By  Muhammad Bin Sulaiman At-Tamimi
known as Muhammad Bin Abdulwahhab

    2- Application of the knowledge.

    3- Preaching it.

    4- Enduring with patience whatever application and preaching may entail.

Imam al-Bukhari commented on the above verse saying: "Thus Allah opened the verse with the command of acquiring knowledge and followed it with the command of application."

And His words:

The One Who has created these things is the One Who deserves to be worshipped.

"And the places of worship belong to Allah, therefore, worship none beside Allah." And He said:

"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him."

Q. What are the levels of Islam?

A. Islam, Iman and Ihsan. Each of these levels has its own pillars.

Q. What are the pillars of Islam?

A. Five:

�The testification of faith "There is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah"

� Performing the prayers,

�Giving out Zakat,

�Observing the fast of Ramadan

� Performing the pilgrimage.

Q. What is the proof of the testification of faith?

A. The words of Allah the Exalted:

"Allah bears witness there is no god but He-(and so do) the angels, and those possessed of knowledge Maintaining His creation with justice. There is no god but He, the Mighty, the Wise."

Q. What is the meaning of  " There is no god but Allah "?

A. There is no god who truly deserves to be worshipped but Allah alone.

Q. What is the meaning of " There is no god "?

A. It means denying all deities worshipped beside Allah.

Q. What is the meaning of  " but Allah "?

A. Confirming that worship must be devoted to Allah alone with no partners worshipped beside Him, as He has no one to share His domain.

Q. What is the interpretation of the above which makes its meaning manifest?

A. The words of Allah:

And His words:

"Say, 'O people of the Book, come to a word equal between us and you that we worship none but Allah, and that we ascribe no partners to Him, and that some of us take not others for lords beside Allah. But, if they turn away, then say, 'Bear witness that we have submitted to Allah."

Q. What is the proof of the testification; " Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah "?

A. The words of Allah:

Q. What is the meaning of the testification; " Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah "?

A. To obey Prophet Muhammad's commands, to refrain from his prohibitions, and to believe in his sayings and to worship Allah by performing only acts of worship which he designated.

Q. What is the proof of the incumbency of Prayer, Zakat and what is the meaning of monotheism?

A. Allah's words:

Q. What is the proof of observing fast?

A. His words:

Q. What is the proof that hajj (pilgrimage) is one of the pillars of Islam?

A. Allah's words:

Q. What is the second level of Islam?

A. Iman.

Q. How many branches does Iman have?

A. Iman has more than seventy branches. The uppermost of which is the declaration of the Oneness of Allah, and the least of which is the removal of harmful objects off the road. Modesty is also a branch of Iman.

Q. How many articles does Iman include?

A. Iman includes six articles: The belief in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day and the belief in predestination with its good or evil consequences.

Q. What is the proof of the above?

A. The words of Allah:

Q. What is the proof of predestiny?

A. Allah's words:

Q. What is the third level of Islam?

A. Al-Ihsan which has one pillar.

Q. What is Ihsan or sincerity?

A. To worship Allah as though you see Him. Although you do not see Him, He sees you.

Q. What is the proof of the above?

A. The words of the Exalted:

And His words:

Q. What is the proof, from the Sunnah, of the above-mentioned levels of Islam?

A. The renowned Hadith, or Prophetic tradition concerning Jibril which is narrated by Umar bin Al-Khattab who said: "While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah , a man came to us with very white clothes and very black hair. No sign of traveling appeared on him, nor was he recognized by any of us. He sat in front of the Prophet with his knees resting against the Prophet's knees, he put his hands on his thighs and said: 'O Muhammad! tell me about Islam'. He (the Prophet )said: "Islam is to bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, observe prayer, pay Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan and visit the House (The Holy Mosque) for hajj, if you can afford the journey'. He (Jibril) affirmed, 'You have told the truth'. Umar continued to say, 'We wondered about him, He asked the Prophet and approved his answer. He further asked 'Tell me about Iman'. The Prophet said, 'It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Scriptures, His Messengers, the Last Day and His predestination, including its good or evil consequences.' He said: 'Tell me about Ihsan. He said, 'It is to worship Allah as though you see Him. Although you do not see Him, He sees you'. He said, 'Tell me about the Final Hour'. The Prophet said, 'The one who is being asked is not more knowledgeable about it than the one who is asking'. He said, 'Tell me about its signs'. He said, 'When the bondswoman gives birth to her master, and when you see the bare-footed, the naked, the shepherds contending with one another to erecting high buildings'. Umar said: 'The man left after that. A short while thereafter, the Prophet said, 'Umar! do you know who was the questioner? I responded, 'Allah and His Messenger know best'. He said 'That was Jibril; who came to teach you, (Muslims), issues of your religion.'"

