The Necessity of Learning the Muslim Creed

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

The Necessity of Learning the Muslim Creed

Dr. Salih Al-Fawzan



Know well, may Allah guide me and you, that it is obligatory on every Muslim to learn the sound Islamic Creed, to know its meaning and its principles as well as what contradicts and nullifies it of the major or minor shirk (polytheism). Allah, the Almighty, says:
"So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin …" (Qur'an, Surah Muhammad: 19)


Imam Al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote a chapter in his Sahih (Authentic) Book of Hadith entitled Acquiring Religious Knowledge before Saying and Acting then he cited the above-mentioned noble Qur'anic verse. Commenting on that, Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar quoted Ibnul-Munir as saying:
"Al-Bukhari means that obtaining knowledge is a condition stipulated for the validity of one’s sayings and deeds, therefore they are judged on its basis. Thus, religious knowledge takes precedence over both saying and acting, for knowledge corrects ones intention which is the pre-requisite for the acceptance of one’s deeds... "


Considering this, Muslim scholars have exerted earnest efforts in learning the rulings of the sound Muslim Creed and teaching it, regarding it as one of the basic types of knowledge. So, they have composed many books on the Muslim Creed, clarifying its rules and principles and illustrating the acts of shirk, superstitions and Bid'ahs (innovations in religion) that spoil and nullify one's belief.


Therefore, the phrase "There is no deity that is worthy of worship except Allah" is not just a word voiced by the tongue, but it has a great connotation, meaning and implication. Thus one should know all these aspects and act according to them externally and internally. In addition one should know about the things that contradict and spoil the Muslim Creed. Surely the only way to attain such knowledge is via learning.


Therefore, teaching the Muslim Creed should take precedence over other subjects and should be given great attention while selecting the curricula to be taught in schools at all stages. Furthermore, sufficient classes should be allocated for teaching the Muslim Creed, which should be taught by competent teachers. Moreover, the Muslim Creed should be a core subject in the syllabus, and the evaluation system should attend to such a crucial subject, which is not the case in most of the current syllabuses in our educational institutes. As a matter of fact the study of Muslim Creed is not given as much attention as that given to other subjects. As such, it is most likely that the rising generation will be ignorant about the sound Muslim Creed; they may accept the practices of polytheism. Bid’ahs and superstitions prevailing in the society as they have found people doing that and have not been informed that such matters are invalid.


Consequently, 'Umar Ibnul-Khattab said:
"Peoples adherence to the teachings of Islam will decrease as long as there arise Muslim people who have not lived in the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance (the Jahiliyyah)."


Moreover, the Muslim Creed textbooks. to be taught in schools should be selected from among books containing the sound creed adopted by the righteous Salaf (early Muslim scholars) and the Adherents of the Sunnah and Muslim Community; and which accords with the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Other books contradictory to the doctrine adopted by the Salaf, like the books containing the doctrinal principles laid down by the Ash'arites. Mu'tazilah, the Jahmiyyah and the other sects deviating from the creed adopted by the Salaf, should be ruled out.


In addition to the academic study carried out in educational institutes, there should be religious seminars and sessions held in the mosques, in which the doctrine adopted by the Salaf should be taught. In these sessions both texts and explanations on the doctrine of the Salaf should be provided for the students and all the audiences attending these sessions. Besides, simple synopses should be taught to the lay people. By doing this, the authentic doctrine will spread among the Muslim community. In addition, there should be ongoing religious radio programs on the Muslim Creed.


Moreover, Muslim individuals should pay special attention to the Muslim Creed; they should read books on it and get well informed about the books written on it according to the methodology of the Salaf, as well as about the books written by the opponents of the Salaf so as to have deep insight about the authentic creed and to be able to refute the allegations concocted against the creed adopted by the Adherents of the Sunnah.


Muslim brother! When you reflect on the Glorious Qur'an you will find many Qur'anic verses and Surahs devoted to such crucial issues of the Muslim Creed More precisely, the Qur'anic Surahs revealed at Mecca shed light on the issues related to the Muslim Creed and the claims raised about it. One of these is the Surah of AI-Fatihah (the Opening Surah).


Commenting on the Surah of AI-Fatihah, the eminent Imam, Ibnul-Qayyim, says:
"Know well, O Muslims, that this Surah contains the most important supreme requirements in a very comprehensive way; it includes a definition of the worshipped, the Almighty, giving Him three of the Most Glorious Names upon which all the Sublime, Glorious Names and Attributes are based; they involve Allah's Divinity, Lordship and Mercy. Thus the words 'It is You we worship …' (Qur'an: Al-Fatihah: 5) refer to the Divinity of Allah; the words ‘… and You we ask for help…’ (Qur'an: Al-Fatihah: 5) tackle the issue of Allah's Lordship; and Allah's command to people to ask for guidance from Him has to do with His mercy. Moreover, the phrase '[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds' (Qur'an: Al-Fatihah: 2) includes the three Most Glorious Names; Allah's Divinity, Lordship and Mercifulness are praised; besides, both the praise and extolment of Allah are signs of His perfection. Furthermore, the Surah of AI-Fatihah comprises a confirmation of the Day of Judgment as well as the fact that all human beings will be called to account for their deeds; the good and bad ones. It is Allah Alone Who will carry out the Judgment between creatures; He will judge people with fairness. All this is included in Allah's words 'Sovereign of the Day of Recompense' (Qur'an: AI-Fatihah: 4). Moreover, this Surah confirms the prophethood of Allah's Prophets through several aspects:


In addition, Ibnul-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) explains these aspects in a long useful discussion till he concluded:
"The whole Quran revolves around the Oneness of Allah, its requirements, and the reward of believing in it, as well as the state of the people of polytheism and the punishment waiting for them. Therefore, the words '[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds -' (Qur'an: Al-Fatihah: 2) declare the Oneness of Allah, and also the words 'The Entirely Merciful, The Especially Merciful' (Qur'an: Al-Fatihah: 3) are a declaration of the Oneness of Allah. Similarly, the words 'Guide us to the straight path - the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor' (Qur'an: Al-Fatihah: 6-7) comprise a supplication for guidance to the way of the people of monotheism. Besides, the words ‘… not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray' (Qur'an: Al-Fatihah: 7) involve a supplication for guidance in avoiding the way of those who abandoned belief in the Oneness of Allah.'"


Ibnul-Qayyim adds saying:
"Most of the Surahs of the Qur’an include the two types of Tawhid (monotheism); thus the Qur’an sometimes talks about Allah. His Names and Attributes; this is called the academic declarative Tawhid. Some other times it calls people to worship Allah and believe that He is One and has no partners and to abandon worshipping any other partners with Him; this is called the volitional Tawhid. Still at other times, it gives orders and prohibitions and urges people to commit themselves to the worship of Allah; these are among the requirements of Tawhid. The Qur’an, at some other times, refers to the favors Allah gives to the people of Tawhid in this world and the final bliss He will give them in the Hereafter. Further, it also sheds light on the suffering of the people of shirk (polytheism) in this world and the severe chastisement Allah will inflict on them in the Hereafter; this is the punishment of those who abandon believing in the Oneness of Allah.”


In spite of the fact that the Qur'an assigns great attention to the Muslim Creed, many of the people who recite the Qur'an do not understand the Muslim Creed correctly, so they commit grave mistakes, for they follow the doctrines they have seen their fathers adopting. They do not recite the Qur'an with reflection; O Allah, there is no power nor might except with You.