Three Theological Treatises

...the exercise of authority through sovereignty, fatherhood, or marriage—these are subtleties that even scholars overlook, much less the common people. How could the common folk dare to handle such matters, attempting to synthesize, differentiate, interpret, or explain them? Because of these intricacies, the pious predecessors original: "al-Salaf" went to great lengths in their strictness, limiting themselves strictly to the divinely transmitted texts original: "al-tawqif", accepting them exactly as they were revealed, in the very wording they were revealed. What they said was true, and what they saw was right, for they are the safest of places for caution. This concerns the very Essence of God and His Attributes, and the most deserving place to bridle the tongue and restrain discourse? is where the danger is greatest—and what danger is greater than falling into disbelief original: "al-kufr"?

The Sixth Duty: Refraining from Speculation After Silence

By "refraining," I mean the observer must stop their mind from pondering these deep matters. This is as obligatory for them as holding the tongue from questioning or interference. This is the weightiest and most difficult of duties. It is mandatory in the same way that someone who cannot swim original: "al-sibaha" must avoid wading into the depths of the ocean. Though their nature might tempt them to dive into the sea to pull out its pearls and jewels, they should not be deceived by the value of the gems while they lack the ability to reach them safely. Instead, they should look at their own weakness and the many perils and places of destruction. They should reflect: if they miss out on the treasures of the sea, they have only missed out on extras and luxuries of life that they can do without; but if they drown or are swallowed by a crocodile, they lose life itself.

If you ask: "What if one cannot turn their heart away from thinking and longing for inquiry?" I say: Their path is to occupy themselves with the worship of God—Glory be to Him—with prayer, reciting the Quran, and remembrance original: "dhikr". Or, they should occupy themselves with worldly knowledge of the kind they can master, like language, grammar, arithmetic, medicine, or law original: "fiqh". If that is not or possible, then with a craft or trade, even plowing or weaving. If they cannot do that, then with general activities or recreation. And if even that fails, they should speak to themselves about the terrors of the Day of Resurrection, and about Paradise,

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the Resurrection, and the Accounting. All of this is better for them than wading into this sea, whose depth is far and whose danger and harm are great. Indeed, if a common person occupied themselves with physical sins, it might be safer for them than wading into the inquiry of "knowing God" theological speculation. For the former ends in immorality original: "al-fusuq", but the latter ends in polytheism original: "al-shirk". "Indeed, God does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills." Quran 4:48

If you ask: "The common person’s soul only finds rest in religious beliefs when supported by evidence; is it permissible to mention evidence to them?" If you allow it, you have granted them permission to think and speculate—and what is the difference between this speculation and any other? If you forbid it, how can you stop them when their faith is not complete without it?

The answer: I do not allow them to hear evidence except regarding the knowledge of the Creator, His Oneness, the truth of the Messenger, and the truth of the Last Day. However, this is under two conditions: First, that nothing is added beyond the Prophetic and Quranic evidence. Second, that they do not argue about it with leaders or scholars outwardly, and that they only think about it in a simple, clear manner, without exhausting themselves in thought or diving? too deep into the investigation. The evidence for these four matters is what is mentioned in the Quran. As for the evidence of knowing the Creator, it is like His saying:

"Say: Who is it that sustains you from the sky and from the earth? Or who is it that has power over hearing and sight? And who is it that brings out the living from the dead and the dead from the living? And who is it that rules and regulates all affairs? They will soon say: 'God'." Quran 10:31

And His saying:

"Have they not looked at the sky above them—how We have built it from this and adorned it, and there are no rifts in it? And the earth—We have spread it out, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and produced therein every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs)—to be observed and commemorated by every devotee turning (to God). And We send down from the sky rain charged with blessing, and We produce therewith gardens and grain for harvests; and tall (and stately) palm trees, with shoots of fruit stalks, piled one over another—as sustenance for (God’s) servants." Quran 50:6-11

And His saying:

"Then let man look at his food, how We pour forth water in abundance..." Quran 80:24-25

Until His saying:

"...for use and convenience to you and your cattle." Quran 80:32

And His saying:

"Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse, and the mountains as pegs?" Quran 78:6-7

Until His saying:

"...and gardens of luxurious growth." Quran 78:16