Al-Aqidah Al-Wasitiyyah – Chapter 1: The Foundation of Belief in Allah
Chapter 1 of Al-Aqidah Al-Wasitiyyah covers the foundation of Islamic belief: belief in Allah, His Lordship, and the beginning of the creed that represents the middle path.
Al-Aqidah Al-Wasitiyyah – Chapter 1: The Foundation of Belief in Allah
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The Opening of the Creed
Ibn Taymiyyah begins his treatise with the foundational principles of Islamic belief. This chapter establishes the basis upon which all other aspects of Aqeedah are built.
The Text
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا
All praise is due to Allah, Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, and sufficient is Allah as Witness.
وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيمًا
And I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, may Allah send prayers and peace upon him and upon his family and companions.
The Creed of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَهَذِهِ عَقِيدَةُ أَهْلِ السُّنَّةِ وَالْجَمَاعَةِ الَّتِي هِيَ الْعَقِيدَةُ الْوَسِيطَةُ بَيْنَ الْفِرَقِ، كَمَا أَنَّ أُمَّتَهُمْ وَسَطٌ بَيْنَ الْفِرَقِ
As for what follows, this is the creed of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, which is the middle creed between the sects, just as their Ummah is the middle between the sects.
فَهُمْ وَسَطٌ فِي بَابِ صِفَاتِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى بَيْنَ الْجَهْمِيَّةِ وَالْمُعَطِّلَةِ الَّذِينَ يَحَارِبُونَ صِفَاتِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَيُعَطِّلُونَ أَسْمَاءَهُ وَصِفَاتِهِ وَيَجْعَلُونَهَا مِنْ جِنْسِ صِفَاتِ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ، وَبَيْنَ الْمُشَبِّهَةِ وَالْمُجَسِّمَةِ الَّذِينَ يَجْعَلُونَهَا مِنْ جِنْسِ صِفَاتِ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ
So they are the middle in the matter of Allah’s attributes between the Jahmiyyah and Mu’attilah who wage war against Allah’s attributes and nullify His names and attributes and make them of the same type as the attributes of created beings, and between the Mushabbihah and Mujassimah who make them of the same type as the attributes of created beings.
Quranic Evidence
1. The Opening Verse
“All praise is due to Allah, Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, and sufficient is Allah as Witness.” (Quran 48:28)
2. The Foundation of Belief
“Say: He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.” (Quran 112:1-4)
3. Allah’s Lordship
“Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne.” (Quran 7:54)
The Middle Path in Allah’s Attributes
وَهُمْ وَسَطٌ فِي بَابِ الْقَدَرِ بَيْنَ الْقَدَرِيَّةِ وَالْجَبْرِيَّةِ، وَوَسَطٌ فِي بَابِ الْوَعِيدِ بَيْنَ الْوَعِيدِيَّةِ وَالْمُرْجِئَةِ، وَوَسَطٌ فِي بَابِ أَسْمَاءِ الْإِيمَانِ وَالدِّينِ بَيْنَ الْحَرُورِيَّةِ وَالْمُعْتَزِلَةِ وَبَيْنَ الْمُرْجِئَةِ وَالْجَهْمِيَّةِ
And they are the middle in the matter of divine decree between the Qadariyyah and Jabriyyah, and the middle in the matter of divine threat between the Wa’idiyyah and Murji’ah, and the middle in the matter of the names of faith and religion between the Haruriyyah and Mu’tazilah and between the Murji’ah and Jahmiyyah.
The Status of the Companions
وَهُمْ وَسَطٌ فِي بَابِ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَيْنَ الْغَالِي فِيهِمْ وَالْجَافِي عَنْهُمْ، وَيُوَالُونَ لِكُلِّ مَنْ وَالَى اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُعَادُونَ لِكُلِّ مَنْ عَادَى اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ
And they are the middle in the matter of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) between the extremist regarding them and the one who is cold towards them, and they show loyalty to everyone who shows loyalty to Allah and His Messenger and show enmity to everyone who shows enmity to Allah and His Messenger.
