Tabsit al-Aqaid al-Islamiyya
- Author died
- 1429 AH
- Editions
- Dar al-Nadwa al-Jadida
Tabsit al-Aqaid al-Islamiyya (Simplification of Islamic Creeds) is a contemporary handbook on Islamic theology authored by the Egyptian scholar and Azharite preacher Hasan Ayyub (d. 1429 AH / 2008 CE), designed to explain fundamental Islamic beliefs in an accessible manner .
Background and Purpose
The material in the book originated as public lectures delivered by Ayyub at the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University and later at the Fahd al-Salim Mosque in Salmiya, Kuwait . Prompted by audience requests to preserve these lessons in print, Ayyub compiled the work to address what he viewed as an intellectual and spiritual void among contemporary youth, aiming to present core theological tenets with clear, persuasive evidence . In subsequent editions, he incorporated supplementary chapters—such as sections on the significance of Islamic culture, the connection between devotional worship and creed, and the relationship between creed and ethics—to adapt the text for university Islamic culture curricula .
Scope and Method
The book covers the essential articles of Islamic faith, including belief in God, the angels, the revealed scriptures, the messengers, and the Day of Judgment along with its signs and the ultimate destiny of creation . It also addresses diverse topics scattered across classical treatises, such as the inimitability of the Quran (i'jaz al-Quran), the nature and activities of the jinn, spiritualism and seances (tahdir al-arwah), acts that nullify monotheism (tawhid), and concise profiles of various historical Islamic sects .
In terms of methodology, Ayyub sought to bridge classical theological scholarship and modern pedagogical presentation . He combined definitive textual proofs (adilla naqliyya) from the Quran and Sunnah with rational and scientific arguments, avoiding complex scholastic terminology so that general readers could easily understand and convey the material .
Reception and Theological Debate
While the book circulated widely among students and the general public, several theological positions advanced within it generated controversy, particularly among contemporary Salafi scholars :
- Definition of Faith (Iman): Ayyub favored the view that internal assent in the heart (tasdiq bil-qalb) is sufficient for salvation before God even if a person fails to pronounce the two testimonies of faith (shahadatayn) . Critics characterized this stance as aligning with the Murji'ite and Jahmite definitions of faith and contradicting the consensus that faith comprises belief, speech, and action .
- Definition of Ahl al-Sunnah: The author identified Ahl al-Sunnah as Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, and their followers, asserting that they adhered to the path of the early generations (al-Salaf al-Salih) in understanding creed . Critics, such as Nasir al-Aql, argued that this definition restricted Ahl al-Sunnah to later Ash'ari and Maturidi scholasticism and effectively excluded the earliest three generations of Islam .
In response to its wide circulation, the Saudi scholar Abu Turab al-Zahiri published a refutation in the al-Madina newspaper titled al-Tahdhir mimma katabahu al-Shaykh Hasan Ayyub fi Tabsit al-Aqaid al-Islamiyya ("Warning Against What Sheikh Hasan Ayyub Wrote in Tabsit al-Aqaid al-Islamiyya") . The Ash'ari inclinations reflected in the work were noted as a primary factor leading to the author's eventual departure from Saudi Arabia, though commentators acknowledged his extensive scriptural argumentation and the broader utility of his writings .
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