An- Nahdah ( Revival) by Al-Ustaadh Haafizh Saalih (Fareed Muhammad Saalih Al-Ghaanim)

The Aqeedah has been defined as: A comprehensive thought (idea) about the universe, the human and the life, and what was before the life and what was after the life, and about their relationship with what was before them and their relationship with what was after them.

However is this comprehensive thought sufficient to act as a Qaa’idah Fikriyah (Intellectual principle or basis for thought) upon which all of the thoughts that the human could possibly face in life are built upon? Is it possible for this thought to be comprehensive in its entirety for every aspect of life and not restricted to one aspect whilst leaving another? Has this thought laid down bases that make it present and existent within the reality of life? In other words, does this Aqeedah include within it the manner to bring it in to existence in life, the manner to implement it and safeguard it i.e. does it include a Tareeqah (method) to bring it to life within the present reality, to safeguard it, to explain how the human problems should be treated and how to carry it mankind?

If the answer to all of these questions is affirmative then this is what would make the Aqeedah an intellectual basis in truth, from which all of the treatments and solutions of life emanate from, and upon which all of the thoughts that the human can possibly come across are built. It has a specific manner for implementing its treatments or solutions, to preserve and safeguard them and to carry them to mankind i.e. it possesses a Tareeqah (method) to bring it into existence within life. Therefore it would be an intellectual Aqeedah from which a system of life emanates for the human being living upon this earth, whilst at the same time it provides bases for the implementation of this system, and to make it reach every human being and it is not restricted to one aspect whilst ignoring others. It does not look to one group of people to the exclusion of others as it views the human in his reality as a human being. It is not restricted to one region to the exclusion of others and as such has a complete view of all that exists. It is not restricted to exhortation, guidance and advice but rather adopts a specific manner to enable the human to bring the Aqeedah into existence in life and implement what it has come with in terms of systems and the treatments or solutions that have emanated from it.

In this way the human is able to live by it, for its sake and to lead others from mankind by it. He is led by it, he leads it and leads others by it and as such this Aqeedah is also a Qiyaadah Fikriyah (Intellectual leadership).

This is therefore what is stipulated upon the Aqeedah so that it can become a Qaa’idah Fikriyah (intellectual basis) upon which all of the thoughts are built upon and so that it can lead to real revival. The correctness of the Nahdah (revival) rests upon it, so if this Aqeedah (comprehensive thought) was correct then the revival would also be correct and if the Aqeedah was incorrect then the revival that arises from it would also be incorrect. For this reason it is necessary for this comprehensive thought (Aqeedah) to be a Fikrah Yaqeeniyah (Thought based on absolute certainty) that agrees with the Fitrah and convinces the mind so that the heart of the human can be filled with tranquillity and so that he experiences (feels) happiness.

Indeed it is possible for Aqaa’id (beliefs) to be deficient despite representing a comprehensive thought about the universe, the man and the life. They are restricted to presenting treatments without explaining how to implement these treatments, so they remained as individual solutions or philosophical. Or they can be restricted to a specific group or people to the exclusion of others. Aqaa’id (beliefs) like this, even if they are comprehensive ideas, are not suitable for the revival of the human being in his human perspective, or are they suitable to provide humanity with happiness.

The Jewish Aqeedah for example is a comprehensive thought about the universe, the man and the life, and about its relationship with what is before the life and the relationship with what is after the life. However it is restricted to some treatments (solutions) whilst neglecting others. This is from one angle and from another, this belief is restricted to a specific people. It is a belief specific to the children of Israel and as such is an Aqeedah for a specific people. It is therefore not suitable for mankind wherever they are, in any time and for any race as it is an Aqeedah for a specific people and restricted to a certain time. It is therefore deficient and not suitable as a basis for revival.

As for the Christian Aqeedah, then it also provides a comprehensive thought about the universe, the human and the life, however it is restricted to providing advice and exhortation to only some aspects of the lives of individuals. It has also fallen short in terms of putting down the manner to preserve and safeguard it or in terms of providing a way to implement these advices that the Aqeedah has come with. It is restricted to the relationship between the human and his creator in terms of addressing worships, foodstuffs and some aspects related to marriage. It has also advised and informed individuals not to engage in certain bad acts and these have been named ‘The ten commandments’ (Do not steal, fornicate, kill etc...) in addition to addressing some other basic matters. It has left the individual to take charge of this and administer these matters himself and it did not provide a specific method or manner for implementing them or a manner of safeguarding the very Aqeedah itself. And specifically in regards to this and in accordance to the claims of its adherents, the religion states: ‘Give what belongs to Caesar to Caesar and give what belongs to Allah to Allah’.

