Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya - Abd al-Rahim al-Sulami

Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya is a contemporary commentary by the Saudi theologian Abd al-Rahim ibn Sumayil al-Sulami on the classical creedal treatise al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya by Ibn Taymiyya (661–728 AH / 1263–1328 CE) Maqalat Mawqi al-Durar al…+1. Delivered as a series of instructional mosque lessons and subsequently transcribed, the work expounds the foundational tenets of Sunnism regarding theology, divine attributes, and epistemology Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy…+1.

Historical Context and Background

In his introductory lectures, al-Sulami establishes the historical circumstances surrounding the original text Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy…+1. He dates the composition of al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya to 698 AH (1298–1299 CE), inferring this from Ibn Taymiyya’s own statements during his doctrinal inquiry before the Mamluk governor and the judges of the four Sunni schools of jurisprudence in Damascus in Rajab 705 AH (1306 CE), where he noted having authored the text seven years prior Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy…+1. Al-Sulami recounts that the text was originally composed in a single afternoon sitting following the Asr prayer at the request of a visiting Shafi'i judge from southern Iraq named Radi al-Din al-Wasiti, who had asked for a concise summary of the creed of the early Muslims (Ahl al-Sunna wa-l-Jama'a) Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy…. He also details the three extensive debate sessions held over the text in 705 AH and refutes several historical fabrications recorded against Ibn Taymiyya Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy…+1.

Method and Doctrinal Themes

Al-Sulami frames the study of Islamic theology around two primary pillars: establishing sound theoretical knowledge derived strictly from the Quran, authentic hadith, and the early consensus of the Salaf, and cultivating spiritual and moral effects within the heart, such as the love, fear, and mindfulness of Allah Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy…+1.

The commentary methodically progresses through the core topics of the creed:

• Divine Names and Attributes: Affirming what Allah affirmed for Himself in the Quran and authentic Sunnah without distortion (tahrif), denial (ta'til), inquiring into the modality (takyif), or likening (tamthil), while employing detailed affirmation and general negation Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy…+1.
• The Six Pillars of Faith: Elucidating belief in Allah, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree (qadar) Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy…+1.
• Principles of Deduction: Emphasizing sound epistemological rules in theology over dialectical methods, prohibiting invalid logical analogies like inclusive analogy (qiyas al-shumul) with respect to the divine nature Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy…+1.

Classification of Commentaries

Al-Sulami notes that dedicated commentaries on al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya began appearing from the fourteenth Islamic century AH onward Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy…. He classifies these into two distinct types:

• Detailed Analytical Commentaries (shuruh tahliliyya): Works that provide extensive linguistic and theological analysis with comprehensive digressions, citing examples such as the commentaries by Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin, Zayd ibn Fayyad (al-Rawda al-Nadiyya), Abd al-Aziz al-Rashid (al-Tanbihat al-Saniyya), and Abd al-Aziz al-Salman (al-Kawashif al-Jaliyya) Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy….
• Concise Commentaries and Marginalia: Shorter works aimed at direct glossing and teaching, such as those by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Mani', Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Sa'di (al-Ta'liqat al-Latifa), and Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Sharif (al-Ta'liqat al-Mufida) Sharh al-Aqida al-Wasitiy….