by Sheikh al-Islam Mohammad bin Sulaiman at-Tamimi
Arranged in question-and-answer form by Sheikh Mohammad at-Tayeb al-Ansari al-Madani
Translated by Fadi N. Sibai
The Usul al-Din — the fundamentals of the religion — have been the concern of Islamic scholarship from its earliest centuries. This text presents those fundamentals in the classical catechetical form: each doctrine stated as a question, each answer grounded in a Quranic verse or hadith. The method is that of the great schools of theology (kalam): nothing asserted without proof, every proof traced to its source.
Sheikh Mohammad bin Sulaiman at-Tamimi (18th century, Arabian peninsula) wrote the original Arabic text as a foundational statement of Sunni Islamic belief — covering Tawheed (absolute divine unity), Shirk (the association of partners with God), the nature of worship, the categories of prophetic knowledge, the obligations of the Muslim, and the meaning of the two testimonies of faith. The arrangement in Q&A form is attributed to Sheikh Mohammad at-Tayeb al-Ansari al-Madani.
This English translation was made by Fadi N. Sibai of the University of Akron and posted to soc.religion.islam on 31 May 1991, with the explicit note that "there is no copyright on this book." It represents one of the earliest distributions of this classical text in English via digital network.
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
This is a translation of the book Usul Ad-Din Al-Islami (Fundamentals of the Islamic Religion). The translation of the title is literal: there is no such a thing as an Islamic religion by itself, because Islam is a way and system of life encompassing religion and other aspects of life.
Notes: The translator's notes appear in brackets []. Below, "proof" may be replaced by "reference(s) in the Quran and Hadith." References in the form i:j refer to Surat (Chapter) i and Ayat (Verse) j of the Holy Quran. Quranic verses are rendered in italic blockquotes.
Q: What are the four things that human beings must learn?
A: 1) Knowledge, i.e. knowledge of Allah[the only Creator, God and Lord], knowledge of his prophet [Mohammad (PBUH)] , and knowledge of Islam with proofs [in arabic, plural of Daleel which can be translated into reference or proof]; 2) Applying/using this knowledge [al-amal bi haza deen]; 3) Inviting people to it [Da'wah]; and 4) Being patient at what hurts people from it.
Q: What's the proof for that?
A: Allah (SWT: Subhanahu Wa Taala [i.e. far away and way above is Allah from the things which he did not describe himself/or relate to himself])'s words in Surat 103
By the time,
Verily Man is in loss,
Except such as have Faith,
And do righteous deeds,
And (join together)
In the mutual enjoining
Of Truth, and of
Patience and Constancy.
Q: What did Imam As-Shafi'i say about this Surat [Chapter of the Holy Quran]?
A: Imam As-Shafi'i (Rahimahullah) said: "If Allah (SWT) only descended this Surat on mankind, this Surah would have been sufficient." [sufficient in that this Surat summarizes very concisely the essence of the message which includes the fact that success (antonym of loss) is achieved through Faith in Allah, the Creator, doing good, enjoining Truth, and acquiring/training oneself to master/gain patience]
Q: What comes first: i) Speaking of [al-qawl] and working according [al-amal bi] this knowledge [al-ilm]; or ii) acquiring the knowledge before al-qawl and al-amal?
A: Acquiring the knowledge comes first. The proof is Allah (SWT)'s words in 47:19
Know, therefore that
There is no god
But Allah, and ask
Forgiveness for thy fault,
And for the men
And women who believe:
For Allah knows how ye
Move about and how
Ye dwell in your homes.
So Allah (SWT) mentioned knowledge (al-ilm) before al-qawl (speaking of it) al-amal (working with it). This is Al-Bukhari's (rahimahullah) explanation.
Q: What are the three things that must be learnt and applied (al-amal biha)?
A: 1) Allah (SWT) has created us and blessed us with His bounties and did not leave/neglect us, but He (SWT) sent us a prophet (PBUH) whoever obeys him will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys him will enter HellFire.
Q: What's the proof for that?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 73:15-16
We have sent to you,
(O men!) a Messenger,
To be a witness concerning you,
Even as We sent
A messenger to Pharaoh.