There are also a number of beliefs and philosophical thoughts that have in their view comprehensively addressed existence in its entirety, have viewed the human in terms of his humanity and have put down solutions to treat the problems of the human and to regulate his relationships. However they have fallen short in relation to providing a method for the implementation of these solutions and thoughts. Examples of which include ‘Plato’s republic’ and Farabi’s ‘Utopia’ amongst others. As such the like of these Aqaa’id (beliefs) and general thoughts are not suitable to become the basis for revival (An-Nahdah) or as a method that will lead to revival. This is because An-Nahdah (revival), the manner of arriving at it or proceeding upon the path of revival necessitates the following:

First: The presence of a comprehensive thought about the universe, the man and the life, and about what is before the life and about what is after the life, and about their relationship with what is before the life and about their relationship with what is after the life of the Dunyaa. This is so that the human can define the meaning of his existence in this life. Based on this he defines his concepts about the life of the Dunyaa, which then specifies his conduct in the life of this world built upon this comprehensive thought, in addition to specifying what is built upon it in terms of thoughts and what emanates from it in terms of meanings, concepts and solutions (treatments).

Second: The comprehensive idea needs to include the treatment for the individual’s most fundamental problem. This is the specifying of the meaning of his existence within the life. Similarly it needs to include the treatments (solutions) for all of his problems, so that all of his relationships are regulated for him i.e. his actions and behaviours are regulated in this life. This is so that he is not left in a continual cycle of contradictions or as a victim of fears, whispers (obsessions), worry and stress where he is afraid for himself, or afraid for his kind (species) or his dignity, or he does not feel safe or secure. This means that the comprehensive idea has provided him with the bases for all of the solutions and treatments to all of the problems that he will face within the period of time that he will spend upon this earth i.e. the stage of the life of this world.

Third: That this Aqeedah has the potential to be spread to mankind and it is not restricted to one people to the exclusion of others.

Allah (swt) says: O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Verily Allah is Aleemun Khabeer (Al-Hujuraat 13).

This is because it is a comprehensive thought that encompasses everything and because it has looked at the human in his human perspective in origin. It represents a thought because it has been produced intellectually by making an intellectual judgement upon a collection (of matters) which his senses have fallen upon. Therefore it is necessary for it to be intellectual (rational) and address the minds of human beings and make the mind or intellect the source of responsibility (Manaat At-Takleef).

Based on this it is also necessary for it to include the obligation of spreading it and working by it and for it. This is so that it is valid and correct to call it a Qaa’idah Fikriyah (Intellectual basis) and a Qiyaadah Fikriyah (Intellectual leadership) which the human is led by and by which he leads others.

Fourth: The comprehensive idea must contain within it, the manner of preserving (safeguarding) it and the manner of keeping it pure and maintaining its clarity. So it is not correct for it to be exposed to blemishes that hide its clarity or that something is included in it which in origin is not from it and as a result its purity is lost. Therefore it is essential for the mentality to be based on certainty (Yaqeen) and far away from speculation or doubt (Zhann). It needs to be distanced from anything that has not been established upon the definite (Yaqeeni) Daleel (evidence) to prove its correctness.

Allah (swt) says:

They follow nothing but Zhann (matters with doubt) and verily the Zhann does not avail the truth in anything (An-Najm 28).

Exhortation is not sufficient in regards to the preservation of the idea but rather punishments are enforced upon those who attempt to change it, harm it or take it based on Zhann.

Fifth: This Aqeedah must include a manner to implement what it has come with in terms of treatments (solutions) and a Tareeqah (method) that enables the establishment of these treatments within the reality of life. It is not sufficient for these solutions to be left to the individual to take them as advice or exhortations for him to take or leave as he wishes. Rather it is essential for there to be a Tareeqah (method) for these solutions that make their existence in the life of the individual,, people and society an inevitable matter whether he likes it or not.

