Author: Muhajer Azizi
Sikhism; Its Origins and Fundamental Beliefs (Part 22)
C: Criticism of this belief (Sikh Beliefs about the Unseen) from the perspective of Islam
Dr. Nasser bin Abdul Karim Al-Aql, one of the prominent scholars in the field of Islamic science, writes in his explanation of the sentence of Allamah Tahawi (may Allah bless him): Here, “knowledge” is divided into two categories: existing knowledge and lost knowledge.
Lost knowledge can be summarized in a few issues:
1. The issue of Qadar (predestination): All of Qadar is a knowledge that mankind has no connection with, and human is not obligated to explore it; rather, he is only ordered to submit completely to it. The verses and narrations about Qadar are firm and clear, and nothing can be added to it or subtracted from it.
2. Unseen matters in general: whether that which is related to the essence, attributes, and actions of Allah Almighty, or other unseen news that has reached us through hearing (audio); Such as the conditions of the hereafter, future affairs, and things from the unseen world that cannot be understood by human senses and intellect, all of these are included in the lost knowledge, and it is the duty of a person not to pursue them and search for them, because entering into these matters is considered a kind of burden and sin. [1]
Claiming lost knowledge is disbelief, because it is claiming knowledge of the unseen, for example, asking about the quality of the attributes of Allah the Exalted is considered disbelief, because this is a statement about Allah without knowledge. When Imam Malik (may Allah bless him) was asked: “How did Allah place on the throne (Istiwa)?” he said: «الاستواء معلوم، والكيف غير معقول، والإيمان به واجب، والسؤال عنه بدعة،» meaning: “Istiwa’ is known, its quality cannot be understood, faith in it is obligatory, and asking about its quality is an innovation.” [2]
Questioning, discussing, and engaging in deep discussions about the unseen and predestination are prohibited from the perspective of Sharia. Many scholars have considered addressing such issues as a ground for misguidance; Because the human mind is not capable of understanding all aspects of the unseen, and exploring this field leads man to illusion, misunderstanding, and even ideological deviation.
Allah Almighty has also forbidden dealing with such matters in the Holy Quran. As He says: “فَاسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِخَلَاقِكُمْ كَمَا اسْتَمْتَعَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ بِخَلَاقِهِمْ وَخُضْتُمْ كَالَّذِي خَاضُوا” Translation: “You enjoyed your benefits, just as those before you enjoyed their benefits, and you indulged in (useless and false) affairs, just as they indulged in them.” [3]
In this verse, Allah has prevented us and all nations from engaging in fruitless debates and discussions like the previous ones, because entering into the issue of predestination is a gateway to falling into all ideological deviations.
No one has discussed this issue unless he has gone astray, because the foundation of “predestination” is based on submission.
Other unseen matters are also similar, but the issue of predestination is the most difficult and complicated of all, and people deal with it a lot. In fact, the nations that went astray, an important reason for their misguidance was this very entry into the issue of predestination and other unseen matters. [4]
Prediction is also of two types: one is prediction that depends on means and knowledge, and the other is prediction that is said without depending on knowledge and means. What is rejected and false is the second type.
So, undoubtedly, the prediction that the Sikhs believe is a type of rejected prediction that has nothing to do with the desired scientific prediction; just as in weather forecasts, people understand the weather, wind direction, rain and snow, and other atmospheric conditions, this prediction affects their behavior, such as: leaving the house, traveling, clothing, and preparation for negative consequences. Among the types of scientific predictions are economic predictions, such as the rise and fall of prices, the boom and bust of the market, the decrease or increase of the exchange rate; and based on these data, human economic activity, such as buying and selling, saving, spending, exchanging money, and increasing profits, is organized. Also, acceptable scientific predictions include predictions by scientists about the discovery of cures for specific diseases or the possibility of the emergence of new diseases due to specific conditions, such as skin or childhood diseases that arise as a result of the depletion of the ozone layer or foods containing agricultural hormones or chemicals used in agricultural seeds. [5]
These predictions and similar ones are necessary and useful because they are warnings for humans, just as indications of the occurrence of an earthquake or flood are.
But the predictions we are talking about, meaning the predictions of the Sikhs and the sheikhs of superstition and some misguided people, have nothing to do with what Allah Almighty has revealed and are pure falsehood. As Allah Almighty said truthfully: «قُلْ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِندَالله» Translation: “Say, knowledge is only with Allah”. [6]
And the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: «ما المسئول عنها بأعلم من السائل» Translation: “The one responsible for it knows better than the one who asks”. [7]
Therefore, we must rise up with all our might to confront these superstitions, especially since many antichrists and profiteers plunder the property of simple-hearted and weak-faith people, those who seek to know the future or cure a particular disease. Many stories have been narrated about these people, and these stories have spread throughout the Islamic world. It is obligatory on all those who sympathize with Islam and the enemies of falsehood to fight these antichrists vigorously with awareness and invitation to pure Islam. [8]
Continues…
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References:
1. Nasser Al-Aql, Explanation of the Tahawiyyah Creed, p. 54.
2. Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasser, Explanation of the Tahawiyyah Creed, p. 178.
3. Al-Tawbah: 69.
4. Nasser Al-Aql, Explanation of the Tahawiyyah Creed, p. 54.
5. Bassam Al-Amoush, The Sikh Sect and Islam’s Position on It, p. 156.
6. Al-Molk: 26.
7. Abu Dawud, 4495.
8. Bassam Al-Amoush, The Sikh Sect and Islam’s Position on It, p. 156.
