The Creed of At-Tahawiyy

The Creed of At-TahawiyyShare
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Abu Jaafar al- Warraq at-Tahawiyy

The scholar and competent authority of Islam, Abu Jaafar a-Warraq at-Tahawiyy from Egypt, may Allah grant him mercy, said:

With the Name of Allah, the Merciful to the believers and no-believers in this world and the Merciful to the believers on in the next world.

This is an elucidation of the creeds of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaah, which in accordance with the doctrine of the scholars of Islam: Abu Hanifah an-Numan Ibn Thabit Al-Kufiyy, Abu Yusuf Yaqub Ibn Ibrahim al-Ansariyy, and Abu Abdillah Muhammad Ibnul-Hasan Ash-Shaybaniyy, may Allah reward them for all their deeds. It refers to what they believe of the fundamental articles of the Religion of what the submit to the Lord of the Worlds

1.Guided by Allah, we believe and say about the tawhid of Allah: Certainly Allah is One without a partner to Him.

2.Nothing is like Him. Nothing is beyond His Power. No one deserves to be worshiped other than Him.

3.He is Qadim ( Eternal), with no beginning.

4.He is Daim (Everlasting without an end. He will never perish or cease to exist.

5.Nothing occurs except what He willed.

6.No delusions realize Him, and no comprehensions encompass Him.

7.He does not resemble the creation.

8.He is Hayy ( Alive) Who does not die, and Qayyum (Everlasting) Who does not sleep.

9.He is the Creator ( al-Khaliq), with no need of th creation.

10.He is the One Who provides all sustenance (ar-Raziq) without any effort.

11.He inflicts death without fear, and resurrects without toil.

12.He, having His Attributes, existed eternally before His creation. By creating the, He did not gain an Attribute which was not His before (creating) them. As He, having His Attributes, has been in eternity, so He will forever remain.

13.It was not that after creating the creation He gained the Name “Al-Khaliq” ( The Creator). Similarly, it was not that after originating the being He gained the Name “Al-Bari” ( The Originator.)

14.He has had the Attribute of Lordship before the existence of the slaves and the Attribute of Creating before the existence of any creation.

15.In as much as as Allah is the One Who gives life to the dead (Al-Muhyi) after He first created them, and deserved this name after He gave them life, He also deserved the Name: “The Creator” before bringing the creation into being.

16.This is because Allah has Power over all things; everything needs Him, and every matter is easy for Him. He does not need anything.

17.Allah brought the creation into existence in accordance with His Knowledge.

18.He meted out matters for them

19.He appointed times of death for them.

20.Nothing was hidden from Him before He created them. He knew what they would do before He created them.

21.He ordered them to obey Him, and He forbade them to disobey Him.

22.Everything exists in accordance with His Destining and Will. His Will is fulfilled. The slaves do not will anything except what He willed for them; so whatever He willed for them does come to being, and whatever He did not will does not exist.

23.Out of His Generosity, Allah guides, protects from sinning, and gives health to whomever He willed. Out of His Justice, He creates misguidance, enable one to sin, and inflicts with calamities whomever he Willed.

24.All of the behave in accordance with His Will, whether by His Generosity or His Justice,

25.Allah is exaltedly above having contenders or equals. No one prevents His Preordainment, delays His Ruling, or overcomes His Wills.

26.We believe in all of this, and we are certain that everything is created by Him.

27.We believe that Muhammad is His chosen slave, His elect Prophet, and His accepted Messenger.

28.We believe that he is the last of the prophets, the greatest example of the God-fearing ones, the Master of the Messengers, and the most beloved one to the Lord of the Worlds.

29.Every claim of Prophethood after his is false and reveals corrupts inclinations.

30.He is the one sent to all the jinn and humans with truth, guidance, enlightenment, and illumination.

