23/10/2026
𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗛𝗟 𝗔𝗟-𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗔𝗛 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 – 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘𝗚𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗢𝗨𝗥 ʿ𝗔𝗤Ī𝗗𝗔𝗛!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵?
Our ʿaqīdah (Islamic creed) constitutes the very foundation of our faith and religion. It shapes our relationship with Allah تعالى, our understanding of our beloved Prophet Mohammad ﷺ, and our conception of the fundamental truths of Islam.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 ʿ𝗮𝗾ī𝗱𝗮𝗵 have therefore always been among the foremost responsibilities of the great scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah.
Throughout Islamic history, scholars have undertaken the responsibility of protecting the faith of Muslims against erroneous beliefs, misleading doctrines, and theological deviations.
From our beloved Prophet Mohammad ﷺ and his noble Companions رضي الله عنهم to the great Imams (aʾimmah), the righteous friends of Allah (awliyāʾ), and the scholars (ʿulamāʾ) of subsequent generations, each generation has responded to the challenges of its time by striving to preserve and transmit authentic Islamic doctrine.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺?
Muslim communities today continue to face significant theological challenges. Various religious movements may employ the same terminology traditionally associated with Sunni Islam, despite fundamental differences in their understanding of essential matters of ʿaqīdah.
Such distinctions are not always readily apparent to ordinary Muslims. It is therefore essential that qualified scholars critically examine the relevant sources, clarify doctrinal positions, and provide guidance grounded in sound knowledge and verifiable evidence.
𝗜𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗵𝗹 𝗮𝗹-𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰, 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿.
When distinguished scholars from different parts of the Muslim world meet, exchange knowledge, and engage in theological discussions, they do more than strengthen their scholarly relationships. They also fulfil a shared responsibility: 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 ʿ𝗮𝗾ī𝗱𝗮𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝗨𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗵.
𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗦
A noteworthy example of such scholarly engagement can be found in the meetings that took place in 𝗧ü𝗿𝗸𝗶𝘆𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟰.
The eminent Indian Grand Mufti, 𝗧ā𝗷 𝗮𝗹-𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿īʿ𝗮𝗵, 𝗮𝗹-ʿ𝗔𝗹𝗹ā𝗺𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗠𝘂𝗳𝘁ī 𝗠𝘂ḥ𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗸𝗵𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗮ḍā 𝗞𝗵ā𝗻 𝗮𝗹-𝗔𝘇𝗵𝗮𝗿ī رحمه الله (1943–2018), great-grandson of the distinguished *mujaddid*, 𝗜𝗺ā𝗺 𝗔ḥ𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗥𝗮ḍā 𝗞𝗵ā𝗻 رحمه الله (1856–1921), visited Türkiye.
During his visit, he met the renowned Turkish scholar and spiritual guide 𝗮𝗹-ʿ𝗔𝗹𝗹ā𝗺𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗸𝗵 𝗠𝗮ḥ𝗺ū𝗱 𝗨𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗼𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗼ğ𝗹𝘂 𝗘𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶 رحمه الله (1929–2022), widely known as Maḥmūd Efendi, as well as his distinguished disciple, 𝗮𝗹-𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗸𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗠𝘂𝗳𝘁ī 𝗔ḥ𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗮ḥ𝗺ū𝗱 Ü𝗻𝗹ü حفظه الله, better known as 𝗖ü𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗲𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗰𝗮.
These encounters provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen scholarly relations between traditional Sunni scholars of the Indian subcontinent and Türkiye.
Accounts of these meetings refer to discussions concerning ʿaqīdah, theological differences between Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamāʿah and sectarian movements that, from the perspective of traditional Sunni scholarship, improperly appropriate this designation despite adhering to divergent doctrinal positions.
Written materials and theological works are also reported to have been presented in order to clarify the matters under discussion.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗵𝗹 𝗮𝗹-𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵 developing a thorough understanding of one another's scholarly traditions, critically examining theological claims, and cooperating in the preservation of the Muslim Ummah's ʿaqīdah.
Al-ḥamdu li-llāh!
𝗔𝗡 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚
These scholarly connections were further strengthened through a subsequent meeting in Türkiye in 2022 between the distinguished UK-based scholar 𝗮𝗹-ʿ𝗔𝗹𝗹ā𝗺𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗠𝘂𝗳𝘁ī 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗹-𝗛𝘂𝗱ā 𝗮𝗹-𝗠𝗶ṣ𝗯āḥī حفظه الله and 𝗮𝗹-𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗸𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗠𝘂𝗳𝘁ī 𝗔ḥ𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗮ḥ𝗺ū𝗱 Ü𝗻𝗹ü حفظه الله.
This meeting has likewise been associated with discussions concerning ʿaqīdah, theological differences, and the importance of preserving authentic Sunni doctrine.
Such encounters illustrate how scholarly cooperation, intellectual exchange, and sustained personal engagement can foster greater mutual understanding and a deeper awareness of the theological challenges confronting Muslim communities.
𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬
𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 ʿ𝗮𝗾ī𝗱𝗮𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺.
We must acquire sound knowledge of our ʿaqīdah (Islamic creed) from qualified and trustworthy scholars, understand the foundations of our faith, and remain discerning regarding the religious doctrines and theological positions we encounter.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 (𝗮𝗸𝗵𝗹ā𝗾).
We need scholars who build bridges between Sunni Muslim communities without compromising the fundamental principles of Islamic creed.
May Allah تعالى bestow His boundless mercy upon our departed scholars, preserve our living scholars, safeguard our ʿaqīdah, and grant us *tawfīq* (divine enabling grace) to benefit from their knowledge and guidance. Āmīn!
𝗗𝗮𝗿-𝗼𝗹-𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗮 𝗮𝘀-𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗵 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆 is committed to strengthening relations among Muslims across ethnic, linguistic, and jurisprudential traditions (*madhāhib*), while promoting unity, knowledge, and cooperation within the great scholarly and spiritual tradition of 𝗔𝗵𝗹 𝗮𝗹-𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝘄𝗮-𝗹-𝗝𝗮𝗺āʿ𝗮𝗵.
𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!
𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆:
Mohammad Asif al-Raḍawī
Dar-ol-Mostafa as-Sonniyah Norway
𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟯 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝟭𝟭 𝗝𝘂𝗺ā𝗱ā 𝗮𝗹-Ū𝗹ā 𝟭𝟰𝟰𝟴 𝗔𝗛
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