بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيدنا محمد أفضل الأنبياء والمرسلين وعلى آله وصحبه ومن تبعه بإحسان إلى يوم الدين
I, Yusuf, write by the aid of my Lord who is the sustainer of all. I began in His name, for indeed nothing is possible without Him. No doubt, praise belongs to Him, He guided us and provided for us, so may our tongues never cease praising Him. Whoever doesn't thank the means hasn't thanked Allah, so may Allah's peace and blessings be forever descending upon our master. I was inspired by the desire to write some words on the aqidah of Ahlusunnah, quoting from the Quran and making clear the truth. May Allah assist me and may He make, through me, His religion most high.
The poor slave of Allah in constant need of Allah, Yusuf al maliki al ashari, declares His Lord to be one as He has said
Translation of meaning: Know that there is no God but Allah, and seek forgiveness for your sins and for the believing men and women. [47:19]
Thus did Allah make knowledge of His Tawheed proceed seeking forgiveness, hence why we consider rectification of Aqidah to be the first obligation. May Allah make us firm in seeking forgiveness for ourselves 100 times a day and may He make our tongues say "astagfirullah lil mumineena wal muminaat" 27 times a day.
There is no doubt in His existence, He originated the heavens and the earth
أَفِي ٱللَّهِ شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلأَرْضِ
Translation of meaning: Can there be doubt concerning Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? [14:10]
Thus be in no doubt about Allah who originated the heavens and the earth while He Himself was not originated for every originated thing is created while Allah is free from being created. He is the first without beginning and the last without end like He has said
هُوَ ٱلأَوَّلُ وَٱلآخِرُ وَٱلظَّاهِرُ وَٱلْبَاطِنُ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Translation of meaning: He is the First, the Last, the Manifest, and the Unseen and He knows all things [57:3]
So free yourself from those who attribute temporalities to Allah, those who believe that His attributes come in and out of existence. His knowledge neither increases nor decreases likewise none of His attributes increased or decreased. Do you not reflect on His words
فَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَبْدِيلاً وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَحْوِيلاً
Translation of meaning: But you will never find in the way of Allah any change, and you will never find in the way of Allah any alteration [35:43]
If that is in regards to how He has willed to deal with the people, do you then imagine that there can be gaining and losing of attributes in His essence?
He is independent of His creation, while His creation is in constant need of Him, they aren't independent of Him for even the blinking of an eye, haven't you looked at the words of Allah?
يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ أَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِيُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ
Translation of meaning: Oh mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy. [35:15]
Repent to Allah, do not think that you are free, these are but days leading to a day of great terror. And free yourself of those people who think Allah needs His creation, Allah's refuge is sought. May Allah protect us from thinking He is like the creation have the people of this age not seen the words of Allah?
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
Translation of meaning: There is nothing like unto Him, yet He is the Hearing, the Seeing. [42:11]
Will you now not declare Allah free from being a body, contained in space and time? He is Allah, He isn't a body nor is He subject to change. He didn't enter His creation either dwelling in all of it nor the uppermost part of it. He cannot be imagined, for the true understanding in regards to Him is submission to not being able to understand Him. All those ayat in the Quran that indicate limbs or places for Him must be understood in terms of His uniqueness and oneness. Do not be like those ignorant people who say "Allah is physically everywhere" nor like those who say "Allah is physically on His throne", all of this is misguidance and is a result of trying to imagine Allah. No doubt He is with us wherever we are and He did istiwa upon the throne but these cant be understood in terms of spatial relations as His attributes are eternal while the creation is temporal. If these are understood as spatial relationships then it would necessitate Allah either gained these attributes after creating creation or that the creation is eternal, may Allah protect us from such disbelief. One must affirm all of what has come in the Quran and sunnah as Allah has said
Translation of meaning: Indeed, those who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - the gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel enters into the eye of a needle. And thus do We recompense the criminals. [7:40]
Affirm, do not deny, but do not misunderstand for indeed in the Quran are ayat that are ambiguous, Allah has said
Translation of meaning: It is He who sent down upon you the Book, wherein are verses clear that are the Essence of the Book, and others ambiguous. As for those in whose hearts is swerving, they follow the ambiguous part, desiring dissension, and desiring its interpretation; and none knows its interpretation, save only God. And those firmly rooted in knowledge say, 'We believe in it; all is from our Lord'; yet none remembers, but men possessed of minds. [3:7}
Thus if you see a people clinging to what's not clear in meaning from the speech of Allah then know that they are diseased and no doubt in our age they are those who say "we are salafi", rather they are people of innovation and disbelief. These are a people whom Allah has caused to go astray and it is as Allah has said
Translation of meaning: Surely Allah is not ashamed to set forth any parable-- (that of) a gnat or anything above that; then as for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord, and as for those who disbelieve, they say: What is it that Allah means by this parable: He causes many to err by it and many He leads aright by it! but He does not cause to err by it (any) except the transgressors. [2:26]
Perhaps you are in doubt and find yourself inclining to the people of astray innovation, so seek assistance from Allah who has power over all things.
