تَلْقِينُ أُصُولِ الْعَقِيدَةِ لِلْعَامَّةِ
Teaching the Fundamentals of Creed and Belief to the Common People
— By Shaikhul-Islām Muḥammad ibn ʿAbdul-Wahhāb – rahḥimahullāh.
In the Name of Allāh, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
إِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: مَنْ رَبُّكْ؟ فَقُلْ: رَبِّيَ اللّٰهُ
If it is said to you: ‘Who is your Lord?’ Then say: My Lord is Allāh.
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: إِيْشُ مَعْنَى الرَّبّ؟ فَقُلْ: الْمَعْبُودُ الْمَالِكُ الْمُتَصَرِّف
Then if it said to you: ‘What is the meaning of ‘ar-Rabb’ (Lord)?’ Then say: It is He Who is worshipped, the Sovereign-King, the One in control of all the affairs.
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: إِيْشُ أَكْبَرُ مَا تَرَىٰ مِنْ مَخْلُوقَاتِهِ؟ فَقُلْ: السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْض.
Then if it said to you: ‘What is the greatest thing that you can see from what He has created?’ Then say: The heavens and the earth.
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: إِيْشُ تَعْرِفُهُ بِهِ؟ فَقُلْ: أَعْرِفُهُ بِآيَاتِهِ وَمَخْلُوقَاتِهِ.
So if is said to you: ‘How do you know your Lord?’ Then say: I know Him through His Signs and through what He has created.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: إِيْشُ أَعْظَمَ مَا تَرَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِهِ؟ فَقُلْ: اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَار.
And if it is said to you: ‘What is the greatest thing that you see from His signs?’ Then say: The night and the day.
وَالدَّلِيلُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ ۗ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ﴾
And the proof of that is the Saying of Allāh (the Most High): [meaning:] “Your Lord is Allāh who created the heavens and the earth in six days, the He ascended upon the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). He causes the night to cover the day, which it follows with haste; and the sun, the moon, and the stars are subservient and subject to His command. Surely, creation and commandment are His alone. Exalted is Allāh, the Lord of all creation.” — Sūrah Al-Aʿrāf (7): 54
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: إِيْشُ مَعْنىٰ اللّٰهِ؟ فَقُلْ: مَعْنَاهُ ذُو الْأُلُوهِيَّةِ وَالْعُبُودِيَّةِ عَلَىٰ خَلْقِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ.
Then if it is said to you: ‘What is the meaning of ‘Allāh’?’ Then say: It means the One who possesses Divinity and the sole right to worship over all of His creation.
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ:لِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ اللّٰهُ خَلَقَكَ؟ فَقُلْ: لِعِبَادَتِهِ.
So if it is said to you: ‘Why did Allah create you?’ Then say: In order to worship Him.
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: أَيِّ شَيْءٍ عِبَادَتَهُ؟ فَقُلْ: تَوْحِيدُهُ وَطَاعَتُهُ.
So if it is said to you: ‘What is worship of Him?’ Then say: It is to single Him out with all worship and to obey Him.
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: أَيِّ شَيْءٍ الدَّلِيلُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ؟ فَقُلْ: قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ﴾
Then if it is said to you: ‘What is the proof for that?’ Then say: It is the Saying of Allāh (the Most High): [meaning:] “And I did not create jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (alone).” — Sūrah adh-Dhāriyāt (51): 56
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: أَيِّ شَيْءٍ أَوَّلُ مَا فَرَضَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْكَ؟ فَقُلْ:كُفْرٌ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَإِيْمَانٌ بِاللّٰهِ، وَالدَّلِيلُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾.
And if it is said to you: ‘What is the first thing that Allāh has made obligatory upon you?’ Then say: To reject all false objects of worship and to truly believe in Allāh.
The proof for this is the Saying of Allāh (the Most High): [meaning:] “No one is to be compelled to enter the Religion, true guidance has been made clear and distinct from falsehood. So whoever rejects all that is worshipped besides Allāh, and truly believes and worships Allāh alone, then He has grasped the firmest handhold that will never break, and Allāh is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” — Sūrah Al-Baqarah (2): 256
فَإِذَا قِيلَ: إِيْشُ العُرْوَةُ الوُثْقَىٰ؟ فَقُلْ: لَإِ لَٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ.
