Mujam al-Tawhid

Mujam al-Tawhid (A Dictionary of Tawhid) is a specialized encyclopedic dictionary of Islamic creed and monotheism compiled by Abu Abd al-Rahman Ibrahim ibn Saad Aba Husayn, published by Dar al-Qabas Mujam al-Tawhid.

Purpose and Scope

The work systematically gathers terms, issues, and principles related to the monotheism of worship (tawhid al-ibadah), faith (iman), nullifiers of Islam (nawaqid al-Islam), categories of disbelief (kufr), polytheism (shirk), and hypocrisy (nifaq) Mujam al-Tawhid. Aba Husayn compiled the dictionary to provide students of knowledge, preachers, lecturers, and researchers with direct, streamlined access to the rulings and statements of Sunni scholars without requiring extensive searching across lengthy classical works Mujam al-Tawhid.

The author took Kitab al-Tawhid by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab as the core nucleus of the project, establishing independent entries for every issue in that text requiring elaboration while adding further related theological topics Mujam al-Tawhid. Beyond standard doctrinal topics, the compilation also treats subjects whose creedal dimensions might not be immediately apparent, such as the entry on the Arabian Peninsula (Jazirat al-Arab) concerning hadiths on expelling polytheists, and the entry on religious endowments (al-Waqf) regarding the legal prohibition of endowing tombs with buildings or lamps Mujam al-Tawhid.

Arrangement and Methodology

The entries are arranged alphabetically according to their common scholarly usage rather than their etymological roots (usul al-ishtiqaq), omitting the definite article (al-) when determining alphabetical placement Mujam al-Tawhid+1. Some entries are listed by their specific prohibited phrasing or manifest practice, such as Ma sha' Allah wa-shi't ("What Allah and you will"), astrology (al-Tanjim), and residing in non-Muslim lands (al-Iqamah fi bilad al-kuffar) Mujam al-Tawhid. The book opens with the entry La ilaha illa Allah because it serves as the foundational declaration around which all chapters revolve Mujam al-Tawhid. When multiple titles apply to a single topic, or where terms are closely interrelated (such as amulets, incantations, and talismans), the author provides cross-references directing readers to the primary entry Mujam al-Tawhid.

Within each entry, the material is presented through a structured sequence:

1. Linguistic definition: Drawn from classical Arabic lexicons, such as Tahdhib al-Lughah by al-Azhari, al-Nihayah by Ibn al-Athir, Mukhtar al-Sihah, Lisan al-Arab, and al-Mu'jam al-Wasit (omitted when self-evident) Mujam al-Tawhid.
2. Technical definition: Sourced from classical authorities such as Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, Ibn Rajab, and Ibn Kathir, as well as later and modern scholars including Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani, and Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin Mujam al-Tawhid.
3. Quranic and hadith evidences: Sourced directly from primary collections, explicitly referencing Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim when found in them, or indicating other hadith compilations Mujam al-Tawhid.
4. Statements of early and later scholars: Quoting the Salaf and classical imams with designated citation markings Mujam al-Tawhid.
5. Legal ruling and classifications: Explaining whether an action is permissible, prohibited, or obligatory, clarifying its exact impact on monotheism, and appending relevant analytical divisions and scholarly benefits Mujam al-Tawhid.

Sources

Each section provides reference footnotes citing classical works, commentaries on Kitab al-Tawhid (including Taysir al-Aziz al-Hamid, Fath al-Majid, Ibn Qasim's Hashiyah, and al-Qawl al-Mufid), modern fatwa collections, manuscripts, and university dissertations Mujam al-Tawhid. The author also drew upon consultations and teaching circles with contemporary scholars, particularly noting benefit from Abdullah ibn Jibreen regarding ambiguous expressions and broad legal rulings Mujam al-Tawhid.