Pure Islam vs. Innovations: Why Simplicity is the Sunnah
“Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship.” (Qur’an 2:185)
Islam, as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and practiced by his noble companions (رضي الله عنهم), is a religion of profound simplicity and clarity. Its foundation is beautifully straightforward: believe in Allah as He described Himself, and worship Him as His Messenger (ﷺ) showed you. Nothing more, nothing less. This is the pure path of the Athar (narrations) — a path of submission and trust in divine revelation.
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Table of Contents
- The Simplicity of Islam
- How Innovators Complicated the Deen
- Imam Malik’s Famous Response
- Parallels with Christianity
- The Salafi Call Back to Simplicity
- FAQs on Simplicity in Islam
- References
The Simplicity of Islam
‘Aisha (رضي الله عنها) narrated: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was given a choice between two matters, he would choose the easier of the two, so long as it was not a sin.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3560). This demonstrates that Islam is not a religion of hardship and complication, but one of ease, mercy, and clarity.
How Innovators Complicated the Deen
Later generations, influenced by Greek philosophy and theological rhetoric (ʿIlm al-Kalām), began asking unnecessary and forbidden questions. Instead of submitting to revelation, they turned to speculative reasoning:
- “Is the Qur’an created or uncreated?”
- “What is the philosophical nature of Allah’s attributes?”
- “How can we reconcile Allah’s Hand with rationalist proofs?”
These questions were born not of sincerity, but of arrogance. The Sahaba never engaged in such speculation. The Salaf responded with silence and condemnation, safeguarding the deen from corruption.
Imam Malik’s Famous Response
“The rising is known, the ‘how’ is unknown, belief in it is obligatory, and asking about it is a bid’ah.” Imam Malik (رحمه الله)
This timeless statement shows the methodology of the Salaf: affirm the text without delving into “how” or indulging in philosophy.
Parallels with Christianity
The corruption of Christianity followed the same path. The pure monotheism of ‘Isa (عليه السلام) was lost when philosophers and politicians imposed Greek terms like homoousios and invented doctrines such as the Trinity. Similarly, in Islam, the Mutakallimun abandoned the clear words of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) for speculative tools, creating division and confusion.
The Salafi Call Back to Simplicity
The Salafi manhaj is a conscious rejection of these corruptions. It calls us back to the clarity of the companions — to hear, obey, and avoid asking about the unseen beyond what Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) have conveyed. This is not anti-intellectualism; it is true submission to the All-Knowing, All-Wise.
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“The greatest sinners among the Muslims are those who asked about a thing which had not been forbidden, but it was forbidden because of their asking.” Sahih Muslim 2358c
Thought-provoking question: Are we truly seeking Allah’s pleasure when we overcomplicate His perfect deen, or are we seeking to satisfy our own intellect?
FAQs on Simplicity in Islam
Q1: Why do Salafis reject ʿIlm al-Kalām? Because it introduces foreign philosophical concepts into Islam, leading to confusion and division. The Salaf adhered to the Quran and Sunnah without speculative reasoning.
Q2: Is asking questions discouraged in Islam? No. Questions that seek guidance and clarification are encouraged. What is discouraged are speculative, unnecessary questions that were never addressed by the Sahaba.
Q3: How can a Muslim keep their deen simple? By focusing on authentic knowledge, avoiding innovations, and practicing Islam as the Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions did. Join IQS courses to learn Islam in its pure form.
References
- Qur’an 2:185 – “Allah intends for you ease…”
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3560 – ‘Aisha’s narration on ease
- Sahih Muslim 2358c – Warning against unnecessary questioning
- Statements of Imam Malik (رحمه الله) on Allah’s attributes
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