INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGYAl-Aqīdah Al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah

Lecture 11-25-15

Introduction• Importance of seeking knowledge

• What is aqīdah

• About Imām Al-Taḥāwī

• About Al-Aqīdah Al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah

Opening

الرحيم الرحمن االله بسم

االله رحمه بمصر الطحاوي الوراق جعفر أبو اإلسالم حجة العالمة :قال

أبي الملة فقهاء مذهب على والجماعة السنة أهل عقيدة بيان ذكر هذاإبراهيم بن يعقوب يوسف وأبي ، الكوفي ثابت ابن النعمان حنيفة

االله رضوان ، الشيباني الحسن بن محمد االله عبد وأبي ، األنصاريعليهم

العالمي لرب به ويدينون ، الدين Aأصول من يعتقدون وما ، أجمعين

Opening

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

The Great Scholar, Proof of Islām, Abū Jaʿfar al-Warrāq al-Ṭaḥāwī said, whilst in Egypt:

This is an exposition of the beliefs of the Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jamāʿa, according to the Jurists of this religion, Abū Ḥanīfa Nuʿmān ibn Thābit al-Kūfī, Abū Yūsuf Yaʿqūb ibn Ibrāhīm al-Anṣārī and Abū ʿAbdullāh Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Shaybānī - May Allah be pleased with them all and what they believe with respect to the fundamentals of religion and have faith in regarding the Lord of the Worlds.

ONENESS OF ALLAHTawḥīd

توحيد

Oneness of Allah

معتقدين االله توحيد في قولاالله بتوفيق

We say with respect to the Oneness of Allah, believing by Allah’s assistance:

Oneness of Allah

شريك ال واحد االله إنله

Indeed Allah is One. He has no partner.

Oneness of Allah

مثله شىء والThere is nothing like Him.

Oneness of Allah

يعجزه شىء والThere is nothing that can

incapacitate Him.

Oneness of Allah

غيره إله والThere is no deity besides Him.

ATTRIBUTES OF ALLAHṢifāt

صفات

Attributes of Allah

بال دائم ابتداء بال قديمانتهاء

He is Eternal without a beginning and Everlasting without an end

Attributes of Allah

يبيد وال يفنى الHe will never perish nor cease to

exist

Attributes of Allah

يريد ما إال يكون P والNothing occurs except what He

wills

Attributes of Allah

تدركه وال األوهام تبلغه الاألفهام

Imagination cannot conceive Him nor can intellect comprehend Him

Attributes of Allah

األنام تشبهه والNor do created beings resemble

Him

Attributes of Allah

ال قيوم يموت، ال حي ينام

He is the Ever-Living who never dies and the All-Sustaining who never

sleeps

Attributes of Allah

بال رازق ، حاجة بال خالقمؤنة

He creates without any need and sustains without any effort

Attributes of Allah

بال باعث ، مخافة بال مميتمشقة

He causes death without any fear and He raises to life without any difficulty

Attributes of Allah يزدد لم خلقه قبل قديما بصفاته زال ماصفته من قبلهم يكن لم شيئا بكوهنميزال ال كذلك أزليا بصفاته كان وكما

أبديا عليهاHe has always existed together with His attributes eternally

since before His creation. The creation’s coming into existence did not cause His attributes to increase in

anything that was not there before them. As he was with His attributes Eternal so He will remain with those attributes

forever.

Attributes of Allah

وال الخالق اسم استفاد الخلق خلق بعد ليسمعنى له البارىء اسم استفاد البرية بإحداثه

وال الخالقية ومعنى مربوب وال الربوبيةمخلوق

He did not acquire the name of ‘Creator’ after creating the creation nor by bringing them into origin did he acquire the name ‘Originator.’ His was the quality of Sustention even when there was nothing to be sustained and the quality of

being Creator even when there was no creation.

Attributes of Allah

استحق أحياهم بعدما الموتى محيي أنه وكمااسم استحق كذلك إحيائهم قبل االسم هذا

إنشائهم قبل الخالقLike how He was the ‘Giver of life’ to the dead after He

brought them to life, He deserved this name even before bringing them to life. Similarly He deserved the

name ‘Creator’ even before creating them.

