al-Tamhid li Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid
- Author died
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- Editions
- Dar Al-Tawhid
al-Tamhid li Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid (The Paving for the Explanation of the Book of Monotheism) is a contemporary commentary by the Saudi scholar Salih Al al-Shaykh on Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab’s theological treatise Kitab al-Tawhid.
Background and Purpose
The book originated as a series of instructional lectures delivered by the author across approximately eighteen sessions. Salih Al al-Shaykh noted that existing commentaries on Kitab al-Tawhid varied between extensive, intermediate, and abridged works. He designed this commentary to provide a concise yet comprehensive walkthrough of the entire text without compromising clarity or essential meanings, specifically catering to students of Islamic knowledge.
Method and Content
The author's methodology centers on explaining the underlying connections and core points of evidence in Kitab al-Tawhid:
- Clarifying concepts that frequently cause confusion among students of knowledge.
- Explaining how the cited Quranic verses and hadiths correspond to the specific chapter headings (munasabat al-ayat wa-al-ahadith li-l-tarjamah).
- Highlighting the exact manner of textual deduction (wajh al-istidlal) from each prooftext.
- Presenting key arguments and points of debate against theological opponents that are rarely addressed in other commentaries.
In his analysis of the original text, the author notes that Ibn Abd al-Wahhab structured Kitab al-Tawhid similarly to Sahih al-Bukhari, formulating chapters through explicit topical headings substantiated by verses, traditions, and statements of early authorities, and omitting a standard authorial preface so as not to place an intermediary between the topic and divine scripture. The commentary covers the entirety of the work's subject matter, encompassing the obligation of directing worship exclusively to God (tawhid al-ibadah), the categorization and manifestations of major and minor polytheism (shirk), and related doctrines regarding divine names and attributes.
Publication and Reception
The commentary was published in Riyadh by Dar al-Tawhid (first edition dated 1423 AH / 2002–2003 CE, and also recorded under 1424 AH / 2003 CE). It has since become a standard reference cited by contemporary educators and commentators in Hanbali and Salafi pedagogical curricula on creed.
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