31.The Quran is the Kalam( Speech) of Allah. Allah is the One Who revealed is expression to His Prophet without His own Attribute of Speech resembling any attribute of the creation. The believers believe with certainty, that it is the Kalam (Speech) of Allah, the Exalted, and that is not created like the speech of the creation.
Whoever hears the Quran and falsely says that it is composed by a human is a blasphemer. Allah dispraised, censured, and threatened such a person with Sagar (Hell).

32.The one who attributes to Allah a characteristic of mankind is a blasphemer. Hence, he who looks thoroughly into this takes warning, refrains from the saying of the blasphemers, and know that Allah, having His Attributes, does not resemble mankind.

33.The seeing of Allah by the people of Paradise, without circumscription or manner of being is true.

34.One is not at all a Muslim if one does not submit to Allah. So, whoever fails to do that and seeks the knowledge of what has been debarred from him, and does not assent to attribute that knowledge to the One Who knows it, prevents himself-by what the sought-from sheer tawhid, pure knowledge, and true faith. Consequently, he wavers between blasphemy and faith, belief and disbelief, and admittance and denial. He is subject to vain whispers, is lost and doubtful and is neither a faithful believer nor a rejecting disbeliever.

35.The belief in the seeing (of Allah with the eyes in the Hereafter) by the occupants of the “Abode of Peace” is not valid to the one who considers it delusionally, or misinterprets it in his mind. The correct interpretation of this seeing and of every meaning ascribed to the Lordship, is giveb by abandoning misinterpretation and by adhering to unreserved submission. This is what the Religion of the Muslims asserts.

36.The one who does not guard himself against negating Allah or His Attributes and against likening Allah to His creation has strayed and has not declared Allah to be clear of imperfection. Our lord, to Whom Glory and Greatness belong, is attributed with the Attributes of Oneness and Uniqueness. None of the creation has any of His Attributes.

37.Allah is clear of having boundaries, extremes, sides, organs and small parts. The six directions do not contain His, as they do contain all created things.

38.The Miraj ( Ascension) is true. The Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was certainly taken on a Night Trip (Isra'). While awake, he was taken up in a body to the heavens, and to whatever heights Allah willed for him. Allah honored him with what He willed. He revealed unto him that which He revealed.

39.The Hawd (Basin), which Allah honored him with as a succor to his Nation, is true.

40.The Shafa'ah (Intercession) that the Prophet saved for the Nation (until the Day of Judgment) is true.

41.The covenant that Allah, the Exalted, took from Adam and his offspring is true.

42.Certainly, Allah, taala, has known eternally altogether, the number of those who shall enter Paradise and the number of those who shall enter Hell. This number is neither increased nor decreased. Also, He knows their deeds, for He has known what they shall do. Everyone's route is paved for that which one is created.

43.The consequences of one's deeds depends on one's ending. The fortunate is the one for whom Allah eternally preordained to die as a Muslim, and the unfortunate is the one for whom Allah eternally preordained to die as a blasphemer.

44.The reality of Qadar (Destining) is the secret of Allah, taala, kept from His creation. Neither the favored angels nor the sent prophets know about it. Going deep into this matter and being pensive about it is a means to committing sins, a ladder to deprivation, and a step to exceeding the bounds. So, be utterly cautious of having such pensiveness and forbidden thoughts and of the following vain whispers about it. Certainly Allah, taala, has concealed the knowledge of the Qadar from mankind and has forbidden then to cast about it.

45.This is all of what the waliyys ( righteous slaves) of Allah, the Exalted, whose hearts are enlightened, need ( to believe and accept). This is the degree of those whose knowledge is soundly rooted for knowledge is of two kinds: one existent among the creation and the other non-existent among them. Denial of the existent knowledge is blasphemy and claiming to have the non-existent knowledge is blasphemy. Faith is not valid except if the existent knowledge os acknowledged and the non-existent one is not pursued.

