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Belief
in the Books and Messengers
Question:
I would like for his Eminence, the Shaykh, to clarify an important
point. Does belief in the Books and Messengers mean that we
should believe in the religions that were before Christianity
and Judaism?
Response:
What is meant by belief in the Books and Messengers is belief
that Allaah revealed Books to Messengers in order that the
work of inviting to Allaah might take place. Allaah (Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala) says: {Verily, we sent our Messengers with
clear proofs and revealed to them the Book and the Balance
that mankind might exercise justice.}
And
so Allaah (Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala) sent Messengers and revealed Books, describing
some of them, informing about some others, and neither describing
nor informing about yet others. We must therefore believe
that Allaah sent Messengers to those living on earth to call
them to belief in the Oneness and Unity of Allaah and to obedience
to Him. We should believe that they were sent to give them
glad tidings of what awaits them with Allaah of abundant blessing,
if they go straight, and to warn them of Allaah's punishment,
if they deviate. We believe in this as a general principle.
We
also believe, as a general principle, that Allaah revealed
to the Messengers Books that elucidate the truth and that
call people to and enlighten them about the truth. We must
also believe in the details of this, in any matters that Allaah,
the Exalted, has informed us about in detail. We therefore
believe that He sent Nooh, Hood, Saalih, Ibraaheem, Loot,
Moosaa, Haaroon, Daawood, Sulaymaan, 'Eesaa and whoever else
Allaah specifically mentioned.
We
also believe in those Books that Allaah mentioned in detail,
such as the Scriptures of Ibraaheem and Moosaa, at-Towraat,
al-Injeel and az-Zaboor, all of which have been mentioned
by name, as well as the Qur.aan. These have been mentioned
in detail and we believe in them.
Concerning
our obligations with respect to action and deeds, then we
must act according to what is contained specifically within
our revealed law, the law revealed to Muhammad, (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam). The law revealed to Muhammad is complete
and perfect and it contains within it what is beneficial to
us from previous revealed laws. It contains additions to those
previous laws as well as the lessening for us by Allaah of
burdens and fetters which were upon those before us. And so
our revealed law is perfect and complete. It contains what
former revealed laws contained of blessing and goodness and
also includes some reduction and easing of certain obligations
as well having certain laws that Allaah has only prescribed
for this community. It contains good, blessing and benefit
for this community in both religion and worldly affairs.
Our
only duty is to believe in the Books and Messengers as a general
principle. That the Messengers are truthful and sincere, that
they transmitted the message and fulfilled the trust, that
they conveyed the Books which were revealed to them and taught
them to people. We must also believe in those Messengers and
Books that were specifically mentioned by name. We must also
follow the exalted Messenger, Muhammad (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) whom Allaah singled out for us, and
believe in him specifically. All of us, men and women, rich
and poor, rulers and ruled, Arabs and non-Arabs, must follow
the law revealed to him and adhere to it wherever we are and
at all times.
Shaykh
Ibn Baaz
al-Aqalliyaat al-Muslimah - Page 34, Fatwa No.9
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