Irshad al-Anam ila Usul wa Muhimmat Din al-Islam
- Author died
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- Editions
- Dār Aḍwā’ al-Salaf al-Miṣriyyah
Irshad al-Anam ila Usul wa Muhimmat Din al-Islam (Guiding Mankind to the Fundamentals and Essentials of the Religion of Islam) is a concise pedagogical treatise on Islamic creed and foundational jurisprudence authored by Omar ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Omar.
Purpose and Format
The author composed the work to outline correct creed and the pillars of Islam in light of the Quran, the Sunnah, and the writings of Muslim scholars and leaders of Islamic da'wah. To make the content accessible and straightforward for readers, the treatise is structured into topical chapters and framed entirely in a question-and-answer format.
Content and Structure
The book covers essential theological and legal matters in Islam, including:
- The Three Fundamental Principles (al-Usul al-Thalathah): Identifying one's Lord, one's religion (Islam), and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- The Pillars of Islam and the Two Testimonies of Faith: Defining the pillars of Islam, the meaning, conditions, and requirements of the Shahadah (the testimony of faith), and belief in the prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ.
- The Pillars and Fruits of Faith (Arkan al-Iman wa-Thamaratuh): Addressing the six pillars of belief (belief in Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree) and their spiritual benefits.
- Jurisprudence of Worship: A concise presentation of essential practical rulings governing ritual purification (wudu), prayer (salah), almsgiving (zakat), fasting (sawm), and the pilgrimage (hajj).
Reception
The treatise received written commendations from senior Saudi scholars. The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Head of the Council of Senior Scholars, Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah Al al-Shaykh, endorsed the book for gathering essential issues of monotheism (tawhid), Sunni creed (aqidat Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jama'ah), and fundamental acts of worship in a clear question-and-answer format, recommending that it be translated into other languages for non-Arabic speakers. Council member Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan also praised its brevity and usefulness in a preface written on 10 Safar 1437 AH.
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