If the Aqidah is Flawed, Faith and Deeds Become Meaningless
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Islam
All scholars (ulama) and jurists (fuqaha) of this religion unanimously agree that without the correct Aqidah (creed), faith (Iman) has no value. The prerequisite for prayer (Salah), fasting (Sawm), pilgrimage (Hajj), almsgiving (Zakat), and thousands of other forms of worship is Iman—faith in Allah, His Messenger, the angels, the Day of Judgment, Paradise, Hell, divine decree (Taqdir), and so on. If faith loses its essence, then inevitably, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, almsgiving, and all other acts of worship become insignificant. What is this crucial Aqidah without which faith and all faith-based worship lose their significance? Aqidah is the comprehensive concept of what something is meant for and its intended purpose. Without a correct and thorough grasp of it, that thing becomes meaningless. Allah has given Deen (the divine way of life) to humanity through His messengers. Did He establish this Deen without a purpose? Absolutely not. There is certainly a purpose behind it. If we fail to understand this purpose or hold a false perception of it, then Deen itself becomes meaningless. This is why jurists (Fuqaha) and Imams unanimously agree that if one's Aqidah is flawed, faith and all acts of worship lose their purpose.
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To illustrate this matter, let’s consider an example. Suppose someone gives you a car as a gift. What would you do in that case? You might sit in the comfortable seats, turn on the air conditioning, listen to music, and assume that this is the purpose of the car. If that were the case, then gifting you the car would be pointless. Moreover, your perception of its parts would change. You might consider the cushioned seats, the music system, and the air conditioning as the most important features while regarding the engine, brakes, steering, tires, and fuel system as insignificant. The same logic applies to Islam. Allah has explicitly stated the purpose of Islam, "We sent Our messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the Scripture and the Balance so that people may uphold justice (Surah Al-Hadid 25)." In summary, the essence of Aqidah in Islam is to establish the true Deen (Deen-ul-Haqq) in human life through Jihad and Qital (struggle and combat), aiming to eliminate all forms of oppression, war, and bloodshed, ultimately ensuring peace. This, in turn, fulfills the divine challenge against Iblis and manifests Allah’s ultimate victory. This is the fundamental objective of Deen; everything else is complementary to achieving this goal.
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The purpose of Islam is further illustrated in a hadith narrated by the persecuted companion Khabbab ibn Al-Aratt (RA). During the Makkan period, when the disbelievers were brutally torturing the early Muslims, Khabbab (RA) came to the Prophet (SAW) and pleaded, "O Messenger of Allah! We can no longer endure this oppression. Please pray for their destruction." At that time, the Messenger of Allah was reclining against the wall of the Kaaba. Upon hearing this, he sat up straight and asked, "What did you say?" Khabbab (RA) repeated his request. The Prophet (SAW) then said, "Listen! A time will come when a woman will travel alone from Sana'a to Hadramaut, and she will have no fear except of Allah and wild animals." (Bukhari). Take note of what the Messenger of Allah said here. He prophesied the establishment of a society so secure that even a beautifully adorned woman would be able to travel alone without fear of harm, loss of dignity, or theft. The ultimate objective of Islam and the mission of the Final Messenger was to build such a just and peaceful society. However, today, Islam’s true purpose has been forgotten. It has been reduced to a faith-based system centered solely on rituals of worship. Millions gather in magnificent mosques for daily prayers and religious observances, yet their lives remain plagued by turmoil and unrest. Due to a fundamental misunderstanding of Aqidah, they fail to strive for the establishment of Allah’s command, resulting in a society where neither justice nor peace prevails.
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Only when we fully grasp Islam’s purpose will we recognize the urgency of establishing this Deen. Otherwise, it will not be possible to build a peaceful society. Every act in Islam is interconnected—just as every component of a car is interlinked and essential for its function. The word Aqidah originates from Aqd, meaning "knot" or "bond." Just as individual flowers are strung together to form a garland, all Islamic practices are interconnected and directed toward a specific goal. The goal of Islam is to establish social peace and security. The process to achieve this goal is Jihad. Jihad requires a five-step program, which consists of the characteristics of a true believer (Mu’min). To develop these characteristics, training is necessary. This training includes prayer (Salah), fasting (Sawm), and other forms of worship. Once a Mu’min acquires this character, they engage in Jihad to establish Deen, which ultimately leads to peace. Through this process, humans fulfill their role as Allah’s representatives on Earth. When we come to understand the connection between all aspects of Islamic practices, the complete and holistic nature of Islam will become clear to us. This comprehensive understanding is what is called Aqidah.
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