46.We believe in the Lawh (Tablet) and the Qalam (Pen) and in all what is written on the Tablet. So, even if the whole creation agree upon precluding a thing which Allah, taala, has ordained written on the Tablet that it will exist, the whole creation will not be able to preclude it. Likewise, if all creation agree to bring into existence a thing that Allah, taala, did not order written on the Tablet, they will not be able to bring it into existence. The pen has finished writing what is to exist until the Day of Judgment. What has passed the slave by was not going to befall him; and what has befallen him was not going to pass him by.

47.The slave must know that eternally, Allah knew about every one of His creation prior to their existence. So, He destined that (which He know) firmly and irreversibly. No one among His creation in His heavens and Earth can contradict, postpone, annihilate, change, transform, decrease, or increase any of it.

48.This is among the obligations of faith, and the fundamentals of knowing Allah and professing His Oneness and His Lordship-as Allah, taala, in His Book ( al-Furqan,2): It means “ Allah created abd certainly destined everything. Allah, taala, said (al-Ahzab, 38): It means “The creations of Allah are certainly by His Destining.”

49.Woe to the one who becomes a disputer of Allah's Destining and who summons a corrupt heart to consider it. For he, by investigating the world of unforeseen with is delusion, has sought a concealed secret and has become, by what he said about it, a sinful liar.

50.The Arash and the Kursiyy are real. Allah is in no need of the Arash and what is underneath it. He knows about everything and is above everything in status. He disabled is creation from having an encompassing knowledge.

51.We say in faith, belief, and submission: Certainly, Allah chose Ibrahim (Abraham) for a Khalil and spoke unto Musa (Moses).

52.We believe in the angels, prophets, and Books revealed to the messengers. We profess that they (the prophets and messengers) were on the Path of undeniable Truth.

53.We call the People of our Qiblah: 'Muslims' and 'believers', as long as they acknowledge what the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, called for and believe without denial in all what he said and related.

54.We do not indulge in thinking about the Self of Allah, and we do not dispute sinfully about the Religion of Allah.

55.We do not sinfully dispute about the Quran and we profess that it is the Kalam (Speech) of the Lord of the Worlds. The Trusted Soul (Jibril) cane down with it and taught it to to Master of Messengers, Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. The Quran is the Kalam of Allah, taala. None of the speech of the creation equals it. We do not say that it is created and we do not oppose the Muslim Jamaah.

56.We do not deem any member of the People of the Qiblah a blasphemer because of a sin, unless deems it lawful. We do not say no harm shall befall the believer who commits sins.

57.We hope for the believers who show good deeds that, out of His Mercy, Allah will forgive and admit them into Paradise. However, we do not ensure that they will be safe and we do not profess that they will be admitted into Paradise (without torture). We beg Allah to forgive the wrong-doers amongst the believers. We fear for them, and do not consider them despondent.

58.Deeming oneself safe from the Punishment of Allah and despairing the Mercy of Allah take the commiter out of Religion of Islam. The right path of the People of the Qiblah is to be in between of the two matters.

59.The slave (of Allah) does not exit faith except by denouncing what admitted him into it. Joining the Islamic Faith is by professing with tongue and believing in the heart the Two Testifications of Faith.

60.All of what was authenticated about the Messengers of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, concerning Islamic Law and it explanation, is true.

61.Faith is one; believers are equals in its essence. However, superiority of some believer over others in the degree of faith is according to their fear of Allah, piety, rejection of evil inclination, and steadfast to the more appropriate.

62.All the believers are protected by Allah, and among them, the most honored by Allah are those who are the most obedient and compliant with the Quran.

63.Faith is the belief in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, , and the Last Day; and the belief in the qadar (destiny) from Allah, taala, both good and evil, and sweet and bitter. We believe in all of His messengers. We believe all of them and in what they brought.

