The source of Aqeedah and the Manhaj (Way) of the Salaf in deriving and learning it

Below is taken directly from ”What you must believe about your Creator’ by (Shaykh Salih ibn Uthaymeen Rahimahullah),

Aqeedah is Tawqeefiyah (which means that) beliefs cannot be established except with a proof from the Sharee’ah (Religious texts) – there is no room for opinion and speculation.

The source of Aqeedah are therefore restricted to what is mentioned in the Book and the Sunnah (Ahadeeth of the Prophet) because no one is more knowledge than Allah about the obligations due to Him and what He is free from – and after Allah – no one knows more about Allah other than His Messenger.

The Manhaj (way) of the Salaf as-Saleh (the pious predecessors) and those who followed them was therefore restricted to the Book and the Sunnah.  They believed, affirmed and implemented everything that was established in the Book and the Sunnah concerning the Rights of Allah.  They disowned and rejected everything that was not established in either of these two sources.

Thus, no differences were found amongst them with regards to beliefs. Their belief was one and their Jama’ah was one because Allah supports whoever holds on to His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger (SAW) with a unified position, correct Aqeedah and unity of Manhaj.

”Hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e this Qur’an) and be not divided among yourselves.” [Soorah aal-Imran (3):103] and, ”Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray nor fall into distress and misery.” [Soorah Taha (20):123]

They are therefore called ‘the saved sect’ for whom the Messenger testified safety [from the Hell-Fire] when he informed about the splitting of the Ummah (nation) into seventy – three sects – all of them in the Fire except one. When he (SAW) was asked about this one (saved sect), he (SAW) replied ”…that which I and my companions are upon this day.” [narrated by Imam Ahmad]

The prophecy of Allah’s Messenger (SAW) has come to pass. Some people have built their Aqeedah upon other than the Book and the Sunnah – such as Ilmul Kalam – (argumentation based upon) the fundamentals of logic inherited from Greek philosophy. (thus) there occurred deviation from (the correct) Aqeedah, which further resulted in differing of the word, splitting of the Jama’ah and demolition of the unified structure of Islam.

[end quote from  ”What you must believe about your Creator’ by (Shaykh Salih Uthaymeen Rahimahullah)]

Ibn Shihâb reports:

‘Umar b. ‘Abd Al-‘Azîz – Allah have mercy on him, said, “The Messenger of Allâh – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – and the authorities (leaders of the Muslims, the Caliphs ) after him set certain ways and practices. To follow those ways is to believe in Allâh’s Book and to complete [ones] obedience of Him, and to be strong upon the religion of Allâh. It is not for anyone to alter those ways or change them for something else, and it is not for anyone to consider the views and opinions of those who contradict them. Whoever follows what [the Prophet and his Caliphs] laid down will be guided, whoever seeks enlightenment through it will be enlightened. But whoever contradicts those ways and follows a way other than the way of the Believers, Allâh the Mighty and Majestic will leave him in the path he has chosen and land him in Jahannam (Hell); and what an evil destination that is.’”

Al-Lâlakâ`î, Sharh Usûl I’tiqâd Ahl Al-Sunnah 1:94.

Notes

In this statement, Caliph ‘Umar b. ‘Abd Al-Azîz affirms a number of important points related to the creed and methodology of Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamâ’ah – orthodox Islam:

1. The path of guidance, the Sunnah, is what was laid down by the Prophet, as understood and implemented by the Rightly Guided Caliphs and Companions.
2. For a person to truly believe in the Quran, and to be guided, he must adhere to this Sunnah and to it alone.
3. A Muslim is not allowed to innovate in the religion or exchange any part of it for foreign beliefs and ideologies.
4. True enlightenment and insight lies in adhering to this way.
5. A Muslim is not supposed to be interested in and expose himself to the views and opinions of people who go against the Sunnah and way of the Salaf.
6. Going against this way is to follow ‘a way other than the way of the Believers’ and take a path to Hell; a reference to Al-Quran 4:115 where this principle is evidenced.

This narration is recorded with variant wordings in numerous other sources. In a version recorded on the authority of Muttarrif b. ‘Abdillâh by Al-Qâdî Abû Ya’lâ (d458H) in Ibtâl Al-Ta’wîl 1:52, it is stated that when those who ‘deflected the narrations speaking of the Sifât’ (divine attributes of Allâh) were mentioned in the presence of Imâm Mâlik, he would quote this saying of Caliph ‘Umar b. ‘Abd Al-‘Azîz. In yet another report of this statement, the heretics being referred to are described as ‘the deviants in the religion.’

[End quote Ibn Shihâb reports: taken(copied) directly from this site]

See this video below

Shaykh Saalih ibn Uthaymeen (Rahimahullah) also writes in ”What you must believe in your Creator’. Some of the causes for Deviation.

”Deviation from the correct Aqeedah has many causes, from the most important of them are.

1.Ignorance of the correct Aqeedah due to turning away from learning and teaching it or lack of concern for it – until there arises a generation who is ignorant of the correct Aqeedah and that which contradicts it. The truth is then deemed to be falsehood and falsehood to be the truth – as Umar Ibn Khattab (RA) said, ‘Verily, the bonds of Islam will be destroyed one by one, when there arise in Islam people who do not know or recognize Jahiliyah (ignorance). ”

2.Bigotry (ta’assub) towards the belief of the ancestors – adhering to them even if they are false and forsaking everything that opposes them even if it is the truth.

