Ahlul-Kalām (and the Ash’aris) are Ahlul-Bid’ah; and a

response to the innovator who uses philosophy and

argumentation to establish his religion.
abukhadeejah.com/ahlul-kalam-and-the-asharis-are-ahlul-bidah-philosophy-to-establish-his-religion

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid 15 July

2019

Those who claim that Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and his student Al-Imam Ibn Al-
Qayyim (may Allah’s mercy be upon them both) were the first to apply the label of Ahlul-
Bid’ah upon the Ash’aris are either deceived, ignorant or misguided. These great scholars
did not speak except that which the Salaf had already affirmed. Furthermore, the early
scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamā’ah warned against Ahlul-Kalām (the people of
theological rhetoric) and cautioned people from exposing their beliefs to debate and
argumentation. We’ll mention just a few examples to prove the point:

Ibn Abdul-Barr Al-Māliki (rahimahullāh, d. 390H) quoted the saying of Imām Mālik: “It is
not permitted to accept the witness of Ahlul-Bid’ah and Ahlul-Ahwā.” Then he
explained:

“The people of desires according to Mālik and all of our companions are Ahlul-
Kalām (the people of theological rhetoric). So every mutakallim (one who resorts to
theological rhetoric) is from the people of desires and Bid’ah whether he is an
Ash’ari or other than an Ash’ari. His witness is never accepted in Islam. He is to be
abandoned and disciplined for his innovation. And if he continues upon
innovation, his repentance is sought [by those in authority].” (Jāmi’ Bayān Al-‘Ilm wa
Fadlihi, 2/96)

Al-Imām Al-Harawi stated in his book, Dhamm Al-Kalām (the Dispraise of Theological
Rhetoric): I heard Ahmad Ibn Nasr Al-Mālīni (d. 412H) saying: “I entered the ‘Amr Ibn
Al-‘Ās Congregational Mosque in Egypt with a group of my companions. Once we
had sat down, a shaikh came along and said: ‘You are from the people of Khurasān
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and you are Ahlus-Sunnah and this is the place of the Ash’ariyyah so get up [and
leave from here].'” So this shaikh advised them to leave this place that is known for the
innovations of the Ash’ariyyah.

Imam Adh-Dhahabi stated in his work, Siyar A’lām An-Nubalā, that Ibn Fawrak who was
an imām of the Ash’ariyyah entered upon the ruler Mahmūd Ibn Sabkatkīn (d. 421H) and
said to him: “It is not allowed to describe Allah as being above (fawqiyyah) because
that would necessitate describing Him [also] with being below…” So the ruler said:
“It is not me who described Allah [with being above] such that I am necessitated
[by your assertion]. Rather, it is He (Allah) who has described Himself [with being
above].” So, Ibn Fawrak was dumbfounded, unable to respond. And when he left the
ruler, he died. It was said that his gall-bladder split apart. (17/487)

Elsewhere, Ibn Abdul-Barr stated in At-Tamheed (7/129): “In this is a proof that Allah
(the Mighty and Majestic) is above the sky, over the Throne, above the Seven
Heavens as the Jamā’ah has stated. And this is their proof against the Mu’tazilah
and the Jahmiyyah who say: ‘Indeed Allah is everywhere! And He is not over the
Throne.’ The evidence for the correctness of what is stated by Ahlul-Haqq (the
people of Truth) is the saying of Allah: ‘The Most Merciful ascended over the
Throne.’ (Tāhā: 5) and His saying: ‘Then He ascended over the Throne. You have no
protector besides Him nor any intercessor.’ (As-Sajdah: 4)“

So, it is Ahlul-Kalām, the Mu’tazilah, the Ash’ariyyah and other than them, those who
deny the Highness of Allah above the Seven Heavens, over His Throne by engaging in
theological rhetoric, Greek logic, argumentation and philosophical reasoning. They
expose the Muslims to these innovated and heretical sciences that cause doubts
regarding the ‘Aqeedah, the Names and Attributes, and the Highness of Allah above His
creation.

Ibn Abī Zamanīn Muhammad Ibn Abdillāh Al-Māliki (d. 399H) stated in his book, Usūl As-
Sunnah: “From the sayings of Ahlus-Sunnah is that Allāh (the Mighty and Majestic)
created the Throne, and He distinguished it with highness, and elevation, above
everything that He created. Then He ascended over it however He willed.”

