WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:08.220 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah. 00:00:08.220 --> 00:00:13.089 The perceptions that creed cultivates. 00:00:13.089 --> 00:00:17.089 The sound creed is firmly rooted in human nature, 00:00:17.089 --> 00:00:20.089 solely because man is in need of it, 00:00:20.089 --> 00:00:22.089 to populate his heart, 00:00:22.089 --> 00:00:25.089 and from it, his perceptions and actions emerge. 00:00:25.089 --> 00:00:30.089 It provides him with a comprehensive interpretation of his life and destiny, 00:00:30.089 --> 00:00:32.090 and of the universe around him, 00:00:32.090 --> 00:00:37.179 and of his relationship—and that of the universe—with Allah, the Supreme Creator. 00:00:37.179 --> 00:00:41.179 The first perception this creed establishes 00:00:41.179 --> 00:00:43.179 is the realization of the reality of the Lord, 00:00:43.179 --> 00:00:47.179 and the reality of the universe in which man lives, 00:00:47.179 --> 00:00:51.179 both what he observes within it and what is hidden from him, 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. 00:00:56.280 --> 00:00:58.280 And finally, 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:01.280 his realization of the reality of his own self, which he carries within, 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:04.280 and the purpose of his existence and his ultimate destiny. 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:08.439 Among the most vital perceptions established by the creed 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:11.439 is taking Allah alone as one’s deity, 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:16.439 and negating divinity from anything other than Allah, the Exalted. 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:19.439 Thus, servitude is directed to Allah alone, 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:21.439 and to no one else. 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:24.760 Among these perceptions, too, 00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:27.760 is the realization that sovereignty belongs to Allah alone, 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:30.760 and to none of His servants. 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:35.920 Furthermore, the creed maps out for the individual goals greater than his own self, 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:37.920 broader than his own generation, 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:40.920 and more sublime and elevated than his current reality. 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:45.049 It links these goals to the Essence of Allah, the Most High, 00:01:45.049 --> 00:01:49.049 from whom the individual receives the system of his life, 00:01:49.049 --> 00:01:52.049 the methodology of his thought and conduct, 00:01:52.049 --> 00:01:54.049 and the rites of his worship. 00:01:54.049 --> 00:01:58.049 He realizes that Allah maintains surveillance and control over him. 00:01:58.049 --> 00:02:00.400 Yet, with all this, the individual 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:05.400 loves his Lord, the Author of this system, surveillance, and control, 00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:08.400 and he loves and hates for His sake, 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:11.400 fears Him, and guards against His wrath, 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:13.400 seeks His pleasure, 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:16.400 asks for His aid in goodness and righteousness, 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:19.400 feels ashamed to confront Him with evil, 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:21.400 and hopes for His just reward, 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:28.400 which compensates him for what he misses in his struggle against evil in this worldly life. 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:31.460 Among what the creed also establishes 00:02:31.460 --> 00:02:35.460 is the realization that whims and emotions are governed by the creed, 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:37.460 not the other way around. 00:02:37.460 --> 00:02:40.719 Finally, this creed 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:45.719 affirms the reality of submission to Allah’s choice in every matter, 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:47.719 as the Almighty said: 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) 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) 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:57.750 No one has the right to suggest anything to Allah, 00:02:57.750 --> 00:03:00.750 nor to add or subtract, 00:03:00.750 --> 00:03:03.750 or to alter or change anything in His creation. 00:03:03.750 --> 00:03:07.750 For it is Allah who chooses from His creation whom He wills, 00:03:07.750 --> 00:03:10.750 for whatever functions, tasks, 00:03:10.750 --> 00:03:13.750 duties, and stations He wills. 00:03:13.750 --> 00:03:17.849 If this truth were firmly settled in the souls of mankind, 00:03:17.849 --> 00:03:21.849 people would not be resentful of anything that befalls them, 00:03:21.849 --> 00:03:25.849 nor would they be arrogant about what they attain with their own hands, 00:03:25.849 --> 00:03:28.849 nor would they be saddened by what they miss. 00:03:28.849 --> 00:03:31.849 For they are not the ones who choose; 00:03:31.849 --> 00:03:34.849 rather, it is Allah who chooses. 00:03:34.849 --> 00:03:36.909 This does not mean 00:03:36.909 --> 00:03:40.909 that they should abandon their intellects, wills, and activities, 00:03:40.909 --> 00:03:43.909 or fail to employ legitimate means. 00:03:43.909 --> 00:03:45.909 Rather, it means 00:03:45.909 --> 00:03:48.909 that they should accept what occurs after they have exerted 00:03:48.909 --> 00:03:52.909 all that is within their capacity of thought, planning, and choice. 00:03:52.909 --> 00:03:55.909 Thus, they receive everything that happens to them 00:03:55.909 --> 00:03:58.909 with contentment, submission, and acceptance. 00:03:58.909 --> 00:04:02.909 For they are only held accountable for what is within their capacity, 00:04:02.909 --> 00:04:05.909 while the command and the choice belong to Allah alone.