Attributes of Allah

شىء وكل ، قدير شىء كل على بأنه ذلكإلى يحتاج ال ، يسي عليه أمر وكل ، فقير إليه

شىء{ PصAير[ الب السمAيع[ Pه[وPو aيء Pش AهA PمAثل ك PيسP {ل

That is because He has full power over everything, everything is in need of Him, every matter is easy for Him

and He is not in need of anything.

{There is nothing like Him and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.}

Attributes of Allah

وقدر بعلمه الخلق خلقلهم وضرب أقدارا لهم

آجاالHe created the creation with His

knowledge, determined destinies for them and fixed for them life spans.

Attributes of Allah

أفعالهم من شىء عليه يخف ولمهم ما وعلم خلقهم أن قبل

يخلقهم أن قبل عاملونNothing of their actions was hidden from Him

before He created them, and He knew everything that they would do before creating them.

Attributes of Allah

عن وهناهم بطاعته وأمرهم معصيته

He enjoined on them His obedience and prohibited them from His disobedience

Attributes of Allah

، بتقديره يجري شىء وكلمشيئة ال تنفذ ومشيئته ، ومشيئته

لهم شاء فما ، لهم شاء ما إال للعباديكن لم يشأ لم وما ، كان

Everything occurs by His Decree and Will. His Will is accomplished. The slaves have no will except what He

has willed for them. What He has willed for them occurs and what He has not willed does not occur.

Attributes of Allah

ويعافي ويعصم ، يشاء من يهديويخذل يشاء من ويضل ، فضال

عدال ويبتليHe guides whomsoever He wills, and protects and grants safety (to them) out of (His) Grace; and He leads astray whomsoever He wills, and forsakes

and tries (them) out of (His) Justice.

Attributes of Allah

بين مشيئته في يتقلبون وكلهموعدله فضله

All of them waver in His Will between His Grace and His Justice.

Attributes of Allah

واألنداد األضداد عن متعال وهوHe is above having opponents or rivals.

Attributes of Allah

معقب وال ، لقضائه راد الألمره غالب وال ، لحكمه

There is none that can ward off His decree. There is none that can set back His command. There is none that can overpower His affair.

Attributes of Allah

من كال أن وأيقنا ، كله بذلك ءامناعنده

We believe in all of that and we are certain that everything is from Him.

PROPHETHOODRisālah

رسالة

Prophethood

عبده وسلم Aعليه الله صلى محمدا وأنرسوله و المجتبى، نبيه و المصطفى،

المرتضىAnd (we say) that Muhammad, may Allah bless

him and grant him peace, is His chosen Slave, His elected Prophet, and His selected Messenger

Prophethood

وإماماألتقياء، األنبياء، خا متوأنهوحبيبرب املرسلني، وسيد

ملنيالعاAnd that he is the Seal of the Prophets, the Leader of the Pious, the Chief of the Messengers and the

Beloved of the Lord of the Worlds

Prophethood

فغي نبوته بعد نبوة دعوة كل ووهوى

Every claim to Prophethood after him is false and pretence

Prophethood

وكافة اجلن عامة املبعوثإىل وهووالضياء وبالنور واهلدى باحلق الورى

He is the one who has been sent to all of jinn and mankind with truth and guidance and with light and

illumination

THE SPEECH OF ALLAHKalāmu`llah

كالمهللا

Speech of Allah jوالPق kيةAيفP ك PالA ب PدPا ب مAنه[ Aالله م[ PالP ك Pالق[رآن Aن وPإ Pون] الم[ؤمAن وPصPدقPه[ jا وPحي AهA ول س[ Pر عPلPى Pه[ ل Pنز

P وPأPعPالPى ت Aالله م[ PالP ك نه[

P أ [وا PيقPن وPأ حPقlا PكAلPذ عPلPىفPمPن . AيةAرP الب A م PالP Pك ك kخل[وقPمA ب PيسP ل AةPيقAقPالحA بوPقPد^ PرPفP ك فPقPد^ Aر PشP الب م[ PالP ك نه[

