al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya
- Author died
- 728 AH
- Editions
- t Ibn Mani · t Ashraf Abd al-Maqsud
al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya (The Wasiti Creed) is a concise theological treatise by Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728 AH / 1328 CE) summarizing the creed of the Sunni community regarding the core tenets of faith, particularly the divine names and attributes.
Background and Composition
Ibn Taymiyya composed the treatise in 698 AH (c. 1298 CE; another calculation places it around 692 AH) in a single sitting after the afternoon (asr) prayer. The occasion arose when a Shafi'i judge from the Iraqi city of Wasit, named Radi al-Din al-Wasiti, stopped in Damascus while on pilgrimage. Al-Wasiti complained of the widespread ignorance, injustice, and decline of religious learning under Mongol rule in his region and requested a concise doctrinal text to serve as a reliable reference for himself and his household. Ibn Taymiyya initially excused himself, suggesting existing classical creeds, but complied after the judge insisted on a work penned specifically by him. The book was named after Wasit, the hometown of the petitioner, though commentators have also noted that it expounds the middle path (wasatiyya) of the Sunnis among theological factions.
Contents and Method
The treatise sets out the six articles of faith: belief in God, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree (qadar). A central focus is the affirmation of God's names and attributes as reported in the Quran and the Sunnah, without allegorical distortion (tahrif), negation (ta'til), describing the modality (takyif), or likening God to creation (tamthil). It systematically compiles foundational Quranic verses and prophetic traditions concerning divine transcendence, highness (uluww), ascension over the Throne (istiwa), speech, and other textual attributes.
Beyond theology proper, the text addresses other key Sunni doctrines:
- The Quran as the uncreated, revealed speech of God in its letters and meanings, spoken by His divine will.
- The definition of faith (iman) as comprising both statement and action.
- Reverence and goodwill toward the Companions and the Prophet's household (Ahl al-Bayt).
- Affirmation of the miracles of the righteous (karamat al-awliya).
- Practical ethical duties, including commanding right and forbidding wrong, unity, and noble character.
Methodologically, Ibn Taymiyya constructed the work entirely upon scriptural proofs and the consensus (ijma) of the early generations (al-salaf al-salih), eschewing speculative theological jargon (kalam).
Damascus Hearings
In Rajab 705 AH (1306 CE), following an imperial decree from Cairo to the viceroy of Damascus, Muhanna ibn Isa (al-Afram), Ibn Taymiyya was summoned before a council of judges of the four Sunni schools, muftis, and senior scholars to examine his theological positions. Rather than dictating his creed from memory, Ibn Taymiyya produced al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya, stating that it had been composed roughly seven years earlier prior to the Mongol invasion of Syria.
The text was read aloud word for word and debated across three lengthy sessions spanning from forenoon until midnight. Ibn Taymiyya defended every formulation by citing corresponding scriptural texts or early consensus, challenging his detractors to produce a single contrary statement from the first three Islamic generations, offering a three-year grace period for anyone to disprove his citations.
Commentaries and Editions
al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya became one of the most widely studied and taught summaries of Sunni creed. It has been the subject of numerous explanations, including works by:
- Abd al-Rahman al-Sa'di (al-Tanbihat al-Latifa)
- Muhammad Khalil Harras (Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya)
- Abd al-Aziz al-Salman (al-Kawashif al-Jaliyya and al-As'ila wa-l-Ajwiba al-Usuliyya)
- Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin (Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya)
- Salih al-Fawzan (Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya)
- Zayd ibn Fayyad (al-Rawda al-Nadiyya)
- Abd al-Aziz al-Rashid (al-Tanbihat al-Saniyya)
- Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz Al Mubarak (al-Ta'liqat al-Saniyya)
Early printed editions include that published by Muhammad Rashid Rida at al-Manar Press in 1340 AH, as well as an annotated edition by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Mani'.
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