(Discussion of the Qaramita and their innovations, and the division of religion into an outer and an inner aspect, and the figurative interpretation of meanings, whether in matters of creed or practice) which is what led
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The Shaykh : He says:
"And it is what led the Qaramita, those who *** interpret the laws of faith"
The Qaramita are originally Rafidah Shi'ah, but their religious innovation developed, may Allah protect us from it, until they said: Islam has an outer and an inner aspect. The outer is what we know of prayer, zakah, fasting, and Hajj, and this is not commanded of anyone but the common people, nor is it performed by anyone but the common people. Thus, the prophets are common people, and those who follow them in this outer religion are common people. The true religion is the inner religion, which is why they are called the Batiniyyah. This inner religion is not commanded of anyone but the select people, who are the awliya (close friends of Allah). Therefore, they interpreted even the religion, or even the practical Shari'ah, just as these people interpreted the theological Shari'ah regarding the attributes of Allah and others. They distorted it; these people distorted even the practical matters. They said prayer is not the one with bowing and prostration; prayer is knowing the secrets of the people. Fasting is abstaining from food, drink, and things that break the fast, not this. This is the fast of the common people. The fast of the select people is concealing their secrets. Therefore, they do not disclose the secrets of their doctrine until a person ascends ten known stages among them, meaning they advance him stage by stage until he reaches the goal. As for Hajj, they said it is visiting their awliya (close friends of Allah) instead of visiting the Ka'bah. No, that is the Hajj of the common people. The Hajj of the select people is to go to such-and-such a wali (close friend of Allah), whether he is alive or dead, and seek him out. That is the Hajj. Zakah is not giving money to the poor, the needy, and those employed to collect it, and so on, but rather giving money to promote their doctrines and build on the graves of their awliya (close friends of Allah), and the like of that.
"So they interpreted the practical aspects just as the *** theological aspects are interpreted among you, without distinction"
What is the theological? That which relates to creeds. And the practical is that which relates to the limbs, to the actions of the limbs. The Batiniyyah Qaramita interpreted both matters. In their theological doctrine, they are exactly like the philosophers. They say that the Hereafter, the names of Allah, and the attributes of Allah, and indeed Allah the Mighty and Majestic Himself, are all imagination. As for the practical, they added to that by saying the practical is also imagination, for the common people only, not for the select people.
"And it is what led the Qaramita, those who *** interpret the laws of faith"
The Qaramita are originally Rafidah Shi'ah, but their religious innovation developed, may Allah protect us from it, until they said: Islam has an outer and an inner aspect. The outer is what we know of prayer, zakah, fasting, and Hajj, and this is not commanded of anyone but the common people, nor is it performed by anyone but the common people. Thus, the prophets are common people, and those who follow them in this outer religion are common people. The true religion is the inner religion, which is why they are called the Batiniyyah. This inner religion is not commanded of anyone but the select people, who are the awliya (close friends of Allah). Therefore, they interpreted even the religion, or even the practical Shari'ah, just as these people interpreted the theological Shari'ah regarding the attributes of Allah and others. They distorted it; these people distorted even the practical matters. They said prayer is not the one with bowing and prostration; prayer is knowing the secrets of the people. Fasting is abstaining from food, drink, and things that break the fast, not this. This is the fast of the common people. The fast of the select people is concealing their secrets. Therefore, they do not disclose the secrets of their doctrine until a person ascends ten known stages among them, meaning they advance him stage by stage until he reaches the goal. As for Hajj, they said it is visiting their awliya (close friends of Allah) instead of visiting the Ka'bah. No, that is the Hajj of the common people. The Hajj of the select people is to go to such-and-such a wali (close friend of Allah), whether he is alive or dead, and seek him out. That is the Hajj. Zakah is not giving money to the poor, the needy, and those employed to collect it, and so on, but rather giving money to promote their doctrines and build on the graves of their awliya (close friends of Allah), and the like of that.
"So they interpreted the practical aspects just as the *** theological aspects are interpreted among you, without distinction"
What is the theological? That which relates to creeds. And the practical is that which relates to the limbs, to the actions of the limbs. The Batiniyyah Qaramita interpreted both matters. In their theological doctrine, they are exactly like the philosophers. They say that the Hereafter, the names of Allah, and the attributes of Allah, and indeed Allah the Mighty and Majestic Himself, are all imagination. As for the practical, they added to that by saying the practical is also imagination, for the common people only, not for the select people.