2. Realising the true following of the Prophet

Sincerity, as mentioned above, constitutes but one of two conditions for the action to be accepted by Allah, the Almighty. The second condition is to follow the example of the Prophet . Ibn Al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah says about those who observe sincerity in their words and actions and follow in the footsteps of the Prophet : "They are the true people of the saying: 'You [Alone] we worship' 15. All their works, words, giving, withholding, loving, hating and apparent and hidden interactions are devoted to Allah alone. They do not seek the reward or thanks of the people, nor do they seek the high status in society. They neither seek to be commended, nor avoid being defamed, because they consider people as the buried dead who can neither benefit nor harm, nor do they have power over life or death, or the raising of the dead." 14 Muslim, Tirmidhi and An-Nasaa'ee on the authority of Abu Hurairah (ra). 15 [Surah Al-Fatiha (1), Ayah 5.] 15 kind would seek the pleasure and praise of people and aspire to high position and influence in society.

Those who are aware of Man's nature and know Allah, prefer to devote themselves and their actions to seeking Allah's Pleasure and ignore the selfinterested reactions of other people. All their acts of worship are concordant with Allah's commands and what He likes and dislikes. This is the type of work which Allah accepts. Allah, Exalted is He, says (which means): "Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the Dominion, and He is Able to do all things. Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed." [Surah Al-Mulk (67), Ayah 1-2.] He also says (which means): "Lo! We have placed all that is in the earth as an ornament thereof that we may try them; which of them is best in conduct." [Surah Al-Kahf (18), Ayah 7.] Al-Fudhayl bin 'I yyaad said: "The excellent deed is that which is the most sincere and the most correct." He was then asked: "How is that, O Abul - Hasan?" He said: "The deed which is sincere but not correct will not be accepted.

Likewise, the deed which is correct but not sincere will not be accepted, until it is both sincere and correct." The sincere deed is that which is intended for Allah's Pleasure alone; the correct deed is that which follows the Sunnah of the Prophet . This is exactly what Allah (SWT) says in the following verses (which means): "And whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord." [Surah AlKahf (18), Ayah 110.] and also "And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allah while doing good." [Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 125.] Any work which does not follow these criteria will be rejected, much as he is in need of its acceptance. It is related by 'A'isha (raa) that the Prophet said: "Any deed which is not in agreement with our teachings will be rejected." 16 And any deed which does not follow the example of the Prophet only serves to increase the distance between the worshipper and his Lord. For Allah (SWT) can be worshipped only in the way that He had commanded, not in accordance with someone's whims and opinions. Realising the true following of the Prophet is the evidence a servant presents to prove his true love for Allah, and by which he can acquire Allah's love: "Say [O Muhammad to Mankind]: `If you [really] love Allah, then follow me. Allah will love you and forgive you your sins." [Surah Ale-Imran (3), Ayah 31.] 16 Bukhari and Muslim. 16 innovations and customary practices which people have introduced into religion.

A Muslim must completely adhere to the teachings of the Prophet in his creed and practices, piety and conduct, his judgement and adjudications, his war and peace, his daily life and striving, his speech and silence, his remembrance and thoughts and his sleep and waking. Allah, Exalted is He, says (which means): "Indeed in the Messenger of Allah [Muhammad ] you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in [the Meeting with] Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much." [Surah Al-Ahzaab (33), Ayah 21.] "And whatsoever the Messenger [Muhammad ] gives you, take it. And whatsoever he forbids, abstain [from it]. [Surah Al-Hashr (59), Ayah 7.] "O you who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and turn not away ,from him while You are hearing." [Surah Al-Anfal (8), Ayah 20.] Obedience to the Prophet is associated with obedience to Allah in forty different instances in the Quran. All the paths are blocked for Man except for those Muslims who follow in the footsteps of the Prophet . For such true followers, all the roads of good are open.

Instances of contradicting the true following of the Prophet are numerous. Some of these instances are as follows: l. Adopting doctrines and theories and trying to reshape Islam to suit themselves. 2. Considering men to be a criterion by which to judge the Shariah and a measure of truth; and referring to them instead of referring to Shariah. 3. Putting words and actions before the Quran and the Sunnah. "O you who believe!

Be not forward in the presence of Allah and His Messenger. O you who believe! Lift not your voices above the voice of the Prophet." [Surah AlHujuraat (49), Ayat 1-2.] 4. Following the example of the Prophet only in certain aspects of Shariah and neglecting others. An instance of this is to follow the Prophet's example in ways of praying and fasting, for example, and not in ways of rule and government. Allah, Exalted is He, says: "Do you believe you in part of the scripture and disbelieve in part thereof?" [Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Ayah 85.] Attaining true following is the sole guarantee of rectification on the road of guidance and success and avoidance of wrong and stray roads.

"And this is My Straight Path, so follow it. Follow not other ways, lest you be parted from His Way." [Surah Al-An'am (6), Ayah 154.] In the past the Muslim nation became divided and dispersed due to the failure to act according to the Sunnah. Furthermore, the appearance of invention in religion and heresies which tear our people apart, ultimately leading seventy-two sects to the Hell-Fire are due to the absence of such true following. True guidance and salvation are only achieved through the following of the Prophet alone. Every heresy and 17 and their assistance is cut off. This, Muslim brothers, is your objective which you should do your best to achieve.

The means to this are to dedicate devotion to Allah alone with complete sincerity and to strive to attain the true following of the Prophet . Were you to strive to this end and travel this path, you must expect to live among people as a stranger because most of them have lost the true path. It is inevitable for the people of truth to feel estranged in the midst of people of falsehood like the estrangement of light in complete darkness. The Prophet said: "Islam began as something strange and will be strange once again: may felicity be the lot of the estranged (its followers)." 17 People of this life compete for money and influence, fame and power. They consider this world their only abode and the end of their journey. It is their sole objective which they strive hard to attain.

As for the people of the Hereafter, they are strangers in this life. The Prophet said: "Be in the world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer." 18 The heart of a stranger or wayfarer can hardly pay attention to anything other than his home and final destination. "For Al-Muttaqun (the pious), there are Gardens with their Lord, underneath which rivers flow. Therein (is their) eternal (home)...". [Surah Ale-Imran (3), Ayah 15.] 17 Muslim. 18 Bukhari on the authority of Abdullah bin Umar (ra). 18 Our 'Aqeedah is that of as-Salaf-as-Salih, in general and in detail. While the objective of a Muslim is his Qiblah (or direction) towards which he turns his face in any action, word or intention; his 'Aqeedah is the engine that drives him from inside himself towards that objective. It urges him to move forward and prevents him from retreating or quitting.

Whenever 'Aqeedah regresses or its influence wavers in the heart, attempts to work righteousness come to an end or at least suffer a relapse. The servant, as a result, moves away from his objective and sets about doing things which keep him away from attaining it. For a servant is either travelling towards Allah, driven forward by faith, or away from Him if he is tempted away by the devils. 'Aqeedah is neither a claim nor a set of linguistic issues in which only linguists and those skilled in rhetoric excel. Paying lip service to it, talking about it in an ornate style, writing pages and even volumes about it is not sufficient, indeed it is futile and of no avail. 'Aqeedah is certainly which takes root in the heart and is immediately reflected in the actions of the body.

