Jawab fi al-Iman wa Nawaqidih
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- Dar al-Tadmuriyyah
Jawab fi al-Iman wa Nawaqidih (A Response Regarding Faith and Its Nullifiers) is a theological treatise by the contemporary scholar Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Barrak that provides a concise exposition of the definition of faith (iman) and the nullifiers that invalidate it according to Sunni doctrine.
Background and Context
The treatise originated in 1422 AH when al-Barrak dictated his answers to contemporary theological inquiries presented to him, transcribing the text through Ali al-Sayyah. The primary questions addressed whether physical deeds (jins al-amal) constitute an indispensable condition of validity (shart sihha) or a condition of completeness (shart kamal) for faith, and whether a poor religious upbringing serves as a valid legal excuse for someone who curses God or the Prophet Muhammad.
Content and Theological Positions
Al-Barrak defines faith in accordance with the consensus of classical Sunni authorities as comprising belief of the heart, deeds of the heart, verbal confession, and physical actions of the limbs, encompassing both obligatory and recommended acts as well as refraining from prohibitions.
He cautions against applying an unqualified label to deeds as merely a condition of validity or of completeness without further distinction:
- Renouncing polytheism (shirk) and disbelief, the internal submission of the heart, and the verbal pronouncement of the two testimonies of faith (al-shahadatan) are essential conditions of validity without which faith cannot exist.
- Fulfilling regular obligations beyond the core pillars is a condition for the requisite completeness of faith, meaning their abandonment constitutes a sin rather than apostasy.
- Regarding the abandonment of the five daily prayers out of laziness, al-Barrak notes an established historical disagreement among Sunni scholars, emphasizing that a scholar who does not declare such a person an unbeliever is not an adherent of the Murji'ah, nor is one who does a Kharijite (Haruri).
The text also delineates the principles governing entry into Islam through the two testimonies and the avenues of apostasy. It identifies six major forms of disbelief that nullify faith: denial (takdhib), doubt (shakk), turning away (i'rad), obstinate refusal (iba'), rejection after knowledge (juhud), and hypocrisy (nifaq). In addition, it outlines actions and beliefs that breach Islamic monotheism (tawhid), such as denying God's existence, positing partners in divine lordship or worship, anthropomorphism, denying divine attributes, and engaging in sorcery.
Publication and Editorial History
The work was prepared for publication and annotated by Abd al-Rahman ibn Salih al-Sudays, who verified the cited hadiths, supplied scholarly references, added explanatory notes derived from al-Barrak's audio lectures on the text, and appended three pertinent fatwas issued by the author. The edited text was subsequently read back to al-Barrak, who introduced minor amendments and additions. The edition was published by Dar al-Tadmuriyyah in 1437 AH (2016 CE).
Answer updated