Permissible to use the term ‘Aqeedah

6-3-2012 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is meant by the term ‘Aqeedah? Who was the first person to use it in this context even though it was not mentioned in the Quran?

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

 The meaning of the word ‘Aqeedah (creed) is explained in Fatwa No: 2246. It is correct that this term is not mentioned in the Quran and it is also not mentioned in the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition). However, the meaning of the word ‘Aqeedah is included in the word “belief” as mentioned in the Saying of Allaah The Almighty (what means):

•        {The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allaah and His Messenger and then doubt not ….} [Quran 49:15]

•        {The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allaah and His angels and His books and His messengers.} [Quran 2:285]

Past and recent Islamic scholars agreed on the use of the word ‘Aqeedah or I‘tiqaad in matters of creed that were authentically reported to us concerning Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and which every Muslim must believe in without question. Thereupon, there is nothing wrong with using this term since the meaning is agreed upon by all the scholars.

We do not know the identity of the first person to use this term indicating this meaning.

Allaah Knows best.

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