So when it exhorts to the safeguarding of the human life it has made a Tareeqah (method) to implement that by way of (the punishment of) killing the killer. When it commanded the mind to be safeguarded it provided the Tareeqah to implement this by way of the lashing the drunkard and when it addressed the safeguarding and protection of the human dignity and honour it made the manner of implementing this, the lashing of the Qaadhif (the one who slanders the woman’s honour). When it made obligatory the preservation of progeny i.e. the safeguarding of the human kind, it put down the punishment of blood money for sterilization and castration. When Islaam established that lineages should not be mixed, it put down a gruesome death penalty as punishment (Stoning) for the Muhsin (married) Zaani (Adulterer) so that human procreation and lineage would be protected. When Islaam commanded that the wealth and properties of the people should be safeguarded it made the cutting the hand the method of implementing that. When it wanted to spread tranquillity within the breasts of the people and the spread of security and stability in the society it made death or crucifixion or the cutting of the hand and foot on opposite sides as the punishment for those who want to infringe upon the security of the people (highway robbery). And when it decided to safeguard the Aqeedah it made death the punishment for the apostate. When it made the implementation of all of these rulings obligatory and obliged the establishing of its thought in life’s reality, it also made it obligatory upon the people to deputise and delegate an individual from amongst them to undertake this implementation. In other words it made it obligatory to pledge allegiance to a Khalifah to implement that and it made death the punishment for the one that rebels against the Khalifah i.e. against the State.

In this way it did not leave a treatment or solution without providing a specific manner to implement it which the State is responsible for undertaking. In summary, it did not find it sufficient to present solutions to the people that explain how they regulate their actions and satisfy their needs and hungers (drives). Rather it (also) provided the specific manners to implement every one of these treatments or solutions. In other words, it is not sufficient to merely write a medical prescription and leave it to the hospital patient to take the treatment by himself. Rather it functions like an organised hospital in which the nurse takes responsibility over the patient and makes sure that he receives the medicine whether this was voluntarily taken or forced. This even relates to the behaviours of the individual himself i.e. the relationship of the individual with himself or his relationship with his Rabb (creator and Lord). Indeed it did not find it sufficient to present the treatment alone but rather obliged the implementation of this treatment or solution. So if the patient does not take his treatment of worship like the prayer (for example) then it is obligatory upon those responsible over the implementation to put down a preventative punishment so that he takes the treatment. And when he does not abide by a moral or dietary treatment then a punishment is similarly enforced according to what is sufficient to deter him and so that he follows the upright way and sound path.

Sixth: As we have stated it is a comprehensive thought that looks at the human in his human capacity and it has been established for the sake of his happiness and his revival. Therefore it has adopted the obligation of carrying it to the people and inviting them to embrace it. It addressed the minds so that they could comprehend its true reality and it established the proofs and evidences for its correctness. However it did not leave this as a mere advice that the individual implements if he wishes to, but rather it provided a specific manner that explains how this thought is carried to the people and the way by which the people will be able to fully sense or feel that true reality without being impeded by that which obscures their view or distorts its image.

For example:

When Allah (swt) commanded the Muslims to carry the Da’wah to the people:

And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner (Saba’ 28).

He (swt) did not find it sufficient to leave it to exhortation and advice alone like that which came in His speech (swt):

Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided. (An-Nahl 125).

Or like His (swt)’s speech:

And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims." (Fussilaat 33).

The Da’wah was intellectually undertaken by a party bloc (Takattul) which the Messenger of Allah (saw) proceeded with and it explained and clarified all of the steps and stages that the Da’wah requires in order for it to reach the stage of application and implementation manifested in the establishment of the State of Islaam, which then commences to implement the (Islamic) solutions and treatments. The Daw’ah at this point moved on to a new stage which necessitated that it should not be restricted to the intellectual manner of carrying the Da’wah alone.

It did not find this sufficient and it did not stop at that but rather He (swt) commanded His Messenger (saw) and the believers to break the material barriers and obstacles that stood in the way of the Islamic Da’wah. This is because the Tareeqah (method) of carrying the Da’wah in this stage necessitates the imposing of the system of Islaam upon the people and to apply the rulings of Islaam upon them. This is so that they can perceive and realise the truthfulness of its thought and the justice of its legislation without being hindered by the existence of barriers, distortions, misrepresentations or compulsion. For this reason the Aayaat came in succession that commanded the Muslims with Al-Jihaad and to fight the Kuffaar (disbelievers) who stood as an obstacle between the Muslims and the application of Islaam upon the people.

Allah (swt) says:

Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is all capable to give them victory. (Al-Hajj 39).

And His (swt)’s speech:

So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens (Muhammad 4).

