Definition of Ahlus Sunna wa al Jama'ah by Imam al-Baki
Feb 19, 2016 19:07:09 GMT
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Post by DarulTahqiq on Feb 19, 2016 19:07:09 GMT
The Maliki scholar, Imam Muhammad ibn Abi'l Fadl al-Baki al-Kawmi (d. 916 AH) said in his commentary to Aqidah ibn al-Hajib:
"Know that the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah all concur on a united belief in relation to what is possible and impossible (in ascribing to God), even though they may differ in their methods and principles qualifying thereof. In summary, after examination (istiqra) [of the matter], they consist of three groups:
1) The traditionists (Ahl al-Hadith), whose reliance is on the principles of the transmitted evidences from the Book, the Sunnah and scholarly consensus (ijma');
2) The people of rational argumentation (Ahl al-Nazr al-'Aqli). These are the Ash'aris and the Hanafi-Maturidis. The Shaykh of the Ash'aris is Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari (d. 324 AH) and the Shaykh of the Hanafis is Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (d. 333 AH). They are in agreement over the rational principles in every tenet of faith that revelation depends on, and in the scriptural principles in those matters that the intellect conceives as being merely possible, and in those that are both rational and scriptural in addition to the above. They have also agreed on all [central] tenets of faith, whilst only disagreeing on a few [secondary] issues
3) And the people of experiential states and unveilings (Ahl al-Wujdan wa al-Kashf), who are the Sufis. In their beginning stage, their principles are the same as those of the people of rational argumentation and tradition, and in the final stage [their state is that of] spiritual unveilings and inspiration (ilham)."
Quoted by Shaykh Wahbi Sulayman Ghawji (rahimahullah) in his Masa’il fi ilm al-Tawhid, 1st edn, 1420/1999, 13-14. The above was translated by Shaykh Amjad Mahmood. The latter stated that the traditionists (Ahl al-hadith) referred to above are not to be confused with the pseudo-Ahl al-Hadith of our time who reject the obligation to follow the Four Schools of Law, and who espouse anthropomorphic notions about Allah.
"Know that the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah all concur on a united belief in relation to what is possible and impossible (in ascribing to God), even though they may differ in their methods and principles qualifying thereof. In summary, after examination (istiqra) [of the matter], they consist of three groups:
1) The traditionists (Ahl al-Hadith), whose reliance is on the principles of the transmitted evidences from the Book, the Sunnah and scholarly consensus (ijma');
2) The people of rational argumentation (Ahl al-Nazr al-'Aqli). These are the Ash'aris and the Hanafi-Maturidis. The Shaykh of the Ash'aris is Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari (d. 324 AH) and the Shaykh of the Hanafis is Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (d. 333 AH). They are in agreement over the rational principles in every tenet of faith that revelation depends on, and in the scriptural principles in those matters that the intellect conceives as being merely possible, and in those that are both rational and scriptural in addition to the above. They have also agreed on all [central] tenets of faith, whilst only disagreeing on a few [secondary] issues
3) And the people of experiential states and unveilings (Ahl al-Wujdan wa al-Kashf), who are the Sufis. In their beginning stage, their principles are the same as those of the people of rational argumentation and tradition, and in the final stage [their state is that of] spiritual unveilings and inspiration (ilham)."
Quoted by Shaykh Wahbi Sulayman Ghawji (rahimahullah) in his Masa’il fi ilm al-Tawhid, 1st edn, 1420/1999, 13-14. The above was translated by Shaykh Amjad Mahmood. The latter stated that the traditionists (Ahl al-hadith) referred to above are not to be confused with the pseudo-Ahl al-Hadith of our time who reject the obligation to follow the Four Schools of Law, and who espouse anthropomorphic notions about Allah.