al-Tawhid lil-Fawzan
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Al-Tawhid (Arabic: كتاب التوحيد, also published under the title Aqidat al-Tawhid) is a treatise on Islamic creed and theology authored by the contemporary Saudi scholar Salih al-Fawzan. Written in a simplified and structured format, the work was designed as an introductory educational manual expounding Islamic monotheism (tawhid), its obligations, and the beliefs and actions that contradict or diminish it.
Background and Purpose
In the author's preface, al-Fawzan states that sound theological conviction is the foundational prerequisite for religious deeds to be valid and acceptable before God. He notes that he authored the book to provide students with a clear and concise presentation drawn directly from classical authorities, citing particularly the works of Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, and Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab alongside scholars of the early modern Najdi tradition. The primary motivation was to counter various intellectual and religious currents that he identified as prevalent in modern times, including atheism, monastic forms of Sufism, shrine veneration (quburiyyah), and religious innovations contrary to the Prophetic tradition.
Structure and Contents
The book is organized into several thematic sections (abwab), each divided into chapters (fusal) outlining doctrinal points with scriptural evidence:
- Part One: Deviation in Human History and Forms of Unbelief: Details the emergence of theological deviations historically, starting from original monotheism down to later epochs. It provides doctrinal definitions, types, and legal rulings pertaining to polytheism (shirk), disbelief (kufr), hypocrisy (nifaq), pre-Islamic ignorance (jahiliyyah), corruption (fisq), straying (dalal), and apostasy (riddah).
- Part Two: Sayings and Deeds that Contradict or Diminish Monotheism: Examines practices deemed hazardous to core belief, including claiming knowledge of the unseen (through palmistry, fortune-telling, and astrology), sorcery (sihr), divination, offerings and vows to shrines, veneration of statues and monuments, mocking religion, ruling by laws other than divine revelation, claiming legislative authority to permit or forbid, adherence to secular or atheistic ideologies, amulets (tama'im), incantations (ruqa), swearing by other than God, and illegitimate forms of supplication or mediation (tawassul).
- Part Three: Rights of the Prophet, His Household, and the Companions: Addresses obligations toward the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, defining the members of his household (Ahl al-Bayt) and their status without neglect or excessive veneration (ghuluww), as well as the virtues and ranks of the Companions.
- Part Four: Religious Innovations (al-Bida'): Defines innovation and its classifications, analyzes the factors leading to its historical emergence, details the traditional Sunni stance toward innovators, and critiques modern practices such as celebrations of the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid) and seeking blessings (tabarruk) from places, relics, or the deceased.
Curricular Use and Reception
The book was officially prescribed as a standard theology curriculum text across scientific institutes and secondary schools in Saudi Arabia. Contemporary instructors have characterized it as an accessible, structured guide covering essential theological concepts and suitable for general readers and introductory students of Islamic creed.
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