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Sunday, May 22, 2016

A Murji Principle: Freedom of Choice in al-Emaan [Part 31]

From the most shocking of notions of the Murji'ah is the idea of putting a condition on ones Emaan (i.e.saying ‘ I am a believer, In Shaa Allaah’).

On this particular issue, the Murji’ah have two views:

Some of them held it to be an obligation to place an exception on one's Emaan. It is a religious obligation upon every Muslim to say 'I am a believer, if Allaah Wills' and not affirm it with certainty, because ones state of belief depends on the situation that they die upon. The fact that we do not know our state of belief at the point of death, and this is Knowledge that only Allaah Knows and Decreed, one cannot say with certainty that they are a believer during their lives.

The second view within this sect is that it is not permitted, whatsoever, to place an exception on ones Emaan. They prohibit it because they claim that al-Emaan is static and it does not fluctuate. As a result if a person has firm belief in his heart then it becomes impermissible to say, 'I am a believer, if Allaah Wills'. Placing an exception on ones Emaan entails an element of doubt in belief and this is not acceptable (Kufr).

The reality is that both of these views are incorrect. The correct view is that it is permissible both to make and an exception or choose not to. In fact, making an exception to ones Emaan has a strong basis. By making an exception, one is negating the fact that they have the highest level of al-Emaan, and that they have completed every religious obligation and recommended deeds in order for his Emaan to be perfectly completed. This is undoubtedly a form of self-praise. A large number of scholars from the Salaf have also been quoting in making an exception to their al-Emaan, such as Ibn Mas'ood [may Allaah be Pleased with him] and others.

As for totally abandoning such an exception, then this is permissible also, because the lack of condition entails that a person has firm belief. For this reason, Allaah Narrates in the Quraan many instances that the believers affirm their Emaan with certainty without the slightest of exceptions.

Allaah, the Most High, Said about them:

Those who say: "Our Lord! We have indeed believed” [aal-'Imraan 3:16]

And,

"Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one (Muhammad  ) calling to Faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed” [aal-'Imraan 3: 193]

And,

Verily! There was a party of My slaves, who used to say: "Our Lord! We believe, so forgive us” [al-Mu'minoon 23: 109]

And,


They say: "Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses” [al-Maa'idah 5:83]

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