1 00:00:00,180 --> 00:00:08,220 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah. 2 00:00:08,220 --> 00:00:13,089 The perceptions that creed cultivates. 3 00:00:13,089 --> 00:00:17,089 The sound creed is firmly rooted in human nature, 4 00:00:17,089 --> 00:00:20,089 solely because man is in need of it, 5 00:00:20,089 --> 00:00:22,089 to populate his heart, 6 00:00:22,089 --> 00:00:25,089 and from it, his perceptions and actions emerge. 7 00:00:25,089 --> 00:00:30,089 It provides him with a comprehensive interpretation of his life and destiny, 8 00:00:30,089 --> 00:00:32,090 and of the universe around him, 9 00:00:32,090 --> 00:00:37,179 and of his relationship—and that of the universe—with Allah, the Supreme Creator. 10 00:00:37,179 --> 00:00:41,179 The first perception this creed establishes 11 00:00:41,179 --> 00:00:43,179 is the realization of the reality of the Lord, 12 00:00:43,179 --> 00:00:47,179 and the reality of the universe in which man lives, 13 00:00:47,179 --> 00:00:51,179 both what he observes within it and what is hidden from him, 14 00:00:51,179 --> 00:00:56,280 and the reality of the life to which he belongs, in its present and its unseen aspects. 15 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:58,280 And finally, 16 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,280 his realization of the reality of his own self, which he carries within, 17 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,280 and the purpose of his existence and his ultimate destiny. 18 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:08,439 Among the most vital perceptions established by the creed 19 00:01:08,439 --> 00:01:11,439 is taking Allah alone as one’s deity, 20 00:01:11,439 --> 00:01:16,439 and negating divinity from anything other than Allah, the Exalted. 21 00:01:16,439 --> 00:01:19,439 Thus, servitude is directed to Allah alone, 22 00:01:19,439 --> 00:01:21,439 and to no one else. 23 00:01:21,439 --> 00:01:24,760 Among these perceptions, too, 24 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,760 is the realization that sovereignty belongs to Allah alone, 25 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,760 and to none of His servants. 26 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:35,920 Furthermore, the creed maps out for the individual goals greater than his own self, 27 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:37,920 broader than his own generation, 28 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,920 and more sublime and elevated than his current reality. 29 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,049 It links these goals to the Essence of Allah, the Most High, 30 00:01:45,049 --> 00:01:49,049 from whom the individual receives the system of his life, 31 00:01:49,049 --> 00:01:52,049 the methodology of his thought and conduct, 32 00:01:52,049 --> 00:01:54,049 and the rites of his worship. 33 00:01:54,049 --> 00:01:58,049 He realizes that Allah maintains surveillance and control over him. 34 00:01:58,049 --> 00:02:00,400 Yet, with all this, the individual 35 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:05,400 loves his Lord, the Author of this system, surveillance, and control, 36 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:08,400 and he loves and hates for His sake, 37 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,400 fears Him, and guards against His wrath, 38 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,400 seeks His pleasure, 39 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,400 asks for His aid in goodness and righteousness, 40 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,400 feels ashamed to confront Him with evil, 41 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,400 and hopes for His just reward, 42 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:28,400 which compensates him for what he misses in his struggle against evil in this worldly life. 43 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,460 Among what the creed also establishes 44 00:02:31,460 --> 00:02:35,460 is the realization that whims and emotions are governed by the creed, 45 00:02:35,460 --> 00:02:37,460 not the other way around. 46 00:02:37,460 --> 00:02:40,719 Finally, this creed 47 00:02:40,719 --> 00:02:45,719 affirms the reality of submission to Allah’s choice in every matter, 48 00:02:45,719 --> 00:02:47,719 as the Almighty said: 49 00:02:47,719 --> 00:02:51,719 “Thy Lord bringeth to pass what He willeth and chooseth. They have never any choice. Glorified be Allah and Exalted above all that they associate (with Him)!” (28:68) 50 00:02:51,719 --> 00:02:53,719 “Thy Lord bringeth to pass what He willeth and chooseth. They have never any choice. Glorified be Allah and Exalted above all that they associate (with Him)!” (28:68) 51 00:02:53,719 --> 00:02:57,750 No one has the right to suggest anything to Allah, 52 00:02:57,750 --> 00:03:00,750 nor to add or subtract, 53 00:03:00,750 --> 00:03:03,750 or to alter or change anything in His creation. 54 00:03:03,750 --> 00:03:07,750 For it is Allah who chooses from His creation whom He wills, 55 00:03:07,750 --> 00:03:10,750 for whatever functions, tasks, 56 00:03:10,750 --> 00:03:13,750 duties, and stations He wills. 57 00:03:13,750 --> 00:03:17,849 If this truth were firmly settled in the souls of mankind, 58 00:03:17,849 --> 00:03:21,849 people would not be resentful of anything that befalls them, 59 00:03:21,849 --> 00:03:25,849 nor would they be arrogant about what they attain with their own hands, 60 00:03:25,849 --> 00:03:28,849 nor would they be saddened by what they miss. 61 00:03:28,849 --> 00:03:31,849 For they are not the ones who choose; 62 00:03:31,849 --> 00:03:34,849 rather, it is Allah who chooses. 63 00:03:34,849 --> 00:03:36,909 This does not mean 64 00:03:36,909 --> 00:03:40,909 that they should abandon their intellects, wills, and activities, 65 00:03:40,909 --> 00:03:43,909 or fail to employ legitimate means. 66 00:03:43,909 --> 00:03:45,909 Rather, it means 67 00:03:45,909 --> 00:03:48,909 that they should accept what occurs after they have exerted 68 00:03:48,909 --> 00:03:52,909 all that is within their capacity of thought, planning, and choice. 69 00:03:52,909 --> 00:03:55,909 Thus, they receive everything that happens to them 70 00:03:55,909 --> 00:03:58,909 with contentment, submission, and acceptance. 71 00:03:58,909 --> 00:04:02,909 For they are only held accountable for what is within their capacity, 72 00:04:02,909 --> 00:04:05,909 while the command and the choice belong to Allah alone.