A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
The characteristics of the Divine scale.
Since the Divine scale originates from the Lord,
it inevitably possesses fixed and just attributes,
being perfect, comprehensive, and balanced,
because it comes from Allah, the Almighty and Exalted.
“Will they not then ponder on the Qur'an? If it had been from other than Allah they would have found therein much incongruity.” (4:82)
Among the most important of these characteristics:
First: Tawhid (the Oneness of Allah).
It is the core of the Divine scale,
and it is a requirement of the Lordship of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted,
to Whom belong the Most Beautiful Names,
and Who alone is truly worthy of worship,
with no partner beside Him.
Thus, in proportion to the soundness of a servant’s Tawhid
and the realization of his servitude to Allah the Exalted,
his standards and his weighing of matters become sound.
However, if Tawhid is compromised,
and any portion of worship is directed to other than Allah the Exalted,
then the scales become unbalanced, disordered, and distorted.
Indeed, Tawhid establishes in the heart and mind
a state of discipline and steadfastness,
through which perceptions do not waver,
values do not shake,
and neither concepts nor conduct become diluted.
It suffices to compare and weigh the monotheistic Muslim
against others who hold polytheistic concepts
to see the difference between them in their scales,
their judgments, and their stances.
Second: Steadfastness.
Because the source of the scale is Divine,
it carries the attribute of steadfastness.
That scale remains consistent in the past,
the present, and the future;
it does not change with the changing of time or place,
nor does it fluctuate or contradict itself.
The role of the human intellect remains
one of reception, response, and application,
and the development of life remains linked
to this fixed axis,
revolving around it within a stable framework.
For there are two states of human life
that are fixed in the scale of Allah,
never changing regardless of time or place:
Third: The state of guidance,
and the state of misguidance.
No matter how varied the forms and means of misguidance may be,
“Such then is Allah, your rightful Lord. After the Truth what is there saving error? How then are ye turned away!” (10:32)
then where are you being diverted?
Third: Comprehensiveness and balance.
Because it is Divine,
it has come comprehensive, perfect, balanced, and just,
covering all aspects of human existence
and all aspects of life.
It is a balanced and just comprehensiveness,
where no single aspect overwhelms another,
standing midway between excess and negligence,
because it is from the All-Knowing, the All-Aware,
the Wise, the Subtle, the Powerful, the Exalted.
It suffices to look at the scales of humanity—
those unjust, ignorant scales—
and their disorder and contradictions,
to see the vast chasm between them.
For goodness is made manifest by its opposite.
Fourth:
Belief in the Last Day.
This is one of the most prominent features of the Divine scale,
due to the impact this creed has on weighing people,
weighing values,
and the discipline of judgments and stances.
As for those who are heedless of the Last Day,
their values and perceptions waver,
and they lose the correct perception
of life and its events,
its future, and its values.
Consequently, a person who believes in Allah
and the Last Day, and accounts for it, cannot meet
with another who lives for this world alone
and does not believe in what lies beyond it.
They do not meet in any estimation,
nor in a single scale regarding the affairs of life,
nor in a single one of its many values,
nor do they agree on a single judgment
regarding an incident, a situation,
or any matter whatsoever.
For each of them has a scale,
each has his own angle of vision,
and each has a light by which he views
things, events, values, and circumstances.
A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.