Continuation of the Refutation of the Asha'irah and an Exposition of Their Danger and Contradictions
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The Shaykh : The doctrines of the ancients, and renounce faith. He says: If the matter is of this nature and the creed is of this contradictory nature, then leave it. Let us be consistent in our principle. Renounce faith. And by this, we know the misguidance of those among the people who said that the Asha'irah, who judged by reason, were the ones who closed the door on the philosophers and logicians. Ibn al-Qayyim, on the contrary to this opinion, holds that these are the ones who opened the door for the philosophers, logicians, and atheists. They said: If you are contradictory in your creed, and this is not a trivial matter—it is not mere talk, it is a creed—how do you affirm the will and deny mercy? The door is the same. Therefore, this is an invalid, contradictory creed that we do not accept. And what do we accept, according to their claim? Denial in everything, disbelief. Renounce faith and the contradictory, defective creeds, and say: We do not believe in anything, ever. Thus, it becomes clear that the contradiction and instability of these people is what opened the door for the atheists. They said: A person who builds his creed, upon which his life and death depend, on matters of what? Contradictions. It is impossible. Pay attention to this important point in the words of Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him). He said:
"So leave the dispute and be clear about the doctrines of the ancients, and renounce faith
or fight with" with a community in your view. I am with the Imams
"or fight with the community of ascribing a body to Allah and likening Allah to creation, under the banner of the One of the Qur'an"
Who is the community of ascribing a body to Allah?
The student: The people of the Sunnah
The Shaykh : The Sunnah, even according to the Asha'irah, they say: You, people of the Sunnah, are those who ascribe a body to Allah. If you see "those who ascribe a body to Allah" in their books, understand it throughout as referring to the people of the Sunnah and the community. Look, the philosophers say: You have two options: either renounce the religions entirely, or be with the people of ascribing a body to Allah and likening Allah to creation, because in their claim, the people of ascribing a body to Allah and likening Allah to creation are the people of the Sunnah. Their speech is not contradictory; it is consistent in affirming what He affirmed for Himself, without distinction between one attribute and another. Good, he says:
"Or else, do not play with your minds, your Book, and the other religions
For all of them have declared His attributes, His speech, and His rising above, with clarity"
Meaning, if you are not with the community of likening Allah to creation and ascribing a body to Allah, then you are playing with your Book, yes, and your minds, and the other religions. Why? Because they all have declared His attributes, His speech, and His rising above, with clarity. Look, now the atheist philosophers see that those who deny some and affirm some have not judged by reason, and that this contradiction is playing with minds.
"So leave the dispute and be clear about the doctrines of the ancients, and renounce faith
or fight with" with a community in your view. I am with the Imams
"or fight with the community of ascribing a body to Allah and likening Allah to creation, under the banner of the One of the Qur'an"
Who is the community of ascribing a body to Allah?
The student: The people of the Sunnah
The Shaykh : The Sunnah, even according to the Asha'irah, they say: You, people of the Sunnah, are those who ascribe a body to Allah. If you see "those who ascribe a body to Allah" in their books, understand it throughout as referring to the people of the Sunnah and the community. Look, the philosophers say: You have two options: either renounce the religions entirely, or be with the people of ascribing a body to Allah and likening Allah to creation, because in their claim, the people of ascribing a body to Allah and likening Allah to creation are the people of the Sunnah. Their speech is not contradictory; it is consistent in affirming what He affirmed for Himself, without distinction between one attribute and another. Good, he says:
"Or else, do not play with your minds, your Book, and the other religions
For all of them have declared His attributes, His speech, and His rising above, with clarity"
Meaning, if you are not with the community of likening Allah to creation and ascribing a body to Allah, then you are playing with your Book, yes, and your minds, and the other religions. Why? Because they all have declared His attributes, His speech, and His rising above, with clarity. Look, now the atheist philosophers see that those who deny some and affirm some have not judged by reason, and that this contradiction is playing with minds.