Is it true that most of this Ummah follows the Ash'ari school?
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The Shaykh : The Ash'aris and their spread in the Islamic world; what is the correct creed?
And the answer to that is: the matter is as you heard. The Ash'ari school is well known among the Ummah, and they are those who claim affiliation to Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari (may Allah have mercy on him). Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari went through three stages in his life. The first stage was the stage of the Mu'tazilah, for he was a Mu'tazili who belonged to the Mu'tazilah until he reached the age of forty. Then he associated with 'Abd Allah ibn Sa'id ibn Kullab and benefited from his association with him, and he turned away from the doctrine of the Mu'tazilah, declaring its invalidity, and he (may Allah have mercy on him) announced this openly. Then he ascended to the final stage, which was the fruit of his research and seeking of the truth, and that was that he was upon the doctrine of the Imam of the people of the Sunnah, Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him). The students of Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari from his middle stage of his transitions received the doctrine from him, and the school spread from this middle stage.
As for the doctrine that was Abu al-Hasan's (may Allah have mercy on him) final one, it is the doctrine of the people of the Sunnah and the community. The doctrine of the people of the Sunnah and the community regarding the names and attributes of Allah is that they affirm for Allah everything that He has affirmed for Himself, without distortion, denial, asking how, or likening Allah to creation. For example, they say: Allah rose above the Throne with a true rising, and rising means being above, but it is a height befitting His majesty and greatness, not resembling the rising of a man on a bed, or on a ship, or on livestock. And they say: Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has a Face, a Face described with majesty and honor, as the Exalted said:[Ar-Rahman 55:27] But it is a Face that does not resemble any of the created beings, because Allah says: [Ash-Shuraa 42:11]. Upon this fundamental principle, the people of the Sunnah built their doctrine regarding the names and attributes of Allah, meaning that they affirm for Allah what He has affirmed for Himself and what His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) has affirmed for Him, without distortion, denial, asking how, or likening Allah to creation.
Likewise, the people of the Sunnah and the community, regarding divine decree, believe that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) knows everything that will happen and has written the measures of that in the Preserved Tablet, and that everything that happens is by His will (Blessed and Exalted is He), and that everything that exists is created by Allah (Mighty and Majestic). And yet, they affirm for the servant will, power, and choice, as is the tangible reality. Yes.
And the answer to that is: the matter is as you heard. The Ash'ari school is well known among the Ummah, and they are those who claim affiliation to Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari (may Allah have mercy on him). Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari went through three stages in his life. The first stage was the stage of the Mu'tazilah, for he was a Mu'tazili who belonged to the Mu'tazilah until he reached the age of forty. Then he associated with 'Abd Allah ibn Sa'id ibn Kullab and benefited from his association with him, and he turned away from the doctrine of the Mu'tazilah, declaring its invalidity, and he (may Allah have mercy on him) announced this openly. Then he ascended to the final stage, which was the fruit of his research and seeking of the truth, and that was that he was upon the doctrine of the Imam of the people of the Sunnah, Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him). The students of Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari from his middle stage of his transitions received the doctrine from him, and the school spread from this middle stage.
As for the doctrine that was Abu al-Hasan's (may Allah have mercy on him) final one, it is the doctrine of the people of the Sunnah and the community. The doctrine of the people of the Sunnah and the community regarding the names and attributes of Allah is that they affirm for Allah everything that He has affirmed for Himself, without distortion, denial, asking how, or likening Allah to creation. For example, they say: Allah rose above the Throne with a true rising, and rising means being above, but it is a height befitting His majesty and greatness, not resembling the rising of a man on a bed, or on a ship, or on livestock. And they say: Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has a Face, a Face described with majesty and honor, as the Exalted said:
And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
ويبقى وجه ربك ذو الجلال والإكرامThere is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
ليس كمثله شيء وهو السميع البصيرLikewise, the people of the Sunnah and the community, regarding divine decree, believe that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) knows everything that will happen and has written the measures of that in the Preserved Tablet, and that everything that happens is by His will (Blessed and Exalted is He), and that everything that exists is created by Allah (Mighty and Majestic). And yet, they affirm for the servant will, power, and choice, as is the tangible reality. Yes.