In our journey through the fundamentals of Islam, we have established the definition of Aqeedah (the firm knot of belief) and discussed its profound importance for our salvation. But a critical question remains: Where does this belief come from?
We cannot invent beliefs based on our intellect or desires alone. To hold a Sound Aqeedah, we must draw from specific, divinely protected sources. Today, we explore the internal foundation of faith and the two external pillars of Islamic creed.
1. The Internal Foundation: Al-Fitrah (Innate Nature)
Before we look at the revealed texts, we must recognize a definitive Islamic fact: Belief in the Oneness of Allah is natural.
Allah (SWT) created every human being with an innate disposition known as Fitrah. This is a “common-sense” belief mechanism encoded into our souls. It means that if left uninfluenced by external corruptions, every human would instinctively know Allah, love Him, and turn to Him.
Evidence for the Fitrah:
Allah refers to this in the Quran:
{So, direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth [Hanifa]. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion…} [Ar-Rum 30:30]
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) further clarified that external environments not birth cause people to deviate from this truth. He said:
«Every newborn is born in a state of fitrah, then his parents make him a Jew or a Christian or a Zoroastrian…» (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
In another profound Hadith Qudsi, the Prophet (ﷺ) narrated that Allah said:
«’And I have created My slaves with an inclination towards the truth (hunafa), all of them, but the devils come to them and drive them away from their religion…’» (Muslim)
While the Fitrah is the receptor for truth, we need specific guidance to know the details of our creed. This brings us to the two primary sources of Sound Aqeedah.
The First Source: The Noble Quran
The Quran is the miraculous speech of Allah, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). It is the primary authority for Aqeedah.
Why is the Quran the ultimate source of our creed? The evidence is overwhelming:
• It demands exclusive obedience: Allah says: {Follow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies.} [Al-A’raf 7:3]
• It is the absolute Truth: Everything within it is sound, as Allah states: {Say, “Allah has told the truth”} [Aal Imran 3:95].
• It is Divinely Protected: Unlike previous scriptures, the Quran is immune to tampering. {Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, we will be its guardian} [Al-Hijr 15:9].
• It is the Criterion (Al-Furqan): It distinguishes clearly between truth and falsehood. It is the final judge in matters of dispute.
When looking for the attributes of Allah, the events of the Last Day, or the purpose of life, the Quran is the first place a believer must look.
The Second Source: The Sound Prophetic Sunnah
The Quran does not stand alone; it is explained and complemented by the Sound (Sahih) Sunnah.
This refers to the narrations proven to be authentically reported from the Prophet (ﷺ) via sound chains of transmission (isnad). This includes his words, his actions, and the actions of others that he approved of.
Why is the Sunnah a source of Aqeedah? Some may claim we only need the Quran, but the Quran itself commands us to follow the Sunnah:
• {And whatever the Messenger has given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from} [Al-Hashr 59:7]
• {And obey Allah and His Messenger, if you should be believers} [Al-Anfal 8:1]
Furthermore, the Prophet (ﷺ) explicitly warned against rejecting his Sunnah. He said:
«Indeed, I have been given the Book and something like it with it…» (Ahmad)
“Something like it” refers to the Sunnah. He also instructed his Ummah:
«I urge you to adhere to my Sunnah and the way of the right-thinking, rightly-guided caliphs who come after me. Hold fast to it, and cling tight to it. » (At-Tirmidhi)
The Consensus of the Scholars Imam Ash-Shafi ‘i noted that there is a consensus (Ijma) among the early generations regarding this. He stated that he knew of no one among the Sahabah or Tabi’un who, upon hearing a report from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), would not accept it and affirm it as religion.
Summary
To build a Sound Aqeedah, we cannot rely on philosophy, cultural traditions, or personal feelings. We must align our innate Fitrah with the revelation of the Quran and the authentic Sunnah. These sources act as the light that guides us through the darkness of doubt.