Comprehensiveness of The Islamic 'Aqeedah

One of the most critical and essential aspects of the Islamic 'aqeedah is its comprehensiveness. The 'aqeedah provides practical solutions for all problems that can arise in any aspect of life. On the individual level, the 'aqeedah provides a definitive answer to all of the fundamental questions of human existence and gives clear concepts on what preceded life, what will transpire after life, as well as the purpose of life. Through this comprehensive set of concepts the Muslim, upon adopting the Islamic 'aqeedah, has a clear connection with what is before and after life. Such a solid connection lays the foundation for a clear understanding of the Muslim's purpose in life and a clear direction of how to proceed in life.

The Islamic 'aqeedah is decisive in its concepts because it establishes the correct understanding upon clear, undisputed evidence arrived at by intellectual thought. Only through this intellectual process can the person fully understand the Islamic 'aqeedah and absorb its implications. Through this process, Islam ensures that those who adopt the Islamic 'aqeedah do so through full intellectual conviction that will establish a unique and comprehensive perspective on life.

The comprehensive perspective produced by the Islamic 'aqeedah manifests in the high intellectual and enlightened thought of the Muslim as well as in his noble conduct and behavior. Upon attaining the realisation of his position and purpose, the Muslim perceives the universe and everything within their correct context as creations of Allah (swt), and this clear vision frees his mind from the shackles of blind faith, imitation and shallow concepts that provide no clear answers. With a clear vision of his purpose, the Muslim is freed from the chains of living like an animal that lives only to satisfy its instinctive needs, freed from spiraling through life with uncertainty and doubt, and elevated to the status of living his life and conducting his affairs according to the commandments of Allah (swt) with full realisation of his position as a servant of Allah (swt). And instead of confining his horizons to chasing worldly desires and images, the Muslim's horizons extend beyond the narrow confines of the worldly life to yearn for the pleasure of Allah (swt). Consequently, the Muslim with the clear understanding of the Islamic 'aqeedah shapes his life, his actions, his thoughts and his emotions in submission to Allah (swt) for the hope of attaining His pleasure and avoiding His punishment.

Without this clear understanding, doubt would enter the mind. In the presence of doubt, the person would never attain the full realisation and conviction in the Islamic 'aqeedah. If the 'aqeedah is established with any amount of doubt or uncertainty, then that doubt will ultimately manifest in the actions, the thinking, and the behaviour of the individual. A Muslim with doubt in his 'aqeedah would proceed through life in a haphazard, unfocused way, unsure of what action to take, and unclear in understanding the reasons behind certain actions. The ideas and concepts that such a person would adopt would contradict each other and such contradiction would only create confusion and uncertainty. In order to have a clear understanding of his purpose in life a clear direction as to how to proceed in life, the Islamic 'aqeedah demands that the Muslim adopts it based upon decisive proof established upon an intellectual foundation.

Such a clear, comprehensive 'aqeedah also establishes the basis of the Islamic society, unifies the thoughts, feelings and perceptions of the society, and provides the society with a clear and unshakable foundation that gives it a clear, well-defined direction and agenda. The Islamic 'aqeedah provides the sole source of rules and systems for the society, the sole source of solutions, the sole standard of measurement, and the sole source of concepts and culture. Because of this clear, comprehensive foundation, the Islamic society established solely upon the Islamic 'aqeedah has a clear direction and purpose which leads it to advance and progress through life without any hindrance and prevents any foreign entity or thought from invading its body. Because the Islamic 'aqeedah is comprehensive, then its limits are fixed and not subject to change; any need to change, revise, or alter the 'aqeedah indicates a flaw in the 'aqeedah itself, which is grounds for dismissing it as the correct creed. Similarly, if the 'aqeedah encounters an issue or situation that it does not cover, then such an inability implies the 'aqeedah is not comprehensive and correct. Because the Islamic 'aqeedah is proven correct and comprehensive, then the Muslims must adopt it and submit to its limits and standards with full submission.

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