Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa Ashab al-Hadith - al-Rajhi

Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa Ashab al-Hadith is a theological commentary by Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah al-Rajihi on the classical creedal treatise Aqidat al-Salaf wa Ashab al-Hadith by Abu Uthman Ismail ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Sabuni (373–449 AH) Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa …. The work elucidates the traditional creed of the early Muslims (Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jama'ah) based on the texts of the Quran, the prophetic Sunnah, and the consensus of the Companions Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa …+1.

Scope and Theological Themes

The commentary examines core tenets of Islamic faith, beginning with the affirmation of Allah's divinity, lordship, and His divine names and attributes Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa …. It dedicates particular attention to contentious attributes debated between traditionalists and theological sects:

• Divine Speech and the Quran: The author affirms that the Quran is the uncreated speech, revelation, and communication of Allah, recited by tongues, preserved in hearts, and written in manuscripts, warning against the doctrine of its createdness Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa …+1.
• Divine Attributes: It affirms attributes such as Allah's ascending over the Throne (al-istiwa), transcendence (al-'uluww), the beatific vision in the Hereafter (al-ru'yah), and the divine descent (al-nuzul), noting that textual transmissions regarding the descent are mutawatir across the canonical hadith collections and must be affirmed as befitting Allah's majesty Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa ….
• Divine Will and Human Actions: The work addresses divine decree (mashiah), the two categories of divine will (iradah), good and evil, and guidance, affirming that human actions are created by Allah in opposition to the Mu'tazilite doctrine Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa ….
• Eschatology: It details beliefs regarding the Prophet's Basin (al-Hawd), al-Kawthar, intercession (al-shafa'ah), and the bodily resurrection after death (al-ba'th) Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa ….

Methodological Positions

In its epistemological methodology, the commentary maintains that when a report is authentically transmitted with a continuous chain of reliable, precise narrators without anomalies or hidden defects, it constitutes authoritative proof that is accepted in matters of creed, deeds, and morals alike Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa …. The text rejects the rejection of solitary reports (akhbar al-ahad) in matters of theology Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa …. It also delineates the ethical conduct expected of traditional scholars of hadith (adab ashab al-hadith) as well as the distinctive signs of both Sunnis and theological innovators Sharh Aqidat al-Salaf wa ….