Translation of meaning: Allah has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things powerful. [24:45]
The affair is clear, Allah is unlike His creation, He isn't a body nor subject to change. Allah creates what He wills and isn't forced to create. He does as He wills and isn't asked like He has said.
لاَ يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْأَلُونَ
Translation of meaning: He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned. [21:23]
So know without doubt that He created evil as He has said
Translation of meaning: from the evil of what He has created [113:2]
It is not evil nor wrong for Him to afflict His creation with evil, He created the creation and their actions, He has complete ownership over them and can thus do what He wills with them.
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Translation of meaning: Allah created you and what you do. [37:96]
Thus pay no attention to those who think that the creation creates its own action, no but Allah creates. Fire burns not, but it is Allah who burns, He has willed that when things touch fire they burn but it's not the fire that creates the burning but it is Allah. Allah has no partner, so how then can some people claim Islam while believing that the creation creates its own actions? Since when was there more than one creator? And it is impossible to will a thing unless Allah willed that will of yours.
وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلاَّ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَالَمِينَ
Translation of meaning: But you shall not will except as Allah wills,- the Lord of the Worlds. [81:29]
After what has been mentioned can there be any doubt that Allah is in total control? But you should know that you earn your action and will be held responsible
Translation of meaning: This day We seal up their mouths, and their hands speak out to Us and their feet bear witness as to what they used to earn [36:65]
You should thus know that all things are from Allah, He is in total control, He commanded the people with goodness and prohibited them from evil. They are not forced but they also cant act contrary to what they were created for, the understanding of this is by means of submission to the ayat and abandoning attempting to comprehend it. There is a knowledge that is possible to know and a knowledge that the creation can never know, those who seek what's impossible fall flat on their faces. Thus you should know that the majority of people are created for the fire
Translation of meaning: And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah. They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying. [6:116]
And reflect upon the words of your Lord
Translation of meaning: Of them are some who listen unto you, but We have placed upon their hearts veils, lest they should understand, and in their ears a deafness. If they saw every sign they would not believe therein; to the point that, when they come unto you to argue with you, the disbelievers say: This is naught else than fables of the men of old. [6:25]
Thus Allah guides whom He wills and isn't forced to guide or misguide anyone. He is Allah, He does as He wills. After considering what has been mentioned in the aya, how can the people of desire justify rewriting the religion for "dawah"? Indeed we call the people to the truth with wisdom but we don't lie nor change the religion.
Translation of meaning: invite (all) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best who have strayed from His Path and who receive guidance. [16:125]
So we call the people but we know that those created for disbelief will never answer
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنْذِرْهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Translation of meaning: Indeed those who disbelieve its the same to them whether you warn them or you don't warn them, they won't believe. [2:6]
Allah isn't obliged to reward or punish, His reward is a mercy from Him while His punishment is justice as He can do what He wills with His slaves. Whoever thinks Allah is forced to punish or forced to reward has gone against the Quran, the Sunnah and the ijma and thus has disbelieved. May Allah gather us upon guidance, haven't you looked at His words?
Translation of meaning: That He may reward those who have believed and done righteous deeds out of His bounty. Indeed, He does not love the disbelievers. [30:45]
Notice how Allah rewards out of His bounty and not out of coercion. The one who says "I don't know whether Allah will reward the believers and I don't know whether He will punish the kuffar", such a one has disbelieved as He has denied the ayat in the Quran.