Q. What is the third fundamental?

A. Knowing our Prophet Muhammad , who is the son of Abdullah, son of Abdul-Muttalib son of Hashim, Hashim is of Quraish, an Arab tribe, and the Arabs are of the posterity of Isma'il son of Ibrahim Al-Khalil, may peace and blessings be on him and on our Prophet.

Q. What was the age of the Prophet ?

A. Sixty-three years, forty of which were before Prophethood and twenty-three years after that. He was appointed as a Prophet when Surat 'Iqra' #96, was revealed to him, and he was appointed as a Messenger when Surat 'al-Muddath'thir'#74, was revealed to him. His hometown is Makkah.

Q. What is the Message with which Allah sent him?

A. Allah sent him to preach monotheism and to warn against polytheism.

Q. What is the proof of the above?

A. The words of Allah the Exalted:

Q. What is the meaning of : "Arise and warn"?

A. Warn against polytheism and preach monotheism.

Q. What is the meaning of : "And glorify your Lord and purify your heart"?

A. Glorify your Lord by declaring His Oneness, and purify your actions from polytheism.

Q. What is the meaning of : "And shun the idols"?

A. avoid the idols by shunning and denouncing them and their worshippers.

Q. How long did the Prophet keep preaching the above commands?

A. Ten years, after that, he was taken to heaven where the five daily prayers were enjoined on him and his followers. After that, he was commanded to migrate to Madinah.

Q. What is migration?

A. It is moving from the land of polytheism to the land of Islam, and from the land of bid'ah (innovation in religious matter) to the land of Sunnah.

Q. What is the ruling of emigration?

A. It is an obligatory duty enjoined on Muslims who happen to be in the land of polytheism to immigrate into the land of Islam, and from the land of innovation into the land of Sunnah. It is effective till the sun rises from the West, i.e., till the end of time.

Q. What is the proof of the above?

A. The words of Allah:

Q. What was the reason of the revelation of the two above verses?

A. There were some people in Makkah who embraced Islam, but did not emigrate to Madinah with the Messenger of Allah . Some of them were tried in their faith, and joined the pagans against the Muslims in the battle of Badr. Allah did not accept their excuse and made Hell their requital. The second verse was revealed because some Muslims were in Makkah to whom Allah imputed Iman and incited them to emigrate to Madinah.

Q. What is the proof of the continuity of emigration as deduced from the Prophetic traditions?

Q. What was the Messenger of Allah enjoined after he had settled in Madinah?

A. He was enjoined the rest of the ordinances of Islam such as Zakat, fasting, Hajj, fighting for the cause of Allah and the other acts of worship.

Q. How long did he live after that?

A. He lived for ten years and died, but his religion is everlasting. He did not leave a good thing without guiding his Ummah to it, nor did he leave an evil thing without warning his Ummah against it.

Q. What are the good things to which he guided his Ummah, and what are the evil things against which he warned his Ummah?

A. The good things are the creed of monotheism and all that which Allah loves and approves of. The evil things are polytheism and all that which Allah loathes and disapproves of.

