The Shaykh of Islam said: "And likewise, the statements that render their speaker a disbeliever: it may be that the man has not been reached by the texts that necessitate knowing the truth, or they may have been present with him but not established for him, or he may not have been able to understand them. It may also be that doubts arose for him for which Allah excuses him. So whoever among the believers is striving to seek the truth and makes a mistake, Allah forgives his mistake, whatever it may be, whether in theoretical or practical matters. This is the position of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the majority of the Imams of Islam. They did not divide the matters into matters of principles (usul) for which denial entails disbelief, and matters of branches (furu') for which denial does not entail disbelief."

The reader: "And likewise, the statements that render their speaker a disbeliever: it may be that the man has not been reached by the texts that necessitate knowing the truth, or they may have been present with him but not established for him, or he may not have been able to understand them. It may also be that doubts arose for him for which Allah excuses him. So whoever among the believers is striving to seek the truth and makes a mistake, Allah forgives his mistake, whatever it may be, whether in theoretical or practical matters. This is the position of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the majority of the Imams of Islam. They did not divide the matters into matters of principles (usul) for which denial entails disbelief, and matters of branches (furu') for which denial does not entail disbelief. As for distinguishing between a type and calling it matters of principles, and another type..."

The Shaykh : This is correct. There is no distinction in Islam between principles (usul) and branches (furu'). The weakness of this division is indicated by the fact that those who made this division classified prayer as a branch, whereas it is of the most fundamental principles. They classified zakah as a branch, fasting as a branch, and Hajj as a branch. The practical creedal matters are the principles. This is not correct. The correct view, if we were to accept the division into principles and branches, is that the principles are the great foundations of Islam and its major rules, and the branches are what is below that. For example, prayer is a principle, but the obligation of the first tashahhud in it, for instance, is a branch. Therefore, the prayer is valid without it if one leaves it out due to forgetfulness. And so on. As for the later scholars, they fell into this division and divided the religion into husks and kernels. This is a great error, for there are no husks in the religion at all, because husks are discarded and no benefit is derived from them. There is nothing in the Islamic religion that is discarded and no benefit is derived from it; it is all kernel. However, some of it is more important and greater than some. Yes.
The reader: "As for distinguishing between a type and calling it matters of principles, and another type..."

The Shaykh : I think it is permissible to ask now; there is room for it. Go ahead and ask. Yes.