The Sunni Path

Abstract

"Muslims consist of scholars (hawâs) and laymen (awâm). The Turkish book Dürr-i Yektâ writes, “Laymen are those who do not know the rules of Arabic grammar and literature. They are unable to grasp the books of fatwâ. It is fard for them to look for and learn the knowledge relating to Islamic belief and ’ibâdât. On the other hand, it is fard for scholars to teach, by preaching and writing, first the belief and then the five tenets of ibâdât, which make up the foundation of Islam. It is stated in the books Zahîra and Tâtârhâniyya that teaching the fundamentals of îmân and the belief of Ahl as-sunna is of primary importance.” That is why the great scholar ’Abd-ulhakîm- i-Arwâsî ‘rahmatullahi ’aleyh’, an expert in the religious and experimental sciences, said towards the termination of his blessed life, “For thirty years, I have endeavoured to explain the Islamic belief, the i’tiqâd (credo, tenets) of Ahl as-sunna, and Islam’s beautiful ethical teachings in Istanbul’s mosques.” Therefore, in all our books, we too, have tried to explain the i’tiqâd of the Ahl as-Sunna and the good morals of Islam, stressing the importance of being kind to everybody and obeying and helping the State. We do not approve of the writings of some lâ-madhhabî people, who are unaware of the religion and who provoke people against the State and set brothers at loggerheads. Stating, “The religion is under the shadow of swords,” Rasûlullah (sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam) explained that Muslims could live in comfort under the protection of the State and its laws. As the State becomes stronger, the people enjoy more happiness and peace. Muslims living happily and carrying out their religious duties with freedom in non-Muslim countries, such as those in Europe and America, should not revolt against the State and the laws which give them freedom; they should not be tools for instigation (fitna) and anarchy. This has been a commandment of scholars of Ahl as- Sunna."(PG 3-4)