This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
Allah and His Messenger ﷺ are Displeased with Innovators
So every innovator who opposes the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and denies some instructions of the Shariah, and introduces matters into the religion which the Prophets did not permit, then the Noble Messenger ﷺ is displeased with him. The Holy Quran explains this as follows:
فَإِنْ عَصَوْكَ فَقُلْ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
"If they disobey you, then say, 'I am free from what you do, and I am innocent of what you commit.'"
Reference: (26-Al-Shu'ara:216)
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا لَسْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ
"Indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects - you, [O Muhammad], are not [associated] with them in anything."
Reference: (6-Al-An'am:159)
The Foundation of Religion is Only the Book and the Sunnah
● Halal is that which Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have declared lawful.
● Haram is that which Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have declared unlawful.
● Religion is that which Allah Almighty and His Messenger ﷺ have prescribed.
The Generous Lord condemns the polytheists for declaring halal as haram and adopting a religion which He did not permit. Allah Almighty says:
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَنْ بِهِ اللَّهُ
“Do they have partners with Allah who have prescribed for them a religion that Allah has not permitted?”
Reference: (42-الشورى:21)
In the chapters of the Quran, Allah Almighty has explained His matters which were agreed upon by all the Prophets, such as:
● Belief in Allah
● Belief in the angels
● Belief in the revealed scriptures
● Belief in all the Prophets
● Belief in the Day of Judgment
● And belief in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, after whom there is no Prophet, whose nation was given the title of the best nation, whose task is to invite to Allah.
The Generous Lord gave you ﷺ the most excellent book. Endowed you with the best Shariah. Completed the religion for your nation, bestowed the wealth of perfect blessings, and granted the seal of approval for Islam as a religion. And you ﷺ invited only to the straight path. Allah Almighty describes this attribute of your ﷺ by saying:
نَّشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٥٢﴾ صِرَاطِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ أَلَا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَصِيرُ الْأُمُورُ ﴿٥٣﴾
“Indeed, you guide to the straight path - the path of Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Beware! All matters return to Allah.”
Reference: (42-الشورى:52)
Allah Almighty has commanded that we follow His straight path and abandon all other new paths.
