Iqtiḍāʾ al-Ṣirāṭ al-Mustaqīm - Ibn Taimiya - (2/380)

Iqtiḍāʾ al-Ṣirāṭ al-MustaqīmIbn Taimiya

Friday instead, and forbade gathering on Saturday.

Whoever abandoned the law of Moses before it was abrogated was not a Muslim, and whoever fails to enter the law of Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—after it has superseded the earlier dispensation is likewise not a Muslim.

Allah has never legislated for any prophet that he worship anyone other than Him—ever. The Exalted says:

“He has ordained for you in religion what He enjoined upon Noah, and what We have revealed to you, and what We enjoined upon Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: ‘Establish the religion and do not divide therein.’ What you call the polytheists to burdens them greatly.” (Qur’an 42:13)

Thus He commanded the messengers to establish the religion and not to fall into division.

He, the Most High, also says:

“O messengers, eat of the good things and act righteously; I am fully aware of what you do. Truly, this community of yours is a single community, and I am your Lord, so fear Me.” (Qur’an 23:51–52)

And He says:

“So set your face toward the religion, turning solely to Allah—the natural disposition upon which He created mankind. There is no changing the creation of Allah; that is the upright religion, though most people do not know—turning to Him in repentance, fearing Him, and establishing prayer. Do not be of those who associate others with Him, those who have split up their religion and become factions, each party rejoicing in what it has.” (Qur’an 30:30–32)

The people of idolatry are divided, whereas the people of pure devotion are united. Allah, the Exalted, says:

“They will not cease to differ, except those upon whom your Lord has mercy—and for that He created them.” (Qur’an 11:118–119)

Those who are shown mercy are united and gathered together; the idolaters have fragmented their religion and become sects.

(1) In MS A the word huwa (“he/it”) appears in place of yawm (“day”); this is presumably a copyist’s error. (2) From this point up to the phrase “and Allah never prescribed for any prophet …” (about one line) is missing in MSS C and D. (3) Quran, Surah al-Shura 42:13. (4) Quran, Surah al-Muminun 23:51–52. (5) The printed edition separates verses 30 and 31 by inserting the phrase “then he said.” (6) Quran, Surah al-Rum 30:30–32. (7) Quran, Surah Hud 11:118–119.

الجمعة، وحرم الاجتماع يوم (١) السبت. فمن خرج عن شريعة موسى قبل النسخ، لم يكن مسلما (٢) ومن لم يدخل في شريعة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم بعد النسخ لم يكن مسلما. ولم يشرع الله لنبي من الأنبياء أن يعبد غير الله البتة، قال تعالى: {شَرَعَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّى بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ كَبُرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ} [الشورى: ١٣] (٣) . فأمر الرسل أن يقيموا الدين ولا يتفرقوا فيه. وقال تعالى: {يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ - وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاتَّقُونِ} [المؤمنون: ٥١ - ٥٢] (٤) . وقال تعالى: {فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ} [الروم: ٣٠] (٥) {مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ - مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ} [الروم: ٣١ - ٣٢] (٦) . فأهل الإشراك متفرقون، وأهل الإخلاص متفقون، وقد قال تعالى: {وَلَا يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ - إِلَّا مَنْ رَحِمَ رَبُّكَ وَلِذَلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ} [هود: ١١٨ - ١١٩] (٧) فأهل الرحمة متفقون مجتمعون، والمشركون فرقوا دينهم وكانوا شيعا.

(١) في (أ) : (هو) ، بدل (يوم) . وأظنه تحريف من الناسخ. (٢) من هنا حتى قوله: ولم يشرع الله لنبي (سطر تقريبا) : سقط من (ج د) . (٣) سورة الشورى: الآية ١٣. (٤) سورة المؤمنون: الآيتان ٥١، ٥٢. (٥) في المطبوعة فصل بين الآيتين (٣٠) و (٣١) بقوله: ثم قال. (٦) سورة الروم: الآيات ٣٠-٣٢. (٧) سورة هود: من الآيتين ١١٨، ١١٩.