Sharh al-Usul al-Thalatha - al-Barrak
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- Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Barrak Endowment Foundation
Sharh al-Usul al-Thalatha (Explanation of the Three Principles) is a concise commentary by the contemporary Saudi scholar Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Barrak on the creedal treatise al-Usul al-Thalatha by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (d. 1206 AH).
Origin and Scope
The commentary originated as educational lectures delivered by al-Barrak in a mosque in Riyadh. It focuses on clarifying the core theological concepts established in the original text, explaining the preliminary matters and the three overarching foundations that every individual must know: knowledge of Allah, knowledge of His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and knowledge of the religion of Islam supported by textual evidence.
Content and Method
The work follows the sequential arrangement of the base text:
- The Four Preliminary Issues: Explaining the necessity of learning four obligations—knowledge ('ilm), acting upon it ('amal), calling to it (da'wah), and exercising patience (sabr) when facing adversity during its pursuit.
- The Three Principles of Faith: Elucidating that Allah created and sustains humanity rather than leaving them neglected, having sent a Messenger ﷺ; affirming pure monotheism (tawhid al-'ibadah) by denying any partner alongside Allah in worship; and establishing loyalty and disavowal (al-wala' wa-l-bara').
- The Three Fundamental Roots: Detailing the servant's knowledge of the Lord, His signs, and types of worship; knowledge of the religion across its three tiers (Islam, Iman, and Ihsan); and the life, mission, and prophetic evidences of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The preparation of the written commentary was undertaken by Abd al-Rahman ibn Salih al-Sudays. The editorial methodology involved transcribing and revising the text, referencing Quranic verses to their chapters, providing concise documentation (takhrij) of hadiths primarily through the Sahihayn and the six canonical collections, citing source quotations, adjusting the matn according to the edition printed by Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, and reading the transcript back to al-Barrak for additions, amendments, and revisions.
Publication History
The commentary was first published in 1431 AH within a single volume comprising four concise commentaries by al-Barrak on treatises by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, alongside Sharh al-Qawa'id al-Arba', Sharh Nawaqid al-Islam, and Sharh Kashf al-Shubuhat. It was subsequently reissued in several standalone and compiled editions, including a ninth edition published in 1443 AH by the Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Barrak Waqf Foundation (Mu'assasat Waqf al-Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Barrak) following typesetting and typographical corrections overseen by its scholarly committee.
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