Q. Did Allah send Muhammad to one particular tribe or to mankind at large?

A. He sent him to mankind at large, and made obeying him a duty incumbent on both jinn and men.

Q. What is the proof of the above?

A. Allah's words:

Q. Has Allah completed the religion by him, or was it completed after him?

A. Surely, Allah has completed it through him; and nothing new needs to be added to the religion thereafter.

Q. What is the proof of the above?

A. Allah's words:

Q. What is the proof of the death of the Messenger of Allah ?

A. Allah's words:

Q. Will the people be resurrected after death?

A. They surely will, for Allah says:

And He says:

Q. Will the people be held accountable and requited for their deeds after Resurrection or not?

A. They positively will be. A fact which is confirmed by Allah's words:

Q. What is the judgment regarding one who denies Resurrection?

A. He is judged to be a disbeliever, by the words of Allah:

Q. What was the Message with which Allah sent His Messengers?

A. To cause those who believe in His Oneness to rejoice in the annunciation of Jannah, and to warn and grieve those who ascribe partners to Allah by Fire as their punishment.

Q. What is the proof of the above?

A. His words:

Q. Who was the first Messenger?

A. Noah, peace be on him.

Q. What is the proof of the above?

A. Allah's words:

Q. Was there any nation left without a Messenger being sent to them to enjoin on them to worship Allah alone and to shun the Taghoot ?

A. There was no nation without having a Messenger sent to them. A fact which is substantiated by the words of Allah:

Q. What is Taghoot?

A. It is whatever man worships instead, or to the exclusion of Allah. It is also any human being that man transgresses by exceeding the limits of obeying ,worshipping or following him.

Q. How many Taghoot are there?

A. There are many; but their chiefs are five :  

    - Iblis, the accursed by Allah .

    - one who approves of being worshipped

    - one who calls people to worship him

    - one who claims the knowledge of the unseen .

    -  one who rules by laws other than those sent down by Allah.

        [We are commanded to disbelieve in and shun them all and to submit to the will of Allah.]

Q. What is the proof of the above?

A. The words of Allah:

Be aware, may Allah accommodate you to his obedience, of the fact that Hanifiyyeh, the religion of Ibrahim, is to worship Allah alone and to be sincere to Allah in religion. Allah says:

Deliverance from Hell-Fire may be ensured by being aware of the four rules that Allah has mentioned in His Book.

The First Rule

The polytheists assert: "We did not call on them [the idols.� We approach them only to seek nearness of Allah and intercession through them. [The proof of the fact that worshipping idols is polytheism]� is given in the following verse:

And the proof of intercession, [that is, worshipping idols, besee- ching them for relief and fulfilling needs, and taking them for intercessors with Allah is shirk,] � is provided in the following verse:

And:

The Third Rule

And about the sun and the moon [i.e. the proof of the fact that worshipping the sun and the moon and the rest of the stars and planets, and believing that they influence events of this world is shirk]� is shown in Allah's words:

"And among His signs are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not yourselves before the sun nor before the moon, but prostrate yourselves before Allah, Who created them, if it is He Whom you (really) worship."

And about the angels, [i.e. the proof of the fact that worshipping angels is shirk is produced in the following verse:

And the proof of the Prophets [i.e. worshipping them and calling unto them is shirk]� is supplied in the following verse:

"And when Allah (will say to Issa (Jesus), 'O Jesus, son of Mary! did you say to people, 'Take me and my mother two gods beside Allah?' He (will) answer, 'Far removed are You (from what they ascribe to you), I could never say that to which I had no right. If I had said it, You would have surely known it. You know my insight, and I know not Your insight, Verily; You are the Knower of the hidden things." 

And the proof of the pious people [i.e. worshipping them and calling them for help and relief is shirk. Allah is far above what they ascribe to him,]� is found in the following verse:

"Those whom they call on themselves seek nearness to their Lord. Which of them is nearer; and they hope for His mercy, and fear His punishment. Surely, the torment of your Lord is a thing to be feared."

And the proof of the trees and stones [i.e. seeking blessings through such objects as graves of pious people, sacrificing animals for fulfilling needs and relief by touching cloth-coverings of the graves or its structures, are all condemned as shirk,]� as proven by Allah's words:

" Have you considered Al-Lat and Al-Uzza. And Manat, the third, too. (the idols)?

