(NOTE:On searching internet we found that this series is among the best Aqeedah education programme Article. So we decided to post in this blog.Taken with Jazakallahu Khair from here
Book on Islamic Aqeedah?
As we came to know that there are only two sources of Islamic Aqeedah
- The Holy Quran and
- Sahih Ahadith.
So obviously the Books on Islamic Aqeedah are The Holy Quran and all the Sahih Ahadith.
Now the question arises What is the need of an
separate Aqeedah Book by any Scholar?
The Holy Quran has been sent to the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam by Allah in the period of 23 years according to the need of time, The Holy Quran is not arranged topic wise e.g Aqeedah Chapter, Jurisprudence Chapter, Chapter on Social issue, Economic issues or on manners. Almost same is the case of Ahadith collection although the major books of Hadith has chapters but still not very finely defined.
So for having comprehensive knowledge on Aqeedah it has to be collected from Quran and authentic ahadith and has to be compiled.
To fulfil this requirement of general Muslims the Scholars compiled book on Aqeedah of Islam and has made the work of Muslims easy. There are many books from Slafus Salehin Scholars Imams on Aqeedah.
Muslim should have a comprehensive knowledge of Aqeedah. To fulfill this requirement I have chosen to present Aqeedatutahawia with its English translation.
I have chosen the book of Aqeedatutahawiahwritten by Imam of
Hadith Abu Ja'far Ahmad ibn Muhammad At-Tahaawee, (843 or 853 AD Born- 935 A.D. Died In Hijri 239-321Hijri) because of following reason.
1. Aqeedatutahawia is an scholary and complete collection and explanation of Quranic Ayats and Ahadiths that are related to muslim beliefs/Aqeedah.
2. Tahawi's "Doctrine" (al-`Aqida), very comprehensive and basic text for all times, listing what a Muslim must know and believe and inwardly comprehend. It is considered a source book by all Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat scholars. There is consensus among all the leading Islamic scholar including the Muhaddethin and authoritative Scholars of four School of Jurisprudence on the doctrines enumerated in this work, which are entirely derived from the undisputed primary sources of Religion, the Holy Qur'an and the authentic Hadith.
3. Aqeedah Tahawiyyah is written for students and has been/is part of education curriculum and is one of the perfect book on Aqeedah.
4. As Aqeedah is derived from Quran and Hadith so it is very important, and it has been written by an undisputed scholar and Imam of Hadith Abu Ja'far Ahmad ibn Muhammad At-Tahaawee, (843 or 853 to 935).
5. He was the great scholar of Hadith ,has been described in these words by other greats of Islamic History.
Al-Dhahabi said in his Major History of Islam:
"He (Imam Tahawi) was the Faqeeh, the Muhaddith, the Haafidh, one of the elite personalities, and he was reliable, trustworthy, knowledgeable of fiqh and intelligent."
"He was one of the reliable, trustworthy and brilliant scholars of Hadeeth (Haafidh)."
6. He has not only explained but has also described the limit of explanation at appropriate place and has refrained and warned the muslims not to indulge in those detail that has not been considered important by Hazrat Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam and Sahaba Karam Raziallahu Anhu and Salafus Salehinscholars and Imams of earlier generation of muslims. And it is a fact that many of the muslims including some scholars have forgotten.
7. This book is accepted by the scholars of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a (sunni) of four school of Jurisprudence (Hanfi,Shafai,Maliki,Hanbali) and contemprory Scholars including Grand Mufti of Saudi Arab Shaykh Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah ibn Baaz (R.A.).
The quotation of the entire text of Tahawi's "Doctrine," which is considered as the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a, will be of benefit to the Muslims (May Allah help us) .
THE DETAIL AQEEDAH (ISLAMIC CREED) FROM
Aqeedatut Tahawi by
Imam of Hadith Abu Ja'far Ahmad ibn Muhammad At-Tahaawee.(R.A)
TAHAWI'S STATEMENT OF ISLAMIC DOCTRINE (AL-`AQIDA AL-TAHAWIYYA):
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
.
The great scholar Hujjat al-lslam Abu Ja'far al-Warraq al-Tahawi al-Misri, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
This is a presentation of the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a, according to the school of the jurists of this religion, may Allah be pleased with them all, and what they believe regarding the fundamentals of the religion and their faith in the Lord of the worlds.
نَقُولُ في تَوْحيدِ اللَّهِ مُعْتَقِدينَ، بـِتَوْفيقِ
We say about Allah's unity, believing by Allah's help that:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعالى وَاحِدٌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ،
1. Allah is One, without any partners.
وَلا شَيْءَ مِثْلُهُ،
2. There is nothing like Him.
وَلا شَيْءَ يُعْجِزُهُ،
3. There is nothing that can overwhelm Him.
وَلا إِلهَ غَيْرُهُ،
4. There is no god other than Him.
قَدِيْمٌ بـِلا ابْتِدَاءٍ، دَائِمٌ بـِلا انْتِهَاءٍ،
5. He is the Eternal without a beginning and enduring without end.
لا يَفْنَى وَلا يَبـِيدُ،
6. He will never perish or come to an end.
وَلا يَكُونُ إِلا مَا يُرِيدُ،
7. Nothing happens except what He wills.
لا تَبْلُغُهُ الأَوْهامُ، وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الأَفْهامُ،
8. No imagination can conceive of Him and no understanding can comprehend Him.
وَلا تُشْبـِهُهُ الأَنامُ
9. He is different from any created being.
حَيٌّ لا يَمُوتُ، قَيُّومٌ لا يَنامُ،
10. He is living and never dies and is eternally active and never sleeps.
خَالِقٌ بـِلا حَاجَةٍ، رَازِقٌ لَهُمْ بـِلا مُؤْنَةٍ،
11. He creates without His being in need to do so and provides for His creation without any effort.
مُمِيتٌ بـِلا مَخَافَةٍ، بَاعِثٌ بـِلا مَشَقَّةٍ.
12. He causes death with no fear and restores to life without difficulty.
مَازالَ بـِصِفَاتِهِ قَدِيماً قَبْلَ خَلْقِهِ. لَمْ يَزْدَدْ بـِكَوْنِهِمْ شَيْئاً لَمْ يَكُنْ قَبْلَهُمْ مِنْ صِفَاتِهِ، وَكَما كَانَ بـِصِفَاتِهِ أَزَلِيَّاً كَذلِكَ لا يَزَالُ عَلَيْهَا أَبَدِيَّاً.
