Al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya

Al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya
Al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya or Bayan al-Sunna wa al-Jama'a is a popular exposition of Sunni Muslim doctrine written by the tenth-century Egyptian theologian and Hanafi jurist Abu Ja'far al-Tahawi.
Summary
The sole aim of al-Tahawi was to give a summary of the theological views of Abu Hanifa, the founder of the Hanafi school, as he states at the very beginning of his work that it is written in accordance to the methodology of the jurists, Abu Hanifa, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani. However, it can be said to represent the creed of both the Ash'aris and the Maturidis, especially the latter, given his being a follower of the Hanafi school. The Shafi'i scholar Taj al-Din al-Subki (d. 771/1370) writes that the followers of the four main schools of law, the Hanafis, the Malikis, the Shafi'is and the Hanbalis are all one in creed:
The doctrines enumerated in this work are entirely derived from the Qur'an and the authentic Hadith. It starts with the monotheistic oneness of God, then goes on to the assertion of His positive and eternal attributes. Al-Tahawi asserts the reality of the beatific vision without modality (bila kayf). Most of the other theoretical issues relating to the next world are not rationally explained. God can predetermine some people to be happy and others to be miserable. Knowledge of the decree of God is not given to mankind. Belief consists of assent by heart and confession by tongue. Sinners cannot be declared to be unbelievers. The actions of man are the creation of God and the acquisition of man.
Commentators
Several scholars have written commentaries on this work. Among them are the following:
Isma'il ibn Ibrahim al-Shaybani (d. 629/1231).
Najm al-Din Mankubars (d. 652/1254).
Mahmud al-Qunawi (d. 771/1369), entitled al-Qala'id fi Sharh al-'Aqa'id.
(d. 733/1332).
(d. 773/1371).
Akmal al-Din al-Babarti (d. 786/ 1384).
Ibn Abi al-'Izz (d. 792/1390). His commentary is rejected by both Maturidis and Ash'aris, accepted and praised by the Salafis.
Hasan Kafi al-Aqhisari/Pruščak (d. 1025/1616), entitled Nur al-Yaqin fi Usul al-Din.
'Abd al-Ghani al-Maydani (d. 1298/1880).
Qari Muhammad Tayyib (d. 1403/1983).
Ahmad Jabir Jubran (d. 1425/2004).
'Abdullah al-Harari (d. 1429/2008).
(d. 1436/2015).
Sa'id Foudah.
Nidal Ibrahim Alah Rashi.
Contents
The texts raises many points of creed that are essential matters and defines the belief of the Sunni Muslim, covering following the topics:
Exposition of the Creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah
Divine Unity
Allah's Eternal and Everlasting Names and Attributes
Allah's Preordination
Muhammad (S) and His Description
The Qur'an: the Eternal Word of Allah
The Beatific Vision
The Prophet's Night Journey (S) and Ascension
The Prophet's Basin (S) and Intercession
The Covenant Made with Adam (a.s) and His Progeny
Divine Decree and Predetermination
The Preserved Tablet and the Pen
Allah's Attribute of Creating
The Throne and the Footstool
The Angels, the Prophets and the Revealed Books
Declaring the People of the Qiblah to be Muslims
Debating about Allah's Essence
Arguing about the Qur'an
The Impermissibility of Accusing a Muslim of Disbelief
The Meaning of Faith
Faith Neither Increases nor Decreases
The Fate of Major Sinners
The Status of a Muslim
Rebelling Against Muslim Leaders
Wiping Over Footwear
Hajj and Jihad
The Guardian Angels who were Scribes
The Grave and its States
Resurrection
Paradise and Hellfire
The Ability that Accompanies Acts
Slaves' Actions
Supplication and Alms on Behalf of the Deceased
Allah's Wrath and Pleasure
Loving the Companions of the Prophet (S)
The Order of the Caliphate
The Ten Given the Glad Tidings of Paradise
Speaking Well of Scholars
The Rank of Sainthood
Portents of the Final Hour
Diviners and Soothsayers
Adhering to the Congregation
Manuscripts
The earliest manuscripts preserved in Alexandria were written in .
Translations
English edition
The work has been translated into English and published under the title:
Islamic Belief, translated and published in 1995 by IQRA International Educational Foundation.
Islamic Belief: Al-Aqidah at-Tahawiah (Revised Edition), edited by Iqbal Ahmad Azami. Translated and published in 2002 by UK Islamic Academy.
The Creed of At-Tahawiyy (A Brief Explanation of The Sunniy Creed), 2nd edition published in 2003 by The Association of Islamic Charitable Projects in USA.