The Quran is extremely careful to emphasise this fact by reiterating the connection between faith and good conduct in so many contexts. This insistence clearly points to the fact that 'Aqeedah must be associated with good conduct, for good conduct is a proof of the presence of 'Aqeedah in the heart. To prove that the claim of Iman (faith) is genuine, the effect of 'Aqeedah on the actions of the body must materialise; otherwise, this claim remains unfounded: Verily, those who believe [in the Oneness of Allah, and in His Messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him) including all obligations ordered by Islam] and do righteous good deeds, they are the best of creatures. [Surah Al-Bayyinah (98), Ayah 7.] "But as for him who believes and works righteousness, he shall have the best reward (Paradise), "[Surah Al-Kahf (18), Ayah 88.] Whosoever believed in Allah and the Last Day, and worked righteousness, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. [Surah AlMa'idah (5), Ayah 69.] Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. [Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Ayah 62.] Whosoever believes and does righteous good deeds, upon such shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve. [Surah Al-An'am (6), Ayah 48.] And verily, I am indeed Forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them, (till his death). [Surah TaHa (20), Ayah 82.] 19 Messenger Muhammad ), and work righteousness. Such will enter Paradise and they will not be wronged in aught. [Surah Maryam (19), Ayah 60.] But as for him who repented (from polytheism and sins, etc.), believed (in the Oneness of Allah, and in His Messenger Muhammad SAW), and did righteous deeds (in the life of this world), then he will be among those who are successful. [Surah Al-Qasas (28), Ayah 67.] And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us (i.e. pleases Allah), but only he (will please Us) who believes (in the Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds; as for such, there will be twofold reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings (Paradise) in peace and security. [Surah Saba (34), Ayah 37.] And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous good deeds, that for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise). [Surah AlBaqarah (2), Ayah 25.] And those who believe and do righteous good deeds, they are the dwellers of Paradise, they will dwell therein forever. [Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Ayah 82.] The mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, offer prayers perfectly, and give Zakah and fear none but Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance. [Surah At-Taubah (9), Ayah 18.] What has Allah to do by punishing you if you thanked [Him] and believed [in Him]? And Allah is ever All-Appreciative [of good], All-Knowing. [Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 147.] These are explicit indications which recur in many verses of the Quran in such a way that only those with a blurred vision or blind hearts would ignore them: "Verily, it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts which are in the breasts that grow blind." [Surah Al-Hajj (22), Ayah 46.] The Prophet's statements are also replete with indications to the effect that good conduct is part and parcel of Iman.

The Prophet said: "Faith (or Iman) has over seventy branches; the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah, and the humblest of which is the removal of what is injurious from the road; and modesty is a branch of faith." 19 "Whoever amongst you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; if he is not able to do so then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart, and that is the weakest form of faith." 20 19 Muslim. 20 Muslim, on the authority of Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree. 20 against them with his heart was a believer, and he who strove against them with his tongue was a believer, and beyond that there is no faith even to the extent of a mustard seed." 21 Not everyone who claims to have Iman with the tongue is sincere. Such a claim is false unless the signs if Iman are evident. The difference between hollow words and true belief is that between East and West. Let us present two chapters of two generations of our Ummah: the generation of the Sahabah, the best of generations, and that of the present time. The generation of the Sahabah on which we are trying to model a similar generation in beliefs and practice was a generation which the Islamic 'Aqeedah had rescued from the claws of Jaahiliyyah, cleansed from the squalor of Shirk and instilled in their hearts the truth of faith in order to illuminate their lives with the light of tawhid. 'Aqeedah alone was the decisive factor in forming this generation, and moulding the character of its members.

We would like to take a closer look at the different aspects through which this 'Aqeedah manifested itself and see how it affected their lives. There are so many examples to survey that we do not know which one to choose. Shall we talk about the Muhaajiroon or the Ansaar? The elderly, the young or the children? The men or the women? Shall we talk about them whilst they were in prosperity or in adversity?

Shall we talk about them as horsemen by the day or as monks by night? Shall we talk about selling lives (to Allah) or the sacrifice of wealth? Or shall we talk about the light of obedience or the truthfulness of repentance? In each of these illustrations - without exception - evidences and manifestations of true Iman sparkle, adorn with light and brightness. They dazzle the onlooker and make him wonder and ask: "What is it that took all these out - with such speed - from darkness to light, and made them the best o generations?" We will wander in the vastness of these scenes, listening and observing… This is Bilal defying Umayyah bin Khalaf, his master, saying 'Ahad, Ahad,' (He, Allah, is one), despite the burning sand under his back and the heavy stone on his chest. And this is Khabbab adhering faithfully to the religion of Allah despite being tortured by red hot iron being applied to every part of his body.

And this is the family of Yasir being tortured, and Sumayyah killed, but yet their Iman did not weaken; they steadfastly believed in the promise of the Prophet : "Be patient and endure, O family of Yasir, for Paradise awaits you." Witness the Muhaajiroon who forsook their wives, children and possessions, and crossed the desert from Makkah to Madeenah with no provisions apart from their faith, emigrating to Allah and His Messenger . And look at Abu 'Ubaydah slaying his father on the day of the Battle of Badr, And Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq almost killing his own son; and Mus'ab killing his own brother, 'Ubayd bin 'Umair. 21 Muslim. 21 pledge of allegiance to the Prophet on the night of al-'Aqabah. They knew full well that the Arabs would unite against them and attack them from all directions and that the best of their men would be killed as a result of this. Yet they considered their new allegiance profitable and swore to fulfil their promises whatever happened to them. Let us see them sharing their homes, money and possessions with their migrating brothers, the Muhaajiroon and, as Allah (SWT) said about them (which means): "Love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given ( from the booty of Bani anNadir), but give them (emigrants) preference over themselves even though they were in need of that." [Surah Al-Hashr (59), Ayah 9.] Let us listen to them on the day of the Battle of Badr, saying to the Prophet : "Go forth, O Messenger of Allah, to your desired destination, for we are with you. We swear by Him who sent you with the Truth that [even] you decided to cross this sea, we would all follow you into it, not a single man from us will fall behind.

Go forth with the blessing of Allah." And here they are on the day of the Battle of Uhud, defending the Prophet , and seven of them were martyred in the process. And on the day of the Battle of Hunayn, when 12,000 fighters turned away from Prophet , 80 of the Ansaar rushed to the rescue and clenched victory from the tribe of Hawazin and gathered the booty. The Prophet then divided the booty among the members other than the Ansaar, giving it to the first to flee and the last to return: those whose hearts have been inclined towards Islam. The Ansaar then asked the Prophet : "What is our portion, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Are you not satisfied that others return home with [the booty of] sheep and camels, while you return with the Messenger of Allah?" They wept and said: "We are pleased with the Messenger of Allah as a share and portion." 22 Let us return to Madeenah, to see Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq donating all his money to equip the Muslim army, leaving for his children nothing other than Allah and His Messenger . And this is 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattab giving half his fortune, and Uthman equipping the whole army at his own expense. Let us stand behind the trench, when the Ahzaab (the Confederates) besiege Madeenah for a month until "the eyes grew wild and hearts reached to the throats.", 23 and suddenly the faithful, driven by the power of Iman, cried out: "This is that which Allah and His Messenger had promised us." [Surah AlAhzaab (33), Ayah 22.] Watch with admiration the thousands of believers who marched out towards Tabuk with the Prophet in the year of difficulty and distress ('Usrah), leaving behind the comfort of their homes and the ripe fruits, crossing the barren desert with 22 Al-Bukhari. 23 Surah Al-Ahzaab (33), Ayah 10. 22 beloved Messenger of Allah .

Now let us return to Madeenah and weep along with those who did not find anything to spend [on Jihad], nor could Prophet provide them with any mounts: "They turned back, while their eyes were overflowing with tears for sorrow that they could not find anything to spend." [Surah At-Taubah (9), Ayah 92.] Let us search through the ranks waiting to meet the enemy on the day of the Battle of Uhud. Hiding among them we find 'Umair bin Abi Waqqaas, keeping out of sight of the Prophet lest the Prophet would see him and send him back because of his tender age. Let us walk in the streets of Madeenah, awash with spilled alcohol immediately after the revelation of the command to forbid its consumption: "O you who believe! Intoxicants 24, gambling, al-ansab 25, and al-azlam 26 are an abomination of Shaitan's (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. Shaitan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you by means of intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from As-salah (the prayer).

