Creed Exam

Al-‘Aqeedah at-Tahaaweeyah

1. Write an essay about Highness of Allaah, its meaning, proofs, and

issues relating to it. Al-'Uloo is translated as either highness or
transcendancy. This attribute refers to the fact that Allaah is
completely separate from His Creation, Creation neither surrounds
Him nor is above Him in any way, and Allaah is above all things.
There are seven types of proof for this: Natural, man rejects they
idea that Allaah is everywhere by virtue of his Fitrah; Prayer,
pictorial representations of Allaah are prohibited outright and
directing the action of prayer towards anyone or anything other than
Allaah constitutes Shirk; Mi'raaj, the Prophet was transported to the
highest heaven to meet with Allaah for His Commandments; Qur'aan,
Allaah explicity states what means "He's the Irresistable above His
worshippers." (6: 18 & 61); Hadeeth, Zaynab bint Jahsh used to
boast that the other wives of the Prophet were given away in
marriage by their families while Allaah, from above the seven
heavens, gave her away in marriage. (Al-Bukhaaree); Logical, the
creation could not have been inside of Allaah because that would
mean defects were inside of him and it couldn't be above Him because
this contradicts His being the Exalted, etc.; Ijmaa', there are over 200
statements from the Salaf confirming this, among them that Aboo
Haneefah said (of someone who doesn't know whether Allaah is in the
heavens or on earth), "He has disbelieved, because Allaah has said
(what means), 'The Most Merciful is above the throne.' (20: 5) and
the throne is above His seven heavens.". The biggest and most
serious issue stemming from not understanding this is the issue of
Wahdat ul-Wujood (Unity of Existence). This implies that Allaah is
everywhere and in everything. If it is followed to it's conclusion, than
praying to created beings or inanimate objects becomes totally
acceptable, and this is resoundingly denounced by the Qur'aan,
Sunnah, and Ijmaa'!

2. Define the following terms:

a. Ta`weel: To understand an Attribute in light of one of its
connotations, despite the fact that this connotation isn’t the
primary intent.
 b. Tashbeeh: It’s resemblance; and it’s committed when it’s said
that Allaah's attributes are like the attributes of the creation.
c. Tafweed: Relegating the knowledge of the meanings of the
Attributes of Allaah to Him alone.

3. Write what you know about the following sects:

a. Al-Ashaa’irah: Those people who claim to follow the writings
of Abu’l-Hassan al-Ash’aree, although they are in fact liars.
Why, because Abu’l-Hassan (may Allaah have mercy on him)
freed himself from these erroneous conclusions in the last days
of his life. He started out as a student of al-Mu'tazilah, and
then started what became known as Kalaam (Scholastic
Theology), which placed reason above revelation. Among their
errors is the view of Wahdat ul-Wujood (the Unity of
Existence), which is the assertion that Allaah is everywhere.
For a summary refutation of this see the answer to question #1.
b. Al-Murji`ah: This group strips faith down until hardly
anything remains to differentiate the believer from the
disbeliever. Asserting that sins don’t weaken faith and that
actions aren't a part of faith either.
c. Al-Qadariyah: There were two groups that were known by this
title. Each had misunderstandings of the subject of Qadar.
The first group believed that man’s life was predetermined and
he had no control or choice in the path he takes. Thereby
removing the attribute of choice from the doer, and
consequently attributing injustice to Allaah. The second group
believed that man was the determiner of his course and Allaah
knew nothing of the details of what he would do until after he
had done them. Thereby alluding that the disbeliever somehow
overcame the Will of Allaah (who wanted him to be guided),
but he chose to be misguided and thus overcame Him (and
Allaah is free from what they say).
d. Al-Jahmiyah: The Jahmeeyah was a sect named after Jahm ibn
Safwaan who was killed in 128 AH. They believed that it was
sacrilegious to describe God with any description which can be
applied to others; that man has no choice or free will and that
all his actions are determined by God; that Paradise and Hell
will completely disappear as soon as people enter them; and
that the whole of creation will disappear.
 e. Al-Mu’tazilah The term Mu'tazilah derives from the Arabic al-
mu'tazilah, which means the one who separated. It was applied
to the school established in Iraq by Wasil b. 'Ata (699-749), a
student of the distinguished scholar Hassan al-Basree (642-
728), who later separated from him due to Hassan rejecting his
innovatory ideas. The question of the relationship between
faith and works, the Mu'tazilites adopted the position that
someone who commits a grave sin without repenting occupies a
middle state between being a Believer or a Disbeliever. A
second doctrine concerned the nature of Allaah. Allaah is pure
Essence and, therefore, without eternal attributes such as
hands. Passages in the Qur'aan that ascribe human or physical
properties to Allaah are to be regarded as metaphorical rather
than literal. The Mu'tazilah also argued that the Qur'aan was
created and not eternal. Human acts are free and, therefore,
people are entirely responsible for their decisions and actions.
Divine predestination is incompatible with Allaah's justice and
human responsibility.

