Many of the Muslims have been struck by the affliction of fatalism. It is well known that the Prophet (saw) in many hadeeth foretold the domination of Islam over the world, including both the East and the West. There are also many narrations speaking of the return of the Khilafah. However these narrations for some have become a source of apathy where they advise the Muslims that they should not undertake political actions in order to establish the Khilafah rather they should wait for its promised return.

We need to realise the error of this view. In order to do that a clear distinction needs to be made between Aqeedah and the Promises of Allah (swt) and the Shari’ah rules which provide the stimulus and direction for the actions of the believer.

The subject matter of the Aqeedah is the subject matter of belief and creed. This refers to how the most basic questions that human beings must answer are understood. Such as ‘what is the purpose life?’, ‘how did man appear in the universe?’ and ‘what happens after death and does life have any bearing upon it, meaning is there a relationship with this life and what is after this life?’. The answer to these questions form the belief, creed or Aqeedah of the Muslim. The primary concern of these questions is with understanding the reality of this Dunya. Hence, Muslims believe that Allah (swt) created man in order to worship Him and that He (swt) will account man in the Hereafter for every action undertaken in this life whether it was in obedience to Allah (swt), and following His guidance, or not. He (swt) sent Messengers for mankind with His guidance, which was conveyed to them through the Angels.

This Aqeedah alone does not direct any actions, albeit all actions must be based solely upon the Aqeedah. For actions Allah (swt) revealed guidance in the form of Ahkam Shari’ah. So the Islamic economic system, the Islamic ruling system as well as the way to worship Allah (swt) in the Ibadah cannot be comprehended merely through acknowledging the Aqeedah alone. Rather, Ahkam Shari’ah are needed. As a further illustration of this point, Muslims know and believe that Allah (swt) is Ar-Raaziq (the provider of sustenance). So He (swt) sustains the human beings and the animals and everything else in this universe. However this does not mean a Muslim should sit at home and wait for the sustenance (Rizq) to arrive automatically. Rather, one must follow the command of Allah (swt),