So, will you not then abstain?" [Surah AlMa'idah (5), Ayah 91.] Let us listen to al-Khansaa' on the day of the Battle of Qaadisiyyah when her four sons were martyred: "Praise be to Allah who blessed me with the honour of their killing." It was she who said before embracing Islam in a verse of poetry, "Were it not for the many mourners around me, I would have killed myself." And these are the Sahabiyat covering their faces because the Quran commanded them to: "Draw their veils over their juyubihinna[Bodies, necks, bosoms and so on]," [Surah An-Nur (24), Ayah 31.] And here is a woman from the tribe of Bani Dinar who, having been told the deaths of her husband, father and brother in the Battle of Uhud, said: "How did the Messenger of Allah fare?" The answer was that he fared well. When she saw him [alive] she said: "Every catastrophe, compared to your well being, is easy to bear." And we see al-Ghamidiyyah who committed adultery and, although no-one found out about it and Allah protected her, she insisted on confessing her sin and placing herself between the hands of the Prophet , pleading with him to purify her 24 Including all kinds of alcoholic drinks. 25 Stone altars whereupon sacrifices are slaughtered on certain occasions in the name of idols, jinn, angels, saints, and so on, in order to honour them or to expect some benefit from them. 26 Divining arrows used for seeking luck or decision. 23 repentance so pure that it would suffice to grant Allah's forgiveness to seventy of the people of Madeenah. And here is the noble companion Abu Dharr who placed his cheek on the ground and insisted on Bilal to step on his other cheek, in repentance for having sinned against him by calling him: "O son of a black woman!" Standing before all these, and many other examples of the greatness of the first generation of Muslims, all we can say is to repeat what Allah said in the Quran (which means): Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their Faith) is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of (their) prostration (during prayers). This is their description in the Taurat (Torah).

But their description in the Injeel (Gospel) is like a (sown) seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, it then becomes thick, and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allah has promised those among them who believe (i.e. all those who follow Islamic Monotheism, the religion of Prophet Muhammad SAW till the Day of Resurrection) and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward." [Surah Al-Fath (48), Ayah 29.] This was a page of the past, and it is rather hard for us to turn it over and be faced with that of the present. We leave it reluctantly and meet the present unwillingly. We look at our reality to find darkness everywhere; people's faith weak and shaky. Our present situation requires no elaboration, for we all see it and live its tragic circumstances. It is agonising to see our Ummah disintegrating, its 'Aqeedah oscillating between Irjaa' and Takfeer and obsessed by heresy, whims and superstitions.

Our rulers are openly and obnoxiously allied to either the infidel West or the atheist East, reserving all their love for the Jews and the Christians and directing all their hatred and enmity towards Islam and the Muslims. They have abandoned the laws of Allah and substituted man-made laws with His Shariah, and yet they claim to be Muslims; they are supported in this profanity by corrupt Ulama who confer on them such titles as "Khalifah" and "One who rules by Allah's commandments." The Muslim people are forced to pledge their allegiance to the rulers, to approve their infidelity and go for judgement to their laws. Secularism has become a new religion, spreading amongst the people, propagated by the media and inculcated by the educational systems in the minds of the young. This new creed calls for the separation of religion and politics; that the mosque is for Allah and legislation is for the rulers. The corrupt Ulama teach people the creed of Irjaa'; namely that the acts are not required as long as "Iman is in the heart" and that all the people are believers, including the rulers. Sufiism, Baha'ism, Qadianiyya, Nusairiyyah and other misguided creeds are given free rein to spread their venom into the true 'Aqeedah and propagate superstitions and heresy.

On the other hand, as a chaotic response, the sect of Khawaarij with its various schools of thought, emerges anew with new vitality to brand all Muslims with disbelief. 24 meritorious predecessors and can hardly find it. For it disappeared from the hearts and minds leaving no trace in the lives of societies or individuals, except him on whom our Lord has bestowed His Mercy, and they are very few! All the examples we see around us are clear evidence that true belief is absent from our community and that 'Aqeedah has lost its way in the hearts of our people, or at most occupies a small place therein. This is today's page bewailing the deplorable state of affairs to which we have been reduced. The darkness of today's page obscures the light we momentarily enjoyed while surveying our glorious past and the best generation of our Ummah. Despite the wild, unbridgeable, gulf between the present and the past and the big differences between these two generations, they both claim to be true believers.

True faith is a banner raised by both generations. One generation raised it with sincerity and conducted itself and its affairs in accordance with tenets of true faith. The other generation raises it as an inheritance and a tradition, but acts in a such a way as to conceal its true nature. So, have we learned the lesson that an attestation of faith is of no avail if it is not accompanied with corresponding conduct and sacrifices? May Allah have mercy on Imam ash-Shafi'ee who said: "If people were to study Surah al-'Asr, it would be sufficient for them." Allah says in this Surah (which means): In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. By al-'Asr (the Time).

Verily! Man is in loss, except those who believe, and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth and exhort one another to patience." [Surah Al-'Asr (103).] We talk about our 'Aqeedah, that of at-tawhid. The 'Aqeedah of the Prophets and Messengers from Adam to Muhammad . The 'Aqeedah of our meritorious predecessors, As-Salaf-us-Salih' and of those who followed in righteousness from amongst the Muslim scholars and the lay-people alike. We talk about our 'Aqeedah not for the sake of theological arguments or philosophical debates, but to rectify the beliefs of our Ummah and cleanse their 'Aqeedah of the heresies and errors that have been planted. We reiterate this so that it may take root in the hearts and act in accordance with its obligations.

We declare before Allah our innocence from any heresy contradicting the 'Aqeedah of our meritorious predecessors and we seek His assistance to prevent our actions from contradicting our words. This is Our 'Aqeedah • Iman is a proclamation with the tongue, action with the limbs and belief with the heart. Iman increases with acts of obedience and decreases with acts of disobedience, and accordingly, believers are of varying levels. • Sins and acts of disobedience diminish Iman but do not invalidate its essence, while greater disbelief (al-Kufr al-Akbar) completely eradicates it. 25 excludes one completely from the fold of Islam, thus branding him a disbeliever. The second is an act of disobedience given an exaggerated name for purposes of warning and repelling. The same categories of 'major' and 'minor' equally apply to Shirk (polytheism), Nifaaq (hypocrisy), zulm (oppression), and Fisq (evildoing). • A Muslim does not become a kaafir (disbeliever) by committing acts of disobedience, even if they were many and he did not repent from them, as long as he does not approve of them with his heart. The Faasiq who believes in the prohibition of the sins and vices he commits is not considered a kaafir, even if he insists on continuing with his wrong actions and does not repent and dies on such a state of affairs.

His fate in the Hereafter is left to Allah who may forgive him or may punish him in the Hell-Fire for a time then take him out of it into Paradise. • When Islam and Iman are mentioned together, the former means believing with the heart and the latter refers to the physical conduct. When mentioned seperately they both refer to the Deen of Islam as a whole. • We do not judge as Kaafir someone who commits acts of 'kufr' (disbelief) unless clear, undisputed evidence has been established against him by those qualified to do so, so that it would become clear to us that he has comitted such acts knowingly, intentionally and by his own free will. • We believe that Allah, Exalted is He, is the Creator and Provider, the Life-Giver and Life-Taker, the Resurrector, the Inheritor, the Doer of all good and harm. We seek no lord besides Him, "Say: 'Shall I seek a Lord other than Allah, while He is the Lord of all things?' " [al-An'am (6), Ayah 164.] • He is Glorified and High, Exalted above having a consort, son, partner or rival, "Say: 'He is Allah, (the) One. Allah as-Samad 27. He begets not nor is He begotten; and there is none comparable unto Him." [Surah al-Ikhlaas (112).] • Allah, Exalted is He, is rightly worshipped and the One worthy of worship. His slaves should direct everything to Allah Alone: fear, hope, rememberance, supplication, love and submission; assistance and salvation; entreaty; reliance; sacrifices; vows and all other forms of worship. • We seek blessings from neither trees, nor stones, nor graves.

