Dividing the religion into basic matters (usool) and minor issues (furoo’)

Praise be to Allah.

The basic matters (usool) of religion are not purely theoretical, and there is no separation between belief and practice in Islam. There is nothing in the Qur’aan or the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to suggest that the basic matters have to do only with beliefs and that the minor issues have to do only with practice. This separation originated with the Mu’tazilah, who are the ones who separated the basic matters and minor principles in this manner.