A proof of the above is also given in the following tradition: "Abu Waqid Al-Laithi reported: " We went along with the Messenger of Allah for the Battle of Hunain, when we had but recently come out of our state of infidelity into Islam. The pagans had then a lote tree called Dthat Anwat which they used to worship and tie their weapons onto it. When we passed by it, we said: 'Messenger of Allah! make Dthat Anwat for us like as they have'. The Messenger of Allah , said, 'Allahu akbar, these are as-sunnaun. You, by the one in Whose hand is my life, have just said what the Children of Israel said to Musa: 'Make for us a god just as they have gods'. He said, 'Surely; you are an ignorant people'. The Prophet went on to say, You shall follow the ways of those who were before you, that is the Jews and the Christians."

The Fourth Rule

"And when they board a ship, they call on Allah, with sincere and exclusive faith in Him, but when He brings them back safe to land, behold! they associate partners to Him."

Therefore, we see many of those who worship pious people and graves of the sheikhs and masters are sincere in calling them beside Allah and seeking help from them during both times of ease and hardships. Some of them become more sincere in their polytheism when they experience harder times. Contrary to the early pagans who used to attribute partners to Allah only at the times of ease, and used to address themselves with earnest supplication to Allah alone at times of distress. Today, pagans are persistent in their polytheistic ways, begging and beseeching the dead pious people. Alas! There is no strength nor power (to change the prevailing situation) but by the accommodation of Allah the High, the Great.

Allah speaks the truth, and He is the One Who guides to the right direction. Allah, glory be to Him, says:

"Say, 'What do you think if Allah wills to do me an injury, will those whom you call upon beside Allah be able to remove the injury inflicted by Him? Or, if He wills mercy for me, can they withhold His mercy?' Say, 'Allah is enough for Me. In Him trust those who would trust.'"

and He says:

"Or, Who answers the distressed when he calls upon Him, and removes the evil, and makes you successors in the earth? Is there a god beside Allah? Little is that you reflect."

And He says:

"And those whom you call upon beside Allah own not even an integument of a date-stone. If you call on them, they will not hear your call, and even if they heard it, they could not answer you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will deny your having associated them with Allah. And none can inform you like the One Who is All-Aware."

And He says:

"And who is more astray than those who, instead of Allah, pray unto such as will not answer them till the Day of Resurrection, and they are unconscious of their prayer? And when mankind are assembled, they will become enemies to them, and will deny their worship."

And Allah is the One Who guides to the straight path, and there is no power nor ability but through Allah.]�

Ibadah or worship is a definition which combines everything Allah loves and approves of utterances and deeds such as the five pillars of Islam, supplication, expectation, fear, trust, seeking help and relief, sacrifice, vows and other forms of worship. That Allah, Who is far removed from every imperfection, is qualified with all the attributes wherewith He has qualified Himself, and named with the names by which He has named Himself, and by which His Messenger Muhammad named Him of all the beautiful names and the superlative qualities with which He is qualified truthfully not metaphorically. Such attributes as settling Himself on His Throne or mounting it without specification, resemblance or exemplification, as Allah says: 
"The Most Merciful has settled Himself on the Throne." And that He speaks Infinitely Pre-Existent speech in nature, which is uttered in occasions. It is reported that the pious predecessors asserted that He is still qualified by the attribute of speech and forever will speak if He wills. Of His speech is the Qur'an which is the wording which was sent down to Muhammad for worship and inimitability which Jibril, peace be on him, heard from Allah directly without mediator, and brought down to Muhammad letter and meaning as he heard it from his Lord. The wording of the Qur'an is Allah's not Jibril's or Muhammad's. It consists of the words of Allah Who utterred it in letter and sound, as He called Musa when the latter came to the tree:

And as He will call His slaves on the Day of Resurrection with a voice which will be heard by the far and the near saying: "I Am the King. I Am the Reckoner." It is exactly as He speaks to His Messengers and angels, and to whoever He wishes of His slaves, or sent down to them His words of His non-eternal but uncreated speech in His Scriptures. Like the rest of His attributes, His speech is uncreated.

It is established that Allah, glory be to Him, is qualified with the attributes of love, pleasure, loathing, descending, giving life and death, displeasure and He is greatly delighted with the repentance of His slave; and that Allah, far is He removed from every imperfection, will be seen by the believers on the Day of Judgment with their own eyes, as signified in many verses and authentic Ahadeeth (traditions). These attributes and the like them of are not figurative, but actual and real, as confirmed by the Book and the Sunnah. Allah the Exalted says: 
"Say, 'He is Allah, the One. Allah is As-Samad.  He begets not nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him'."