We entreat Allah only by using one of His Names or Attributes, through good works we have done or through the supplication of a living, meritorious person. We neither walk around a grave seeking blessings from the dead, nor present sacrifices to a Jinn or to a dead saint, nor make a vow anyone apart from Allah. Whoever does one of these things has indeed committed Shirk. • We accept no source of laws or judgements other than Allah, as we accept no other Lord beside Him. Since Allah is the Creator, He has the sovereignty, and thus rules, commands, prohibits, judges and legislates. Allah is the All-Knower, All-Aware. 27 As-Samad: The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need; He neither eats nor drinks. 26 others, has gone against Allah's sovereignty. Such a person has made himself a partner and equal in jurisdiction with Allah, thus (he has) stepped outside the circle of Islam.

If this person is a ruler, he should therefore be rebelled against and deposed. • We confirm all of Allah's Names and Attributes which Allah has stated in His Book (the Quran) or mentioned through His Messenger Muhammad without changing them or ignoring them completely or twisting their meanings or giving resemblance to any of the created things. We do not even claim knowledge of what His Attributes are like, because "There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." [Surah Ash-Shura (42), Ayah 11.] There is none like Him, whether in His Being, His Names, His Attributes or Actions. • We confirm those Attributes of Allah which He Confirmed for Himself and which His Messenger Muhammad confirmed for Him, such as Knowledge, Capability, Hearing, Seeing, the Face, Hands and other Attributes which are not like any of those of His creatures. • We say as our Lord said (which means): "The Most Beneficent (Allah) rose over the [mighty] Throne." [Surah TaHa (20), Ayah 5.] Allah is therefore present on His Throne, over and above His creation. The fact that He is present over the Throne is known, but the manner of it is not. Believing in it is an obligation (wajib), and asking about such a manner is an innovation in religion (bid'ah). • Allah does whatever He wills, whenever He wills and in the manner He wills. He delights, laughs, loves, hates, shows approval and wrath (in a manner that suits His Majesty), as has been stated in the Quran and the Prophetic traditions. In His actions He is like none of His creation and none from mortals knows how those actions take form. • The Quran is the true uncreated word of Allah, not similar in any way to the speech of Mankind; it was spoken by Him in a way that we know nothing about. • We believe in the Angels, the Prophets and the Messengers. • We believe in the books revealed to the Messengers and we make no distinction between any of His Messengers. • We believe that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger; he is the best and leader of all Mankind, the seal of all the Prophets and the leader of the pious. • We believe that Muhammad was taken by night in his bodily form while awake from al-Haram mosque [in Makkah] to al-Aqsaa mosque [in Jerusalem], and ascended through the heavens to whatever heights Allah willed for him. • We have no doubt that the awaited Mahdee (or rightly-guided Imam) will come forth from among the Ummah of the Prophet at the end of time (on earth). 27 or Antichrist).

The descent from heaven of 'Isa, son of Mary. The sun rising from the West. The emergence of the Beast from the earth. And other signs mentioned in the Quran and the authentic hadith of the Prophet. • We believe in the questioning in the grave by the two angels. Munkar and Nakeer, about one's Lord, one's religion and the Prophet Muhammad . • We believe in the punishment in the grave, may Allah save us from it, for those who deserve it. The grave is either one of the meadows of Paradise or one of the pits of the Hell-Fire, and each servant gets what he deserves. • We believe in the resurrection of Mankind from the graves on the Day of Judgement to be set before Allah.

We believe in the Reckoning, the reading of the book (account of deeds), the Scale (on which the deeds will be weighed), as-Sirat (the bridge set over Hell-Fire), and punishment and reward. • We believe that the Intercession which the Prophet reserved for his Ummah on the Day of Judgement is true. • We believe in Al-Hawd, the Pool which Allah will grant the Prophet as an honour to quench the thirst of his Ummah on the Day of Judgement. • We believe that Paradise and Hell are both true. They are created and will never vanish. • We believe that the people of Paradise will see their Lord directly, without their vision being all-encompassing and without the manner of their vision being known. As Allah, Exalted is He, said (which means): "Some faces that Day will be shining and radiant, looking at their Lord (Allah)." [Surah Al-Qiyaamah (75), Ayah 22-23.] • We believe in al-Qadar (Divine Decree), the good of it and the bad of it, and say as Allah said (which means): "Say: All things are from Allah." [Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 78.] Good and evil are therefore both from Allah's Decree. Everything in the universe occurs by His Will. • We believe Allah, Exalted is He, does not command His slaves to be disbelievers or to be disobedient, nor is He pleased with them being so: "He likes not disbelief for His slaves." [Surah Az-Zumar (39), Ayah 7.] And if He, Exalted is He, preordains infidelity for the infidel, He does so for reasons only He knows: out of justice from Allah, transgression from the servant against his own soul, and as a punishment for previous sins he had committed: "Whatever of good reaches you (is from Allah), but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself." [Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 79.] All this happens in accordance with Allah's Will. Whatever Allah wills will be, and whatever He does not will, will not be. And Allah is never unjust to any of His servants: 28 [Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 40.] • We believe Allah created the actions of His slaves: "Allah has created you and what you make." [Surah As-Saaffaat (37), Ayah 96.] and the slaves execute their own actions in reality, not metaphorically. • We love the companions of the Prophet , may Allah be pleased with them all; they are the best of all generations.

We remember their merits, hold them in high esteem and display Walaa' to them. We also abstain from the things they disagreed upon. Love of them is part of Islam, part of Iman and part of Ihsan (excellent behaviour). Hatred of them is disbelief and hypocrisy. • We confirm the Caliphate first to Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq, due to his excellence and superiority over the rest of the Ummah; then to 'Umar bin al-Khattab; then to 'Uthman bin 'Affan; then to 'Ali bin Abee Taalib, may Allah be pleased with them all. They are the Rightly-Guided Caliphs and upright leaders about whom the Prophet said: "So you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs; cling to it stubbornly." 28 • The scholars of as-Salaf (the first generation of this Ummah and those who followed in their footsteps) must only be spoken about in the best way. Anyone who speaks ill of them is surely not on the right path.

This is our 'Aqeedah which is more precious to us than our own lives. It has stood the test of time and remained firm for fourteen centuries. It will continue to remain so in the face of all the onslaughts of the disbelievers, the spreading of doubt by the hypocrites and the innovations of the heretics. It has also been steadfast despite the remiss and negligence of many Muslims. The survival and endurance of our 'Aqeedah is in itself proof that is from Allah, the Mighty and Exalted. All creeds have become extinct and all religions have been altered, but Islam alone remained pure and true because it is the only Truth which cannot be affected by falsehood or shaken by doubt.

Allah, Exalted is He, says (which means): "Verily We: it is We Who have sent down adh-Dhikr [the Quran] and surely We will guard it [from corruption]." [Surah Al-Hijr (15), Ayah 9.] It is a creed which provides us with a strong, correct base from which we can go forth towards our objective; confident that Allah Alone is the true God worthy of worship. This is so because He is the Owner who rules with authority in what He owns and because He has all the Attributes of perfection. Behind or above Him there are no objectives for us, nor is there any objective greater than this, for He is the Greatest. It is a creed which gives total authority to Allah, makes attesting and submitting to this authority one of the conditions of Iman, and makes adhering to one of its prerequisites and a sign of its sincerity: 28 Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Najeeh al-'Irbaadh bin Saariyah. (hadith Hasan Sahih). 29 Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision." [Surah Al-Ahzaab (33), Ayah 36.] "But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith, until they make you (Muhammad ) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept them with full submission." [Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 65.] It is a creed which refers all matters, even at times of disagreement, to Allah and His Messenger: "O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those of you [Muslims] who are in authority; and if you have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day.

