Fath al-Majid Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid

Fath al-Majid Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid (The Opening of the Glorious: Commentary on the Book of Monotheism) is a theological commentary by Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan Al al-Shaykh (d. 1285 AH / 1868–1869 CE) on Kitab al-Tawhid by his grandfather, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (d. 1206 AH / 1792 CE) Fath Allah al-Hamid al-Ma…+1. It is one of the most widely circulated and referenced commentaries on the work Fath Allah al-Hamid al-Ma…+1.

Background and Composition

The work originated as an abridgment, refinement, and completion of Taysir al-Aziz al-Hamid, the earliest commentary written on Kitab al-Tawhid, authored by the writer's cousin, Sulayman ibn Abd Allah Al al-Shaykh (d. 1233 AH / 1818 CE; also reported as 1232 AH) Fath Allah al-Hamid al-Ma…+1. Sulayman's original commentary was left unfinished at his death, breaking off around the chapter on mocking matters containing the remembrance of God or the chapter on denying divine decree al-Dalil ila al-Mutun al-…+1.

Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan noted in his introduction that Sulayman had expounded at length in certain sections and included repetitions that could be condensed, while leaving the final portions unwritten Sharh Fath al-Majid lil-G…+1. He undertook to refine, condense, and complete the commentary, incorporating additional scholarly passages to supplement its utility Sharh Fath al-Majid lil-G…+1.

Content and Methodology

The commentary follows the structure of Kitab al-Tawhid chapter by chapter Tahqiq al-Tajrid fi Sharh…. Its central theme is elucidating the monotheism of worship (tawhid al-ibadah) through evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah, as well as clarifying what invalidates it of major polytheism (al-shirk al-akbar) or impairs its obligatory perfection of minor polytheism (al-shirk al-asghar) Sharh Fath al-Majid lil-G…+1.

The text covers topics including:

• The obligation and merits of monotheism, and the imperative to call toward the testimony of faith with insight Tahqiq al-Tajrid fi Sharh….
• Prohibitions against practices entailing reliance on other than God, such as wearing rings, strings, or amulets to ward off harm, as well as incantations and talismans Tahqiq al-Tajrid fi Sharh….
• Seeking blessings (tabarruk) from trees and stones, and acts of worship directed to created beings, such as sacrificial slaughter, vows, seeking refuge (isti'adhah), and seeking rescue (istighathah) Tahqiq al-Tajrid fi Sharh….

The author established terminology conventions in his introduction: the unqualified title "Shaykh al-Islam" refers to Ibn Taymiyyah, while "al-Hafiz" refers to Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani Sharh Fath al-Majid lil-G…. The book incorporates extensive quotations from the writings of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahha….

Publication History

Fath al-Majid has been printed in several editions:

• The first edition was published in Delhi at al-Matba'ah al-Ansariyyah in 1311 AH / 1893–1894 CE, though it was noted as incomplete Fath Allah al-Hamid al-Ma…+1.
• A second edition appeared at al-Matba'ah al-Salafiyyah in Cairo in 1347 AH / 1928–1929 CE, funded by the Bahrain-based merchant Abd al-Rahman al-Qusaybi for free distribution al-Dalil ila al-Mutun al-…+1.
• A third edition was edited with footnotes by Muhammad Hamid al-Fiqi and printed by Matba'at Ansar al-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah in Cairo in 1357 AH / 1938–1939 CE, followed by a fourth edition in 1362 AH funded by King Saud al-Dalil ila al-Mutun al-…+1.
• An edition published by al-Maktabah al-Salafiyyah in Medina in 1397 AH included al-Fiqi's notes alongside corrections by Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, who authored remarks on thirteen points where he identified errors in al-Fiqi's marginalia al-Dalil ila al-Mutun al-…+1.