But Pharaoh disobeyed
The messenger; so We
Seized him with
A heavy Punishment.
- Allah (SWT) is not pleased with any of His creatures who associate other gods/partners with Him, or even associate a "close" Angel or a messenger with Him. [subanallah amma yasifoon]
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 72:18
And the places of worship
Are for Allah (alone):
So invoke not any one
Along with Allah.
- It is not permissible for whoever obeys the Messenger (PBUH) and worships/believes in Allah(and only Him) to be a companion/ally [Muwalat] of whoever opposes Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (PBUH), even if the two persons are relatives [or like/love each other].
Q: What's the proof?
Q: Allah (SWT)'s words in 58:22
Thou wilt not find
Any people who believe
In Allah and the Last Day,
Loving those who oppose
Allah and His Messenger,
Even though they were
Their fathers or their sons,
Or their brothers, or
Their kindred. For such
He has written Faith
In their hearts, and strengthened
Them with a spirit
From Himself ...
Q: What is Al-Haneefiyah, the religion [millat] of Ibrahim (PBUH) [Abraham]?
A: It is to worship Allah only with a TOTAL worship. It is like this that Allah (SWT) commanded people to worship Him, and He created them for that reason.
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 51:56
I have only created
Jinns and Human Beings that
That they may serve Me.
Q: What does "serve Me" [or "worship Me"] mean?
A: That is Jinns and Human Beings worship Allah (SWT) only without associating partners with Him, and Allah (SWT) commands them, and Allah (SWT) forbids them.
Q: What is the greatest thing that Allah (SWT) has commanded?
A: It is At-Tawheed [monotheism].
Q: What is At-Tawheed?
A: It is to exclude but Allah from worship, and to take(and believe in) His self-made descriptions the way He described Himself, and described His messenger, and excluding Him from imperfections [naqa'es] and resemblance to His creatures.
Q: What is the greatest thing that Allah (SWT) has forbidden?
A: It is As-Shirk [associating partners with Him - multitheism].
Q: What does As-Shirk mean?
A: It is to pray for other than Allah and to Him, and to set up a rival for Allah (SWT) even though Allah (SWT) created us [and not the rival].
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 4:36
Serve Allah, and join not
Any partners with Him; ...
and in 2:22
... Then set not up rivals unto Allah ...
Q: What are the three basic fundamentals that humans must know?
A: The servant's knowledge of his Rab [Lord] , his religion, and his prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Q: What is your Rab ?
A: My Rab [Lord] is Allah (SWT) who raised me up as He raised up every Jinn and Human Being with his bounty, and He is whom I worship, and I do not worship anyone/anything but Him.
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 1:2
Praise be to Allah
The Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds
Q: By what do you recognize your Rab?
A: I recognize Him by his Ayats and His creatures, Night, Day, the Sun,the Moon, the seven Heavens and the seven Ardoon's, and whomever is in them and in what separates them.
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 41:37
Among His signs are
The Night and the Day,
And the Sun and the Moon.
Prostrate not to the sun
And the moon, but prostrate to
Allah, Who created them,
If it is Him ye wish
To serve.
and in 7:54
Your Guardian Lord
Is Allah, Who created
The heavens and the earth
In six Days, then He
Settled Himself on the Throne:
He draweth
The night as a veil
O'er the day, each seeking
The other in rapid succession:
And the sun,
The moon, and the stars,
(All) are subserviant
By His Command.
Verily, His are the
Creation and the Command
Blessed be Allah, the Cherisher
And Sustainer of the Worlds!
Q: What is the Rab ["Guardian Lord" in the above ayat] ?
A: The Rab is the Master, Owner, Creator from nothing to existence, and He is worthy of worship.
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 2:21-22
O ye people!
Worship your Guardian Lord,
Who created you
And those who came before you
That ye may become righteous,
Who has made the earth your couch,
And the heavens your canopy;
And sent down rain from the heavens;
And brought forth therewith
Fruits for your sustenance;
Then set not up rivals unto Allah
When ye know (the truth).