So if it is said: ‘What is the ‘firmest handhold’ (al-ʿUrwatul-Wuthqā)?’ Then say: It is ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allāh’.
وَمَعْنَىٰ (لَإِ لَٰهَ) نَفْيٌ وَ (إِلَّا اللّٰهُ) إِثْبَاتٌ.
And the meaning of ‘None has the right to be worshipped’ is negation and ‘except Allāh’ is affirmation.
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: إِيْشُ أَنْتَ نَافِي، وَإِيْشُ أَنْتَ مُثْبِت؟ فَقُلْ: نَافِي جَمِيع مَا يُعْبَدُون مِنْ دُونِ اللّٰه، وَمُثْبِت العِبَادَة اللّٰه وَحْدَه لاَ شَرِيكَ لَه.
So if it is said to you: ‘What is are you negating and what are you affirming?’ Then say: I negate everything that they worship besides Allāh, and I affirm worship for Allāh, alone, such that no partner is associated with Him.
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: إِيْشُ الدَّلِيل عَلَىٰ ذَلِكَ؟ فَقُلْ: قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ إِنَّنِي بَرَاءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ﴾، هَذَا دَلِيلُ النَّفِي. وَ دَلِيلُ الِإثْبَاتِ: ﴿إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي﴾.
So if it is said to you: ‘What is the proof for this?’ Then say: The Saying of Allāh (the Most High): [meaning:] “And remember when Ibrāhīm said to his father and his people: ‘I am totally free from everything that you worship’.” — Sūrah Az-Zukhruf (43): 26
So this is a proof for the negation; and the proof for the affirmation is: [meaning:] “Except for the One Who created me.” — Sūrah Az-Zukhruf (43): 27
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: إِيْشُ الْفَرْقُ بَيْنَ تَوْحِيدِ الرُّبُوبِيَّةِ وَتَوْحِيدِ الْأُلُوهِيَّةِ؟ فَقُلْ: تَوْحِيدُ الرُّبُوبِيَّةِ فِعْلُ الرَّبِّ، مِثْلُ: الْخَلْقِ، وَالرِّزْقِ، وَالِإحْيَاءِ، وَالْإِمَاتَةِ، وَإِنْزَالِ الْمَطَرِ وَإِنْبَاتِ النَّبَاتِ، وَتَدْبِيرِ الأُمُورِ… وَتَوْحِيدُ الأُلُوهِيَّةِ فِعْلُكَ أَيُّهَا العَبْدُ، مِثْلُ الدُّعَاءِ، وَالْخَوْفِ، وَالرَّجَاءِ، وَالتَّوَكُّلِ، وَالْإِنَابَةِ، وَالرَّغْبَةِ، وَالرَّهْبَةَِ، وَالنَّذْرِ، وَالْإِسْتِغَاثَةِ، وَغَيْرِ ذَلِك مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْعِبَادَة.
So if it is said to you: ‘What is the difference between Tawḥīd of Lordship and Tawhīd of the Worship? Then say: Tawhīd of Lordship relates to the actions of the Lord, such as His creating, giving provision, giving life and giving death, sending down the rain, causing plants to grow, and being in control of all affairs…
As for Tawhīd of Worship, then it refers to your actions, O servant (of Allāh), such as: supplication (duʿā), having reverential fear (khawf), hope and longing (ar-Rajāʾ), trust and reliance (tawakkul), turning in obedience and repentance (al-Inābah), having fervent desire (ar-Raghbah), dread (ar-Rahbah), performing vows (an-Nadhr), seeking deliverance and rescue (al-Istighāthah), and all the rest of the types of worship.
