al-Yaqin fi Marifat Rabb al-Alamin
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- Maṭba‘at al-Salām
al-Yaqin fi Ma'rifat Rabb al-'Alamin (Certainty in Knowing the Lord of the Worlds) is an Islamic theological treatise on the knowledge of God and His divine attributes, authored by the contemporary Egyptian writer Muhammad Ali Muhammad Imam and published in 2005 CE.
Context and Purpose
The author composed the treatise as a guide for Muslims in general and for Islamic callers (du'at) in particular. In his introduction, he states that the work was prompted by the prevailing material culture, wherein worldly knowledge and technological advancements lead people toward arrogance and heedlessness regarding the Hereafter. He argues that true knowledge is the knowledge of God (ma'rifat Allah), which constitutes the highest and noblest of all sciences, and that Muslims must not be swayed by worldly accomplishments while neglecting their core mission of calling to God with insight.
Themes and Methodology
The work presents an exposition of traditional Islamic creed (aqida), drawing heavily upon Quranic verses to describe the majesty, oneness, and attributes of God. Key subjects addressed in the text include:
- Transcendence and Divine Attributes: The author affirms the divine attributes as established in the Quran and Sunnah without denial or anthropomorphic comparison, stating that God is distinct from His creation (ba'in min khalqihi) and established over His Throne (mustawin 'ala al-arsh). He cites statements from early scholars, including Malik ibn Anas, Rabi'a al-Ra'y, Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak, and al-Awza'i, regarding the understanding of divine rising over the Throne (istiwa').
- Divine Omniscience, Hearing, and Sight: The text elaborates on the all-encompassing nature of God's hearing (al-Sami'), sight (al-Basir), and knowledge (al-Alim), emphasizing that no hidden matter, secret thought, or minute movement in the universe escapes Him.
- Sovereignty and Lordship: The book emphasizes God's absolute governance over creation, His self-sufficiency (al-Ghani), His enduring life and self-sustenance (al-Hayy al-Qayyum), and the total dependence of all creatures upon Him.
Publication
The first edition of the book was printed in 2005 CE (1426 AH) by Matba'at al-Salam in Mit Ghamr, Egypt, registered with the legal deposit number 1536/2005 at the Egyptian National Library and Archives (Dar al-Kutub wa-l-Watha'iq al-Misriyya).
Answer updated