The Difference Between 'Aqeedah and Manhaj

Question:
The ninth question: Shaykh, is there a difference between 'aqidah (creed) and manhaj (methodology)? We would like clarification on this, as some people cite the saying of Allah the Exalted, , and use it as evidence that there is a difference between 'aqidah and manhaj?

Answer:
The methodology in the noble verse, or the path intended by it, refers to the Shari'ah, the practical Shari'ah. The religion of the messengers (peace be upon them) is one religion, the religion of Islam. Their creed is one creed, but the Shari'ahs differ according to circumstances and times, as the wisdom of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) requires. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) legislates Shari'ahs that correspond to the time, place, and condition of the community, then He legislates and abrogates them with another Shari'ah that suits another community and its conditions. This is also the case in Islam: Allah legislated certain things at the beginning of Islam because the interest of the time required it, then He abrogated them afterward. So the methodology intended here is the Shari'ah. Say: "Indeed, [I follow] ," meaning a practical Shari'ah of rulings regarding what is lawful and forbidden, acts of worship, and so on. As for the creed, it does not change. The creed of the prophets is one, and abrogation never enters it until the Hour occurs. This is the difference between the Shari'ah and the creed, or the methodology and the creed, if the methodology is intended to mean the Shari'ah. This is the distinction between them.
As for the methodology in the terminology of these people, meaning the method of da'wah, this does not fall under the noble verse, and citing the verse as evidence for it is incorrect, because the verse was revealed regarding Shari'ahs. As for the method of da'wah and how it is conducted, this verse does not apply to it, and it is from that which came from . The method in da'wah was explained by the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) practically, just as it is explained in the noble Book .
Part of the method of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in his da'wah was that he began with tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and correcting the 'aqeedah first. Then he gradually taught the Shari'ahs according to their revelation to him (peace and blessings be upon him). The first thing the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) began with, like his brothers among the Messengers, was 'aqeedah and correcting the 'aqeedah. When the 'aqeedah was corrected, the Shari'ahs were revealed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained in Makkah, as is well known, for thirteen years after the mission, commanding tawhid and forbidding shirk (associating partners with Allah). No prayer, jihad, fasting, Hajj, or zakah was made obligatory upon him; these were legislated later. Prayer was legislated a short time before the migration. Prayer was legislated and made obligatory upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the night of the Mi'raj, a short time before the migration. As for the rest of the Shari'ahs, they were revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) after the migration. This indicates that the method of the Prophets is to begin with calling to tawhid and correcting the 'aqeedah. Then, when the 'aqeedah is corrected, the remaining commands of the religion are legislated, and people are commanded to do them and held accountable for them. This is part of the method of the Messengers (peace and blessings be upon them). Also, the method of the Messengers (peace and blessings be upon them) is to proceed gradually in da'wah, little by little, according to ability and according to circumstances and conditions. They do not bring the da'wah all at once in a single batch, but they proceed gradually, little by little, in accordance with the conditions of those being called. This is part of the method of the Messengers (peace and blessings be upon them) in da'wah. Yes.