Translation of meaning: As for the paradise which the righteous have been promised, it is like this: rivers flow beneath it; everlasting are its fruits, and everlasting are its shades; such is the end of the righteous. But the end of unbelievers is the fire.
And know that the worse of creation are the kuffar for the knower of all things has said
Translation of meaning: The disbelievers among the People of the Book and the pagans will dwell forever in hell; they are the worst of all creatures.
This is the reality of the affair, no doubt Islam is the only true religion that leads to success
Translation of meaning: Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah, then indeed, Allah is swift in [taking] account.
Thus be not like the kuffar who say "all religions are valid". And do not fall into the trap of the fools who think that dominion is through imitating the kuffar
Translation of meaning: Say: "O Allah! Master of all the Kingship, You give the kingdom to whom You please and take away the kingdom from whomsoever You please; You give honor to whom You please and disgrace to whom You please; all the good is in Your hand; surely You have power over everything. [3:26]
Rather the path to dominion is as Allah has said
Translation of meaning: Allah has promised those of you who believe and do good deeds that He will most surely make them vicegerent in the earth as He made their ancestors before them, and that He will establish for them their religion, the one which He has chosen for them, and that He will change their present state of fear into peace and security. Let them worship Me and not associate with Me anything; and if anyone rejects faith after this, it is they who are the transgressors. [24:55]
Allah sent the prophets upon them all be peace and one is obliged to believe in them all
Translation of meaning: Say: We believe in Allah and (in) that which had been revealed to us, and (in) that which was revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq and Yaqoub and the tribes, and (in) that which was given to Musa and Isa, and (in) that which was given to the prophets from their Lord, we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit. [2:136]
But one shouldn't misunderstand and imagine that all the prophets (upon them be peace) are equal in rank
Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the Son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit. If Allah had willed, those [generations] succeeding them would not have fought each other after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed, and some of them believed and some of them disbelieved. And if Allah had willed, they would not have fought each other, but Allah does what He intends. [2:253]
Hence be, without doubt, some prophets upon them be peace are greater in rank than others, the greatest of the prophets is our prophet upon him be the prayers of Allah in the mornings and evenings. The people of astray innovation seek to nullify the exalted rank of the best of creation, upon him be the prayer of Allah so long as Yusuf writes, by misquoting (2:136) but their error is as clear as daylight. Stand in clear opposition to them and don't seek to appease them.
Translation of meaning: They swear by Allah to you (Muslims) to please you, but Allah and His messenger, have more right that they should be pleased if they are believers [9:62]
Do you not reflect how Allah made His pleasure and that of the prophet, upon whom be the prayer of Allah so long as the swords strike, one pleasure? Allah uses the singular form of the word, yet some of the khwarije call us mushrikeen when we praise the best of creation, upon whom be the prayers of Allah so long as the khawarije are killed, but Allah is the one who proceeded us in this noble action.
Be in no doubt that obedience to the messenger of Allah, upon whom be the prayers of Allah so long as the apostates are killed, is an obligation.
Translation of meaning: Oh you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. [4:59]
And in this aya is a clear refutation to those who think its an obligation to obey the kaffir ruler, as when we examine this aya we find it clearly commanding obedience to those in authority from amongst the believers. Had Allah wanted us to obey those in authority from them (kuffar) He would have said that but He didn't so glory be to Allah. And in this aya is a subtilty, Allah doesn't repeat the word for "obey" when commanding obedience to those in authority, this is because one must only obey the Muslim ruler if their command is in accordance with the Quran and sunnah. And thus is the infallibility of the best of creation, upon whom be the prayers of Allah, firmly established.
Translation of meaning: And when they (kuffar) commit an immorality, they say, "We found our fathers doing it, and Allah has ordered us to do it." Say, "Indeed, Allah does not order immorality. Do you say about Allah that which you do not know?" [7:28]
So after reading this aya and the aya I mentioned before it, can anyone accuse the best of creation, upon whom be peace so long as the insulters are killed, of sins? If he was guilty of sins then how could obedience to him in all his acts be an obligation? Rather the "sins" of prophets aren't really "sins", they are small mistakes that are nothing more than leaving a virtues thing for a less virtues thing.
