A warning against Kalaam and Falsafa (Theological Rhetoric and Philosophy)

A warning against Kalaam and Falsafa (Theological Rhetoric and Philosophy)

Who are Ahl-ul-kalaam?

Ahl-ul-kalaam are the people of Theological Rhetoric, those who resort to philosophical reasoning and rationale in understanding the texts of Qur’aan and Sunnah. They inherited this from paganistic (atheistic) European philosophy and have deviated from the way of as-Salaf-us-Saalih, thus going astray.

A Glimpse at some Kalaam groups:

• The Jahmiyyah:
  • They attribute themselves to al-Jahm ibn Safwaan, who was killed by Saalim or Saleem ibn Ahwaz in the year 12 AH. Their views on the attributes of Allaah consist of ta’teel (denial) and nafee (negation). Regarding al-Qadar (Divine pre-Degree), they hold the opinion that mankind is coerced to do deeds (al-jabr).
• The Mu’tazilah:
  • They are the followers of Waasil ibn Ataa’, who withdrew (I’tizaal) from the gathering of al-Hasan al-Basree. He determined that the sinner is in a level between two levels. Thus, he is neither a believer nor a disbeliever, yet he will reside eternally in the hell fire. Amr ibn Ubayd followed him in that and their views concerning the attributes of Allaah are based on ta’teel, like the Jahmiyyah, and concerning al-Qadar, like that of the Qadariyyah.
• The Ash’ariyyah:
  • They are the followers of Ab-ul-Hasan Alee ibn Ismaa’eel al-Ash’aree. At first, he inclined towards the views of the Mu’tazilah sect, until he reached forty years of age. Then he openly announced his repentance from that to the public and exposed the falsehood of the Mu’tazilah. So he took hold of the methodology of Ahl-us-Sunnah, may Allaah have mercy on him.
  • As for those who attribute themselves to him, the remained upon a specific methodology which is known as the Ash’ariyyah sect. The do not confirm any of Allaah’s attributes, except seven, which they believe are proven by intellect. And the distort the meaning of the rest of the attributes.

An example of Kalaam which has been inherited from Greek Philosophy:

Aristotle’s Ten Categories (al-Maqoolaat-ul-Ashar) (al-Jawhar-wal-A’raad)

Here are Aristotle’s ten categories, the first deals with “what something is”.

1. Substance (Jawhar)

The rest are incidental attributes (a’raad) which deal with “how it is”.

1. Quantity (al-Kam): dimensions and measurable features, length, breadth, width and so on.
2. Quality (al-Kayf): perceived characteristics, color, shape and so on.
3. Relation (al-Idaafah): how a substance is in relation to others, above, below, right, left and so on.
4. Place (al-Ayn): where it is.
5. Time (mataa): answering “when?”. Temporal characteristics of the substance.
6. Position (al-wad’): how a substance’s parts are ordered in relation to each other.
7. Action (yaf’al): acting – what a substance is doing.
8. Affection (yanfa’il): a substance being acted upon [These two are events, occurrences (hawaadith), signifying change (tagayyur) in the substance.]
9. Having (al-mulk): what the substance has on.

Aristotelian Tawheed:

Aristotelian Tawheed means: to absolve Allaah of the incidental attributes (a’raad) and occurrences (hawaadith) found in bodies (ajsaam, jawaahir) – having already argued by way of their presence in bodies that these bodies that make up the universe are themselves events (hawaadith) that must have a beginning thus proving there has to be an originator – Allaah. And in turn all our language regarding Allaah must be dictated by these terms – so we have to purify Allaah of Jismiyyah and A’raad and Hawaadith and this language of negation dictates Tawheed entirely.