Allah says; ”When it is said to them, ‘Follow what Allah has sent down.’ They say, ‘Nay! We shall follow what we found our fathers following.’  (Would they do that!) Even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided?’ [Soorah al – Baqarah (2): 170]

3.Blind – Following (Taqleed) by accepting people’s statements concerning Aqeedah without knowing the proof or level of authenticity – as is the case of Jahmiyyah, Mu’tazilah, Ash’aris, Soofis  and others whereby they (blindly) followed their deviant scholars who preceded them and thus, they were misguided and went astray from the correct beliefs.

4.Extremism or Exaggeration (in honoring) the Awliya (saints) and the Saliheen (righteous) through the following acts

Raising the Awliya and the Saliheen above their due status where it is believed that they bring benefits and prevent harm in a manner which none has the ability to do except Allah.

Taking the Awliya and the Saliheen as intermediaries between Allah and the creation in fulfilling needs and answering the duaa (see this chapter in kitab at tawheed) – until the matters  turns to into worshiping other than Allah.

Seeking nearness to their tombs through sacrifices, vows (nadhr),  supplication, seeking aid and asking for help like what occurred among the people Nuh (peace be upon him) regarding the pious. They said, ”You shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave Wadd, Suwa, Yaghuth, Ya’uq nor Nasr (names of the idols).” [Soorah Nuh (71):23]

Such is also the case of the grave-worshippers of today in many countries.

5. Negligence in pondering over the universal and Qur’aanic Ayaat (Proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah while being overwhelmed by the facts and figures of the material civilization – until  people think that this is from man’s ability alone. They glorify man and attribute these accomplishment to man’s endeavors and experiments alone – as Qaroon said, ”This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.” [Soorah al-Qasas (28): 78] and as man says, ”This is  for me (due to my merit).” [Soorah Fussilat (41): 50] ”Only because of knowledge (that I possess) I obtained it.” [Soorah az-Zumar (39): 49]

They do not ponder or look at the glory of the One, Who originated this  universe and bestowed in it these magnificent wonders. He Who originated man and conferred upon him the ability to derive and utilize these  benefits. ”Allah has created you and what you make!” [Soorah as-Saffat (37): 96] ”Do they not look in the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all things that Allah has created.” [Soorah al-A’raf (7):185]

”Allah is He, Who has created the heavens and the earth and He sends  down water (rain) from the sky and thereby brought fruits as provision for you. He has made the ships to be of service to you – so that they may sail through the sea by His Command.

He has made rivers (also) to be of service to you. He has made the sun and the moon – both constantly pursuing their courses – to be of service to you. He gave you of all that you asked for and if you count the Blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them.” [Soorah Ibraheem (14): 32- 34]

See this chapter in kitab at Tawheed.

6. Houses have become empty of the, correct guidelines.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ”Every child is born upon Fitrah (natural inborn instinct which recognizes Allah) but his parents make him a Jew, a Christian or a fire-worshipper.” [Agreed upon] Parents thus play a big role in setting right the child’s way of life.

7.    Lack of importance for the means of teaching and spreading (Islamic) knowledge in most of the Islamic world. More often, the methods of teaching do not give much importance to the religious parts or they are careless in this regard from the start.

The means of transmitting knowledge whether textual, audio-visual or verbal have mostly become tools of destruction and misguidance or they  are more involved in material and entertaining obsessions. People do not  care about building (good) character, instilling the correct Aqeedah or combating misguided trends until there arises a generation who is  defenseless against misguidance.

[End quote  ”What you must believe about your Creator’ by (Shaykh Salih Uthaymeen Rahimahullah]

Shaykh Salih ibn Uthaymeen (Rahimahullah) additionally writes in ‘What you must believe about your Creator’. The means of avoiding deviation.

1. Returning to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger to derive the correct Aqeedah just like as-Salaf as-Saleh. ”The later part of this Ummah will not be corrected except by that which corrected its earliest part’

With this (it is also necessary to be) aware of the beliefs of the deviant groups. To know their doubts in order to refute them and warn against them – because he who does not know evil, tends to fall into it.

2. Giving importance to teaching the correct Aqeedah -the Aqeedah of as-Salaf as-Saleh – in different educational levels and giving it ample share of the syllabus and arranging precise examinations on the subject.

3. Organizing  study of pure books of the Salaf and staying far from books of deviant groups like the Sufis, the innovators, the Jahmiyyah, the Mu’tazilah, the Ash’aris, the Maturidis and others- except for knowing (their deviation) so as to refute what is in them of falsehood and warn against them.

4.  Establishing Duat (callers) who revive the Aqeedah of the Salaf for the people and and refute misguidance of the deviated groups.”

[End Quote:  ”What you must believe about your Creator’ by Shaykh Salih ibn Uthaymeen Rahimahullah]

Below taken directly from here

It is reported that ‘Abdullāh b. Mas’ūd – Allāh be pleased with him – said:

The people will remain upon goodness as long as knowledge comes to them from the Companions of Allāh’s Messenger – Allāh’s praise and peace be upon him, and from their seniors. But when knowledge comes to them from their minors, that is when they will be destroyed.

Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr, Jāmi’ Bayān Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi article 1060.

Note
Being upon a good and right path is based on following the knowledge of the Companions and seniors: scholars and people who adhere to the Sunnah, whereas taking knowledge from minors like ignorants and heretics is a sign of destruction.

[End Quote]

Each one of us need to look to whom we take our Deen from as said by Imaam Muhammad bin Seereen (Rahimahullah).

“Indeed this ‘Ilm (knowledge) is the Deen (Religion) so look and see from whom you are taking your religion.”