No doubt the people will pass over the bridge, a bridge thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword, over hell does it stand.
وَإِن مِّنكُمْ إِلاَّ وَارِدُهَا كَانَ عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ حَتْماً مَّقْضِيّاً
Translation of meaning: Not one of you but will pass over it: this is, with thy Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished. [19:71]
And the punishment of the grave is true regardless of what the people say.
سَنُعَذِّبُهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ عَظِيمٍ
Translation of meaning: We shall chastise them twice; then they will be relegated to a great punishment. [9:101]
So look there are two punishments before they enter the fire, one during this life of theirs (before death) and one during their time in the grave. If it is said "this is not clearly mentioned in the aya" we say "we have clear statements from the sunnah as well as the agreement of the scholars while you (those who deny the punishment of the grave) have nothing but conjecture".
Know that the ijma is binding
Translation of meaning: And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination. [4:115]
So adhere to the ijma, do not deviate from the way of the believers, don't follow the people of astray innovation. Don't be a hippy who goes around saying "I love Allah and He loves me" but reflect on His words
Say: "If you do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [3:31]
Now the matter is clear, the path is adherence to the sunnah. And be in no doubt that Allah loves those who fight in His cause (do jihad)
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفّاً كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ
Translation of meaning: Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way in ranks as if they were a firm and compact wall [61:4]
And indeed Jihad is defined in the shariah as fighting the kuffar for the sake of Allah. It is both offensive and defensive, I know of none of the people of knowledge who claimed it was just defensive. But some of the people of astray innovation have quoted abrogated ayat to try to deceive the people and have invented this new principle that ayat are restricted to those whom they were revealed regarding. However, you should know that these people are upon nothing for if ayat are restricted to those whom they were specifically revealed about then that would apply to all the ayat in the Quran as they were all revealed in very specific situations. It is because of these liars pretending to be Muslim scholars that the people have started denying hijab "hijab is for that time and place not for now" and how is this different to saying "jihad was for that time and place" or "prayer is for that time and place"? Beware of these people who play with the religion. If they deny abrogation then their kufr is as clear as the full moon on a clear night
Translation of meaning: We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is over all things powerful? [2:106]
know, my brothers, we do not permit intentionally killing women and children or anyone protected by the shariah nor do we claim that jihad should be done without the rulings surrounding it but we give the general ruling. We say "prayer is an obligation" although we know full well that it is haram for a menstruating woman to pray likewise we say "jihad is an obligation" even though some people go beyond the rules of war. We ask Allah for safety and we do not rebel against our rulers so long as they don't apostate even if they neglect to fight and to charge the jizya but we affirm the obligation as Allah has said
Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled. [9:29]
And thus know that this religion of ours is to be manifest over all religions, we don't believe all religions are equal nor that the adherents of deviant religions should be treated like the believers
Translation of meaning: It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion. And sufficient is Allah as Witness. Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward. [48:28-29]
Also, you should know that we agree with owning slaves, we consider it permissible for a man to have relationships with his female slaves as Allah has said
إِلاَّ عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ
Save from their wives or the (slaves) that their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy, [23:6]
And permissible is marrying minors for Allah has said
And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women - if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. [65:4]
How can one divorce a woman who hasn't menstruated yet without first being married to her? Although one should know it's not permissible to have relationships with your wives or slave girls if that will harm them.
The matter is clear and I say to the enemies of Allah amongst the hypocrites and the open kuffar
Whoever should think that Allah will not support [The best of creation] in this world and the Hereafter - let him extend a rope to the ceiling, then cut off [his breath], and let him see: will his effort remove that which enrages [him]? [22:15]
May Allah bless the people of sunnah, may Allah have mercy upon me and forgive me for any mistakes. I have quoted the speech of Allah and made clear the path upon which I am upon, so let those who claim that I am upon nothing continue in their lies. I advise the people to actually study the religion. I would recommend www.wayfarerstop.weebly.com/series.html.
Praise belongs to Allah who assisted me in this task, I have mentioned but a few things to alert the people of intellect. May we gather in Rome and may we fight under the banner of the imam. This was written in the middle of the month of Jumada Al-Awwal in the year 1439.