English commentary on Aqeedah Tahawiyah

Below is an english translation and a brief commentary on Aqidah Tahawiyah, which is a famous Arabic treatise by Imam Tahawi [Allah bless him]. All based upon the light of the Quran and Sunnah.

In the name of Allah, most merciful and most compassionate. 

Creed 1

His statement ‘we say’, this refers to ‘Ahl al-Sunnah wa’ al-Jamaah’.

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His statement ‘With the help of Allah’ indicates humility and submission to Allah, and also shows we as humans are dependant on Allah.

Our belief is that Allah is one and has no partners. There are many verses from the Quran indicating this.

Examples are:

Example 1

وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Translation: Your god is one God: There is no god but He, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful. [2:163]

Example 2 

قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَٱسْتَقِيمُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ

Translation: Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “I am only a man like you, ˹but˺ it has been revealed to me that your God is only One God. So take the Straight Way towards Him, and seek His forgiveness. [41:6]

Example 3

هَـٰذَا بَلَـٰغٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَلِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ

Translation: This is a message for mankind, so that they (take lessons and) be warned, and so that they may know that He is One God, and so that the people of understanding may observe the advice. [14:52]

Example 4

 قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

Translation: Say, ‘O Prophet,’ “The truth is that Allah is One’’. [112:1]

Example 5

لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُۥ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

Translation: For Him there is no partner. And thus I have been commanded, and I am the first one to submit.” [6:163]

Both these meaning come together in the following verse –

Example 6

قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا

Translation: Say, “Surely, I am but a human being like you; it is revealed to me that your God is the One God. So the one who hopes to meet his Lord must do righteous deeds and must not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.” [18:110]

Creed 2

This is based from the statement of Allah, as mentioned in Surah al-Shura:

لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ

There is nothing like unto him [42:11]

Also as mentioned in Surah al-Ikhlas, ‘And Nor is there to him any equivalent‘ [112:4].

Also we find in Surah al-Baqarah: ‘So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to him].’ [2:22]

Finally, we find in Surah Maryam,

رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فَٱعْبُدْهُ وَٱصْطَبِرْ لِعِبَـٰدَتِهِۦ ۚ هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُۥ سَمِيًّۭا ٦٥

Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them – so worship Him and have patience for His worship. Do you know of any similarity to Him?” [19:65]

To conclude, this creed refutes those who worship any thing that is created be it a human or an object.

More content to follow, Insha-Allah