The Old Man & the Young Man: A Conversation about Belief

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is a hypothetical conversation between an old man and a young man about Muslim beliefs.  Whilst the conversation is hypothetical, it reflects our situation in the ummah. 

The old man asked, “Are you a Muslim?” 

The young man replied, “Yes, al-Hamdulillah, I am a Muslim upon the manhaj of the Salaf.  We only follow the Qur’an and the sunnah.” 

The old man said, “Very good.  I also believe that.”  The old man then asked, “Do you believe in Allah?” 

The young man replied, “Yes, al-Hamdulillah, I strongly believe in Allah.” 

The old man said, “Me too.”  The old man then asked, “Do you associate anyone in the worship of Allah?” 

The young man stated firmly, “Never!” 

The old man said, “Me too.  And do you revere the Prophet?” referring to our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). 

The young man said, “Reverence is only for Allah.” 

The old man said, “Exactly!  But you do believe in the Messenger of Allah, right?” 

The young man said, “Of course I do.  But he is only a man, and he is dead.  Allah is Alive.” 

The old man nodded and asked, “So you do not believe that Muhammad is alive in his grave?  Or any of the prophets?” 

The young man said, “No.  That is nonsense.” 

The old man asked, “Do you praise the Prophet and his family.” 

The young man said, “I only praise Allah.” 

The old man said, “I follow that as well.  And do you visit their Rawdhah?”  The Rawdhah is the maqam of the Prophet (s.a.w.) in Madina. 

The young man roared, “What Rawdhah?  That is shirk.  I only visit the mosque.” 

The old man asked, “Do you celebrate the Prophet’s birthday? 

The young man was agitated, “Never!  That is a bid’ah, and the people who do that are upon shirk!” 

The old man said, “I hate the Mawlid as well.  Do you offer al-Fatihah for the deceased Muslims?” 

The young man said, “No.” 

The old man said, “Me too.  And do you believe in the Shafa’at?” 

The young man said, “What?  No!  The Prophet was just a man Sent to deliver a message.” 

The old man said, “Me too.  He was like a postman.  And do you believe in tawaswswul?” 

The young man said, “No!  That is shirk.  We ask from Allah Alone; not from anyone.” 

The old man said, “We are the same.  I don’t believe in asking from anyone except Allah.  And I don’t believe in following anyone except Allah (s.w.t.).  Respect is not for anyone except Allah.  And that is why I refused to bow before Adam.” 

The young man was confused and asked the old man, “Who are you?” 

And the old man said, before disappearing, “I am Iblis, your friend, and you are upon my manhaj.”