A Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah
The Purpose of Dividing Sciences into Religious and Worldly
Scientifically speaking, knowledge can only be divided into religious sciences and worldly sciences.
Religious knowledge is the knowledge of what Allah revealed to His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, from the Book,
and what emanated from the Messenger, peace be upon him, in terms of sayings, actions, and approvals,
which clarifies the proofs, realizes monotheism and guidance, and distinguishes between truth and falsehood.
It also secures people's interests in this world and the Hereafter and establishes the proof against people.
Under religious knowledge fall what are termed auxiliary sciences or tools of knowledge,
such as the science of language, the science of usul (principles), the science of hadith terminology, and everything that serves the knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah,
and clarifies their meanings. Worldly sciences encompass all that benefits people in their worldly lives,
and contributes to development and prosperity, such as the sciences of medicine, engineering, physics, and so forth.
A Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah