al-Itiqad lil-Bayhaqi

Al-I'tiqad wa-al-Hidayah ila Sabil al-Rashad (The Belief and Guidance to the Path of Righteousness), commonly known as al-I'tiqad, is a theological treatise composed by the Shafi'i hadith scholar and jurist Abu Bakr al-Bayhaqi (384–458 AH / 994–1066 CE) on the fundamental principles of Islamic creed (usul al-din) al-Salsabil al-Naqi fi Ta…+1.

Background and Purpose

Al-Bayhaqi composed the book as an abridged manual outlining what is incumbent upon a mature, discerning believer to profess in matters of Islamic doctrine al-Sunan al-Saghir lil-Ba…. In the introduction to his legal compendium al-Sunan al-Sughra, he stated that after completing this concise work on creed supported by evidence from the Quran, the prophetic Sunnah, the consensus of the early generations (salaf), and transmitted reports, he subsequently authored al-Sunan al-Sughra to explain what a believer ought to practice in rituals and transactions once their creed is established al-Salsabil al-Naqi fi Ta…+1.

While al-Bayhaqi dedicated separate specialized treatises to individual doctrinal themes—such as Kitab al-Asma' wa-al-Sifat on the divine names and attributes, al-Ba'th wa-al-Nushur on the resurrection, Ithbat 'Adhab al-Qabr on the punishment of the grave, and Kitab al-Qadar on divine predestination—al-I'tiqad serves as his general, comprehensive survey spanning the breadth of creedal topics in a single volume al-Salsabil al-Naqi fi Ta…+1.

Method and Content

Al-Bayhaqi constructed the work according to the method of the traditionalist scholars of hadith, grounding doctrinal points in verses of the Quran, prophetic traditions cited with their chains of transmission (asanid), and reports from the Companions and early scholars al-Baath wa al-Nushur lil…+1. The treatise addresses central theological themes, including:

• The existence and oneness of God, the affirmation of the divine names and essential and active attributes, and extensive discussion of the divine attribute of speech (kalam) al-Bayhaqi wa Mawqifuhu m…+1.
• Prophethood and the sending of messengers al-Itiqad lil-Bayhaqi.
• Eschatology, including the resurrection, the balance (mizan), the bridge (sirat), intercession (shafa'ah), and Paradise and the Fire al-Baath wa al-Nushur lil…+1.
• The nature of faith (iman) and the status of the Companions al-Salsabil al-Naqi fi Ta….

In establishing these principles, al-Bayhaqi relied primarily on scriptural proofs while also employing rational arguments, particularly when defending Sunnah-based doctrines against rival theological factions al-Sunan al-Kubra - al-Ba…+1.

Reception and Scholarly Assessment

Al-I'tiqad was cited and documented across major bio-bibliographical and historical sources under full or shortened titles, including al-Mu'taqad, by authors such as Abd al-Ghafir al-Farisi in al-Siyaq, Abu Sa'd al-Sam'ani in al-Ansab, al-Dhahabi in Tadhkirat al-Huffaz and Siyar A'lam al-Nubala, Taj al-Din al-Subki in Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyyah al-Kubra, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari, and Hajji Khalifa in Kashf al-Zunun al-Salsabil al-Naqi fi Ta….

The theologian and exegete Burhan al-Din al-Biqa'i (d. 885 AH) abridged the work after reading it to his teacher Ibn Hajar, entitling his summary Khayr al-Zad min Kitab al-I'tiqad al-Salsabil al-Naqi fi Ta….

Scholars have analyzed the doctrinal framework presented in the book. Ibn Taymiyyah categorized al-Bayhaqi among the distinguished figures affiliated with the Ash'ari school who adhered closely to the Sunnah, noting his reliance on foundational creedal transmissions such as the creed of Ahmad recorded by Abu al-Fadl al-Tamimi al-Sunan al-Kubra - al-Ba…. In a specialized report prepared for Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, the scholar Abd al-Razzaq Afifi evaluated al-I'tiqad, stating that the book is beneficial with substantial good, aligning with the early Salaf across many subjects while reflecting Ash'ari theological stances in several others al-Salsabil al-Naqi fi Ta….

Manuscripts and Editions

Manuscripts of al-I'tiqad are preserved in various libraries, including the Laleli collection (MS 2423), the Nuruosmaniye collection (MS 2208/2) in Istanbul, and the Chester Beatty Library (MS 35 within collection 25) al-Salsabil al-Naqi fi Ta….

The work has been edited and published in several modern editions:

• Cairo, edited by Ahmad Mursi (1380 AH / 1961 CE) al-Salsabil al-Naqi fi Ta…+1.
• Beirut, published by Dar al-Afaq and edited by Ahmad 'Isam al-Katib (1401 AH / 1981 CE) al-Salsabil al-Naqi fi Ta….
• Riyadh, published by Dar al-Fadilah and edited by Ahmad ibn Ibrahim Abu al-Aynayn (1420 AH / 1999 CE), collated against five manuscript copies al-Salsabil al-Naqi fi Ta….