Bayt al-Qasid fi Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid
- Author died
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- Editions
- Dar Ibn al-Jawzi lil-Nashr wa-al-Tawzi'
Bayt al-Qasid fi Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid (The Essence in Explaining the Book of Monotheism) is a contemporary theological commentary written by Ahmad ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn Uthman al-Qadi on Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab's (1115–1206 AH / 1703–1792 CE) work Kitab al-Tawhid .
Background and Composition
The commentary originated from a sequence of audio-recorded educational lessons delivered by the author on Kitab al-Tawhid . The lectures were subsequently transcribed, after which al-Qadi revised and refined the text, sourced and authenticated the hadiths and early reports (athar), filled gaps, and elucidated challenging issues for publication . The author completed the book's preface on 1 Rabi' al-Akhir 1442 AH (November 2020 CE) .
Methodology and Structure
Al-Qadi adopts what he characterizes as an intermediate (wasitah) method in commenting on the chapters of Kitab al-Tawhid :
- Clarifying the phrasing and meaning of chapter titles when needed, and noting their connection to the overall theme of the book .
- Explaining the Quranic verses through their vocabulary and theological implications .
- Documenting prophetic hadiths and reports from the Companions and Successors, evaluating their chains of transmission, and interpreting their words and meanings .
- Demonstrating the contextual relevance (munasabah) of each cited text to its respective chapter heading .
- Extracting scholarly benefits (fawa'id) from the evidence .
- Addressing contemporary doctrinal occurrences (al-nawazil al-ʻaqadiyyah) analogous to classical issues .
- Highlighting faith-based and educational reflections (lata'if imaniyyah wa-tarbawiyyah) beneficial to students and general readers .
- Commenting on the specific doctrinal points and rulings (masa'il) deduced by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab at the end of each chapter .
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