Aqeedatul Tahawi, with commentary by Qari Muhammad Tayyib, the former rector of Darul Uloom Deoband. English translation by Afzal Hoosen Elias. First published in 2007 by Zam Zam Publishers.
The Creed of Imam al-Tahawi, translated, introduced and annotated by Hamza Yusuf. First published in 2009 by Fons Vitae.
The Creed of Imam Tahawi, translated by Mohammad Ibrahim Teymori. According to the translator himself, this translation is heavily indebted to the works of Hamza Yusuf and Iqbal Ahmad Azami.
Al-'Aqidat at-Tahawiyyah (Kindle Edition), translated by Tahir Mahmood Kiani. First published in 2012 by T. M. Kiani.
Al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya: Arabic Text with English Translation and Commentary, translated and prepared by Fahim Hoosen. This edition includes a brief and simple commentary. First published in 2015 by Azhar Academy. The second edition published by Dar Ul Thaqafah in 2018.
Commentary on the Creed of at-Tahawi by Ibn Abi al-Izz (731-792 AH), translated by Muhammad Abdul-Haqq Ansari. First published in 2017 by Istinarah Press.
Imam al-Tahawi's Creed of Islam: An Exposition, translated by Amjad Mahmood. This edition includes a commentary by the Hanafi scholar, judge and Maturidi theologian (d. 773/1372). First published in 2020 by Heritage Press.
French edition
La 'Aqîda Tahâwiyya (La profession de foi des gens de la Sunna), translated and commented on by Corentin Pabiot. Published in 2015 by Maison d'Ennour.
Kinyarwanda edition
Ibisobanuro By'imyemerere ya a-twahawiyat : Kugaragaza imyemerere y'abagendera ku migenzo y'Intumwa y'Imana (Ahlu Sunat wal Djama'at), translated by Maktabat al-Qalam, 2020
Malay edition
Terjemahan Al-Aqidah Al-Thahawiyyah, translated by Raja Ahmad Mukhlis al-Azhari.
Persian edition
Aqida Tahawi, translated by Mohammad Ibrahim Teymori, with foreword by Saeed Ahmad Palanpuri.
Aqida Tahawi, translated by Sa'di Mahmudi.
Russian edition
Акыда ат-Тахавийя, translated with notes by Ahmad Abu Yahya al-Hanafi.
Turkish edition
Ehl-i Sünnet Akâidi; Muhtasar Tahâvî Akidesi Şerhi, translated by .
Tahâvî Şerhi Bâbertî Tercümesi, translated with commentary of Akmal al-Din al-Babarti (d. 786/1384) by İsmailağa Fıkıh ve Te'lif Kurulu.
Tâhâvi Akâidi Baberti Şerhi, translated with commentary of al-Babarti (d. 786/1384) by İzzet Karasakal.
Tahâvi Akîdesi Bâbertî Şerhi, translated with commentary of al-Babarti (d. 786/1384) and (d. 773/1372) by Yasin Karataş.
İslam Akâid Metinleri, translated by Ali Pekcan.
Urdu edition
Sharh al-'Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah, translated with commentary by Ehsanullah Shayeq.
Al-Aseedah as-Samawiyyah Sharh al-Aqeedah At-Tahawiyyah, translated with commentary by Rida-ul-Haq.
'Aqidat al-Tahawi wa al-'Aqidah al-Hasanah, translated by Abd al-Hamid Khan Swati. The book contains two works on aqidah translated and published together due to sharing the same topic. The first is al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya, and the second is al-Aqidah al-Hasanah of Shah Waliyyullah.
Uzbek edition
Aqidatut Tahoviya sharhining talxiysi, Muhammad Anwar Badakhshani's "Talkhees Sharh Al Aqeedah Al-Tahawiyya" translated by Sheikh Muhammad Sadik Muhammad Yusuf.
Further reading
The Creed of Imam Al-Tahawi;
Voices of Islam: Voices of tradition, p 208.
See also
Al-Fiqh al-Akbar
Al-Sawad al-A'zam
Al-'Aqida al-Nasafiyya
Kitab al-Tawhid
List of Sunni books
References
External links
Al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya by Iqbal Ahmed A'zami
Imam al-Tahawi's beliefs of Ahl Al-Sunna wa Al-Jama'a — As-Sunnah Foundation of America
Al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya (Arabic Text with English Translation)
Arabic Commentaries and Resources for al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya
Scholarly verdicts on Ibn Abi al-'Izz and his Sharh on al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya
Sunni literature
Hanafi literature
Islamic theology books
Islamic belief and doctrine
Maturidi literature