, in the day of judgment, we only accept and believe in what is mentioned to us, and we shouldn’t go beyond what is hidden from us. Our minds and imagination have their limits, similar to our vision, our eyes have their limits; our hearing has its limits. There are things in this world that our minds will not be able to comprehend in this world, so as Muslims, one of the qualities that we should have is to believe in the unseen, even when we cannot feel or sense them. This is mentioned in the very beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah:
ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ
This is a book that has no doubt, and it is a guidance for the Muttaqin, those who have Taqwa in Allah, and these are the people who believe in the unseen.
These are the three principles of Aqeedah, our core beliefs in Islam, and if we are able to hold onto them, then they should protect us from the Fitna and divisions within our own communities. May Allah (SWT) make us among those who understand His words, may Allah make us among those who are on the path of the righteous people, and may Allah strengthen our Iman.