That is better and more suitable for final determination." [Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 59.] Our 'Aqeedah thus unifies understanding and eliminates any possibility of discord. It provides us with the objective and the path, thereby unifying the believers and placing them on the same path. One can see them seeking the same objective despite their being of different countries, nationalities and colours. Our 'Aqeedah is a creed which sets up the individual as a watchful guardian over his own conduct in the world, responsible and accountable for it. For he knows that on the Day of Judgement it will be said to him (which means): "Read your book, your soul is sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day." [Surah Al-Israa' (17), Ayah 14.] By so doing, this 'Aqeedah instils in the heart of the believer that which prevents him from disobeying the commands of Allah and His laws and judgement. It also helps him return to the right path if he wanders away from it or oversteps the limits.

It also drives him to continual and sustained striving in the way of Allah and endeavour to attain His pleasure. This is the great difference between our 'Aqeedah and all the other ideologies and philosophies, and this is what makes it rise above them all. Islam raises this 'Aqeedah up to a high position which all the other doctrines and ideologies eagerly wish to attain. And due to the huge gulf between their creeds and our 'Aqeedah, they do not even cherish the hope of approaching its pinnacle, let alone reach it. The creed of Islam gives its followers certainty that Allah (SWT) is with them, hearing and seeing, and that He knows what their breasts conceal and that He will resurrect them on the Day of Reckoning for Judgement and reward or punishment. Saa'saa' bin Mu'aawiyyah came to the Prophet and recited to him the following ayah (which means): "So whosoever does good equal to an atom's weight will see it then; and whosoever does evil equal to an atom's weight will see it then." [Surah Az-Zalzalah (98), Ayat 7-8.] 30 [verse] than this.' 29 Ours is an 'Aqeedah which makes our Walaa, directed entirely to Allah, His Messenger and the believers.

Apart from these, all others are looked upon with enmity and hatred subject to the degree of their remoteness from and opposition to Allah. It is an 'Aqeedah which brings its followers out of the narrowness and insignificance of the life of this world to the expense and splendour of the hereafter. People of this 'Aqeedah are always seen walking on the ground but their hearts are fixed on Paradise; they take their provisions for both this life and the next. They do not strive for a transient, base life, for they want to take from it only what will help them on their journey towards Allah and the Next Life: "And the life of this world in nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the abode of the hereafter for those who keep their duty (to Allah). Will you not then understand?" [Surah Al-An'am (6), Ayah 32.] "And Allah is better [as regards reward in comparison to your reward], and more lasting [as regards punishment in comparison to your punishment]." [Surah Ta-Ha (20), Ayah 73.] It is an 'Aqeedah which makes those who hold fast to it lead an honourable life, knowing no humiliation or disgrace.

Though their condition swings between ease and hardship, victory and defeat, nothing affects their lofty and dignified life through their faith, for they draw their dignity and honour from their Lord Who is: "the Most High, the Most Great." [Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Ayah 255.] and "the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." [Surah As-Saff (61), Ayah 1.] They do not draw honour from wealth or influence, nor any other power on this earth. In fact, they are a living image and the real encapsulation of the following verses: "But honour belongs to Allah, His Messenger and to the believers." [Surah Al-Munafiqoon (63), Ayah 8.] "So do not become weak [against your enemy] nor be sad, as you will be superior [in victory] if you are indeed [true] believers." [Surah Ale-Imran (3), Ayah 139.] It is an 'Aqeedah which gives its followers confidence and peace of mind in this world and peace and glad tidings in the Hereafter. It also makes them eager to meet with their Lord, savouring, for His sake, all the difficulties and hardships. 29 Related by Imam Ahmad. An-Nasaa'ee also relates the same account in At-Tafseer. 31 We hope to understand Islam in its entirety in exactly the same way in which it was understood by the leading trustworthy scholars of the Ummah, who follow the Sunnah of the Prophet and that of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs (May Allah be pleased with them). We would like our being called `Muslims' to suffice, indicating that we understand Islam as understood by the scholars of our Ummah and our meritorious predecessors. However, the word `Muslim' is no longer enough to express what we actually want.

In this day and age, the word `Muslim' no longer indicates how a 'Muslim' person understands his religion, nor even to know what Islam is!! Indeed, it has become commonplace these days to find a `socialist Muslim', a `liberal Muslim', a `progressive Muslim', a `secular Muslim', a Muslim who does not approve of ruling in accordance with Shariah or is not happy with some of its penal laws, and others who do not believe in Hisbah 30 and Jihad. This is a clear indication that Muslims no longer understand Islam as was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . For numerous sinful forces have, over many centuries, been busy at work, intent on distorting Muslims' understanding of their religion. Their aim is to make the Muslims' confidence in Islam loose and shaky. They also want to bring Muslims out of the fold of Iman to total disbelief or at least to a deviation from the main course of Islam in fundamental beliefs and practices.

They have succeeded in disfiguring the facts about Islam and in obscuring many Muslims' understanding of it, with a few exceptions. Our enemies learnt many lessons from what they had seen during their long wars against us, which spanned fourteen centuries. They learnt a lesson when they witnessed the Roman and Persian empires fall under the blows of Muslim swords. They learnt when they witnessed the return of the Muslim armies inflicting a crushing defeat on the Tartars in the wake of their invasion of its capital city and their reaching the eastern borders of Egypt after they had crossed Syria, Iraq and Asia Minor. They learnt when they saw Islam defeating the Crusaders' forces which mounted their attacks on Egypt and Syria for two centuries. They learnt when they saw Islam expanding eastwards to collect Jizyah from the People of the Book in China and westwards to annex Spain, the heart of Europe, and reach the gates of Vienna.

Our enemies learnt that Islam will triumph as long as it has staunch followers who believe in it. Followers who are convinced that it is the only religion which has the power to rule the world and regulate Mankind, be they Arabs or non-Arabs, black or white! "And on that day, the believers will rejoice with the help of Allah. He helps whom He pleases; and He is the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful." [Surah Ar-Rum (30), Ayat 4-5.] 30 Hisbah: To enjoin the good, and forbid the wrong. 32 law of Allah. Namely that Allah's succour always comes as long as Islam has staunch followers who believe in it and are determined to live by it, no matter how powerful and well-equipped their enemies are! That is why they not only "bite their finger tips in rage" 31 but they also "made their plans; but their plans were with Allah.

And even though their plans were such as to make the mountains move, [they did not succeed]." 32 But Allah protected His religion and rendered their efforts futile. "This is of Allah's grace upon us and upon Mankind." [Surah Yusuf (12), Ayah 38.] To distort the image of Islam in the minds of the Muslims, our enemies have been waging a desperate and relentless ideological campaign. This started with Qur'aish's slandering of the Prophet , saying that he was a poet, a diviner, a magician and a madman. Nevertheless, the Jahiliyyah is still waging war on Islam and the Muslims. Sometimes attacking and at other times retreating, they stab this religion in the chests of its followers. As a result of this many Muslims staggered and fell victim to this vicious attack.

To make matters worse, groups of Muslims from amongst ourselves joined the ranks of the enemy. They became callers at Hell-Fire's gates, advertising the products and commodities of our enemies and casting their arrows for them. They are supported by the governments of our countries who, on their part, wish neither rewards nor thanks from the enemies! So who now can defend this religion when the overwhelming majority of Muslims maintain a confused idea about it. Muslim intellectuals have turned into mouthpieces of enemy propaganda and advertisers of heretic ideologies. Governments of Muslim countries extend their protection, with force at times, to the enemy agents.