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: مَا دِينُكَ؟ فَقُلْ: دِينِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ، وَأَصْلُهُ وَقَاعِدَتُهُ أَمْرَانِ: الْأَوَّلُ: أَمْرُ بِعِبَادَةِ اللّٰهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَالتَّحْرِيضُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ، وَالمُوَالَاةُ فِيهِ، وَتَكْفِيرُ مَنْ تَرَكَهُ، وَالإِنْذَارُ عَنِ الشِّرْكِ فِي عِبَادَةِ اللّٰهِ، وَالتَّغْلِيظُ فِي ذَٰلِكَ، وَالمُعَادَاةُ فِيهِ، وَتَكْفِيرُ مَنْ فَعَلَهُ.
So if it said to you: ‘What is your Religion?’ Then say: My Religion is Islām, and its foundation and fundamental principle is two matters:
Firstly: The command to worship Allāh alone and that no partners be associated with Him, and to urge people upon that, and to form alliances for it, and to declare those who abandon it to be Unbelievers;
and (Secondly): The warning against Shirk in the worship of Allāh, and to be stern in that regard, and to have enmity because of it, and to declare those who do it to be Unbelievers.
وَهُوَ مَبْنِيٌّ عَلَىٰ خَمْسَةِ أَرْكَانٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ مَعَ الْاِسْتِطَاعَة،
And it is based upon five pillars: The testification that none has the right to be worshipped except Allāh, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, and establishment of the Prayer, and the giving of the Zakāt; and the fast of Ramaḍān, and the performing pilgrimage (Ḥajj) to the House for those who are able.
وَدَلِيلُ الشَّهَادَةِ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ ۚ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ﴾.
And the proof for the testification is the Saying of Allāh (the Most High): [meaning:] “Allāh bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Him; and likewise the Angels and the people of knowledge bear witness: He Who maintains justice, none has the right to be worshipped but Him, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” — Sūrah Āli-ʿImrān (3): 18
وَالدَّلِيلُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالىٰ: ﴿مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ﴾.
And the proof that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh is the Saying of Allāh (the Most High): [meaning:] “Muḥammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last of the Prophets.” — Sūrah al-Ahzāb (33): 40
وَالدَّلِيلُ عَلَىٰ إِخْلَاصِ العِبَادَةِ، وَالصَّلاَةِ، وَالزَّكَاةِ: قَوْلُهُ تَعَالىٰ: ﴿وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ﴾.
And the proof for making all worship purely and sincerely for Allāh, and for the Prayer and the Zakāt is the Saying of Allāh (the Most High): [meaning:] “And they were not commanded except that they should worship Allāh alone, making their worship and obedience purely for Him, upon the true Religion, and free from shirk; and that they should establish the Prayer and pay the Zakāt, and that is the straight and true Religion.” — Sūrah al-Bayyinah (98): 5
وَالدَّلِيلُ الصَّوْمِ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالىٰ: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾.
And the proof for the Fasting is the Saying of Allāh (the Most High): [meaning:] “O you who believe, Fasting is prescribed as an obligation for you, as it was prescribed as an obligation for those who came before you, so that you may become people who fear Allāh and keep their duty to Him.” — Sūrah al-Baqarah (2): 183
وَالدَّلِيلُ الحَجِّ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالىٰ: ﴿ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ﴾.
And the proof for the Pilgrimage (Ḥajj) is the Saying of Allāh (the Most Hgh): [meaning:] “Making Ḥajj to Allāh’s sacred House (at Makkah) is an obligation upon those able to perform it; and whoever refuses and rejects this, then Allāh has no need of him, or of any of the creation.” — Sūrah Āli-ʿImrān (3): 97
وَأَصُولُ الإِيمَانِ سِتَّةٌ: أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ، وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ، وَكُتُبِهِ، وَرُسُلِهِ، وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ، وَبِالْقَدْرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ.
And the fundamentals of Īmān (true Faith) are six: That you truly believe in Allāh, and in His Angels, and in His Books, and in His Messengers, and in the Last Day, and in the Pre-Decree (al-Qadr) — the good and the bad of it.
وَالْإِحْسَانُ: أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهِ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ.
And perfection of worship (al-Ihsān) is that you worship Allāh as if you were seeing Him, and even though you do not see Him, yet certainly He sees you.
فَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكَ: مَنْ نَبِيُّكَ؟ فَقُلْ: مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ بْنُ هَاشِمِ، وَهَاشِمٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ، وَقُرَيْشٌ مِنَ العَرَبِ، وَالعَرَبُ ذُرِّيَّةِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْخَلِيلِ – عَلَىٰ نَبِيِّنَا وَعَلَيْهِ أَفْضَلُ الصَّلَةُ وَالسَّلَمُ.
So if it is said to you: ‘Who is your Prophet?’ Then say: He is Muhammad, the son of ʿAbdullāh – the son of ʿAbdul-Muttalib, the son of Hāshim; and Hāshim was from Quraish; and Quraish are from the Arabs; and the Arabs are from the offspring of Ismāʿīl, the son of Ibrāhīm – the chosen beloved one (of Allāh) – may the most excellent blessings and peace be upon our Prophet and him.
بَلَدُهُ مَكَّةُ، وَهَاجَر إِلَىٰ الْمَدِينَةِ، وَعُمْرُهُ ثَلَاثٌ وَسِتُّونَ سَنَة: مِنْهَا أَرْبَعُونَ قَبْلَ النُّبُوَّةِ، وَثَلَاثٌ وَعِشْرُونَ نَبِيًّا رَسُولًا، نُبِّئَ بِاقْرَأْ وَأُرْسِلَ بِالْمُدَّثِّرِ.
Our Prophet came from Makkah, and he migrated to al-Madīnah. He lived for sixty-three years: forty years before Prophethood, and twenty-three as a Prophet and Messenger.
He was sent as a Prophet by the Revelation of ‘Iqrāʾ’ and as a Messenger with ‘al-Muddaththir’.
فَإِذَا قِيلَ: هُوَ مَاتَ أَوْ مَا مَاتَ؟ فَقُلْ: مَاتَ وَدِينُهُ مَا مَاتَ وَلَنْ يَمُوتَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ.
Then if it is said: ‘Did he die, or not?’ Then say: He died; but his Religion did not die, nor will it die out, right until the Day of Resurrection.
وَالدَّلِيلُ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ﴾.
The proof is the Saying of Allāh (the Most High): [meaning:] “O Muḥammad (ﷺ), you will soon die, and your people – those who deny you and those who believe – will die. Then on the day of Resurrection you will all dispute before your Lord, until everyone oppressed recieves their right from the oppressor, and Judgement is established between them in truth.” — Sūrah az-Zumar (39): 30-31
وَهَلِ النَّاسُ إِذَا مَاتُوا يُبْعَثُونَ؟ فَقُلْ: نَعَم؛ وَالدَّلِيلُ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿مِنْهَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمْ وَمِنْهَا نُخْرِجُكُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَىٰ﴾.
And (if it is said): ‘When the people have died, will they be raised to life again?’ Then say: Yes; and the proof is the Saying of Allāh (the Most High): [meaning:] “From the earth We created you, O mankind, and to it We shall return you after death, and from it We shall raise you to life yet again.” — Sūrah Tā Hā (20): 55
وَالَّذِي يُنْكِرُ البَعْثَ كَافِرٌ، وَالدَّلِيلُ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿زَعَمَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَن لَّن يُبْعَثُوا ۚ قُلْ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّي لَتُبْعَثُنَّ ثُمَّ لَتُنَبَّؤُنَّ بِمَا عَمِلْتُمْ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ﴾.
Whoever denies the Resurrection is an Unbeliever, and the proof is the Saying of Allāh (the Most High): [meaning:] “The Unbelievers claim that Allāh will not resurrect them after death. Say to them, O Muḥammad (ﷺ): ‘By my Lord, you will certainly be resurrected from you graves, and then you will be informed of the deeds which you did in the world. That is easy for Allāh.” — Sūrah at-Taghābun (64): 7
وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيمًا كَثِيرًا.
And may Allāh extol and send plentiful blessings of peace upon Muḥammad, and his family and true followers, and his Companions.
Translated by Abū Ṭalḥah Dāwud Burbank.