P أ PمPع PزPف مAعPه[ Pس PالPق حPيث[ PرPق PسA ب وعPدPه[

P وPأ Pه[ وPعPاب الله[ ذPمه[PعPالPى ر� ت ق� س� ل�يه� ص

أ� قPرP س� PسA ب الله[ PدPوعP أ Pما فPل

PالPق AمPن ر� ل الب�ش� ول� ق� إ�ال� ذ�ا ه� Pا إ�ن Aمن عPل PولPق Aه[ [شب ي PالPو Aر PشP الب AقA خPال قPول[ نه[

P أ PيقPنا وPأAر PشP الب

Speech of Allah

(And we say) that the Qurʾān is the word of Allāh. It came from Him as speech without (our comprehending its) form. He sent it down on His Messenger as revelation. The believers believed him and testified to that, as absolute truth. They are certain that it is the word of Allah in

reality and it is not created, as is the speech of created beings. Whoever listens to it and asserts that it is the speech of man has

committed disbelief and Allah has reproached and criticized him and threatened him with his punishment when He, Most High said, ‘I will

enter him into the Blazing Fire.’ Since Allah threatened with the blazing fire those who say ‘This is not but the speech of man’ we

know with certainty that it is the speech of the Creator of man and that the speech of man does not resemble it.

Speech of Allah

البشر معاين من وصفاهللامبعىن ومنمثل وعن اعترب، هذا أبصر فمن كفر، فقدليس بصفاته أنه وعلم انزجر، الكفار قول

كالبشرAnyone who describes Allah with any of the characteristics of human beings has committed disbelief. Whoever sees this takes lesson and refrains from statements similar to

that of the disbelievers, and knows that Allah together with His attributes, is unlike man.

THE VISIONAl-Ru`yah

الرؤية

The Vision

PمPا ك kيةAيفP ك PالPو kةPاطPحA إ AيرPغA ب Aنة Pالج AهلP Aأل oقPح Pة[ ؤي pالرPو

Pا qن ب Pر Pاب[ Aت ك AهA ب PقPطP إ�ل�ى ن ة� ر� ن�اض� ئ�ذ ي�وم� وه� و�ج�ة� ن�اظ�ر� ا ب(ه� PعPالPى ر� ت الله[ Pاد Pر

P أ مPا عPلPى ه[ ير[ AفسP وPت AيحAالصح AيثAدPالح PنAم PكAلPذ فAي PاءPج مPا pل] وPك AمPه[ وPعPل

PالPق PمPا ك Pه[وPف Pلم PسPو AيهP عPل الله[ صPلى Aالله Aس[ول Pر عPن PينA وqل

P Pأ م[ت PكA ذPل فAي Pدخ[ل[ ن Pال Pاد PرP أ مPا عPلPى Pاه[ وPمPعن

AهA دAين فAي PمA ل Pس مPا Aنه[ فPإ Pا Aن هوPائP Aأ ب PينAمqهPوP م[ت PالPو Pا Aن ائ PآرA ب

AيهP عPل الله[ صPلى AهA ول س[ PرA وPل وPجPل عPز AلهA ل Pلم Pس مPن Aال إ AهAمA عPال AلPى إ AيهP عPل PهP Pب اشت مPا PلمAع د` PرPو Pلم PسPو

The Vision

The Vision (of Allah) by the people of paradise is true, without (their vision being) encompassing and without (the) manner (of their vision being known.) As the Book of our Lord as expressed: "Faces on that

Day will be radiant, looking at their Lord.” The explanation of this is as Allah wills and knows. Every authentic report that has come down to us

about this from the Messenger of Allah ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص and his Companions (May Allah be pleased with them) is as he said and its meaning is according to what He intended. We do not delve into that interpreting it according to our opinions or imagining it according to our desires. For indeed no one is safe in his religion except he who submits (himself) to Allah, the

Exalted and Glorified and to His Messenger ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص and entrusts the knowledge of that which he finds unclear to the one who has

knowledge of it.