Only a small minority have held onto the true faith. But even among these privileged few, most have surrendered and declared their inability to resist this torrential stream and fierce hostility. As a result, they have accepted the distorted, amputated Islam planted in our lands, and gone along with the majority of Muslims in their heresies and wrong ideas about Islam. Consequently, instead of prescribing the medicine, most of those working for Islam have fallen victim to the disease. Some have come to regard it as merely a matter of worship rites and rituals, and refuse to take dawah outside the confines of prayer and supplication. It is as if Jihad, Hisbah and ruling by the Shariah have become abrogated for them.

Some others talk only about purifying 'Aqeedah from fables and superstitions, while they turn a blind eye to the secular rulers who have substituted man-made laws for the Shariah of Allah, and are thus outside the circle of Islam. Others concentrate on learning and teaching Islam and do not approach the questions of' dawah and Jihad. Others call people to the obvious Sunnah of the Prophet with regard to eating, drinking, dressing and marriage, but never to his teachings concerning Jihad, government and jurisprudence. Others collect weapons and raise their voices calling to Jihad, but they have forgotten to prepare the men who will carry those weapons and later rule over the land. The true followers of this religion, however, cannot make any progress with it, thus curtailing its activity as a result of their lack of understanding it. 31 Surah Ale-Imran (3), Ayah 119. 32 Surah Ibrahim (14), Ayah 46. 33 masses passively watch this happen; governments and enemy agents give their support and assistance, while the few working for Islam are standing by helplessly, unable to def-end themselves or their 'Aqeedah. To take Islam from defeat to victory, it is necessary to diagnose the disease and prescribe the cure.

We must start to take the medicine, no matter how bitter it may be, "But it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you." [Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Ayah 216.] ************** Before tackling the issue of our understanding of Islam, it is perhaps important to point out the Muslim's misunderstanding of their religion. We must find out who is behind this `poisonous' misunderstanding, and expose all those who attempt to support it or defend it. This step should be taken in order to know the position from which we have been targeted. We need to take precautions against committing the same mistakes as those before us did. We must warn Muslims to be alert, and get ready to confront this `expert' ideological invasion. This humble effort will serve as a contribution, to the best of our ability, towards producing a generation along the lines of the early generation of Muslims.

A generation which understands Islam as the early generation did and adapts their methods, as a prelude to the position of leading Mankind which seems to have gone forever. Islam means subservience, obedience, and total submission to the Will of Allah, Lord ofthe Worlds. It involves following the teachings of the Prophet , which consist of commands, prohibitions, rules and regulations which govern our lives. Teachings which provide for all the needs of Mankind everywhere and at all times, in order to attain success in this life and the Hereafter. This is, briefly and simply, the meaning of Islam with which came Prophet Muhammad and as understood by our meritorious predecessors and as we have learnt it from the scholars of this Ummah. This is what our 'Aqeedah confirms in our hearts, namely that "Allah is the Creator of all things." 33 He is aware of everything.

He knows what was and what will be, and how what was not could have been. He "knows the unseen. Not an atom's weight in the heavens or in the earth or anything less than that or greater, escape Him, but all is recorded in a Clear Book." 34 He is the Wise in actions, words and laws. He is the Expert who knows what is good for His servants today and tomorrow. The Message revealed to Prophet Muhammad is the seal of all divine revelations. This final religion has come to all Mankind from the day the Prophet received it to the Day of Judgement.

All of Mankind is commanded to follow it, 33 Surah Az-Zumar (39), Ayah 62. 34 Surah Saba (34), Ayah 3. 34 al-A'raaf (7), Ayah 158.] "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers." [Surah Ale-Imran (3). Ayah 85.] This conviction obliges us to believe that this final Message came to encompass all Mankind within the confines of its Divine order. This message includes everything that people need in their lives. It came to show them what they need to do in order to head for the better. It came to decide people's 'Aqeedah, worship, moral conduct, government, international relations, the leading of society, the settling of disputes and judging between people. This is how the Prophet conducted his life.

He was the Messenger, the preacher, the ruler, the judge, the tutor, the army commander and the leader in prayer. The Rightly-Guided Caliphs who came after him followed this example. On the authority of Abu Najeeh al-'Irbadh bin Sariyah (ra) who said: "The Messenger of Allah gave us a sermon by which our hearts were filled with fear and tears came to our eyes. We said: 'O Messenger of Allah, it is as though this is a farewell sermon, so counsel us.' He said: 'l counsel you to fear Allah, Glorious is He, and to give absolute obedience even if a slave becomes your leader. Verily, he among you, who lives (long) will see great controversy, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs. Cling to them, stubbornly.

Beware of newly invented matters, for every invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going astray and every going astray is in the Hell-Fire." 35 Our Prophet received all his teachings from Allah alone. The Rightly-Guided Caliphs followed nothing but the example of our Prophet . This is ample evidence that the Sunnah of the Prophet is sufficient for Man to manage the affairs of this life in all its aspects, as did our predecessors. Allah says (which means), "This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." [Surah Al-Ma'idah (5). Ayah 3.] This is part of a verse which consists of three statements, each of which provides ample evidence that Islam is perfect and all comprehensive and serves to be implemented everywhere and at al times. 'Perfection of religion' means that Islam has not ignore anything, be it great or small, incorporating everything one way or the other.

This also means that no-one, at any time and anywhere, can add something new and claim that he has perfected Islam, whether this new addition is in the domain of 'Aqeedah, economics, politics, peace, war or government. 'Completion of favour' means that there is nothing complete or better than this religion, for it contains no defects and nothing. 35 Hasan Sahih Hadith, related by Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi. 35 religion for His servants. He was satisfied that Islam should be the religion of Mankind, from the time He revealed the Message to His messenger, until the Day of Judgement. Let no-one now say that Islam was complete and satisfactory in the past but is no longer so. It is not acceptable, therefore, to say that Allah created Mankind but then was unable to find a complete, all-encompassing way of life through which they could run their lives and manage their affairs. Nor is it acceptable to say that the passage of time and the changing of circumstances challenged the Will of Allah, The Mighty, The All-Knowing, by creating conditions, events and issues which He did not take into account and regarding which He did not make His rulings.

This is a religion that He commanded all Mankind to follow until the Day of Judgement, "Glory to You [O Allah]; this is an awful calumny." [Surah An-Nur (24), Ayah 16.] Allah said (which means), "The decision rests with Allah only." 36 and "And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof rest with Allah." 37 How then could it be claimed that there are issues and cases that are impossible to deal with through Islam and that we should step outside its tenets and relieve ourselves of its restrictions, in order to run our lives effectively? Can anyone claim that he can come up with a doctrine or system better or more complete than Islam, in matters relating to economics, politics, peace, war, 'Aqeedah or worship? No-on can claim so except those who are insane. Even if someone were to claim that he can produce a way of life better than Islam, would we believe him and abandon our religion and way of life to follow these heretical and unfounded claims? The fact of the matter is that Mankind has never known, and will never know, of a system which is better than Islam in its comprehensiveness, completeness, exaltedness, perfection, wisdom, justice, precision, ease, and practicality. Islam is all-comprehensive: it is a Quran and a sword; knowledge and worship; `Aqeedah and Shariah; moral conduct and government; action and reward; the life of this world and the Hereafter: "We have neglected nothing in the Book." [Surah Al-An'am (6), Ayah 39.] Islam comprises everything: the correct 'Aqeedah: "Worship Allah and associate none with Him [in worship]." [Surah AnNisa (4), Ayah 36.], the humble and heartfelt worship: "Guard strictly the [five obligatory] prayers, especially the middle prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allah." [Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Ayah 238.], the command to struggle against Satan and desires: "Do not follow the footsteps of Satan." [Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Ayah 168.] 36 Surah Yusuf (12), Ayah 40. 37 Surah Ash-Shura (42), Ayah 10. 36 Furqan (25).