So the Creator of all those things is the One worthy of Ibadat[worship].
Q: What is Ibadat [worship]?
A: Ibadat is the utmost submission and humbleness, and utmost love. In other words, it is a word which combines everything that Allah (SWT) loves and everything that pleases Him from manifested and unmanifested deeds.
Q: How many types of Ibadat did Allah ordain?
A: They are a lot and they include Islam [submission and peace], Iman [Faith and belief], Ihsan [defined later], Dua'a [supplication], Khawf [Fear], Raja'a [Hope or expectation to enter Paradise], Tawakkol [trust and belief in Allah's control of one's destiny], Raghbah [Desire of Paradise], Rahbah [Terror from entering HellFire], Khushu'u [humble submission to a fear-inspiring and mighty Master], Khashyat [Fear], Inabah [trust in the AlMighty to act upon], Istia'zat [supplication for help in general and for the protection from an evil in particular] , Istighasat [supplication for salvation/help], Zabh [sacrifice/ slaughter of animals or other creatures], Nazr [vow/promise to do something in the future if Allah saves the moment], and other Ibadats [forms of worship] that Allah (SWT) ordained, all being related [i.e. performed] to Allah (SWT).
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 72:18
And the places of worship
Are for Allah (alone):
So invoke not any one
Along with Allah;
and in 17:23
Thy Lord hath decreed
That ye worship none but Him,
And that ye be kind
To parents ...
Q: What is the hikm [sentence] of whomever performs one or more of these Ibadats to someone/something else than Allah (SWT)?
A: Whoever performs Ibadat to someone else than Allah (SWT) is a mushrek [associator of partners with Allah] and a kafer [non-believer] even if he/she did pray, fast, perform Haj [pilgrimage], and claim that he/she is a muslim.
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 23:117
If anyone invokes, besides Allah,
Any other god, he has
No authority thereof;
And his reckoning will be
Only with His Lord!
And verily the unbelievers
Shall not prosper.
Q: What's the proof for Dua'a [supplication] is a Ibadat?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 40:60
And your Lord says:
"Call on Me; I
Will answer your (Prayer):
But those who are
Too arrogant to serve Me
Will surely enter Hell
Abased."
and the Hadith [saying of prophet Mohammad (PBUH)]: "Dua'a is the brain of Ibadat," and in another report [rewayat] "Dua'a is Ibadat."
Q: What's the proof for Khawf [Fear] is a Ibadat?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 3:175
... Be ye not afraid
Of them, but fear Me,
If ye have Faith.
Q: What's the proof for Raja'a is a Ibadat?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 18:110
... whoever expects [yarjoo - this verb is derived from Raja'a]
To meet his Lord, let him
Work righteousness, and,
In the worship of his Lord,
Admit no one as partner.
Q: What's the proof for Tawakkol is a Ibadat?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 5:23
...
But on Allah put your trust [Tawakkol]
If ye have Faith
Q: What's the proof for Raghbah, Rahbah, and Khushu'u are Ibadat's?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 21:90
... These
Were ever quick in doing
In good works: they used
To call on Us in yearning [Raghaban - derived from Raghbah]
and awe [Rahaban - derived from Rahbah]
And humble [Khashe'in - derived from Khushu'u] themselves
Before Us.
Q: What's the proof for Khashyat [Fear] is a Ibadat?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 5:3
...
Yet fear them not
But fear Me.
...
Q: What's the proof for Inabah is a Ibadat?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 39:54
Turn ye [Translation of Inabah] to your Lord
(In repentance) and submit
To Him ...
Q: What's the proof for Istia'nat is a Ibadat?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 1:5
Thee do we worship,
And Thine aid [translation of Istia'nat] we seek
and in the Hadith:"If you seek aid, seek aid of Allah."
Q: What's the proof for Istia'zat is a Ibadat?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 114:1-2
Say: I seek refuge
With the Lord
And Cherisher of Mankind,
The King (or Ruler)
Of Mankind,
Q: What's the proof for Istigha'sat is a Ibadat?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 8:9
Remember ye implored
The assistance [translation of Istigha'sat] of your Lord,
And He answered you:
"I will assist you
With a thousand of the angels,
Ranks on ranks."
