The Efforts of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in Establishing the Harmony between Sound Nature and Correct Belief

Abstract

The research focuses on the efforts of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in affirming that sound human nature (fitrah) aligns with correct creed. The study is structured into an introduction, three main sections, a conclusion, and references. The introduction discusses the concept of fitrah linguistically and technically. The first section explores how sound fitrah complements and aligns with correct creed and complements the Sharia. The second section discusses the use of sound fitrah as evidence for the Oneness of Lordship (Tawheed ar-Rububiyyah). The third section examines the use of sound fitrah in refuting the people of innovation (Ahl al-Bid'ah). Key findings include: God's fitrah, which He created humans upon, naturally leads to pure monotheism, affirming "There is no god but Allah, the Creator, the Originator, the Dominant, the Almighty, the Possessor of all sovereignty." Sound fitrah aligns with correct creed and naturally inclines towards it if left without human intervention. Ibn Taymiyyah utilized the evidence of fitrah to prove the existence of the Creator, emphasizing that this path is the straight path Allah calls people to in recognizing His existence. Ibn Taymiyyah refuted the claims of those who relied solely on rational arguments or empirical evidence without acknowledging the testimony of human fitrah. He emphasized the necessity of innate knowledge in establishing the existence of the Creator and the obligations inherent in this knowledge. All creation is born upon fitrah, and the common universal decree among beings is that people of fitrah unanimously affirm the existence of the Creator.