This applies to those who believe in Allah but disbelieve in the Prophethood of Muhammad (saw) like the Jews and the Christians just as it applies to those who disbelieve in Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad (saw) like the Arab Mushrikeen (polytheists) or the Majoos amongst others. It is for the purpose of applying Islaam upon them so that they can see the truthfulness of its thought and witness its justice without being forced or compelled and far away from deception, malice and envy.

Allah (swt) said:

Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled. (At-Taubah 29).

And it is like His (swt)’s speech:

O you who have believed, fight those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous. (At-Taubah 123).

Similarly the Seerah of the Messenger (saw) throughout his life is considered to be the practical implementation of this ideology. The following came in the Hadeeth related by Sulaymaan Bin Buraidah from his father who said:

<<When the Messenger of Allah (saw) used to appoint an Ameer (Leader) over an army he would exhort him especially to have Taqwaa (fear) of Allah and to be good to the Muslims who were with him. He would say: Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war, do not embezzle the spoils; do not break your pledge; and do not mutilate (the dead) bodies; do not kill the children. When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and restrain yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them. Then invite them to migrate from their lands to the land of Muhaajiroon and inform them that, if they do so, they shall have all the privileges and obligations of the Muhaajiroon. If they refuse to migrate, tell them that they will have the status of Bedouin Muslims and will be subjected to the Commands of Allah like other Muslims, but they will not get any share from the spoils of war or Fai' except when they actually fight with the Muslims (against the disbelievers). If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizyah. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse this then seek Allah's help against them>> Muslim, Ibn Maajah and Ad-Daarami.

It has also been narrated in his Seerah (saw) that when he migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah he called together the notables and representatives of the people including the leaders of the Jews and he dictated to ‘Ali Bin Abi Taalib (ra) to write down the first constitution. It explained the general relationships between the Muslims with each other and between the Muslims and others and this was done in front of the eyes and ears of the notables from amongst the people. He did not find this sufficient on its own but rather demanded that they all accept it and sign up to it and it obliged the people to refer their judgements to him (saw) and this included the Jews who were present despite being from the Ahl ul-Kitaab. However when the Jews betrayed and breached their covenant (which is normal for them) the Messenger (saw) judged upon them with judgments that were fitting for what they had done in respect to breaking the covenant. He punished some with death like Banu Quraizhah and he expelled others from them like Banu Nadeer. In addition he extended the sphere under his authority by conquest whether this was the land of the Arab Mushrikeen (polytheists) like Makkah or the land of the Jews like Khaibar. When he (saw) conquered Khaibar by force he made the people remain under his rule and authority and he placed them over their date palms and lands based upon the contract of Al-Musaaqaah and he did not force any of them to embrace Islaam. Similarly he (saw) despatched his army to fight the Romans in the battle of Mu’tah despite the fact that they were Christians.

This is his Seerah (saw) and two matters are made clear by it:

The first: The method (Tareeqah) for establishing Islaam in the reality of life is via the establishment of the Islamic State and it has its own specific rulings.

The second: The method to implement Islaam and its treatments (solutions) and its Ahkaam, and to spread it to the whole of Mankind.

In addition the following Ahkaam (rulings) are made clear in regards to the first matter: The Takattul (Party block), the Da’wah, the political work, combating arguments by (stronger) arguments, evidence and proof, explaining the evils and corruptions that the people are upon, attacking the leaders of Kufr (disbelief) and the heads of corruption. In other words the intellectual struggle and the political struggle are evident.

And in regards to the second matter the following Ahkaam (rulings) are made clear: Taking care of the affairs of the people, establishing the Hudood (set punishments) and protecting the borders, spreading Islaam by Al-Jihaad so that the people can see it in front of their eyes and the truthfulness of its invitation and the justice of its legislation. In other words it explains the deputyship and delegation of the Muslims to the one who is entrusted with these matters which are not of the matters that are specific to the individual and rather fall under the speciality and responsibility of the Sultaan (authority) i.e. the Khalifah.

These are the six conditions for every Fikrah Kulliyah (comprehensive idea/thought) through which the revival of the people is sought. In summary it is the Mabda’ (Ideology) that is established upon the intellectual (rational) Aqeedah from which a system emanates. It is a Fikrah (thought) that makes clear the Aqeedah, the Mu’aalajaat (treatments/solutions) and the carrying of the Da’wah and it is a Tareeqah (method) that explains the manner of safeguarding this ideology, the manner of implementing what it has come with and the manner of carrying it to the people.

This is the correct basis upon which Nahdah (revival) is established and anything other than that represents no more than patchwork solutions, deceptive appearances and dishonest deception.

