(Clarification that knowledge is not doubt, not skepticism, and not suspension of judgment) No, nor is it doubt, skepticism, or the ***suspension of judgment that contains no recognition; these are your sciences.
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The Shaykh :"No, nor is it doubt, skepticism, or the ***suspension of judgment that contains no recognition"
True knowledge is not doubt. Is the person who says, "This issue is confusing to me," a scholar? So doubt is not knowledge. If the one who says, "This issue is confusing to me," this is also the habit of the people of ta'til (denial of the divine attributes); they say, "This is a problem." Yes.
Likewise, skepticism. He makes the addressee doubt, saying, "It is possible that it is such and such, and it is possible that it is such and such," without preferring one over the other. Fine. The fourth.
The third: and suspension of judgment. He says, "I am suspending judgment," and it is known that suspension of judgment does not indicate knowledge, because he is suspending judgment. Either he is ignorant of the evidence, or the evidence is balanced in his view, so he suspends judgment regarding which is stronger. Yes. He says:
"... *** that contains no recognition
These are your sciences for which *** you have treated us as ordinary, O you who possess recognition"
Meaning, these are your sciences: skepticism, doubt, suspension of judgment, and limiting the opinions of men. And in this issue, there is such and such from the opinions. Then he mocked them, saying, "O you who possess recognition, O you who possess recognition." Is the one whose method is this considered a knower? Absolutely not; rather, he is among the most ignorant of Allah's servants.
True knowledge is not doubt. Is the person who says, "This issue is confusing to me," a scholar? So doubt is not knowledge. If the one who says, "This issue is confusing to me," this is also the habit of the people of ta'til (denial of the divine attributes); they say, "This is a problem." Yes.
Likewise, skepticism. He makes the addressee doubt, saying, "It is possible that it is such and such, and it is possible that it is such and such," without preferring one over the other. Fine. The fourth.
The third: and suspension of judgment. He says, "I am suspending judgment," and it is known that suspension of judgment does not indicate knowledge, because he is suspending judgment. Either he is ignorant of the evidence, or the evidence is balanced in his view, so he suspends judgment regarding which is stronger. Yes. He says:
"... *** that contains no recognition
These are your sciences for which *** you have treated us as ordinary, O you who possess recognition"
Meaning, these are your sciences: skepticism, doubt, suspension of judgment, and limiting the opinions of men. And in this issue, there is such and such from the opinions. Then he mocked them, saying, "O you who possess recognition, O you who possess recognition." Is the one whose method is this considered a knower? Absolutely not; rather, he is among the most ignorant of Allah's servants.