Schools of aqaid?

[ampat1]

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

May Allah swt bless you with so many good things, allow us to remember Him as He should be remembered and accept our blessings upon the Most Noble, Most Honourable Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings upon him, his family, his companions and those who wish to follow him. Ameen.

Moulana Sahib,

The vast majority of Sunni Muslims in this country, are aware to some degree, about the four schools of Fiqh. However as you are aware there are schools of thought on aqaid namely the ashari and maturidi. Can I request a brief synopsis, in laymans terms, as to to what the philosophy of these schools of thought are and the differences between them?

Jazakallah.

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


All Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon His Most Beloved, and Final Messenger of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam

Sorry for the time it has taken in answering your question.

This topic is an extensive study of the science related to 'aqa'id. It is also referred to as ilm-al-kalam. One of the books which is very popular amongst the students is a book called 'aqa'id-e-nasfi, which is taught in the syllabus for becoming a scholar. It details around issues relating to the beliefs of Muslims, with connection to Allah the Almighty, His prophets, His angels, His books, the Day of resurrection etc.

Although most of the beliefs of the different named groups these days are similar, save a few issues, nevertheless the basis of ilm-e-'aqa'id is known to everyone.After the era of the Beloved Copanions, there did arise a few heretical groups who on the basis of their philosophy, regarded things to be everlasting, or like the 'inadiyah' who were the deniers of the realities of objects, like the sun, the moon, and to the extent that everything that was seen with the eyes was in fact a non-reality to them.

The Muslims however, were divided into three categories, but not on the basis of 'ikhtilaf', they were divided into three because the three imams of 'aqa'id, arose having followers holding similar beliefs, yet different names, according to the different eras and times. The first were the Ash'aris, who were the followers of Imam Abul Hasan Ash'ari. In issues if 'ikhtilaf' the Malikis and the Shafi'is happened to be the followers of this Imam. This is the reason why they were known as the 'Ash'ariyyah'.

The Hanafis on the other hand were the followers of Imam Abu Mansur Maturidi, thus they were known as the Maturidiyyah. The final group which was known as the Hanabilah, followed the sayings of Imam Ahmad bin Hambal. He was not only an imam of Fiqh, and a mujtahid, but also grew to become an imam in ilm-al-'aqa'id, which i have just mentioned.

In Islam there have been many sects. Some sects have beliefs close to the ahl-as-Sunnah, and some have far stretched beliefs. The greatest ikhtilaf however was in fatwa, and lesser ikhtilaf in 'aqa'id. The Ash'aris, Hanabilah, and the Maturidiyyah have a few differences. To mention a few, one of them is the issue of 'takwin'. This is the being of creation, how it was created?will it end or will it go on? How does it go on? When was it created and why?

Another difference between these three schools of thought is the issue of 'istithna'. This means the qualification of the statement of when Allah the Almighty will do something. An example of this is when we say Insha'Allah, and whether that thing happens or not. Expection, and distinction are also other examples of things which Allah the Almighty has, and what power He has, to do those things.

Another difference is that of the faith or Iman of a person. What costitutes Iman, what you have to do in order to perfect your faith and how it is perfected. The history of the words of the Qur'an, is it regarded as creation or revelation directly from Allah the Almighty.

As mentioned before, there are no major differences with regard to the basis or the foundation of the beliefs of all three schools of thought. However it is very interesting to study this topic, and the views of the mutakallimin, to see how they differ from one another. Abu Hafs 'Umar bin Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Isma'il bin Muhammad bin Luqman Nasfi, who is the author of the book entitled aqa'id-e-Nasfi, is deffinitely a must for all those people who have a true search into the different views and issues of ilm-e-kalam.


Jazak'allah for your question.





Wallahu A'lamu Biththawaab


M. Waseem Ashrafi