Thalathat al-Usul (matbu within Muallafat al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, al-Juz al-Awwal)

Thalathat al-Usul (The Three Fundamental Principles), also known as al-Usul al-Thalathah and Thalathat al-Usul wa-Adillatuha, is an introductory treatise on Islamic creed by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1115–1206 AH / 1703–1792 CE) Sharh Thalathat al-Usul l…+1. The work outlines the fundamental religious knowledge incumbent upon every Muslim concerning God, the religion of Islam, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ al-Dalil ila al-Mutun al-…+1.

Purpose and Subject Matter

The treatise is organized around the three core matters that, according to Islamic tradition, every individual will be asked about in the grave: "Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your prophet?" Sharh Thalathat al-Usul l…+1 Based on this premise, the author compiled a concise text to instruct both beginners and the general public in the foundational doctrines of monotheism (tawhid), worship, and the mission of the Prophet ﷺ Sharh Thalathat al-Usul l…+1.

Structure and Content

The treatise is arranged into preliminary sections followed by the three primary principles:

1. The Four Matters: The work opens with four universal obligations derived from Surat al-Asr: knowledge (al-ilm), acting upon it (al-amal bihi), inviting others to it (al-dawah ilayh), and demonstrating patience through any hardship encountered along the way (al-sabr ala al-adha fih) Mutun Talib al-Ilm - al-M…+1. The author supports this with statements from al-Shafi'i and al-Bukhari Thalathat al-Usul (matbu ….
2. The Three Matters: A second introductory passage establishes three fundamental obligations: that God created and provided for humanity rather than leaving them without purpose, sending a messenger whose obedience leads to Paradise and disobedience to Hellfire; that God does not permit partners to be joined with Him in worship, neither an archangel nor a sent messenger; and that whoever adheres to monotheism cannot maintain allegiance with those who oppose God and His Messenger (al-wala wa-al-bara) Thalathat al-Usul (matbu …+1.
3. The Religion of Ibrahim: A concise explanation of al-Hanifiyyah (the pure monotheistic path of Ibrahim), defined as worshipping God alone with sincere devotion, alongside the definitions of tawhid as singling God out in worship and shirk as associating partners with Him Thalathat al-Usul wa Shur….
4. The Three Fundamentals (al-Usul al-Thalathah):
   • The First Principle (Knowledge of the Lord): Recognizing God through His signs and created order (such as day, night, the sun, and the moon), establishing that the Creator alone deserves every form of worship, including supplication, fear, hope, reliance, and sacrifice Thalathat al-Usul wa Shur…+1.
   • The Second Principle (Knowledge of the Religion of Islam with Proofs): Defining Islam as submitting to God through tawhid, yielding to Him through obedience, and disassociating from idolatry and its adherents al-Tawhid lil-Nashia wal-…. It expounds the three hierarchical tiers of the religion: Islam (its five pillars), Iman (its six pillars of faith), and Ihsan (worshipping God as though seeing Him) al-Tawhid lil-Nashia wal-….
   • The Third Principle (Knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ): Examining his lineage, life span of sixty-three years (forty before prophethood and twenty-three as a prophet and messenger), his commission with Surat al-Alaq and Surat al-Muddaththir, his mission warning against polytheism and calling to tawhid, his migration (Hijrah) to Medina, and his demise, concluding with affirmations of the resurrection, judgment, and rejection of false deities (al-taghut) Usul al-Din al-Islami ma …+1.

Method and Style

The treatise employs a direct pedagogical question-and-answer format ("If it is said to you... say...") designed to aid retention and mental engagement Thalathat al-Usul wa Shur…+1. The text is characterized by its systematic coupling of doctrinal points with scriptural evidence from the Quran and Prophetic traditions al-Ighatha fi Sharh al-Us…+1.

Publication History

The text has been published in numerous standalone and collected editions, including:

• An undated edition by Idarat al-Tiba'ah al-Muniriyyah in Egypt with annotations by Muhammad Munir al-Dimashqi, published alongside the author's Shurut al-Salah and al-Qawa'id al-Arba' al-Dalil ila al-Mutun al-….
• A critical edition published by Dar al-Ma'arif in Cairo, reviewed and corrected by Ahmad Muhammad Shakir al-Dalil ila al-Mutun al-…+1.
• An edition published by al-Maktab al-Islami in 1389 AH under the title Aqidat al-Firqah al-Najiyah Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jama'ah al-Dalil ila al-Mutun al-….
• Inclusion within the first volume of the collected writings of the author, Mu'allafat al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Thalathat al-Usul (matbu ….