Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam li Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab - Nasir al-Aql

Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam is a contemporary Islamic theological commentary by the Saudi scholar Nasir al-Aql on the treatise Kitab Fadl al-Islam (The Virtue of Islam) by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam…+1.

Subject and Content

The work provides an exposition of the text's chapter headings, Quranic verses, and Prophetic hadiths concerning the merits and core realities of Islam Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam…+1. Al-Aql covers the sections of the original treatise, including chapters on the virtue of Islam (Bab Fadl al-Islam), the obligation of embracing Islam (Bab Wujub al-Islam), the definition and explanation of Islam (Bab Tafsir al-Islam), and the obligation of sufficing with the guidance of the scripture and the Prophet over all else Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam…+3.

Throughout the commentary, al-Aql emphasizes several major theological themes:

• Perfection and Sufficiency of Islam: The religion of Islam is complete and comprehensive, leaving no need for supplementary sources, foreign doctrines, or newly invented religious practices Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam…+1.
• Adherence to the Sunnah: With the historical emergence of innovations and sectarian divisions, true Islam is embodied in the adherence to the Sunnah and the understanding of the early generations (al-Salaf), without deeming non-excommunicated innovators to have completely exited the faith Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam…+1.
• Rejection of Partisanship and Pre-Islamic Affiliations: Believers are required to identify solely with Islam, avoiding sectarian, national, tribal, or ideological allegiances adopted as matters of religious creed (da'wa al-Jahiliyyah) Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam…+1.
• Innate Disposition and Moderation: Islam represents the primordial human disposition (fitrah) and the tolerant monotheism (al-hanifiyyah al-samhah) of Abraham, characterized by ease and the absence of extremism (ghuluww) or negligence Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam…+1.
• Preservation of the Muslim Body: In times of trials (fitan), Muslims are instructed to remain attached to the unified body of Muslims (al-jama'ah) and their leader, or to withdraw from sectarian factions if no unified authority exists Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam….

Method

Al-Aql's commentary analyzes the textual evidence cited by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, extracting theological benefits, legal deductions, and linguistic definitions Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam…+1. He defends the depth of the original author's scholarship against accusations of superficiality, comparing his method of arranging chapter headings and guiding the reader to derive principles from concise textual proofs to the style of al-Bukhari Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam…. The text also incorporates question-and-answer sections addressing specific creedal inquiries, such as distinguishing between major disbelief (al-kufr al-akbar) and major polytheism (al-shirk al-akbar), minor polytheism (al-shirk al-asghar) like ostentation (riya'), and textual variants across manuscript copies of the treatise Sharh Kitab Fadl al-Islam…+1.