Sharh al-Qawaid al-Arba

Sharh al-Qawaid al-Arba (Arabic: شرح القواعد الأربع, Explanation of The Four Principles) is an Islamic theological commentary by the contemporary Saudi scholar Salih al-Fawzan, explicating the concise creedal treatise al-Qawaid al-Arba by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (d. 1206 AH / 1792 CE) on the definitions of monotheism (tawhid) and polytheism (shirk) Ihya al-Athar Dirasa Aqdi…+1.

Context and Composition

In his preface to the commentary, al-Fawzan noted that he wrote the explanation because he had not seen another commentary dedicated to al-Qawaid al-Arba, prompting him to explain it according to his capacity Sharh al-Qawaid al-Arba. He underscored that the original treatise is an independent text, although frequently printed alongside Thalathat al-Usul (The Three Fundamental Principles) for the convenience of students of religious knowledge Sharh al-Qawaid al-Arba. The objective of the commentary is to ground the definitions of tawhid and shirk directly in the Quran and the Sunnah, warning against theological ambiguity and the definitions formulated by speculative theologians (mutakallimun) who restricted tawhid solely to divine lordship (rububiyyah) Sharh al-Qawaid al-Arba+1.

Structure and Content

The work systematically explains the original matn, beginning with the author's introductory remarks and proceeding through the four fundamental principles:

• Introductory Principles: Al-Fawzan comments on the author's opening supplication for the student and the three signs of spiritual happiness: gratitude when blessed, patience when afflicted, and seeking forgiveness when sinning Sharh al-Qawaid al-Arba. He details the concept of al-Hanifiyyah (the pure monotheistic creed of Ibrahim) as devoting all worship exclusively to God, explaining that worship is invalid if contaminated by polytheism, analogous to how ritual purity is nullified by physical defilement Sharh al-Qawaid al-Arba.
• The First Principle: Explains that the disbelievers whom the Prophet ﷺ fought affirmed God's lordship (tawhid al-rububiyyah) as the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe, but this acknowledgment alone did not grant them entry into Islam because they did not practice monotheism in worship (tawhid al-uluhiyyah) Sharh al-Qawaid al-Arba.
• The Second Principle: Analyzes the polytheists' justification that their invocation of intermediaries was merely to seek proximity (qurbah) and intercession (shafa'ah) before God Sharh al-Qawaid al-Arba+1. In this section, the text delineates two categories of intercession: the negated intercession (al-shafa'ah al-manfiyyah), which is sought from other than God in matters only God can grant, and the affirmed intercession (al-shafa'ah al-muthbatah), which is sought exclusively from God and occurs only with His permission for those whose words and deeds He approves Mutun Talib al-Ilm - al-M….
• The Third Principle: Details that the Prophet ﷺ appeared among people who worshipped diverse entities—including angels, prophets, righteous persons, celestial bodies (the sun and moon), trees, and stones—and he fought them all without distinguishing between their various objects of devotion Tathir al-Jinan wa al-Qaw…+1.
• The Fourth Principle: Discusses the proposition that later-day polytheists are more severe in their polytheism than earlier ones, as the earlier polytheists committed shirk during times of prosperity but turned sincerely to God during times of distress, whereas later polytheists maintained their shirk continuously in both ease and hardship Sharh al-Qawaid al-Arba -…+1.

Publication and Reception

The commentary has been published in print editions, including an edition verified by Khalid al-Raddadi and published by Mu'assasat al-Risalah in Riyadh (first edition in 1424 AH / 2003 CE) Ihya al-Athar Dirasa Aqdi…. Audio recordings of al-Fawzan's lectures on the treatise were also recorded and released by Waqf al-Salam al-Khayri from lessons delivered at Jami Imam al-Dawah al-Haraka al-Wahhabiya (R…. The book is frequently recommended as a primer in introductory curricula for students beginning their study of Islamic creed Mutun Talib al-Ilm - al-M…+1.