al-Tawhid wa Atharuhu fi Hayat al-Muslim

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al-Tawhid wa Atharuhu fi Hayat al-Muslim (Monotheism and Its Impact on the Life of the Muslim) is an Islamic theological treatise by the Saudi author Hamad ibn Ibrahim al-Hariqi, completed in 1414 AH (1993 CE) and published by Dar al-Watan in Riyadh . The book focuses on defining monotheism (Tawhid), establishing its status as the primary obligation in Islam, examining the nature and conditions of worship ('ibadah), and demonstrating the practical effects and obstacles facing faith in the life of a Muslim .

Background and Composition

The author completed the treatise on 26 Muharram 1414 AH . In the introduction, he states that Tawhid is the fundamental right of Allah upon His servants and the basis of a Muslim's ultimate happiness or misery, prompting him to compile this work as an act of counsel (nasihah) for the Muslim community . Before publication, the manuscript was reviewed by Shaykh Hammud ibn Ghazay al-Harbi, a faculty member in the Department of Creed at the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (Qassim branch), as well as Shaykh Sulayman ibn Nasir al-Alwan, both of whom provided critical observations and feedback on the research .

Structure and Content

The work is organized into four main parts (abwab), each divided into three chapters (fusul):

  • Part One: The Meaning of Tawhid, Its Categories, and Its Priority as the First Obligation
    Discusses the linguistic and technical definitions of Tawhid , explains its tripartite categorization (the Tawhid of Lordship, Divinity, and Names and Attributes) alongside the binary division (scientific-affirmative and intentional-practical) , and establishes that Tawhid is the initial obligation incumbent upon all accountable individuals (al-mukallafin) .

  • Part Two: Scriptural Proofs and Early Scholarly Reports on the Centrality of Tawhid
    Examines Quranic verses that emphasize and elevate the station of monotheism , presents traditions from the Prophetic Sunnah demonstrating its primacy , and gathers statements from early generations (Salaf) and classical scholars concerning strict adherence to the Sunnah and the defense of creed through debate and authorship .

  • Part Three: The Definition, Conditions, and Divisions of Worship
    Analyzes the linguistic and legal definitions of 'ibadah as encompassing complete love and complete submission , outlines the essential conditions for its validity—sincerity to Allah (ikhlas), conformity to the Prophet's teachings (mutaba'ah), and truthful resolve (sidq al-'azimah) —and details the four categories of worship: heart-based (qalbiyyah), verbal (qawliyyah), physical (badaniyyah), and financial (maliyyah) .

  • Part Four: The Relation of Tawhid to Worship and Its Effects on Prescribed Duties
    Details how sincere intention corrects and validates actions before Allah and explains the impact of Tawhid on the inner actions of the heart and outward deeds of the limbs . It concludes by highlighting factors that impair or corrupt religious deeds, specifically addressing religious innovation (al-bid'ah), following desires and personal whims (al-hawa), and blind conformism (al-taqlid al-a'ma) .

Sources and Methodology

The work relies heavily on citations from the Quran and standard hadith compilations, alongside theological texts by classical and later Hanbali and Salafi authorities, including Abu Isma'il al-Harawi, Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, Ibn Abi al-Izz, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, and modern scholars such as Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz and Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin .

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