Ibn Uthaymin
Sharh al-Aqida al-Saffariniyya
- Author died
- 1421 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Waṭan lil-Nashr
Sharh al-Aqida al-Saffariniyya (Commentary on the Saffarini Creed) is an Islamic theological commentary by the Saudi Hanbali scholar Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin (1347–1421 AH / 1928–2001 CE) on the didactic creedal poem al-Durrah al-Madiyyah fi 'Aqd Ahl al-Firqah al-Mardiyyah by Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Saffarini (1114–1188 AH / 1702–1774 CE) .
Origin and Composition
The base text, commonly referred to as al-Aqidah al-Saffariniyyah, was authored by the Palestinian Hanbali jurist Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Saffarini al-Nabulsi in over 210 rajaz verses . Ibn Uthaymin delivered several lecture series commenting on the text over the course of his teaching career . The final series was delivered and audio-recorded in 1410 AH (1989–1990 CE) during his regular teaching circles at the Grand Mosque in Unaizah, and this recording served as the primary basis for the transcription and publication of the book .
Structure and Method
The underlying poem is arranged into an introduction (muqaddimah), six core chapters (abwab), and a concluding section (khatimah) . In his exposition, Ibn Uthaymin begins by setting out the three categories of monotheism—divine lordship (tawhid al-rububiyyah), divine worship (tawhid al-uluhiyyah), and divine names and attributes (tawhid al-asma' wa-l-sifat)—and surveys how various theological factions approach the scriptural texts of divine attributes .
While expounding the Athari creed of the early generations (al-salaf), Ibn Uthaymin systematically points out expressions and doctrines where al-Saffarini diverged from strict Salafi positions or adopted phrasing and concepts characteristic of later scholastic theologians (al-khalaf) .
Publication
The work was published by Dar al-Watan in Riyadh, with its first edition appearing in 1426 AH .
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