Q: What's the proof for Zabh is a Ibadat?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 6:162
Say: "Truly, my prayer
And my service of sacrifice [translation of Zabh],
My life and my death,
Are (all) for Allah,
The Cherisher of the Worlds
and from the Sunnah, the words of the Prophet (PBUH): "Allah damns whoever performs Zabh to someone else than Him."
Q: What's the proof for Nazr is a Ibadat?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 76:7
They perfom (their) vows [translation of Nazr],
And they fear a Day
Whose evil flies far and wide.
Q: What is the second [out of the three] basic fundamental ?
A: Knowing the religion of Islam with proofs [i.e. being able to support your knowledge with references from the Holy Book and the Hadith].
Q: What is the religion of Islam?
A: It is submission to Allah by worshipping Him alone, and showing obedience to Him, and turning away [bara'ah] from Shirk [association of partners with Allah (SWT)] and its variations.
Q: How many levels [Marateb] does the religion of Islam have?
A: Three levels: Islam, Iman [Faith], and Ihsan [to be defined later], and each has pillars [Arkan].
Q: What are the pillars [arkan] of Islam?
A: They are five pillars: 1) Bearing witness that there is no god but Allah [la ilaha illallah] and that Mohammad (PBUH) is His messenger; 2) performing Salat [prayer] ; 3) paying Zakat [giving charity - the literal translation is purification]; 4) fasting the holy month of Ramadan; and 5)Performing Haj [pilgrimage to Makkah].
Q: What's the proof for la ilaha illallah [bearing witness that there is no god but Allah] ?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 3:18
There is no god but He:
That is the witness of Allah,
His angels, and those endued
With knowledge, standing firm
On justice. There is no god but He
The Exalted in Power,
The Wise.
Q: What does "la ilaha illallah" [There is no god but Allah] mean ?
A: It means that no none deserves worship but Allah (SWT) alone.
Q: What does "la ilaha" [There is no god - in "la ilaha illallah] mean ?
A: It means the negation/exclusion of every one/thing that people did/do worship [such as stones, animals , people, planets ...] except Allah (SWT).
Q: What does "illallah" mean ?
A: It means the affirmation of worshipping Allah (SWT) only without associating any partners in the worship, and also the affirmation that He has no partners in His Possessions [Heavens, Humans, Earth ...]
Q: What is the explanation/proof that clarifies the meaning of "illallah"?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 43:26-28
Behold ! Abraham said
To his father and his people:
"I do indeed clear myself
Of what ye worship:
(I worship) only Him [translation of illallah]
Who originated me, and He
Will certainly guide me."
And he left it
As a Word
To endure among those
Who came after him,
That they may turn back
(To Allah).
and His words in 3:64
Say: "O people
Of the Book! come
To common terms
As between us and you:
That we worship
None but Allah; [translation of illallah]
That we associate
No partners with Him;
That we erect not,
From among ourselves,
Lords and patrons
Other than Allah."
If then they turn back,
Say ye: "Bear witness
That we (at least)
Are Muslims (bowing
To Allah's Will)."
Q: What's the proof for the bearing witness that Mohammad (PBUH) is the messenger of Allah (SWT)?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 9:128
Now hath come into ye
A Messenger from amongst
Yourselves: it grieves him
That ye should suffer,
Ardently anxious is he
Over you: to the Believers
Is the most kind and merciful.
and His words in 48:29
Mohammad is the Messenger
Of Allah; and those who are
With him are strong
Against Unbelievers, (but)
Compassionate amongst each other ...
Q: What does "bearing witness that Mohammad (PBUH) is the messenger of Allah" mean?
A: It means obeying his commands, and believing in what he told [Hadith] and avoiding what he forbade and what angered him, and worshipping Allah in the way that /was made legal/demonstrated by Allah's messenger.