Ayah 43.], the command to be kind to one's parents: "And show kindness unto parents." [Surah An-Nisa, (4), Ayah 36.], the encouragement to seek knowledge: "And say, `My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.'"[Surah Ta-Ha (20). Ayah 114.], "Say (unto them, O Muhammad): `Are those who know equal with those who do not know?'"[Surah Az-Zumar (39), Ayah 9.], the command to adhere to good conduct: "And speak kindly to Mankind." [Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Ayah 83.], the command to govern by the Law of Allah: "So judge between them by that which Allah has revealed." [Surah AlMa'idah (5), Ayah 49.], the command to engage in dawah and call people to the way of Allah: "Call unto the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way." [Surah An-Nahl (16), Ayah 125.], the command to enjoin good and forbid evil: "And let there arise from amongst you, a nation which invites to goodness, enjoins what is right and forbids what is evil. Such are they who are successful." [Surah Ale-Imran (3), Ayah 104.], the command to fight in the way of Allah: "Fighting [Jihad] is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you." [Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Ayah 216.], the command to accompany the righteous deeds with the good intention: "And whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord." [Surah Al-Kahf (18), Ayah 110.], the description of actions and their rewards: "And whosoever does good equal to an atom's weight will see it then; and whosoever does ill equal to an atom's weight will see it then." [Surah Az-Zalzalah (99), Ayat 7-8.], the command to obey the Muslim ruler: "O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those of you who are in authority." [Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 59.], 37 "Verily! Allah commands you that you restore deposits to their owners, and, if you judge between Mankind, that you judge justly." [Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 58.], And to those in charge to seek counsel: "And consult with them upon the conduct of affairs." [Surah Ale-Imran (3), Ayah 159.].

Islam regulates the relation between the individual and his neighbours as well as that between the Muslim nation and its non-Muslim neighbours. It regulates the small family in matters of marriage, nursing and divorce as well as that of society as a whole. It regulates the relationship between the governing and the governed. It regulates the circulation of money in society, its sources and the areas where it is spent. It sets individuals as guards upon their own conduct in this life because they will be accountable for it in the Hereafter. It instils in the heart of the individual, deterrents which will prevent him from disobeying his Lord.

It also codifies punitive measures in case he transgresses the set limits. In a word, it is a religion which regulates the needs of Mankind within the framework of an all-inclusive system. How could any other doctrine challenge such a complete system? Allah (SWT) says (which means): "Should He not know what He created? And He is the Most Kind and Courteous [to His slaves], AllAware." [Surah Al-Mulk (67), Ayah 14.] Any attempt to break up Islam is therefore an unpardonable sin, for doing so could only destroy the whole system. Islam cannot be established as worship without an 'Aqeedah, or an 'Aqeedah without worship.

Neither can it be merely a set of beliefs and rituals without laws and codes to govern human relationships and interaction. We Muslims must not take part of it to the exclusion of other parts; doing so undoubtedly leads to loss and disaster both in this life and in the Hereafter. Allah says (which means): "So judge between them by that which Allah has revealed, and follow not their desires, but beware of them lest they seduce you from some part of that which Allah has revealed unto you." [Surah Al-Ma'idah (5), Ayah 49.] Islam succeeds and triumphs because it is a complete, integral, religion. If any part of it is omitted, amended or altered, then it will never be able to triumph. Furthermore, the world in which we live confronts us with many demands which we will not be able to meet unless we take Islam as a whole and base our actions entirely upon it alone. Indeed, we are in need of a sound 'Aqeedah so that our faith may become strong and our hearts confident.

This will by all means lead us , to rely completely on Allah and to carry out our duties against all adversities. Such is the 'Aqeedah to which we call and in which we educate people. We need all acts of worship and rituals, be they obligatory or voluntary, because they are the only provisions we can take from this life to the Next. For how 38 our limbs. They are our weapons against our desires and against Satan. We strive hard to establish them and call people to observe them.

We need Islamic knowledge in order to worship Allah in the way He instructed us, to avoid deviation from the right path and become like "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds." 38 Our goal is to acquire knowledge of our religion and to teach it to the people. We need good character in order that our interactions may be correct and our behaviour elevated. We must treat everyone as they deserve, in accordance with the Shariah, and protect our own words and actions against falling into the `mire' of Jahiliyyah. We always endeavour to refine our character and that of the people around us. We need to communicate the message of Islam to all Mankind: to the disbeliever so that he may embrace Islam; to the believer so that he may stand firm and advance; and to the disobedient so that he may repent. If we fail to do so, Islam will become extinct and its Message will be overwhelmed by the deviant creeds that pervade everywhere.

We go forth calling people to this religion, bringing good news and warning of terrible punishment. We need to enjoin virtue and forbid evil; otherwise, vice will spread and destroy our dawah. We strive hard to remove from our path, every vice we find and enjoin every virtue we lack, in accordance with the laws of Islam and in the light of the teachings of our Ulama. We need to wage Jihad, for without it the flag of Islam will never he raised and the forces of disbelief will continue to dominate our lives. Jihad is the weans by which we can establish the Caliphate after having removed the disbelieving rulers who have replaced the law of Allah by man-made laws. Besides, it is the only way to regain our lands which have been taken away from us.

We prepare ourselves for Jihad and encourage the believers to undertake it. We need to adhere to the guidance of the Prophet in all matters, great and small. This will instil in our hearts, love for him and love for Allah's religion. This serves as a sign of love for Allah: "Say, (O Muhammad to Mankind): `If you [really] love Allah then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, Allah is OftForgiving, Most Merciful." [Surah Ale-Imran (3), Ayah 31.] We strive to follow the guidance of the Prophet and to call people to adhere to it. We are in dire need of referring to the laws of Allah in all our affairs. We call to this and wage Jihad to establish the laws of Allah.

We need all these things and everything else that Islam brought us. To forego one single aspect of our religion is to invite failure and frustration for our movement and dawah. For Allah, Exalted is He, has promised victory to His religion which He 38 [Surah Al-Kahf (18), Ayah 104.] 39 adhere to it. As Allah says (which means): "Verily Allah will help those who help His [Cause]. Truly Allah is AllStrong, Almighty." [Surah Al-Hajj (22), Ayah 40.] Conversely, all innovated, forbidden systems and ideologies apart from this religion of Islam will know no victory or glory. How dare we neglect parts of Allah's religion and not act upon them and call people to do so?

And what excuses shall we make before our Lord who says (which means) : "This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." [Surah AlMa'idah (5), Ayah 3.] We have no right whatsoever to take part of Islam and claim that it does not belong to it; nor do we have the right to claim that only part is the whole of Islam. Allah has forbidden us from doing so in the strongest possible terms: "Then, do you believe you in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of the world, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be consigned to the most grievous torment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do."[Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Ayah 85.] Deplorably enough, there are many people today who put their own ideas before the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Prophet and the understanding of our pious predecessors. Some of these call for living the different phases that Islam went through in the past. Some live with their dawah in the `Makkan Period', others in the `phase of calling secretly to Islam', others in the phase of `the defensive war'.

Some have not even received revelations yet! And for ever phase they take part of the laws of Islam to the exclusion of all the others. Some neglect Hisbah, others abandon Jihad. Some forsake dawah, and others reject Islam altogether. We must expose these people and expose their falsehood. We must also tell them to fear Allah and practise His religion in its entirety.

