{"_id":"687efe7933febe3d4033e5e7","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"What do all Sunni schools of  Aqeedah agree on?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"You've previously mentioned that all the Sunni schools of Aqeedah have agreed upon the fundamentals. What exactly are those fundamentals that unite us?\\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"I want to stress that the ʿaqīdah of Sunni Muslims is one and the same, not three. The different schools - Ashʿarī, Māturīdī, and Atharī (Ḥanbalī) - are organized scholarly efforts to articulate and defend that same core creed. They differ only in approach and expression, not in the fundamentals of belief. When it comes to the foundational matters of faith, there is unanimous agreement among them. This is what the average Muslim needs to know and hold to. It is neither permissible nor beneficial for laypeople to argue over these nuanced theological differences; this is the work of scholars who are qualified to engage in such discussions with depth, discipline, and mutual respect.\\n\\nMay Allah purify our communities from needless debates and divisions, and unite our hearts upon the truth.\\n\\nMain Points of Agreement\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"Tawḥīd (Absolute Oneness of Allah)\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAll agree:\\nAllah is One, unique in His essence, names, and attributes.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"He alone deserves worship.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"He has no partner, likeness, or need.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"He is not bound by time, space, or direction.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAshʿarīs and Māturīdīs allow for taʾwīl (figurative interpretation) of certain verses when necessary. Ḥanbalīs generally prohibit interpretation and prefer affirming the wording “without how” (bilā kayf), while consigning the true meaning to Allah (tafwīḍ). However, all agree that Allah is completely unlike His creation (laysa ka-mithlihi shayʾ). However, there are instances of taʾwīl by Imām Aḥmad, such as his interpretation of the verse “He is with you wherever you are” and the hadith “The Kaʿbah is the right hand of Allah on earth.”\\n\\nIt's important to note that the Ḥanbalīs treats taʾwīl & tafwīḍ as a fiqhi issue, not a creedal one. They may regard it as an error or even sinful to do, but not disbelief (kufr). The one who engages in it is not deemed outside the fold of Islam.\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"The Qurʾān is the Speech of Allah\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAll three schools agree:\\nThe Qurʾān is the uncreated, eternal Speech of Allah (kalām Allāh).\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"The physical muṣḥaf and the vocalized recitation are created, but the meaning itself is uncreated.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAshʿarīs and Māturīdīs distinguish between the eternal meaning (kalām nafsī) and the temporal expression (kalām lafẓī), while Hanbalis affirm the Qurʾān directly without explanation.\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"Allah’s Knowledge, Will, Power, and Hearing/Sight\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAll agree:\\nAllah has eternal knowledge of all things.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"He wills and creates all that occurs, both good and evil.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"He is All-Powerful, All-Hearing, and All-Seeing.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"His attributes are not created, acquired, or subject to change.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"His hearing and sight are without bodily organs.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"Prophethood\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAll affirm:\\nBelief in all the Prophets, especially Muḥammad ﷺ as the final Prophet.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"The Prophets are infallible in conveying revelation.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"They perform miracles as signs from Allah, not through their own power.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"Belief in the Unseen (Samʿiyyāt)\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAll believe in:\\nAngels\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Paradise and Hell\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"The Bridge (ṣirāṭ), the Scale (mīzān), and Intercession\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Questioning in the grave and life after death\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"The Mahdī and the descent of ʿĪsā (ʿalayhi al-salām)\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Resurrection and the Day of Judgment\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"While details may differ slightly, all affirm these essentials.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"The Companions (Ṣaḥābah)\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAll three schools:\\nAffirm the virtue of the Companions.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Prohibit cursing, disrespecting, or belittling them.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Uphold the rightly guided caliphate of Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, and ʿAlī.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"Qadar (Divine Decree)\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAll affirm:\\nAllah creates all actions, including human actions.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Humans have a will and capacity (kasb) that makes them morally responsible.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Ashʿarīs and Māturīdīs use more scholastic terminology; Ḥanbalīs emphasize Quranic phrasing without explanation. All reject the extremes of Jabariyyah (fatalism) and Qadariyyah (absolute free will).\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"Consensus (Ijmāʿ)\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAll affirm the authoritative role of consensus.\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"underline\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"Rejection of Innovation in Creed\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nAll three schools:\\nReject bidʿah (innovation) in theology.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Oppose the doctrines of sects like the Muʿtazilah, Jahmiyyah, Karrāmiyyah, and Shīʿah.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Emphasize sticking to revelation, consensus, and scholarly tradition.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668d9fe50b76658b4c232859","tag":"Aqeedah: Allah ﷻ‎","count":71},{"_id":"668d9ff90b76658b4c232aa0","tag":"Knowledge: Madhabs","count":68},{"_id":"668da0580b76658b4c2334b2","tag":"Knowledge: Aqeedah","count":38},{"_id":"668d9fea0b76658b4c232905","tag":"Aqeedah: Muhammad ﷺ","count":21}],"createdOn":"2025-07-22T02:59:05.289Z"}