Athar Hujaj al-Tawhid fi Muakhadhat al-Abid
- Author died
- 1435 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Kitāb wa-al-Sunnah
Athar Hujaj al-Tawhid fi Muakhadhat al-Abid (The Effects of the Proofs of Monotheism on the Accountability of Servants) is a theological treatise on Islamic creed by the contemporary scholar Midhat ibn al-Hasan Al Farraj (d. 1435 AH / 2014 CE) . The work examines the establishment of divine proof (iqamat al-hujjah), the authority of primordial nature and intellect in affirming monotheism, and the theological ramifications of these proofs on human accountability and excuse of ignorance .
Overview and Reception
The book was published by Dar al-Kitab wa-l-Sunnah in cooperation with Maktabat Dar al-Humaydhi . It features a foreword and commendation by Abdullah ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Jibreen, who praised the work for its systematic treatment of how God has established conclusive evidences and clear proofs—through natural disposition, intellect, and the sending of messengers and scriptures—to leave humanity without excuse regarding the obligation of monotheism .
Structure and Contents
The treatise is organized into four main chapters (fusul) :
- Chapter One: The Authoritative Status of the Covenant (Hujjiyyat al-Mithaq): Examines the primordial covenant taken from the progeny of Adam, its content, and its purpose . The author argues that the covenant serves as an independent proof for singling out God in lordship (rububiyyah) and divinity (uluhiyyah) and for refuting polytheism (shirk), though it is not an independent proof for incurring punishment in this world and the hereafter until the message of the prophets has been conveyed .
- Chapter Two: The Authoritative Status of Primordial Nature (Hujjiyyat al-Fitrah): Discusses how creation and existence inherently obligate the worship of the Creator, and asserts that the innate disposition (fitrah) invalidates the pretexts and flawed excuses raised by polytheists .
- Chapter Three: The Authoritative Status of Intellect (Hujjiyyat al-Aql): Details how human reason fundamentally recognizes the intrinsic goodness of tawhid and the inherent evil of shirk, corroborated by cosmic signs (al-ayat al-kawniyyah) . It concludes with a study of rational discernment of good and evil (al-tahsin wa-l-taqbih al-aqli) prior to the arrival of revelation, expounding the position of early Sunni orthodoxy .
- Chapter Four: The Effects of the Proofs of Monotheism on Human Accountability (Athar Hujaj al-Tawhid fi Muakhadhat al-Abid): Explores the consequences of the established proofs across three sections:
- The sending of messengers as the elimination of disbelievers' excuses (Ba'th al-rusul izahah li-ilal al-kuffar) .
- Polytheism prior to explicit revelation as fabrication against God and the blameworthiness of its practitioners (al-Shirk qabl al-bayan iftira' ala Allah wa-ashabuh madhmumun) .
- The obligation of repenting from sinful acts committed prior to the arrival of revelation (Wujub al-tawbah min fi'l al-sayyi'at al-waqi'ah qabl al-bayan) .
Key Conclusions
The book concludes that the goodness of monotheism and the foulness of polytheism are rationally and intuitively established realities . It affirms that committing polytheism and immoral acts constitutes sin even before prophetic clarification reaches an individual, thereby requiring repentance once the message arrives . Furthermore, the author maintains that the status of shirk applies to anyone directing worship to other than God regardless of ignorance, and that the description of Islam cannot be affirmed for someone engaging in polytheism .
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