An issue remains:

Are the Aqaa’id (beliefs) the basis of the systems and the source of the laws that the human conduct proceeds in accordance with? And have they answered the five questions that the Aqeedah is composed upon?

In regards to the formation of a thought about all that exists (The universe, the man and the life), are they Azaliyah (eternal) or created by a creator? What is before them? And what is after them? What is their relationship with what was before them? And what is their relationship with what is after them? These questions that force themselves upon any thinker intend to strike at how he should proceed in life and his conduct in this life will be regulated in accordance to the answers that are provided to them. This will therefore provide him with the understanding of the meaning of his existence, how he should proceed in this life and where his life is leading to.

Indeed these are the questions and the Aqeedah has answered these questions with answers that have clarified the path for the human to know the meaning of his existence and how he should proceed. It has explained for him his relationship with what is before the life which provides for him an explanation of what he should do in the life.

Therefore the materialist Aqeedah has answered these questions by stating: That there is no creator, that life is matter, matter is eternal and that matter through its proves of evolution is the source of everything. So the Fikr (thought) and ‘Aql (mind/intellect) are a product of matter and as such matter is the source of Tafkeer (thinking). Relationships related to production are specified by the means of production and the means of production are a result of the evolution of matter. In addition the production relationships evolve in line with the material evolution i.e. in line with the means of production.

As such matter (i.e. their Aqeedah) with its continual evolution according to their claim, is the source of the thinking (or thought) and the source of their systems and laws. So the rock, axe, tractor, car, plane and missile are what determine the systems that regulate the relationships between the people. This is according to their claim and what the Aqeedah that they believe in and have embraced dictates.

As for the capitalist Aqeedah (I.e. Democracy): Then they have answered these questions through the separation of the Deen from the life and they have declared that the Hukm (rule) is of the people, by the people and for the people. In other words they have made the human being the source of everything, so he is the one who lays down his systems and laws and it is he who defines the path that he proceeds along. So he regulates his relationships, satisfies his hungers and meets his needs in accordance to his wishes and desires. There is no room for infringement or interference in this and as such it is necessary to provide him with his freedom so that he can practise his will. Therefore the individual is the source of the system and the laws and for this reason they stated that the people are the source of the authorities and the people are those who enact the laws and lay down the legislations. As such the democratic (capitalist) Aqeedah is the source of the system and basis from which it emanates.

As for the Islamic Aqeedah then it states: That this universe (or all that exists) has a creator that created it and He is Allah (swt). That this life has a beginning and an end. After it there is accounting for what was earned (i.e. what he did) within the time period that he spent in the life. As such it is then necessary for the regulation of the relationships between the people, the regulation of the human life, the specification of his actions and his behaviours to be built and based upon the commands of this creator and organiser (Mudabbir). So the Wahi (revelation) is the means to convey to the people that which they require from their Rabb (lord) and what their creator intends for them. This is done by way of the Messengers he sends and this is His Sunnah (swt) (the way that He (swt) has chosen). Therefore the system and the laws that organise the relationships between the people and regulate his conducts and behaviours emanate from the very same Aqeedah. This Aqeedah is: Imaan (belief) in Allah, His angels, His books, His Messengers and the Day of Judgement.

So the Messenger (saw) conveyed to the people the Wahi (revelation) that came from Allah (swt). The Qur’aan Al-Kareem and the Ahaadeeth Ash-Shareefah (Noble) (i.e. the Sunnah) was what the Wahi came with and they are a part of the Aqeedah (belief) (His books and his Messengers). And they included within them a complete system and large collection of Shar’iyah rulings to regulate the life of the individual and organise the life of the society. And they came explaining the manner of implementing these solutions and treatments and to establish them within life’s reality in addition to explaining the manner of carrying it to mankind in its entirety. It also provided viable and sound bases in order to derive rulings for all newly occurring problems that the people can possibly face in the course of life.

After making clear what is suitable for the revival of the Ummah and to elevate the human upon the steps leading to completion. And after explaining the manner of how to reach that by explaining the the manner of productive thinking which must be an enlightened thought that clears away all obscurities around matters and clarifies the features of things and realities. This is in order to specify for the human the possibility of his moving forward upon a course of action or the possibility of him being reluctant to do so, which is built upon fundamental principles and precise criteria or measures that he must utilise during the thinking process. After having made all of this clear it is then necessary to understand the reality that is desired to be treated and to gain a deep understanding about it until we are able to transform it to what we want or take a suitable stance and position towards it.