{"_id":"66e227e1898631d3e4ce49b3","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Did ibn Taymiyyah make troubling claims with regard to theology?\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Recently I found out about some accusations certain people make against ibn Taymiyyah. Primarily they claim that he wrote some troublesome things with regard to Aqeedah in his books. One example they give is he allegedly said that Allah does not have knowledge of all things until they happen. I haven't read any of his books so I am not aware of these things; is this true, and if so, is that what he actually meant or is there something going on with context?\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Determining whether a specific scholar made a particular statement can be challenging. Scholars may produce extensive works over their lifetimes, which can sometimes contain statements that appear contradictory or ambiguous. Additionally, it's difficult to know if a scholar changed their opinions over time or if their wording can be interpreted in multiple ways.\\n\\nMoreover, if a scholar's work is not passed down through students to future generations, it becomes very difficult to determine the scholar's true views. This is why adhering to the madhhab traditions is crucial. These schools transmit knowledge in a communal, organized, and continuous manner, where the community is self-correcting, and each scholar's work is peer-reviewed and scrutinized based on the agreed-upon methodology and principles of the school. Simply having access to a scholar's books is insufficient for gaining a sound and authentic understanding of their positions because books can preserve knowledge but cannot transmit it.\\n\\nThe three Sunni traditions or schools of aqidah are the Ashari, Maturidi, and Athari schools. These schools collectively represent the authentic understanding of Islamic creed. Anyone studying aqidah should seek knowledge from scholars licensed by these schools and not rely solely on the writings of a single scholar.\\n\\nIt is important to remember that refuting scholars and passing verdicts on their opinions is the job of scholars. As laypeople, we should focus on learning our religion from the established schools that have been meticulously preserved and passed on throughout the generations. Students of knowledge must also attain a solid foundation through the traditions of the aforementioned schools before engaging in independent study of the writings of any individual scholar whose works do not fall within the established curriculum of the schools.\\n\\nMay Allah guide us to what is correct and beneficial.\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668d9ff90b76658b4c232aa0","tag":"Knowledge: Madhabs","count":65},{"_id":"668da0580b76658b4c2334b2","tag":"Knowledge: Aqeedah","count":38},{"_id":"668d9fe70b76658b4c23288e","tag":"Knowledge: Scholars","count":22}],"createdOn":"2024-09-11T23:29:37.523Z"}