Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (5/263)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

it is true—be derived from what the Messenger brought and be found among his predecessors. Any view expressed concerning the religion of Islam that conflicts with the way of the Companions and Successors—one that none of them expressed but whose opposite they affirmed—is a false view.

The point here is that Allah Most High stated that clear proof and knowledge came to those who differed, yet they differed only out of transgression. Allah therefore condemned and punished them, for they were not people exercising independent judgment who had erred(1). Rather, they deliberately sought transgression while knowing the truth, [yet turning away from affirming it and acting upon it](2).

A parallel to this is His statement:

“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. Those who were given the Scripture differed only after knowledge had come to them, out of transgression among themselves.”

[Surah Āl Imrān: 19]

Al-Zajjāj said: “They differed out of transgression, not in pursuit of proof.”

Allah Most High also said:

“We certainly settled the Children of Israel in an excellent dwelling place and provided them with wholesome things. They did not differ until knowledge came to them. Your Lord will surely judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they differed.”

[Surah Yūnus: 93]

Allah Most High also said:

“We certainly gave the Children of Israel the Scripture, judgment, and prophethood; provided them with wholesome things; and favored them above all peoples. We gave them clear proofs concerning the matter, and they differed only after knowledge had come to them, out of transgression among themselves. Your Lord will surely judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they differed. Then We set you upon an ordained way concerning the matter, so follow it and do not follow the desires of those who do not know. They can avail you nothing against Allah. The wrongdoers are allies of one another, while Allah is the Protector of the God-fearing. This is a source of insight for mankind, as well as guidance and mercy.”

[Surah al-Jāthiyah: 16–20].

(1) N: “sincerely devoted.” (2) The text in square brackets is omitted from N, M, W, and A.

كَانَ حَقًّا - مَأْخُوذًا عَمَّا جَاءَ بِهِ الرَّسُولُ، مَوْجُودًا فِيمَنْ قَبْلَهُ، وَكُلُّ قَوْلٍ قِيلَ فِي دِينِ الْإِسْلَامِ، مُخَالِفٌ لِمَا مَضَى عَلَيْهِ الصَّحَابَةُ وَالتَّابِعُونَ، لَمْ يَقُلْهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ بَلْ قَالُوا خِلَافَهُ، فَإِنَّهُ قَوْلٌ بَاطِلٌ. وَالْمَقْصُودُ هُنَا أَنَّ اللَّهَ - تَعَالَى - ذَكَرَ أَنَّ الْمُخْتَلِفِينَ جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَةُ، وَجَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ، وَإِنَّمَا اخْتَلَفُوا بَغْيًا. وَلِهَذَا ذَمَّهُمُ اللَّهُ وَعَاقَبَهُمْ ; فَإِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا مُجْتَهِدِينَ مُخْطِئِينَ (١) ، بَلْ كَانُوا قَاصِدِينَ الْبَغْيَ، عَالِمِينَ بِالْحَقِّ، [مُعْرِضِينَ عَنِ الْقَوْلِ وَعَنِ الْعَمَلِ بِهِ] (٢) . وَنَظِيرُ هَذَا قَوْلُهُ: {إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ} [سُورَةُ آلِ عِمْرَانَ: ١٩] قَالَ الزَّجَّاجُ: اخْتَلَفُوا لِلْبَغْيِ لَا لِقَصْدِ الْبُرْهَانِ. وَقَالَ - تَعَالَى -: {وَلَقَدْ بَوَّأْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مُبَوَّأَ صِدْقٍ وَرَزَقْنَاهُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ فَمَا اخْتَلَفُوا حَتَّى جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِي بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ} [سُورَةُ يُونُسَ: ٩٣] . وَقَالَ - تَعَالَى -: {وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ وَرَزَقْنَاهُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ - وَآتَيْنَاهُمْ بَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ فَمَا اخْتَلَفُوا إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ - إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِي بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ - ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ - إِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يُغْنُوا عَنْكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَإِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ - هَذَا بَصَائِرُ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ} [سُورَةُ الْجَاثِيَةِ: ١٦ - ٢٠] .

(١) ن: مُخْلِصِينَ. (٢) مَا بَيْنَ الْمَعْقُوفَتَيْنِ سَاقِطٌ مِنْ (ن) ، (م) ، (و) ، (أ) .