64.If the people of enormous sins among the Nation of Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi was sallam, die asserting the tawhid though they non-repenter they do not remain forever in the Hell. After they die as faithful believers, the are under the Will and Judgment of Allah. If Allah wills, out of His Favor, He may forgive and absolve them as He, the Exalted cited in His Book (an-Nisa', 48): It means “ Allah forgives whatever is less than blasphemy for whomever He wills”. If Allah wills, out of His Justice, He may torture them in Hell. Then He takes them out of it by His Mercy and by pleading of the intercessors who were obedient to Him. Then, He sends them to His Paradise, for Allah, taala, has protected those who believe in Him, and has not made in both this life and the Hereafter like the people who disbelieve in Him. The latter failed to attain His guidance and did not qualify for His Promise of support. O Allah, the One guards Islam and its members, keep us constantly steadfast to Islam until we die while believing it it.

65.We hold it valid to pray behind every member of the People of the Qiblah, whether pious or enormous sinner, and to perform the Funeral Prayer for any of them when he dies.

66.We do not declare definitely who among them will be in Paradise or Hell. We do not judge them with blasphemy, shirk, or hypocrisy, unless such matters show from them. We leave their secrets to Allah, taala.

67.We hold that the sword must not be used against any member of the Nation of Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, except those who deserve it.

68.We hold that we must not revolt against our caliphs and the appointed governors, even if they act unjustly. We do not supplicate against the or disobey them. Additionally, we deem obeying then as an obligation and obedience to Allah, the Exalted, except when they enjoin an act of disobedience. We supplicate Allah to grant them righteousness and safety from disobeying Him.

69.We follow the Sunnah and Jamaah, and avoid deviations disagreement and disunion.

70.We love the people of justice and honesty and hate people of tyranny and treachery.

71.We say about what is ambiguous to us: Allah knows the best.

72.In accordance with what has been related in the Athar, we believe it wet wiping the footgear (mashul-khuffayn) while traveling and residing.

73.Performing Hajj and Jihad continue to take place under Muslim caliphs and whether pious or committers of major sins, until the time of Resurrection. Nothing invalidated or abolishes them.

74.We believe in the honorable, Recording Angels -n for Allah has certainly appointed them to observe our deeds. We believe in the Angel of Death, who is appointed to take the souls out of the living beings.

75.We believe in the punishment in the grave for the one who deserves it; and in Munkar and Nakir's questioning of the buried person in his grave about his Lord, Religion and Prophet. All this in accordance with the hadiths of the Messengers of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah raise their ranks. We believe that the grave is either garden of Paradise of a pit of Hell.

76.We believe in the Resurrection, Payment for the deeds on the Day of Judgment, Presentation of the Deeds, Questioning, Reading the Book, Reward, Punishment, Sirat ( the Bridge over Hell) and Balance.

77.Paradise and Hell are created. They will never end or cease to exist. Certainly, Allah, taala, brought Paradise and Hell into existence before the humans; He created occupants for them. So, for whomever He has willed to go to Paradise, this is a favor from Him; and for whomever He has willed to go to Hell, this is justice from Him. Everyone works according to what has been written for him in al-Lawhul-Mahfudh (The Guarded Tablet) and proceeds towards what he has been created.

78.Good and evil are destined for the slaves.

79.The ability with which the deed occurs is simultaneous with the deed. An example of what is related to this ability is the Tawfiq which must not be attributed to the creation. As the ability in term of health, power, mastery, and soundness of the instrument, it represent prior to the deed and the religious order are relevant to it as in the saying of Allah (al-Baqarah, 286): It means “ Allah does not require of anyone to do what is beyond one's ability.

80.The deeds of the slaves are the creation of Allah and are acquired by the slaves.

81.Allah, taala, has not ordered the slaves except with what they can do; and they must not be obligated by others to do except what Allah ordered them to do. This is the explanation of la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.) We say: 'No one has the ability to be artful, to move, or to shift away from disobeying Allah, except with the help of Allah; and no one has the strength to perform obedience to Allah and stay firm to it except with the tawfiq of Allah.

82.Everything runs according to the Will, Knowledge, Preordainment. And Destining of Allah, taala. His Will has overpowered all wills, and His Preordainment has defeated all artifices. He does whatever He wills, and He is never unjust. He is free of every injustice, and defect. Allah said (al-Ambiya',23): It means “He (Allah) is not questioned about what He does, but the creations are.”

