Kitab al-Tawhid al-Musamma al-Takhalli an al-Taqlid wa al-Tahalli bil-Asl al-Mufid
- Author died
- 1405 AH
- Editions
- Matba'at al-Waraqah al-Asriyyah
Kitab al-Tawhid al-Musamma al-Takhalli an al-Taqlid wa al-Tahalli bil-Asl al-Mufid (The Book of Monotheism: Abandoning Imitation and Adorning with the Beneficial Foundation) is a treatise on Islamic creed (aqida) and monotheism (tawhid) by the Algerian reformist scholar Umar al-Arbawi (c. 1324–1405 AH / 1907–1984 CE) .
Background and Purpose
The book originated as a compilation of lessons on creed and tawhid that al-Arbawi delivered to his students . He dedicated the work to the deceased members of the Association of Algerian Muslim Scholars who had struggled to spread the Salafi creed in Algeria and purge society of accumulated ignorance, pagan remnants, and superstitious innovations .
In his introductory address to Muslim youth, al-Arbawi explained that his motivation was to counter the ideological and moral shifts that occurred after Algerian independence, where westernized customs, absolute permissiveness, and atheistic ideas began spreading among segments of the younger generation . He presented the work as a resource to equip youth with pure monotheism and firm belief through scriptural proofs and decisive arguments .
Methodology and Sources
Al-Arbawi formulated the work upon the texts of the Quran, the Sunnah, and the creed of the righteous predecessors (al-salaf al-salih) . In presenting doctrinal issues, he maintained a strict adherence to textual evidence and relied upon the rulings and statements of prominent mujtahid scholars, including Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, Abd al-Hamid ibn Badis, and Abu Hamid al-Ghazali .
Review and Publication
Before its printing, al-Arbawi submitted the manuscript to the High Islamic Council (al-Majlis al-Islami al-A'la) in Algeria for formal evaluation . The council approved its publication and distribution, with Shaykh Ahmad Hamani affirming that the work avoided the errors of denial (ta'til) and anthropomorphism (tajsim and tashbih) found among certain doctrinal factions, while noting minor points of advice for the author .
The work's only edition was published in Ramadan 1404 AH (June 1984 CE), roughly six months before the author's death .
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