The Vision

ظهر على إال اإلسالم في قدم تثبت والحظر ما علم رام فمن ، واالستسالم التسليمحجبه ، فهمه بالتسليم يقنع ولم ، علمه عنه

وصافي ، التوحيد خالص عن مرامهبين فيتذبذب ، اإليمان وصحيح ، المعرفة

، والتكذيب والتصديق واإليمان الكفرال ، شاكا تائها موسوسا ، واإلنكار واإلقرار

مكذبا جاحدا وال ، مصدقا مؤمنا

The Vision

The foot of Islam cannot be firm except on the back of submission and surrender. Whoever aims to gain the knowledge of that which is beyond his capacity to know, and his intellect is not content with submission, (will find that) his aim will veil him

from pure belief in Allah's unity (Tawḥīd), clear recognition (Maʿrifa) and true faith (Īmān.) He will then waver between

disbelief and belief, confirmation and rejection and acceptance and denial. He will be subjected to insinuations and find himself

wandering, confused and full of doubt, being neither an accepting believer nor a denying rejecter.

The Vision

لمن السالم دار ألهل بالرؤية اإليمان يصح والكان إذ بفهم تأولها أو بوهم منهم اعتبرهاإلى يضاف معنى كل وتأويل الرؤية تأويل

وعليه ، التسليم ولزوم التأويل بترك الربوبيةالمسلمي دين

Belief in the vision of Allah by the people of the ‘Abode of Peace’ is not correct if a person imagines what it is like, or interprets it according to

his own understanding since the interpretation of the vision or of any of the attributes related to Lordship, is by abandoning interpretation and

adhering to submission. Upon this is the religion of the Muslims.

The Vision

يصب ولم زل والتشبيه النفي يتوق لم ومنبصفات موصوف وعال جل ربنا فإن التنزيهليس ، الفردانية بنعوت منعوت ، الوحدانية

البرية من أحد معناه فيAnyone who does not refrain from negating (the attributes of Allah) or

likening (Allah to the creation), has gone astray and has failed to understand Allah's Transcendence. This is because our Lord, the

Glorified and the Exalted, is described with the attribute of Oneness and Absolute Uniqueness and none of the creation is in any way like

Him.

The Vision

واألركان والغايات الحدود عن وتعالىالست الجهات تحويه ال ، واألدوات واألعضاء

المبتدعات كسائرHe is beyond having boundaries, limits, parts or limbs. The six directions do not contain Him like

(they contain) all created things.

THE ASCENT TO THE HEAVENS

Al-Mi’rājالمعراج

The Ascent to the Heavens

Pلم PسPو AيهP عPل الله[ صPلى qيA Aالنب ب PيAسر] أ وPقPد^ oقPح اج[ PعرAالمPو

Pاء Pش حPيث[ AلPى إ [م ث AاءPالسم AلPى إ AةPظPقP الي فAي AهAخص PشA ب PجAع[رPوPوحPى أ مPا AيهP Aل إ PوحPى وPأ Pاء Pش AمPا ب الله[ مPه[ Pكر

P وPأ Pالع[ال PنAم ا الله[ م�أ�ى ر� ا م� ؤ�اد� الف� ةA ك�ذ�ب� PرAاآلخ فAي Pلم PسPو AيهP عPل الله[ فPصPلى

[ولPى وPاألThe Miʿrāj (Ascent to the heavens) is true. The Prophet ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص was

taken by night and made to ascend in person, in a wakeful state, to the heavens and from there to whatever heights Allah willed for him. Allah ennobled him in the way that He wished and revealed to him what He revealed to him. “The heart was not mistaken about what it saw.” May

Allah bless him and grant him peace in this world and the next.

THE POOLAl-Ḥawḍالحوض

The Pool

jا غياث Aبه تعالى االله أكرمPه الذي والحوض[ aحق ألم}ته

The Ḥawḍ (Pool) which Allah has honored him (the Prophet ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص) with to quench the thirst of his community on the day of judgment, is true.

INTERCESSIONAl-Shafāʿaالشفاعة

Intercession

كما ،oحق لهم ادخرها التي والشفاعة[األخبار في وي ر[

The intercession (Shafāʿa) that Allah Taʿālā has stored up for them (i.e. the Ummah) is true, as

related in the narrations.