4. Faith is statement and actions, discuss. According to Ibn Naasir as-

Sa'dee (may Allaah show him mercy), this is statements of the heart
and the tongue, and actions of the heart, tongue, and limbs. There
must be conviction and acceptance in the heart (thereby it witnesses
to this belief) before there is the pronounciation of the Kalimah. In
addition, actions of the heart such as love and hate are referred to as
part of faith in the revelation, so they are part and parcel. Speaking
good or remaining silent is attached to true belief is Allaah and the
Last Day, hence speech other than the Kalimah is included in the
definition of faith. And finally, actions, such as removing something
harmful from the road or Salaah or giving the Khumus (fifth of war
spoils) is also described as being part of faith. So these are the
indispensable qualities which faith necessitates. In fact, the whole of
this Deen has to do with faith!

5. Briefly, write about the belief of the Predecessors in regards to:

a. Angels They are made from light, devoutly obedient to Allaah,
assigned different duties, and too numerous to mention. Some
we know their names, others we don't.
 b. Divine Books They were all revealed by Allaah, all previous
scripture has been altered, some we know of and others we
don't, according to one report there was a total of 100
(although Ibn 'Uthaymeen asserts that each Messenger came
with a book), and Allaah knows best.
c. Messengers There were three hundred and some Messengers
according to one report. Every Messenger was a Prophet, but
not every Prophet was a Messenger. They came in the
language of their people. Some we know their names, others
we don't. Muhammad was the Last Messenger. Any claim to
Prophethood after Prophet Muhammad is false and rejected.

6. Mention three points taken against Al-‘Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyah.

a. Al-Qadeem is not an appropriate name to be used as one of the
Most Beautiful Names of Allaah – the Hadeeth it occurs in is
weak by most accounts.
b. By not including actions in his definition of faith (he includes
only affirmation of the tongue and acceptance of the heart), he
goes against what the majority have said – and what is proven
by the evidences.
c. In saying ”He is not bound by the six directions of space as all
created beings are", he fell in to a questionable area. The
words taken as themselves are vague and could, and have been,
misinterpreted to mean other than what's intended. This is
unless they are weighed together with the totality of his creed
and what he asserts.

7. Regarding Intercession:
a. What does it mean? It’s asking for goodness for somebody else
with the meaning that a Believer asks his Lord to forgive the sin
and crimes of other Believers.
b. When it would be accepted? It will only be accepted when
someone comes who Allaah permits to intercede and He is
pleased with him/her.
c. What are the different types of intercession?
i. The Intercession which is the exclusive right of the
Prophet (upon him be blessings and peace).
 ii. The Prophet’s Intercession for those people who
combined a good deed with one that was bad.
iii. The Prophet’s Intercession for those people who were
ordered to go to Hell, but enter Paradise because of it.
iv. The Prophet’s Intercession for raising the ranks of those
who enter Paradise.
v. The Intercession to allow some people to enter Paradise
without any reckoning.
vi. The Intercession to lighten the punishment of those who
deserve it.
vii. The Prophet’s Intercession and asking for the believers
to enter Paradise.
viii. The Prophet’s Intercession for those who committed
Great Sins and thus entered Hell, so that they would be
released.