Q: What are the proofs for Salat [prayer] and Zakat [charity-purification] and explanation of Tawheed [monotheism]?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 98:5
And they have been commanded
No more than this:
To worship Allah, [this inherently implies Tawheed]
Offering Him sincere devotion,
Being True (in faith);
To establish regular prayer; [translation of Salat]
And to give Zakat;
And that is the Religion
Right and Straight.
Q: What's the proof for Siam [fasting]?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 2:183
O ye who believe!
Fasting is prescribed to you
As it was prescribed
To those before you,
That ye may (learn)
Self-restraint.
Q: What's the proof for Haj [pilgrimage]?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 3:97
In it are signs
Manifest;
The Station of Abraham;
Whoever enters it
Attains security;
Pilgrimage thereto is a duty
Men owe to Allah,-
Those who can afford
The journey; but if any
Deny faith, Allah stands not
In need of any of His creatures.
Q: What's the second level of the religion of Islam?
A: It is Iman [faith].
Q: How many grades of Iman are there?
A: A little more than 70 grades, the highest of which is saying "la ilaha illallah" [There is no god but Allah] and the lowest of which is putting away from the streets what hurts people [such as stones, weeds, trash ...]. Shyness/Modesty [Haya'a] is a branch of Iman.
Q: How many pillars [arkan] does Iman have?
A: Six pillars, and they are: to believe in 1) Allah; 2) His Angels; 3) His Books [The Quran, The Ingeel/Bible,The Torah...]; 4) His Messengers; 5) the Last Day (of Judgement); and 6) Qadar [what Allah planned/"measured" / destiny] including its good and its bad [if it is bad it is because of oneself and not because of Allah (SWT)].
Q: What' s the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 2:177
It is not righteousness
That ye turn your faces
Towards or West;
But it is righteousness-
To believe in Allah
And the Last Day,
And the Angels,
And the Book,
And the Messengers ; ...
Q: What's the proof for Qadar?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 54:49
Verily, all things
Have We created
In proportion and measure [translation of Qadar].
Q: What's the third level [of the 3 levels] of the religion of Islam?
A: It is Ihsan and it has one pillar.
Q: What is Ihsan?
A: It is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, to worship Him with the realization that He sees you.
Q: What' s the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 16:128
For Allah is with those
Who restrain themselves,
And those who do good [translation of Ihsan].
and His words in 26:217-220
And put thy trust
On the Exalted in Might,
The Merciful,-
Who seeth thee standing
Forth (in prayer),
And thy movements among
Those who prostrate themselves.
For it is He
Who heareth and knoweth
All things.
and His words in 10:61
In whatever business thou
Mayest be, and whatever portion
Thou mayest be reciting
From the Quran, - and whatever
Deed ye (mankind) may be doing,-
We are Witnesses thereof
When ye are deeply engrossed
Therein ...
Q: What's the reference from the Sunnah for the three levels of religion?
A: The famous Hadith of Jibril [Angel Gabriel] (PBUH) from Omar Bin Al-Khattab (Radiyallahou Anhou) [May Allah Be Pleased with him] who related : One day, when we were sitting with the messenger of Allah (PBUH), then appeared before us a man with very white clothing and very black hair. No mark of travel was visible on him, and none of us recognized him. Sitting down beside the messenger (PBUH), touching his knees against his, and placing his hands on his thighs, he said: "Tell me, Mohammad (PBUH), about Islam." He replied: Islam means that you should bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Mohammad is Allah's messenger, that you should do Salat, pay the Zakat, fast during Ramadan, and perform the Haj to the House (of Allah) if you have the means to go. The man said :"You have spoken the truth." We were astonished at his questioning and then declaring that he spoke the truth. He said: "Now tell me about Iman." The Messenger (PBUH) replied: It means that you should believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, and that you should believe in the decreeing [Qadar] both of good and evil. The man said :"You have spoken the truth," and he said: "Tell me about Ihsan." The Messenger (PBUH) replies It means that you should worship Allah as though you see Him, for even though you do do not see Him, still, He sees you. The man said :"Now tell me about the Hour [the Day of Judgement]." And the Messenger (PBUH) replied: The one who is asked about it does not know more than the one who is asking. [That implies that only Allah (SWT) knows about when the Hour will come and no one else.] He said:"Then tell me about its signs." The Messenger (PBUH) replied: Slavegirls will give birth to their own mistresses, and you will see barefooted, naked, poor men and sheperds [cowboys?] competing in putting up high buildings [skyscrapers?] . Omar (R.A.A.) said: He then went away, and after I had waited for sometime, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said to me: Do you know who the questioner was, Omar? I replied: "Allah and His Messenger know best." "He was the Angel Jibril [Gabriel]," the Messenger (PBUH) said, "who came to teach you your religion." (narrated by Muslim)
Q: What's the third and last basic fundamental?
