al-Qawl al-Sadid Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid
- Author died
- 1376 AH
- Editions
- T al-Nafais · Ta al-Wizarah
al-Qawl al-Sadid Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid (also known as al-Qawl al-Sadid fi Maqasid al-Tawhid) is a concise theological commentary by the Saudi Hanbali scholar Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Sa'di (1307–1376 AH / 1889–1956 CE) on Kitab al-Tawhid by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1115–1206 AH / 1703–1792 CE) .
Background and Composition
The work originated as brief marginal annotations (ta'liq) written by al-Sa'di on selected passages of Kitab al-Tawhid to aid teachers and students of Islamic theology . After its initial printing by Matba'at al-Imam in Egypt sold out due to widespread demand, al-Sa'di prepared a revised and expanded version for republication . For this reissue, he composed a dedicated introduction summarizing the foundational creed ('aqida) of the Ahl al-Sunnah, covering matters of divine names and attributes, predestination, the definition of faith (iman) as increasing and decreasing, intercession, the superiority of the Companions, and communal unity .
Content and Method
The commentary focuses on the objectives (maqasid) and overarching legal-theological principles of Kitab al-Tawhid, rather than line-by-line lexical glosses . Al-Sa'di characterized the core text as an exposition of the oneness of divinity and worship (tawhid al-uluhiyya and tawhid al-ibada), including its definitions, conditions, proofs, branches, causes, fruits, and requirements, as well as the practices that augment, nullify, or diminish it .
Al-Sa'di's method relies on establishing comprehensive definitions and standard rubrics (dawabit) across the chapters . For instance, he defines major polytheism (al-shirk al-akbar) as directing any act commanded by the Lawgiver to other than Allah, while defining minor polytheism (al-shirk al-asghar) as every means, avenue, intention, word, or action that leads toward major polytheism without itself reaching the level of worship . The text concludes with a summary noting that the book encapsulates the finest points and divisions of tawhid necessary for students of the subject .
Publication History
The book has been printed in numerous standalone editions and collective compilations, including:
- An edition printed by Mu'assasat al-Nur in Riyadh (1382 AH) .
- A publication by the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta in Riyadh (1421 AH) .
- An edition edited with hadith documentation by al-Murtada al-Zayn Ahmad, published by Majmu'at al-Tuhaf wa-l-Nafa'is al-Dawliyya in Riyadh (1416 AH / 1995 CE) .
- An edition edited by Yasir ibn Hamid al-Mutayri, published by Dar al-Minhaj in Riyadh (1438 AH) .
- Inclusion within al-Majmu'a al-Kamila li-Mu'allafat al-Sa'di issued by Markaz Ibn Salih in Unayzah (1412 AH) .
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