By Allah, they have abandoned those parts of Islam only because of their cowardice or because they found it too hard, but as for whatever is easy and appealing to their desires, that they adopt with no objections. It would have been better for them if they had admitted their cowardice, weakness and neglect, but they have insisted on twisting the teachings of Islam so that it may conform with their innate weakness, cowardice and neglect. Worse still, they do not blush to claim that they have a deeper understanding, a sounder method and a more refined performance. They do not mind if the religion of Allah is lost as long as they still enjoy their position as leaders, intellectuals, philosophers and theorists. We must expose these people because they are destroying the foundations of Islam and claim that they are building its edifice and shielding it against attack. They tear it to shreds and claim that they are repairing what time has damaged.

They paralyse Islam, deprive it of all its weapons, sever its organs and push into a fierce Battle with a ruthless Jahiliyyah which will, in a short period of time, defeat them and 40 effected only because of Islam. A question arises. Is Islam so inadequate that it needs such `intellectual guardianship' imposed upon it by people who undertake to delete, alter and confirm it without any evidence from the Quran, the Sunnah, and consensus of the Muslim scholars? "Glorified is He, and High Exalted above what they say!" [Surah An-Nahl (16), Ayah 43.] Indeed, Islam knows full well how to manage its own affairs, how to guide its followers and regulate their lives, how to teach and educate them, and how to set priorities and plans of action for them. Islam knows full well how to conduct the battle with Jahiliyyah: when to attack, when to withdraw and when to hold firm. The scholars of our Ummah have explained and elaborated upon all these points, and there will always be, in every generation, scholars who will undertake to expound this to Mankind.

As for those who follow heresy and their own whims, Islam is self-sufficient and can dispense with them, their 'guardianship' and their theories. It does not want them to serve under its banner, whether in conducting dawah or waging Jihad. Islam needs true and sincere believers who submit to its commands, without altering, deleting, or adding anything to it. Those people who want to impose `guardianship' on Islam should have it imposed on them due to their poor opinions and low intelligence. They failed to understand this religion or rise to its loftiness and glory because of their meagre understanding and intelligence; and so they want Islam to come down to them instead and sink to their level! We know from the teachings of Islam and from the explanations of our Muslim scholars that Jihad ceases to be an obligation due to the inability to wage it, but it is still binding upon us to prepare ourselves for it until such a time when we are able to carry it out.

We also know that forbidding vice does not become obligatory if it is likely that doing so would lead to a greater evil than the vice in question. In such a case, the forbidding of vice itself becomes forbidden. But the application of these rules is only permissible under certain circumstances. It is an unforgivable crime to abandon Jihad or Hisbah altogether on the grounds that we are in a weak position and start, accordingly, inventing new rules or reviving the abrogated ones. To adopt such a position simply means the perpetuation of this phase of weakness. After Allah (SWT) has perfected our religion for us, the instructions and obligations of Islam remain binding upon us at all times.

If we find ourselves unable at a time to carry out an obligation we must work hard to acquire the means by which we can do so. To be content with humiliation and remain inactive under the pretext of being in a weak position is an act of betrayal which will undoubtedly lead to disgrace and ignominy. Those who are content to remain in this `phase of weakness' and invent rules to perpetuate it will remain in such a state until they die and their call dies with them or they repent and come to their senses. We stand in amazement before the poor opinions of these innovators which none of our predecessors ever adopted. It is obvious that by doing so they seek to evade the Islamic laws altogether. Those who claim that they live in the 'Makkan Period' must explain to us whether 41 did in Makkah, or towards the Ka'bah.

Are they going to allow the consumption of alcohol? Will prayer at night be obligatory again? Or do the rules of the 'Makkan Period' apply only to Jihad, Hisbah and speaking the truth? The only true criterion for a correct and complete understanding of Islam is to find out how the pious predecessors of this Ummah understood it. Namely the Companions of the Prophet , the Tabi'oon and those who followed in their footsteps from amongst the trustworthy scholars of our Ummah, who did not invent, change or alter anything of the religion. Those who applied the words of the Prophet : "Adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who succeed me.

Cling to them stubbornly." 39 True to the words of the Prophet , we do not deviate from the understanding of the early Muslims and we do not replace it with any other because they are our guide whose light leads the way to the true Islam revealed to Muhammad . The Message of this religion has been carried in every generation by its scholars whom Allah has chosen to bear this trust. It is these scholars, from every generation, who followed the Sunnah of the Prophet it and adhered to it, and thus had the way leading to Allah paved before them. Whoever wants to find this true path must follow their example. Al-Awza'ee said, "Bear patiently with [the practice on the Sunnah, hold the same position as they [Sahabah] did, say what they said, avoid what they avoided, and follow in the footsteps of the pious predecessors." Whoever wants Islam with which the trustworthy Prophet Muhammad came must follow in the footsteps of Abu Bakr, 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, 'Uthman bin 'Affan, 'Ali bin Abee Talib, Zayd bin Thaahit, 'Abdullah bin Mas'ood, 'Abdullah bin 'Umar, 'Abdullah bin 'Abbaas, 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin al-'Aas, Sa'eed bin Al-Musayyib, Khaarijah bin Zayd, 'Urwah bin az-Zubayr, Sulayman bin Yasaar, 'Abdullah bin 'Abdullah bin 'Utbah, Abu Bakr bin 'Abdur-Rahman, Salim bin 'Abdullah bin 'Umar, Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik Imam ash-Shafi'ee and Imam Ahmad. He must take the example of al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Mu'een, al-Madeenee, Ibn Taymeeyah, adhDhahabee, Ibn Al-Qayyim and Ibn Rajab, and many others.

As for those who are pleased with other than Islam, they have "indeed gone astray from the right path." 40 They have gone astray because they have not chosen the truth: "So after the truth, what else, can there be except error?" [Surah Yunus (10), Ayah 32.] It is the understanding of our pious predecessors that we must follow, because they possessed means of Ijtihad and enjoyed the mental faculties. At the turn of every century Allah sends in their like, those who can revive the religion for this Ummah. They are the Prophets' heirs and Muslims all over the world admit their true knowledge, virtue, sound understanding, and guidance. Their fear of Allah prevented them from withholding the Truth in return for worldly profits or compromises with their rulers. They would present themselves before the Fire and the Garden before uttering a word. They acted upon the verse (which means) : 39 Tirmidhi. 40 Surah Al-Ma'idah (5), Ayah 12. 42 except Allah.

And sufficient is Allah as a Reckoner." [Surah Al-Ahzaab (33), Ayah 39.] They never put their own reasoning before the Quran and the Sunnah. They simply said that their opinions were but evidence supporting other evidence. They instructed their followers to dismiss any of their opinions which did not conform to the Sunnah of the Prophet and exonerated the religion of Allah from any mistake any of them might make. They warned people against accepting the permission of any scholar. They also said that the teachings of any man could be taken and rejected except those of the Prophet . They are the ones who did not indulge in excess or restraint, but remained a people of the middle course.

They sincerely devoted themselves to Allah, followed the Sunnah and held fast to their true religion. Allah therefore protected them against consensus over an erroneous judgement and honoured them as the bearers of the banner of Islam and as milestones on the Path of Truth which cannot be reached except by those who follow their example. Allah says (which means): "And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the Guidance [of Allah] has been manifested unto him, and follows other than the believers' way, we shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell: what an evil destination." [Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 115.] Following the guidance of our pious predecessors is our guarantee against deviation and heresy. It is the sure key to becoming part of the 'victorious group' of believers about whom the Prophet said: "A group of my Ummah will continue to fight for the Truth, victorious until the Day of Judgement". 41 Following any path other than that of Islam remains a false claim and a big heresy; such false claims and heresies being abound in our time. 41 Al-Bukhari. 43 1. Bringing Mankind to the worship of Allah alone.