A: Knowledge of our prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his [complete] name is Mohammad Bin Abdullah Bin Muttaleb Bin Hashem, and Hashem is [a family] from Quraish, and Quraish are Arabs, Arabs are descendants from Ismail Bin Ibrahim [Prophet Ishmael son of Prophet Abraham, peace be upon all of them] .
Q: What was the age of the prophet (PBUH) [at the time he died]?
A: He was 63 years old, including 40 years before prophecy, and 23 years as a prophet and/or messenger, he became a prophet with <Read ...> (68:1) and a messenger with <O Thou wrapped up (in a mantle)!> (74:1)
Q: With what [for what purpose] did Allah send him?
A: Allah (SWT) sent him with [to] warning against Shirk and with [to] inviting to Tawheed.
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 74:1-7
O thou wrapped up
(in a mantle)!
Arise and deliver thy warning!
And thy Lord
Do thou magnify!
And thy garments
Keep free from stain!
And all abomination shun!
Nor expect, in giving,
Any increase (for thyself)!
But, for thy Lord's (cause)
Be patient and constant!
Q: What does "arise and deliver thy warning!" [Kum fa anzer] mean?
A: It means warn against Shirk [associating partners with Allah (SWT)] and invite to Tawheed [one God only].
Q: What does "And thy Lord do thou magnify! and thy garment keep free from stain !" [wa rabacca fa kabber wa thiyabaka fattahher] mean?
A: It means glorify your Rab [Lord] with Tawheed and purify your deeds from Shirk.
Q: What does "And all abomination shun!" [war rijza fahjor] mean?
A: It means shun away [leave out] all stone-idols [asnam], and shun away and do not associate yourself [bara'ah] with anything/anybody related to them.
Q: How long did it take the Messenger (PBUH) to do that?
A: It took him ten years, after which Allah (SWT) raised him to the heavens [Isra'a wa Mi' araj] , and five regular daily salats [prayers] were imposed [upon him and his followers], and after which he was ordained to migrate [Hijra] to Madinah.
Q: What is Hijra?
A: It is to relocate [intikal-travel] from the country of Shirk to the country of Islam and/or from the country of Bid'ah [innovation in religious matters which is definitely a no-no according to Hadith] to the country of Sunnah [refers to the following of the established tradition/way of life of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH)].
Q: What is the Hikm [status] of Hijra?
A: Its Hikm is that it is an obligation on that Ummah [people-nation] [and the ones that follow] to leave the place of Shirk/Bid'ah to the place of Islam/Sunnah, and that obligation is valid [applies] until the sun rises from the West [one of the signs of the Last Day].
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 4:97-99
When angels take
The souls of those
Who die in sin
Against their souls.
They say: "In what (plight)
Were ye?" They reply:
"Weak and oppressed
Were we in the earth."
They say: "Was not
The earth of Allah
Spacious enough for you
To move yourselves away [translation of Hijra]
(From evil)?" Such men
Will find their above
In Hell.- What an evil Refuge!-
Except those who are
(Really) weak and oppressed-
Men, women, and children
Who have no means
In their power, nor can they find
A way (to escape)
For these, there is hope
That Allah will forgive:
For Allah doth blot out (sins)
And forgive again and again
and His words in 29:56
O My servants who believe!
Truly, spacious is My Earth:
Therefore serve ye Me-
(And Me alone)!
Q: For what cause did Allah descend those two Ayats [through Angel Jibril to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)] ?
