Sharh Kalimat al-Ikhlas li-Ibn Rajab
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- Mu’assasat Waqf al-Shaykh ʻAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Nāṣir al-Barrāk
Sharh Kalimat al-Ikhlas li-Ibn Rajab (Commentary on Ibn Rajab's "Word of Sincerity") is a theological commentary by the Saudi scholar Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Barrak on the treatise regarding the testimony of faith composed by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (d. 795 AH / 1393 CE).
Background and Origins
The commentary originated as a series of lectures delivered by al-Barrak during the Eighth Scientific Session held at Jami‘ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in Riyadh in 1422 AH (c. 2001–2002 CE). The base text is Ibn Rajab's treatise on the declaration of faith ( لا إله إلا الله —"There is no god but Allah"), commonly titled Kalimat al-Ikhlas wa-Tahqiq Ma‘naha or Tahqiq Kalimat al-Ikhlas. Because Ibn Rajab did not write an introduction outlining his objectives, al-Barrak observed that the original treatise was most likely an admonitory lecture or oral gathering transcribed from Ibn Rajab rather than a formally titled composition.
Content and Methodology
The work provides an intermediate commentary (sharh mutawassit) on the theological implications, meanings, and virtues of the declaration of monotheism. Al-Barrak elucidates the concepts discussed by Ibn Rajab while critically reviewing and highlighting errors and infringements found in sayings transmitted by certain figures of Sufism and spiritual wayfaring (arbab al-suluk wa-l-tasawwuf).
Editorial History and Publication
The authorized edition of the commentary was prepared by Yasir ibn Sa‘d ibn Badr al-‘Askar. Al-‘Askar transcribed the audio recordings of al-Barrak's lectures, corrected errors against the audio source, and read the entire text back to al-Barrak, who amended, expanded, and approved the final version.
For the base text, al-‘Askar collated two complete manuscripts of Ibn Rajab's treatise:
- A primary manuscript copied during Ibn Rajab's lifetime by his student Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Da'im al-Bahi al-Hanbali (d. 802 AH), completed on 6 Jumada al-Ula 787 AH.
- A secondary manuscript copied by Abd Allah ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Rabi‘ah al-Rabi‘i in early 1333 AH.
Al-‘Askar completed the editorial work and hadith verification in Sha'ban 1433 AH in Riyadh. The commentary was published in 1435 AH / 2014 CE by Dar Ibn al-Jawzi and Dar al-Tadmuriyyah.
An earlier, unauthorized transcription prepared by Sabri Salama Shahin had been published under the title al-Farid fi Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid by Dar al-Qasim in Riyadh in 1430 AH (2009 CE). Al-Barrak publicly disavowed that edition on his website due to printing defects, omissions, and the fact that it had not been read or verified by him.
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