What the Difference between Manhaj and Aqeedah

Our Noble Sheikh Yahya Ibn Alee AlHajooree was asked

Question:What is Manhaj (methodology)? And what is the difference between Manhaj and Aqeedah (creed) ?

Answer:Allah the Great and Allmighty says {Follow what has been sent down to you from your lord and follow not any Awliyaa, little do you remember}[Al A'raaf:3] and he the most high says {So mankind should have no plea against Allah after the coming of Messengers}[Nisaa:165] and he the most high says {And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been clearly shown to him, and follows other than the believers way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in hell, what an evil destination}[Nisaa:115], and the proofs in regards to this subject are many, all of them being proof for following the book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger, and the book of Allah and the Sunnah on the understanding of the Salaf As-Saalih is the Creed of Ahlul Sunnah and is the Methodology of Ahlul Sunnah, so Creed, Methodology, Ettiquettes, Dealings, Association for the people of the truth and Disassociation of the people of falsehood all are taken from the book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger, and the best book in Aqeedah (creed) is the book of Allah and the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger there is not a proof in them (the book and the sunnah) except that its supports and backs up the Manhaj of Ahlul Sunnah and the Aqeedah of Ahlul Sunnah and it refutes and invalidates falsehood and its peoplefrom those who deviated whose feet stumbled (fell into error) and those whose understanding became reckless and erroneous from the possessors of Ahwaa (desires and innovations), so yes! Verliy the Aqeedah and Manhaj of the book of Allah and the Sunnah of his messenger the path in which the Salaf As-Saalih from the companions and those that came after them treaded is one, and to seperate them (Aqeedah and Manhaj) is a mistake, so Aqeedah is that which the Salaf gave attention to and named there books As-Sunnah meaning the by this the Aqeedah of Ahlul Sunnah and they also them AlAqeedah: like AlAqeedatul Waasitiyah and AlAqeedatu Tahaawiyah and Aqeedatu Salaf, and you find them bringing in these books verses and ahadeeth and athaar in refutation of the possessors of innovation and they call this Aqeedah, and Allah ordered us with two things to follow the Book and the Sunnah on the understanding of the Salaf, Allah says {And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been clearly shown to him and follows a path other than the path of the believers, we shall keep him in the path he has chosen,and burn him the hell, what an evil destination}[Nisaa:115] and Allah says {It is he who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make superior over all religions even if the polytheists detest it}[Tawbah:33] and the prophet said ((I have not been sent except to complete the most pious of ettitquettes)) and hudaa: is the Book of Allah and Sunnah on the understanding of the Salaf As-Saalih may Allah be pleased with them, so this is the correct Aqeedah and the correct Manhaj that the Salaf treaded upon without seperating between them (Aqeedah and Manhaj) and there is no proof in the Book nor the Sunnah for such seperation.

Kanzul Thameen page 163 of Volume 1

Translated by the brother Umar Abu Shui'ayb