Examples of Aqeedah Matters Where the Scholars Validly Differed

The below is extracted from Dr. Sultan al-Umayri’s book, Qanun at-Ta’sees al-Aqadii, pp. 263-270.

Some examples of valid differences of opinion in aqeedah are:

- Can we wear amulets for protection if they contain the Qur’an?

- Can the dead hear the sounds of the living?

- Do the dead suffer due to the living crying because they died?

- Did the Prophet (peace be upon him) ascend during Mi’raaj by body and soul, or by soul alone?

- Did the Prophet (peace be upon him) see Allah with his physical eyes?

- Can we enter a town in which there is a plague?

- How many names does Allah have?

- What is the greatest name of Allah?

- Is Allah’s nafs an attribute of His or not?

- Does Allah have a left hand (yad) or not?

- Can we use the word “movement” to describe some of Allah’s attributes of action?

- Can we negate or affirm Allah’s contact (مماسة) with creation?

- Does Allah leave the Throne when He descends?

- Do we say that Allah descends with His Essence (ذاته) or not?

- What does Allah’s name, Al-Muqeet mean?

- What does Allah’s name, Al-Wadud mean?

- Can Allah be seen in our dreams or not?

-Will the kuffar and munafiqun see Allah on the Day of Judgment or not?

- In what circumstances will the believers see Allah on the Day of Judgment?

- How often will the believers see Allah in paradise? Every day or only each Friday?

- Will the angels see Allah or not?

- Is Ruqyah from the people of the book acceptable?

- Is minor Shirk forgivable by Allah?

- Can we seek assistance from the Jinn in permissible matters?

- Is asking for dua from the dead near the grave considered major or minor Shirk?

- Is magic considered major kufr in all of its manifestations?

- Can one treat magic with magic like it?

- Do contagions truly exist naturalistically?

- Do bad omens exist?

- The ruling on joining Allah and His creation in a single pronoun (e.g., Allah and His angels are honorable).

- Which overcomes the other? Hope in Allah or fear of Him?

- Are we rewarded for enduring trials with patience, or only for the patience alone?

- What is the ruling of swearing by creation?

- What does it mean that the trumpet will be blown on the Day of Judgment?

- How many times will the trumpet be blown, and what is the duration between each blow?

- What other creatures other than Jinn and mankind will be resurrected?

- What is the duration of the resurrection?

- What is the precise meaning of the maqam al-mahmud (the praised station of the Prophet)?

- Will the intercession include those whom the Hellfire has been commanded not to let enter?

- How will the kafir take his book on the Day of Judgment?

- Will Allah judge all of His creations or only some of them?

- Who precisely will be the first to be judged?

- How exactly will the scales of deeds be heavy and light?

- Will the deeds of kuffar be weighed as well?

- How many scales will be there on the Day of Judgment?

- What is the description of the Sirat?

- Will all creatures cross the Sirat?

- What is the precise meaning of passing over hell?

- Who precisely will be forbidden from the hawdh?

- Is the hawdh before or after the Sirat?

- Does every prophet have a hawdh?

The above are only some examples. If we delve into the topics of the Day of Judgment, predestination, Imamah, Sahabah, etc., one will realize and see many other aqeedah issues open to ijtihad.

The point of this article is to remind fellow Muslims that it is perfectly okay to differ over the peripheral matters of aqeedah.