A: The cause for the descent [on the Prophet through Jibril (peace be upon both)] of the first ayats [4:97-99] is that some people from Makkah became muslims and did not migrate [Hijra] with the Prophet so they were tested [Bala'a] and witnessed with the non-believers the battle of Badr. Allah (SWT) refused to accept their excuse [for non-migrating with the Prophet(PBUH)] so He sentenced them to HellFire. The cause for the descent of the second ayat [29:56] is that some muslims stayed in Makkah and did not migrate so Allah "called them in the name of Iman" and incited them to migrate [perform Hijra].
Q: What's the proof for the validity of [the obligation of ] Hijra [on the believers] till the Day of Judgement?
A: The Hadith of the Messenger (PBUH): "Hijra will not cease [to exist] until Tawbah [refers to the realization that a committed act is a sin, seeking forgiveness from Allah (SWT), and vowing not to knowingly repeat the act] ceases to exist, and Tawbah will not cease to exist until the sun rises from the West."
Q: What did the Messenger (PBUH) ordain after he settled down in Madinah?
A: He ordained the [enforcement and respect of the ] remaining laws of Islam including those related to Zakat, Sawm [fasting], Haj, A'zan [calling for prayer], Jihad [this is definitively not "holy war" but is defined by the Messenger (PBUH) as whatever act that makes the word/commandment of Allah dominant].
Q: How long did it take the prophet (PBUH) to do that?
A: It took him 10 years and he died (PBUH) and his religion remains [is strongly-existent walhamdullillah] . He taught the Ummah about every good there is and he warned the Ummah about every evil there is.
Q: What are the good and the evil that the prophet taught/warned against?
A: The good that he taught the Ummah is Tawheed and everything that Allah (SWT) loves and everything that pleases Allah(SWT). The evil that he warned against is Shirk and everything that Allah (SWT) dislikes and refuses for us.
Q: Did Allah (SWT) send the messenger (PBUH) to a special tribe or to mankind as a whole?
A: Allah (SWT) sent him to the whole of mankind [I should say to both worlds of men and Jinns] and He ordained men and Jinns to obey Him and His messenger (PBUH).
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 7:158
Say: "O men! I am sent
Unto you all, as the Messenger
Of Allah, to whom belongth
The dominion of the heavens
And the earth ...
and His words in 46:29
Behold, We turned
Towards thee a company
Of Jinns (quietly) listening
To the Quran ...
Q: Did Allah (SWT) complete the teachings [delivered by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and] which define the religion of Islam before or after the Messenger (PBUH)'s death ?
A: Allah (SWT) completed the teachings before the Messenger (PBUH)'s death so that not one single new teaching would be necessary after the Messenger (PBUH)'s death.
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 5:3
...
This day have I
Perfected your religion
For you, completed
My favour upon you,
And Have chosen for you
Islam as your religion.
...
Q: What's the proof for the death of the Messenger (PBUH)?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 39:30-31
Truly thou wilt die
(One day), and truly they
(Too) will die (one day).
In the End will ye
(All) dispute on the Day
Of judgment,
In the presence of your Lord.
Q: Will Allah(SWT) bring back people to life [resurrect them] after their death?
A: Yes, He (SWT) will, the proof being His words in 20:55
From the earth did We
Create you, and into it
Shall We return you,
And from it shall We
Bring you out once again.
and His words in 71:17-18
And Allah has produced
You from the earth,
Growing (gradually),
And in the End
He will return you
Into the (earth),
And raise you forth
(Again at the Resurrection)
Q: Are people accounted and rewarded/penalized for their deeds after resurrection?
A: Yes, they are, the proof being Allah (SWT)'s words in 53:31
... so that
He rewards [penalizes] those who do
Evil, according to their deeds,
And He rewards those who
Do good, with what is best.
Q: What's the sentence of somebody who does not believe [kazzaba] in the Resurrection [Ba'ath]?
A: His sentence is that he/she's a kafer, the proof being Allah(SWT)'s words in 64:7
The Unbelievers [plural of Kafer] think
That they will not be
raised up (for Judgement).
