Clarifying the Muslim sound Creed and calling people to believe in it, is the most crucial issue because it is the foundation on which one’s deeds are judged whether denied or accepted. This book gives clear explanation of the Muslim sound creed as pointed out in the Qur’ân and the Sunnah.nIn this book, Sheikh Sâlih Al-Fawzân has shed light on doctrinal issues of utmost importance in a genuine and reader-friendly style. Guide to sound creed, in its translated version, fulfills a long-standing need on the part of English-speaking Muslims for a brief, introductory book focusing on the sound Muslim creed. It is a valuable book for novice readers, be they Muslims or non-Muslims. The chapters of this book focus on major issues in Tawhîd (monotheism) such as the necessity of learning and teaching the Muslim creed, the Principles of Muslim creed; namely belief in Allah, the Angles, the Heavenly Books, Allah’s Messengers, the Day of Judgement, and the Divine Decree and Predestination as well as many other issues.

INTRODUCTION

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, Who has created us to worship Him and ordered us to believe in His Oneness and obey His commands, though He is not in need of our help whereas we need His. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. Indeed, it is Allah Who is the [continual] Provider, the Firm Possessor of Strength.”

(Qur’ân: Adh-Dhâriyât: 56-58)

Allah, Exalted be He, sent His Messengers to call people to worship Him Alone and be devout in serving Him. He says:

“And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that there is no deity except Me, so worship Me.”

(Qur’ân: Al-Anbiyâ’: 25)

I testify that there is no deity except Allah, Who is the One that has no partners even if the polytheists hate that. And I testify that Muhammad (PBUH) is Allah’s Servant and Messenger sent to all people. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his household, and his Companions, who migrated, strived in Allah’s Cause and kept patient, as well as those who provided a refuge to the Prophet (PBUH) and supported him (may Allah have blessings and mercy on them till the Day of Judgment).

Clarifying the sound Muslim Creed and calling people to believe in it is the most crucial issue and the most urgent duty because this is the foundation on which one’s deeds are judged whether rejected or accepted. Therefore, Allah’s Messengers and their followers were keen on purifying their creed from all that which contradicts or contaminates it. Many of the Suras of the Qur’ân are devoted to handling the theme of creed. Besides, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) has shown great interest in clarifying the themes of creed and teaching them to people. He spent thirteen years in Mecca calling people to believe in the Oneness of Allah and to be devout in their worship. Moreover, when Allah granted His Messenger (PBUH) victory and enabled him to conquer Mecca, destroying the idols, which had been worshipped by people, was the first thing he did, then he (PBUH) instructed people to be sincere in worshipping Allah, the One Who has no partners.

Furthermore, the eminent Muslim scholars have exerted great efforts in illustrating the pure Muslim Creed to people, thus they have written many books and held religious seminars to teach the sound Creed to people. Hence, the books dealing with the Muslim Creed occupy a lot of space in the Islamic libraries to the extent that they outnumber other books published in other fields.

With this in mind, I tried to contribute, with my humble effort, to this great area. Writing this book hardly adds any new information, but rather it clarifies some information, makes a connection between people’s practices and the Muslim Creed and points out to what extent people abide by the principles of the Muslim Creed so as to judge those practices and explain the wrong acts they may contain so that people may abstain from doing them. Furthermore, this book offers advice to people so that they may prosper.

I have quoted in this book the writings of the great Imâms and eminent Muslim scholars like Ibn Taymiyah, Ibnul-Qayyim, Ibn Kathîr, and Muhammad Ibn `Abdul-Wahhâb and his disciples, who were the Imâms of the reformation call. Among the books I have quoted from is the book entitled Fathul-Majîd (Bestowal of the Honorable) by Sheikh Muhammad Ibn `Abdul-Wahhâb. Again, I feel inclined to say that what I have written is not new, but I hope that I have clarified some information and related it to the daily practices of people whenever there is a chance to do so.

This book is compiled from a series, which I have presented on the Noble Qur’ân Broadcast Station in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At that time, I did not have the intention to introduce such episodes in the form of a book until Allah, Glorified be He, willed so. Some brothers urged me to compile, edit and classify these episodes and then publish them in the form of a book so that many people might benefit from them over time if Allah so willed. I hope that such work may be a good contribution in the field of da`wah (calling) to Allah, Glorified be He. For now we are living at a time when many people are ignorant of the method of sound da`wah. In addition, many of the Muslim preachers show great interest in small aspects that avail nothing without clarifying the sound Muslim Creed. In principle, they leave out the aspect of doctrine despite the fact that many people are, to a great extent, involved in major Shirk (polytheism) through seeking the help of dead righteous people and glorifying their graves, while many others are enslaved by innovations and superstitions. Moreover, it is observed that those calling to aberrations have controlled the minds of the lay people and the ignorant ones and driven them to do what destroys them and leads them astray. Lay people are deceived by those calling to deviations who have controlled their minds and properties and baselessly made themselves leaders in the name of being knowledgeable and devoted to Allah.

Unfortunately, many of the callers to Islam do not take interest in illustrating the aspect of creed and rectifying people’s wrong practices in this regard. Some of those scholars may say that it is better to leave people adopt the doctrines they have so as not to make dispersion and differentiation among people. Some of them even say, “Let us gather together in adopting the doctrines we agree on and excuse one another in the doctrines we disagree on.” They say similar utterances that contradict the implications of the Qur’anic verse:

“…if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.”                                 (Qur’ân: An-Nisâ’: 59)

It goes without saying that Muslims will never be able to be united and strong enough except when they have recourse to the Qur’ân and Sunnah (Prophetic Tradition) and leave out what contradicts them especially in the issues of the Creed, which is the basis of success. Allah says:

“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided...”                                  (Qur’ân: Âlu `Imrân: 103)

Moreover, the late generations will not prosper unless they follow the same teachings through which the early generations prospered. Finally, it is Allah Who grants us success and leads us to the right path, and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad, his household and his Companions.