Hadith Evidence
1. The Prophet’s (ﷺ) Declaration
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst of matters are those that are newly invented, and every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.” (Muslim)
2. The Foundation of Islam
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Islam is built upon five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving zakah, making pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadan.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Explanation
1. The Basmalah (Bismillah)
- Purpose: Every important matter should begin with the name of Allah
- Meaning: Seeking Allah’s help and blessing in the endeavor
- Significance: Acknowledging that all success comes from Allah alone
2. Al-Hamd (Praise)
- Definition: Praise and gratitude to Allah for His perfect attributes and actions
- Scope: All praise belongs to Allah alone, as He is the source of all good
- Practice: Muslims should constantly praise Allah in their daily lives
3. The Messenger and Guidance
- Role of the Prophet: Sent with guidance and the true religion
- The Religion of Truth: Islam is the complete and perfect religion
- Manifestation: Allah will make Islam prevail over all other religions
4. Allah as Witness
- Meaning: Allah is sufficient as a witness to the truth of this message
- Implication: No other witness is needed when Allah Himself testifies
- Comfort: This gives believers confidence in their faith
Key Principles Established
1. Tauhid ar-Rububiyyah (Lordship)
- Definition: Belief in Allah as the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Controller of all existence
- Evidence: The creation of heavens and earth, the establishment of the Throne
- Implication: All power and control belong to Allah alone
2. Tauhid al-Uluhiyyah (Worship)
- Definition: Directing all acts of worship to Allah alone
- Evidence: The testimony “La ilaha illa Allah” (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah)
- Practice: All prayers, supplications, and acts of worship must be for Allah alone
3. Tauhid al-Asma wa Sifat (Names and Attributes)
- Definition: Believing in Allah’s names and attributes as He has described Himself
- Principle: Affirming what Allah has affirmed and negating what He has negated
- Method: Without distortion, negation, or anthropomorphism
Practical Applications
1. Daily Remembrance
- Begin every important task with “Bismillah”
- Constantly praise Allah throughout the day
- Remember Allah’s lordship in all situations
2. Worship
- Direct all acts of worship to Allah alone
- Follow the guidance of the Prophet (ﷺ) in worship
- Avoid innovations and newly invented matters
3. Trust and Reliance
- Trust in Allah’s promise to make Islam prevail
- Rely on Allah as the sufficient witness and helper
- Have confidence in the truth of Islamic teachings
Common Misunderstandings
1. The Role of the Prophet
- Misunderstanding: Some think the Prophet (ﷺ) has divine attributes
- Correction: He is a human messenger, not divine
- Evidence: “Say: I am only a man like you” (Quran 18:110)
2. Allah’s Attributes
- Misunderstanding: Some deny Allah’s attributes completely
- Correction: We affirm what Allah has affirmed about Himself
- Principle: Without asking “how” or likening to creation
3. The Middle Path
- Misunderstanding: Some think we can compromise on core beliefs
- Correction: The middle path means avoiding extremes, not compromising truth
- Application: Affirm truth while avoiding excess and negligence
Benefits of This Foundation
- Clear Understanding: Provides a solid foundation for all other beliefs
- Protection from Deviation: Guards against various forms of shirk and innovation
- Unity: Unites Muslims around core principles
- Guidance: Provides clear guidance for daily life
- Confidence: Gives believers confidence in their faith
Conclusion
This opening chapter establishes the fundamental principles of Islamic belief. It teaches us to:
- Begin everything with Allah’s name
- Praise Allah constantly
- Believe in His messengers and guidance
- Trust in Allah’s promises
- Follow the middle path in all matters
The foundation laid here will support all subsequent chapters and provide the framework for understanding the complete Islamic creed.
Next: Chapter 2 – The Names and Attributes of Allah
“Allah - there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.” (Quran 20:8)
May Allah guide us to the correct understanding of His attributes and protect us from all forms of deviation. Ameen.