What is your opinion of one who limits the study of 'aqidah to the books of the Shaykh al-Islam only?
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The questioner : In the same issue, in fact, there is also a shubhah (a doubtful matter) in it.
The Shaykh : And that is
The questioner : But it needs to be mentioned because the Salafis also suffer from it. They do not have a taint of violence or something of this type, meaning, but they conceive of 'aqidah as being linked to the books of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, such as al-Tamhidiyyah and the refutations of the Jahmiyyah, the Mu'tazilah, and the Asha'irah. They conceive that the study of 'aqidah is the study of these books only.
The Shaykh : No, it is not necessary.
The questioner : No, they shun studying it and devote themselves to studying other books, which, with continued engagement, may lead them to committing methodological errors, meaning, in fact.
The Shaykh : In any case, we want our brothers not to conceive that every one of them can become a scholar. If he feels that he has the aptitude to proceed in the pursuit of knowledge, we truly advise him to read the books of scholars who are known for the soundness of their methodology, free from deviation to the right or left, and free from being influenced by 'ilm al-kalam (theology). If they do not feel any of that in themselves, they should take knowledge, whether it is 'aqidah or worship, by the nearest path, whether from the knowledge of living scholars if they have access to them, or from books written in a concise manner that does not engage them in long debates with opposing sects, because delving into these issues may harm one who does not have the aptitude, because discussing opponents often leads the discussant himself, at times, to deviate somewhat, even in a single issue, from the straight path that he should follow. Good, and...Abu Layla : It has become eleven o'clock minus a third of an hour.
The Shaykh : And that is
The questioner : But it needs to be mentioned because the Salafis also suffer from it. They do not have a taint of violence or something of this type, meaning, but they conceive of 'aqidah as being linked to the books of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, such as al-Tamhidiyyah and the refutations of the Jahmiyyah, the Mu'tazilah, and the Asha'irah. They conceive that the study of 'aqidah is the study of these books only.
The Shaykh : No, it is not necessary.
The questioner : No, they shun studying it and devote themselves to studying other books, which, with continued engagement, may lead them to committing methodological errors, meaning, in fact.
The Shaykh : In any case, we want our brothers not to conceive that every one of them can become a scholar. If he feels that he has the aptitude to proceed in the pursuit of knowledge, we truly advise him to read the books of scholars who are known for the soundness of their methodology, free from deviation to the right or left, and free from being influenced by 'ilm al-kalam (theology). If they do not feel any of that in themselves, they should take knowledge, whether it is 'aqidah or worship, by the nearest path, whether from the knowledge of living scholars if they have access to them, or from books written in a concise manner that does not engage them in long debates with opposing sects, because delving into these issues may harm one who does not have the aptitude, because discussing opponents often leads the discussant himself, at times, to deviate somewhat, even in a single issue, from the straight path that he should follow. Good, and...Abu Layla : It has become eleven o'clock minus a third of an hour.
Source
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