This is our conviction which we uphold in obedience to Allah respecting His names and attributes without specifying, ascribing human characteristics to, depicting nor denying any of them. Allah says: "There is nothing like unto Allah; and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing."

We bear witness That Muhammad is His slave and Messenger to both jinn and men, and that he did convey the Message, accomplished the duty which was committed to his trust, guided his Ummah (nation) sincerely and kept striving for the cause of Allah till Allah has completed the religion by him. Allah says:

"Today I have completed for you your religion, and perfected my favor upon you, and accepted for you Islam as your religion."

Then Allah took him to Himself and made him join the highest company in Paradise. He departed this world and its people, of whom none shall attain belief until and unless he makes his wishes subservient to the Message he (Muhammad ) came with, and until he becomes dearer to him than his own self, his sons and all mankind. Loving the Messenger means obeying his commands, believing his statements and avoiding his prohibitions. It also means that Allah be worshipped only by the acts of worship that he legislated. While the Messenger of Allah should not be extolled, excessively adulated nor be elevated above the level on which Allah has placed him by means of supplicating him or seeking help or relief from him. The Messenger of Allah said: "Du'a (supplication) is worship."  And he said: "Indeed, I am not the one to call for help; Allah, glory be to Him, is the One to call for help." Calling the Messenger of Allah for help, say nothing of seeking it from the other pious people, is tantamount to shirk, or an act of polytheism. Similarly, attaching the heart to other than Allah, the Exalted for receiving benefit from or warding off evil by them independently, or by holding them as intermediaries between them and Allah. [Attaching the heart to pious people or jinn by committing their affairs to them, turning to them for help, sacrificing animals for them for having their needs fulfilled or receiving relief constitute ascribing partners to Allah, be it mysterious combination of words, or litanies; which is shirk and misguidance of which Allah sent down no proof. Allah sent His Messenger to void and uproot such practices and to cleanse the hearts from infidelity. There is no strength nor power but in, or by means of Allah, the High, the Great.]�

We believe that the angels and the Scriptures of Allah are true, the Prophets are true; resurrection after death is true; Jannah is true and Hell-Fire is true. We also believe that the Scale is true and the Hawd of our Prophet is true; whoever drinks from it shall never feel thirsty. Apostates and people of bid'ah or innovations in religious matters shall be debarred from it.

We believe in predestination and in its both good or evil consequences. We believe that intercession of our Prophet Muhammad and all the Prophets, peace be on them, and the pious people is true, but it takes place only with prior leave from Allah to the intercessor, and provided Allah is pleased with the one on whose behalf intercession shall be made. Allah the Exalted says: "Who is he that will intercede with Him except by His permission?"

And He says:

"They intercede not except for him with whom He is pleased." 

And that our Prophet is the first intercessor and the first from whom intercession shall be accepted; and that there are privileges of intercession which he alone is distinguished with; first of which for proceeding with the Final judgment (between mankind) which is called in the Qur'an as al-Maqam al-Mahmoud, for which all the Prophets and Messengers shall regard with unenvious emulation. Of such privileges also interceding for delivering from the Fire those who entered Hell-Fire, and admitting them into Jannah after they have been purified.

We believe that the best of generations are those who gathered around the Messenger of Allah believing in him; they are his companions, then those who followed them with piety, as the Prophet said: "The best of generations is mine, then those who succeed them then those who succeed them."

We also believe that the best of speech is the speech of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad , and the evil of all (religious) matters is innovations (bid'ah), and every bid'ah is misguidance.

Had it not been for the fear of prolixity; we would have supplied for each issue of the above a proof from the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger and the unanimity of the pious predecessors.

We ask Allah the Exalted to guide us to His straight path, and accept all our deeds and our statements, protect us from the misguiding afflictions, the hidden or manifest thereof, and make us steadfast on our faith that we may die as Muslims. O Allah! exalt the renown of Muhammad and his family and grant them peace and blessings .