83.In the supplication and charities of the living, there is a benefit for the dead. Allah, taala, is the One Who answers the supplications and fulfills the needs.

84.He owns everything and nothing owns Him. Nothing can be unneedful of Allah, even for an eyewink. Whoever claims to be unneedful of Allah for an eyewink, blasphemes and becomes among the people of perdition.

85.Allah has the Ghadab and Rida (Attributes)- unlike any of mankind.

86.We love the Companions of the Messengers of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. However, we do not exceed the due bounds in loving any of them, we do not disavow ourselves from any of them. We hate whoever hates them and whoever mentions them with other than good things. We do not speak but well of them. Loving them is in accordance with the Religion, faith, and sincere obedience. Hating them is blasphemy, hypocrisy and exceeding the bounds.

87.We confirm that the Khilafah ( Caliphate) after the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, went firstly to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, may Alah raise his rank, distinguishing him from others and giving him precedence over the whole Nation (of the Prophet). Afterwards it wet to Umar Ibnul-Khattab, may Allah raise his rank, then to Uthman, may Allah raise his rank, then to Aliyy Inm Abi Talib, may Allah raise his rank. There are the rightful caliphs and the rightly-guided religious leaders.

88.We bear witness that the ten whom the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, named and gave good tidings of Paradise shall be in Paradise in accordance with what the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, testified for them-for his saying the truth. These are: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Aliyy, Talhah, Az-Zubayr, Saad, Said, Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf abd Abu Ubaydah Ibnul-Jarrah, the Amin of the Nation, may Allah reward them all.

89.Whoever believes well of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his wives, who are pure from all squalor, and his descendants, who are clear of all defilement is free of hypocrisy.

90.The early scholars of the Salaf and those who followed them, the people of benevolence, Hadith, Foqh, and ijtihad must not be mentioned except with good things. The one who speaks ill of them is not on the right course.

91.We do not prefer any of the waliyys of Allah over any of the prophets, peace be upon them. We say: A single prophet is better than the waliyys of Allah altogether.

92.We believe in the news of their karamahs and in the authentic accounts told about them by the trustworthy.

93.We believe in the signs of the Judgment Day- such as the appreance of the Dajjal (Imposter), the descent of Isa Ibn Maryam ( Jesus, the Son of Mary), may peace be upon him, from heavens and the emergence of the Earth Dabbah (Animals) from its place.

94.We do not believe in a soothsayer, a clairvoyant, or the one who claims what disagrees with the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet, and the Ijma' (Islamic Scholarly Concensus) of the Nation.

95.We deem the Jamaah to be true and right, and departure from it to be a deviation from the right course that will result in torture.

96.Religion of Allah on Earth and in the heavens is one; it is the Religion of Islam, Allah, taala, said (Al Imran, 19): It means: “Certainly the (only) Religion accepted by Allah is Islam, and He said (al-Maidah,3): It means: “ I (Allah) accepted Islam as the Religion for you.”

97.Islam lies between exceeding the proper limits and falling short of what is required; between likening Allah to the creation and denying some or all of Allah's Attributes; between Jabr and denying Qadar; and between feeling safe from Allah's Punishment and feeling despair of Allah's Mercy.

98.This is our Religion and our Creed, outwardly and inwardly.

99.With Allah as our witness, we disavow ourselves from whoever disgree with what we have mentioned and clarified.

100.We ask Allah, taala, to keep us resolute in our faith and to end our lives with it. We ask Him to protect us from various evil inclinations, scattered opinions, and wicked doctrines, such as those of the Mushabbihah, Muktazilah, Jahmiyyah, Jabariyyah, Qadariyyah and other who contradicted the Sunnah and Jamaah and clung to misguidance. We disavow ourselves from them. We consider them deviant and wicked. We rely on Allah to protect us from sinning and to empower with obedience.