The Six Fundamental Principles

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.


Six fundamental principles are among the most wondrous and greatest


signs that indicate the omnipotence of Allah, the Overpowering Sovereign.


Allah Almighty has made them clear to common people in a way which is


above all skeptical assumptions. Nevertheless, many of the intelligent and


wise people, save few, have erred with regard to such principles.


 First fundamental principle


Devoting religion sincerely to Allah Almighty alone without associating any


partner with Him, and explaining the opposite which is Shirk (polytheism)


and pointing out that most of the Qur’an is dedicated to explaining this


fundamental principle from various aspects in words that are perceivable by


those with the minimum ability of understanding. Then, when the majority of


the Muslim Ummah were subject to such known circumstances, the devil


presented to them sincere worship under the guise of discrediting the


righteous people and falling short in fulfilling their rights, and presented


polytheism to them under the guise of loving the righteous and their


followers.


 Second fundamental principle


Allah enjoined unity in religion and forbade disunity therein. He explained


such principle in the most clear manner that is understandable by common


people. He forbade us to be like those who were before us, who were


disunited and differed so they were ruined. Allah mentioned that he


commanded the Muslims to be united in religion and forbade them from


separation therein. This is further clarified by what is reported in the


Sunnah, amazingly contributing to its clarification. However, eventually


disunity in the fundamental and subsidiary issues of the religion is regarded


as knowledge and understanding, while unity in the religion is only upheld


by the heretics or mad people.


 Third fundamental principle


Listening to and obeying the ruler, even if an Abyssinian slave, is an aspect


of perfect unity in the religion. Allah Almighty adequately explained this in


multiple ways, both in terms of the legislation and the divine decree. Then


4


afterwards, this principle became unknown to most of those who claim


religious knowledge, let alone acting upon it.


 Fourth fundamental principle


Explaining the meaning of knowledge and who the knowledgeable are, and


the meaning of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and who the jurists are, and


defining those who claim to be like them but are not from them. Allah


Almighty highlighted this principle at the beginning of Surat al-Baqarah as


He said: {O children of Israel, remember My favor that I bestowed upon


you, and fulfill My covenant and I will fulfill your covenant.} [Surat alBaqarah: 40] until His saying: {O Children of Israel, remember My blessing


which I bestowed upon you and that I favored you over all other people.}


[Surat al-Baqarah: 47]


This is further clarified by what is stated in the Sunnah of abundant


manifest lucid statements that anyone with bare mental abilities can grasp.


Then it turned to be considered as oddest ideas, as knowledge and Fiqh


are regarded as Bid‘ah (innovation in religion) and error, and the best that


they have is regarded as truth mixed with falsehood. Those who adopt true


knowledge that Allah Almighty has enjoined upon the creation for which


they are praised are called as heretics and mad people, whereas those


who deny it, antagonize it, and write books warning against and forbidding


it are considered the true knowledgeable and well-versed jurists.


 Fifth fundamental principle


Allah Almighty has defined His Awliyā’ (allies/pious slaves) and highlighted


the difference between them and those who allegedly claim themselves to


be from them from among the hypocrites and wicked people who are


Allah’s enemies. The following verse from Surat Āl ‘Imrān is sufficient as a


proof of this. Allah Almighty says: {Say, “If you love Allah then follow me;


Allah will love you.”} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān:31] And a verse in Surat al-Mā’idah


that states: {O you who believe, whoever among you renounces his faith,


Allah will bring a people whom He loves and who love Him.} [Surat alMā’idah: 54]


And a verse in Surat Yūnus that states: {Unquestionably, [for] the allies of


Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.} [Surat


Yūnus: 62] Then, to most of those who claim to have knowledge and claim


5


to guide people and guard the Shariah, it is essential for the Awliyā’ to give


up following the messengers of Allah, and whoever follows them is not one


of the Awliyā’. It is also essential for them to quit Jihād, so the one who


observes Jihād is not from the Awliyā’. Moreover, for them abandoning faith


and piety is a must and whoever abides by them is not from the Awliyā’. O


our Lord, we ask You to grant us pardon and well-being. Indeed, You are


the All-Hearer of supplications.


 Sixth fundamental principle


Refuting the misconceptions that the devil has set concerning the


abandonment of the Qur’an and Sunnah and following, instead, the


disunited and divergent opinions and personal inclinations, alleging that the


Qur’an and Sunnah are known only to those who are absolutely qualified to


conduct Ijtihād (personal reasoning) i.e. the Mujtahids. They set for the


Mujtahid some strict qualities that might not be found completely even in


Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. If there is someone who lacks such qualities, then he


must turn away from them (the Qur’an and Sunnah) in such a decisive


manner that involves neither doubt nor confusion. And whoever seeks


guidance from them, then he is either a heretic or a mad person, given the


fact that they are too difficult to understand. So glorified is Allah, and praise


is due to Him! How much explanation He provided in refuting this cursed


misconception, both legislatively and by way of divine decree, and by His


creative ability and His legislative command, and from several aspects that


amounted to be from the general indisputable facts of the religion, yet most


of the people do not know. {The decree [of punishment] has been passed


against most of them, for they will not believe. [It is as if] We have placed


shackles around their necks up to their chins, so their heads are forced to


remain up, and We have placed a barrier before them and a barrier behind


them, and have blocked their vision so they cannot see. It is the same to


them whether you warn them or not, they will not believe. You can only


warn one who follows the Reminder and fears the Most Compassionate


unseen. So give him glad tidings of forgiveness and a generous reward.}


[Surat Yasīn: 7-11]


All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May Allah’s abundant


peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his


Companions until the Day of Judgment.