The Outcome of Ilm Al-Kalaam – Theological Rhetoric
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Yunus Ibn Abdil A’laa [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: I heard Ash-Shafi’ee [may Allah have mercy upon him] saying, “It would be better for a man to be tempted by everything Allah has forbidden, except for the sin of associating partners with Allah in worship, rather than involving himself in theological rhetoric. This is because I have encountered certain matters from the proponents of theological rhetoric that I never expected to encounter”. [1]
Ibn Aqeel [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “There is none more harmful to the Shariah than the innovators among the proponents of theological rhetoric and the ignorant Sufis”. [2]
Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Madkhali [may Allah protect him] stated: Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said that the outcome for those who engage in theological rhetoric is a state of uncertainty and perplexity, while the outcome for the followers of the Sofee paths is characterised by erratic and irrational behaviour along with false claims. The innovators in religious matters among the proponents of theological rhetoric have something of a resemblance to the Jews and those who innovate acts of worship in religious matters have something of a resemblance to the Christians [i.e. those Jews and Christians who deviated after the departure of their Prophets]. This is because the (proponents of theological rhetoric) deny the truth and are led to doubt, and those (who innovate acts of worship) believe in falsehood and are led to irrational behaviour. These are like the darkness in a vast deep sea, overwhelmed by a great wave topped by another great wave, topped by dark clouds, darkness, one above another; and those are like a mirage in a desert, the thirsty one thinking it’s water until he comes up to it and discovers it’s nothing. [3]
The Shaikh also said: Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said that the people in their pursuit of knowledge and religion have two innovated paths and a path legislated in the Shari’ah. The path of Islamic legislation involves examining the teachings of the Messenger, utilising them as evidence, and implementing the necessary actions. Therefore, it is imperative to possess knowledge based on the teachings of the Messenger and to act upon them, and merely possessing one of these two is insufficient. As for the two innovated paths, one of them is the path of people who engage in innovated theological discourse and this path is fraught with falsehood. Many of its adherents neglect the obligations prescribed by Allah and His Messenger, leading them to remain in a state of corruption in knowledge and action. Consequently, these individuals deviate towards false Judaism. The second path is taken by people who adopt methods to enhance their spiritual well-being, namely the followers of the Sufi paths, who introduce new forms of worship. These individuals tend to deviate towards false Christianity as they claim that by purifying one’s soul according to their prescribed methods, one will effortlessly acquire extensive knowledge of religious sciences without learning. The worship practices of many of these people are innovated, rather, they contradict the teachings of the Messenger. As a result, they continue to engage in corrupt actions and corruption due to their lack of understanding of the Messenger’s teachings because they do not know what the Messenger conveyed. Neither Allah’s Messenger nor his companions followed the path of those who introduced innovations in religion, such as the proponents of theological rhetoric, nor the path of the proponents of innovated worship and Sufiyyah. Instead, he adhered to what Allah had sent him with, which is based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. [4]
Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali was asked: May Allah reward you with good. This is also a question from the brothers who are present, saying: Assalaamu Alaykum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuhu. Virtuous Shaikh, is it permissible for me to learn (or study) theological rhetoric? Benefit me [i.e. with a response] and may Allah [The Exalted] reward you with good.
Answer: The knowledge of theological rhetoric is a corrupt knowledge and the pious predecessors – by way of consensus- declared that it is forbidden to study it due to the misguidance and evil consequences in it. Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said, “Neither does a dull-witted person benefit from it nor is an intelligent person in need of it”. An intelligent person does not need it because he is sensible in himself, in natural disposition and intellect; and a dull-witted person does not benefit from it. Even if he studied all the books of theological rhetoric, he would not benefit from it. Shaikh Al-Albani used to debate the scholars of theological rhetoric and they used to be like children in his presence, yet he never studied theological rhetoric, rather Allah granted him (sound) speech and knowledge, and there is no proof stronger than the proofs of the Kitaab [i.e. the Qur’an] and the Sunnah. The people of theological rhetoric are always defeated. By Allah, regardless of how much they (utilise) theological rhetoric and how strong they are in theological rhetoric, they are defeated in the presence of the methodology of the pious predecessors (which) is founded on the Book and the Sunnah. [5]
Imam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “Ad-Daaraqutnee hated theological rhetoric, even though he never entered into it due to its evil consequences, monotonous speech without benefit, the doubts it presents in affairs that are already established based on certainty, the confusion it causes and leading to abandonment of the (authentic) narrations. There is nothing- from what I can see or what I hold more harmful to the Muslims in their creed than theological rhetoric and philosophy. Many of the senior scholars of theological rhetoric affirmed – at the end of their lives – that they wished to die upon the religion [i.e. the religion that conforms with what is found in the Qur’an, authentic Sunnah, and understanding of the pious predecessors] and return to their natural disposition [i.e. Islam as revealed in the authentic texts]. Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said that those it is feared the most will fall into misguidance are those scholars of theological rhetoric at the intermediate level because those who did not engage in it were safe from its evils, and those who engaged in it and reached a high level became acquainted with its corruption and falsity and left it. [6]
[1] Aqeedah Ash-Shaafi’ee. Page 86
[2] As-Sawaa-iq Al-Mursalah Alal Jahmiyyah Wal Mu’attilah 4/1346
[3] An Excerpt from “Al-Mukhtaaraat Al-Bahiyyah Min Kutub Shaikhil Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah”. Page 281. slightly paraphrased
[4] Al-Mukhtaaraat Al-Bahiyyah Min Kutub Shaikhil Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah. 290-291. Slightly paraphrased
[5] An Excerpt from Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm page 347. Slightly paraphrased]
[6] Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm page 28. paraphrased]