What Imaams say about Kalaam and Falsafah:

Al-Bazzaaz reported that Aboo Haneefah forbade his sons and students from discussing philosophy. In fact, Aboo Haneefah said:

“May Allaah curse Amr ibn Ubayd. He opened the gate of philosophy to people.” [As-Suyooti in Sawn-ul-Mantiq p. 60]

Imaam as-Shaafi’ee (rahimahullaah) said:

“My ruling regarding the people of kalaam is that they should be beaten with palm leaves and shoes and be paraded amongst the kinsfolk and the tribes with it being announced. This is the reward of the one who abandons the Qur’aan and Sunnah and turns to kalaam.” [Sharh Aqeeda-tut-Tahaawiyyah p. 75]

Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahimahullaah) said:

“The person of kalaam will never prosper. And never do you see anyone looking into kalaam except that in his desire for creating mischief.” [Reported by Ibn Qudaamah in Burhaan fee Bayaan-il-Qur’aan]

Imaam al-Awzaa’ee (rahimahullaah) said:

“Hold fast to the narrations of the Salaf, even if people were to abandon you. (And) beware of the opinions of the people, no matter how much they beautify it with their speech.” [Majmoo’-ul-Fataawaa vol. 12 p. 497]

Imaam al-Barbahaaree (rahimahullaah) said:

“If you wish to be firm upon the truth and the way of Ahl-us-Sunnah before you, beware of kalaam, and the people of kalaam and of disputation, arguing, analogy and debating about the Religion. Listening to them, even if you do not accept from them, throws doubt into the heart. This is sufficient for you to be destroyed. There has never been any heresy, innovation, innovated sect or misguidance except through rhetoric, disputation, argumentation and analogy. These are the gates of innovation, doubt and heresy. By Allaah, fear Allaah concerning yourself and stick to the narrations, the people of narrations and to following, for the Religion is to follow, meaning the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) and his Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them all. Those before us have not left us in a confused state, so follow them and be at peace. Do not exceed the narrations and the people of narrations.” [Sharh-us-Sunnah 153-154]

Imaam Sufyaan ath-thawree (rahimahullaah) said:

“This religion is based upon narrations not opinions. This religion is based upon narrations not opinions. This religion is based upon narrations not opinions.” [Sharaf As’haab-il-Hadeeth]

Imaam ad-Daaraqutnee (rahimahullaah) said:

“There is nothing more despised by me than ilmul kalaam” [Siyar A’laam-in-Nubalaa’ 16/457]

Imaam Aboo Yoosuf (rahimahullaah) said:

“Whoever sought knowledge (of Islaam) by kalaam will become a zindeeq (heretic)” [Reported by Ibn Qudaamah in Burhaan fee Bayaan-il-Qur’aan]

Imaam al-Muzanee (rahimahullaah):

“Muhammad ibn Aqeel ibn al-Azhar said: A man came to al-Muzanee asking him about kalaam and al-Muzanee stated: I hate it, and indeed ash-Shaafi’ee forbade me from getting involved in it.” [Reported by al-Harawee in Dhamm-ul-Kalaam vol. 4 pp. 283, 359]

Imaam Ibn-ul-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (rahimahullaah) said:

“And using the intellect in opposition to the evidences is the basis of all evil in the world. And it opposes the call of the Messengers (alaihimussalaam) in every way. This is because they (the Messengers) called toward putting forward the revelation over one’s opinions and intellects, and those who opposed them did opposite to this. The followers of the Messenger put the revelation over the opinions and intellect, and the followers of Iblees (Satan, may Allaah curse him) -or a substitute fromhis substitutes- put the intellect over the evidences.

Muhammad ibn Abd-ul-Kareem ash-Sharastaanee (rahimahullaah) said in his book, Al-Milal wan-Nihal: Know that the first doubt that was put forward was the doubt of Iblees, and the basis of this was putting opinion before an evidence, and in his choosing desire over obedience. And his pride because of the material he was created from –which was fire- over the material which Adam (alaihissalaam) was created from –clay. And from this, many other doubts came thereafter.” [Summary of Sawaa’iq-ul-Mursalah]