Sharh al-Aqida al-Tahawiya - Safar al-Hawali
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- Sharh al-Aqida al-Tahawiya - Safar al-Hawali
Sharh al-Aqida al-Tahawiya (Commentary on the Tahawite Creed) is an extensive theological commentary by the Saudi scholar Safar al-Hawali on the classical creedal treatise al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya by Abu Ja'far al-Tahawi (d. 321 AH / 933 CE) .
Background and Context
The original text of al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya was authored by Abu Ja'far al-Tahawi to articulate the orthodox creed of the early community and the theological stance transmitted from Abu Hanifa and his two primary companions, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani . Safar al-Hawali, who formerly headed the Department of Creed at Umm al-Qura University in Mecca, delivered his commentary as a detailed lecture series that was recorded and subsequently transcribed and published across scholarly digital platforms and the author's official website .
Content and Methodology
In his exposition, al-Hawali emphasizes that sound theological doctrine is singular and binding upon every Muslim regardless of legal school (madhhab), distinguishing uncompromised creedal foundations from secondary matters of legal derivation (ijtihad) . His commentary systematically progresses through the thematic units of al-Tahawi's text:
- Tawhid and the First Obligation: Al-Hawali affirms that the proclamation of the two testimonies of faith (shahada) is the primary obligation incumbent upon the accountable individual (al-mukallaf), rejecting the stance of speculative theologians (mutakallimun) who held that theoretical inquiry (al-nazar), the intent to inquire, or foundational doubt constitutes the primary duty .
- Divine Names and Attributes: He expounds the orthodox approach to affirming God's names and attributes without Anthropomorphism (tashbih) or divine negation (ta'til), contrasting the positions of Ahl al-Sunna with opposing theological factions .
- Transmitted Unseen Realities (al-Sam'iyyat): The commentary details matters of the unseen known purely through scripture and prophetic tradition, such as the Night Journey and Ascension (al-Isra' wa-l-Mi'raj), the Intercession (al-shafa'a), the Scale (al-mizan), and the Bridge (al-sirat), elucidating the methodological divergence between traditionalist affirmation and speculative allegorization .
- Faith and the Unseen Decree: Al-Hawali treats the questions of faith (iman), its reality, and divine decree (qadar), examining the rulings regarding sinners from the Muslim community and refuting extremist sects such as the Kharijites and the Murji'a .
Reception
Al-Hawali's commentary is widely cited among contemporary works on Sunni theology and is frequently recommended in educational contexts as an expansive modern exposition of al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya, alongside classical commentaries such as that of Ibn Abi al-Izz and modern treatments by scholars like Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz and Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani .
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