Say: "Yea, by my Lord,
Ye shall surely be
Raised up: then shall ye
Be told (the truth) of
All that ye did.
And that is easy for Allah.
Q: With what did Allah send His messengers?
A: He (SWT) sent them [including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Yahyah [John], Zakariah, Mussa [Moses], Solomon, David, Jonah [Younos], Shuayb, Saleh, Aaron[Haroon], Luut [Lot], Issah [Jesus], and finally Mohammad, Peace Be Upon All] with/to giving good news of eternal life in Paradise to those who worship Allah (SWT) alone and with/to warning of eternal life in HellFire to those who associate partners with Allah (SWT) [commit the gravest sin of Shirk] .
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 4:165
Messengers who gave good news
As well as warning,
That mankind, after (the coming)
Of the messengers, should have
No plea against Allah:
For Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.
Q: Who was the first messenger?
A: Noah (PBUH) was [Although Adam (PBUH) was the first prophet].
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 4:163
We have sent thee
Inspiration, as We sent it
To Noah and the Messengers
After him ...
Q: Did it remain any Ummah [people-nation] to whom Allah (SWT) did not send a messenger who ordained them to worship Allah alone and avoid Taghoot?
A: No, Allah (SWT) sent a messenger to every Ummah, the proof being Allah (SWT) 's words in 16:36
For We assuredly set
Amongst every People a Messenger,
(With the Command), " serve
Allah, and eschew evil [translation of Taghoot] ...
Q: What is Taghoot?
A: It is with what a servant [of Allah (SWT)] exceeds the limits [violates the rights of] of the ma'abood [worshipped], the matboo'e [followed], or the mutaweh [worthy of obedience, and submission].
Q: How many Taghoot's are there?
A: There are many but they belong to five main classes: 1) Iblis [Satan] may Allah (SWT) damn it; 2) whoever is worshipped and he/she feels pleased by that [Rad-i.e. tries not to stop that];3)whoever invites people to worship him/her; 4) whoever claims to have knowledge of the future or the unknown [Ilm-al-Ghayb : in specific the unknown that can never be known by humans such as the soul, and the sex/how prosperous will be/ where will die/ whether will enter Paradise or Hellfire/ of a foetus right at the instant of conception ...]; and 5) whoever judges/sentences with laws not ordained by Allah (SWT).
Q: What's the proof?
A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 2:256
Let there be no compulsion
In religion: Truth stands out
Clear from Error: whoever
Rejects Taghoot and believes
In Allah hath grasped
The most trustworthy
Hand-hold, that never breaks,
And Allah heareth
And knoweth all things.
and His words in 16:36
For We assuredly sent
Amongst every People a Messenger,
(With the Command), "serve
Allah, and eschew Evil"
and His words in 3:64
Say: "O People
Of the Book! come
To common terms
As between us and you:
That we worship
None but Allah;
That we associate
No partners with Him;
That we erect not,
From among ourselves,
Lords and Patrons
Other than Allah."
and this is the meaning of "la ilaha illallah"[there is no god but Allah ]; and in the Hadith:"the head of the matter is Islam and its pillar is Salat [prayer] and its highest point [zurwat sinamihi] is Jihad.
THE END.
Alhamdullillahi ala ni'amihi, wastaghfirullah , wa sallallahu ala khayril Anam. [I thank Allah(SWT) for His bounties, I ask forgiveness from Him, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be on The best Human that ever was.]
Colophon
Fundamentals of the Islamic Religion (Usul Ad-Din Al-Islami) was composed by Sheikh al-Islam Mohammad bin Sulaiman at-Tamimi (1699–1801 CE), a scholar of the Hanbali school in the Najd region of the Arabian peninsula, and a contemporary and associate of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. The work presents the foundational doctrines of Islamic monotheism in a Q&A catechetical format, drawing on Quranic verses and hadith for each doctrinal point.
This English translation was made by Fadi N. Sibai and Serdar Ozpolat (University of Akron) and posted to soc.religion.islam on 31 May 1991. The translator noted explicitly: "There is no copyright on this Book." Original Message-ID: [email protected].
Preserved from the Usenet archive for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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