Third Branch

THIRD BRANCH

Hadiths that speak of the signs of the end of time, the events at the end of time, and the merits and rewards of certain actions have not been well understood, in consequence of which some scholars who rely on their reason have pronounced some of them to be either weak or false. While some of the scholars whose belief was weak but whose egotism was strong have gone as far as denying them. For now we shall not attempt any detailed discussion, but shall only explain twelve principles.

First Principle

FIRST PRINCIPLE: This is a matter which we have explained in the question and answer at the end of the Twentieth Word. Its summary is this: Religion is an examination, a test, which distinguishes elevated spirits from base ones. It therefore speaks of matters that everyone shall see with their eyes in the future in such a way that they remain neither altogether unknown, nor so self-evident that everyone will be compelled to confirm them. They open the door to the reason but do not take the will from the hand. For if a sign of the Last Day appeared completely self-evidently and everyone was compelled to affirm it, then a disposition like coal would remain equal to one like diamonds. The mystery of human accountability and the results of examination would go for nothing. It is because of this that there has been much dispute over many matters like that of the Mahdi and Sufyan. Also, the narrations differ greatly; there have been statements concerning them that contradict one another.

Second Principle

SECOND PRINCIPLE: There are various levels in the matters of Islam. If one requires certain proof, for another the prevailing opinion is sufficient. Others require merely assent and acceptance and not to be rejected. In which case, secondary matters or particular events in time which are not among the fundamentals of belief do not require certain belief and compliance and definite proof, just not to be rejected and to be submitted to, and not to be interfered with.

Third Principle

THIRD PRINCIPLE: Most of the Jewish and Christian scholars entered Islam during the time of the Companions of the Prophet (UWBP) and their former knowledge became Muslim along with them. Some of their former knowledge was contrary to the truth but was imagined to be a part of Islam.

Fourth Principle

FOURTH PRINCIPLE: Some of the Hadith narrators’ own words or the meanings they assumed were considered to be part of the original texts of the Hadiths. Man cannot be free of fault, however, and some of their deductions or words which were contrary to the truth were supposed to be Hadiths and were pronounced weak.