The affirmation of Al-‘Uluww (Highness) for Allah is rejected by the Ashā’irah, the
Mu’tazilah, the Jahmiyyah, and Ahlul-Kalām in general. So it can never be said that Ahlul-
Kalām (the people of theological rhetoric) such as the Ash’aris or the Māturīdis are from
Ahlus-Sunnah. That is because they have opposed the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah and the
principles and methodology of Ahlus-Sunnah in establishing the Belief (‘Aqeedah). They
resort to and depend upon the intellect (and its interpretations) over the Revelation and
in opposition to the understanding of the Salaf. So they judge the Revelation by their
innovated rules of logic, reason, and rhetoric that are alien to Islam. They misinterpret,
distort or even reject the verses of the Quran and the Hadeeth to fit these innovated
rules and principles.

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One ignorant modern-day innovator who uses debate and philosophical reasoning to
establish his creed stated that his master’s degree in Islamic studies is “just to facilitate
my politically philosophical arguments.” Meaning that the religion of Islam is just a
means of proving his philosophical arguments. This is the way of Ahlul-Kalām who use
Religion (by misinterpreting the texts) only to support their pre-conceived and innovated
principles of reason, logic, and philosophy.

So, even when these sects of innovation agree with Ahlus-Sunnah in some matters of
Creed, they are still misguided innovators because the basis of their agreement with the
truth is not due to their submission to the texts of the Qur’ān and Sunnah and the Creed
(and Methodology) of the Salaf. Rather, it is because, in these instances, the Book and
Sunnah happen to coincide with their conclusions. And whenever they find the textual
proofs opposing their innovated principles of logic and reason, they are compelled to
distort or even reject the texts in favor of their innovated principles and they shroud that
distortion with debate and argumentation.

Imām Ash-Shāfi’i (d. 204H) stated: “My judgment upon the people of rhetoric (Ahlul-
Kalām) is that they should be beaten with palm branches, placed on the back of a
camel and paraded among the people and it be announced: ‘This is the punishment
for the one who abandons the Book and Sunnah and takes to Kalām (theological
rhetoric).” (Al-Baghawi reported it in Sharhus-Sunnah, 1/218)

‘Umar Ibn Abdul-‘Azīz (d. 101H) stated: “Whoever makes his religion a target for
debating will change his religion often.” (Ad-Dārimi no. 310, Ash-Sharī’ah of Al-Ājurri
116,117) And we see in our time many young people opening up their religion for public
debate and saying: “I will follow the path of whoever wins.” So the measure becomes
eloquence in argumentation, “reason” and logic. It is not surprising that when this
becomes the measure of truth and falsehood, young people exit the fold of Islam into
atheism on the basis of one overpowering another in an argument. Imām Mālik Ibn Anas
(d. 179H) stated: “Every time a man comes to us who is stronger in debating than
another man, he wants from us [due to that] to reject what Jibrīl brought to the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?!” (Dhamm Al-Kalām, 869, 870, 871) The
debating of Ahlul-Kalām and the philosophers opposes the the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah
and they expose the Muslims to false beliefs that are alien to Islam and what was
revealed to the Messenger (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam). But, because many young people
have been “taught” on social media (and especially YouTube) to expose their faith to
debate, argumentation and “the best debater wins” methodology of accepting religious
beliefs, they end up rejecting the Revelation without even realizing. That is why Al-Harawi
(no. 1084) narrated from Khālid Ibn Al-Hārith Al-Hajīmi that he said: “Be warned from
the people of debate and argumentation for indeed they are the evilest of the
people of Qiblah.“ They are people who snatch away the faith of the unsuspecting
Muslims through frivolity in debate and disputation as is common in the age of video
and social media.

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So be warned from Ahlul-Kalām and Ahlul-Bid’ah in general, just as Ibn Abdul-Barr
stated: “The people of desires according to Mālik (d. 179H) and all of our
companions are Ahlul-Kalām (the people of theological rhetoric). So every person
of theological rhetoric (mutakallim) is from the people of desires and innovation
regardless of whether he is an Ash’ari or other than an Ash’ari. His witness is never
accepted in Islam. He is to be abandoned (boycotted) and disciplined for his
innovation.” And Yahyā Ibn Abī Kathīr (rahimahullāh) said: “If you meet a person of
bid’ah on the path, take another path.” (Ash-Sharī’ah of Al-Ājurri, 64). So save your
religion from the people who throw doubts at you.

And all praise is for Allah, Lord of all creation. May the peace and blessings of Allah be
upon His Messenger, his family, his Companions and all who follow him precisely.

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