Part of Concepts of Ahl as-Sunnah (series completed)
· Lesson 253 of 1251
Summary of Sunni concepts | Concept (251) | Ash'ari
0:000:00
Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
0:00
A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
0:08
The Ash'aris.
0:12
They are those who attribute themselves to Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari.
0:16
Who passed away in the year 324 AH.
0:21
He was initially a Mu'tazili.
0:23
Then he first recanted Mu'tazilism in favor of the school of Ibn Kullab.
0:28
Then he recanted that in favor of the Ahl al-Sunnah and the school of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
0:33
As he clarified in his book.
0:35
Al-Ibanah 'an Usul al-Diyanah (The Clarification of the Foundations of Religion).
0:38
In their early inception, the Ash'aris only differed from the Ahl al-Sunnah regarding the Names and Attributes of Allah.
0:46
Later, their doctrines evolved until they differed in many areas of creed.
0:52
The following are their most significant points of divergence.
0:55
First.
0:57
They interpret the attributes of Allah metaphorically, except for seven which they affirm through reason.
1:02
Regarding the remaining attributes, they follow two paths.
1:05
Either metaphorical interpretation (ta'wil) or delegation of meaning (tafwid).
1:08
Second.
1:09
Despite affirming the attribute of Speech for Allah the Exalted within the seven attributes.
1:14
They mean by it an internal, psychological speech devoid of sound or letters.
1:20
Third.
1:22
They lean toward the doctrine of Irja' regarding matters of faith.
1:27
Fourth.
1:28
Fourth [reiterated].
1:29
They differed regarding the issue of Divine Decree (Qadar) and were influenced by some of the beliefs of the Jabriyyah.
1:35
They innovated the concept that actions are created by Allah but acquired by the servant.
1:40
Fifth.
1:41
They prioritize reason over revealed text in their methodology of deduction.
1:46
Sixth.
1:47
They reject solitary hadiths (ahad) in matters of creed.
1:53
Seventh.
1:54
They deny wisdom, rational purpose, and causality in the actions and rulings of Allah the Exalted.
2:00
And they declare as disbelievers those who attribute effects to causes or causal agents.
2:05
Eighth.
2:06
Many of them follow certain Sufi orders in matters of innovated worship.
2:12
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah refuted them in his monumental book.
2:17
Dar' Ta'arud al-'Aql wa al-Naql (The Refutation of the Contradiction Between Reason and Revelation).
2:21
The foremost of the early Ash'aris is Abu Bakr al-Baqillani.
2:26
The middle-era scholar is Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, and the later scholar is Ibrahim al-Laqani.
2:33
The author of the book Jawharat al-Tawhid, which is relied upon at Al-Azhar University.
2:39
Therefore, given these points of divergence from the Ahl al-Sunnah in matters of creed, the Ash'aris.
2:45
Are not considered Ahl al-Sunnah.
2:47
Except for those who did not adopt all or most of their foundational principles.
2:51
And who only differed in one or two areas.
2:55
Such a person may be described as being from the Ahl al-Sunnah in a general sense.
3:00
While acknowledging his departure from them in the specific points where he differed.
3:04
Despite all this, the Ash'aris are closer to the Ahl al-Sunnah.
3:09
Than the philosophers, the Batiniyyah, the Jahmiyyah, the Mu'tazilah, and the Rafidah.
3:16
Their school contains contradictions and instability.
3:19
Unlike the school of the Ahl al-Sunnah, which is precise, consistent, and balanced.
3:24
This is because it follows the infallible revelation.
3:28
It may be said that the Ash'aris are considered Ahl al-Sunnah when contrasted with the Shi'a.
3:34
Meaning, they are not Rafidi Shi'a.