Sharh Al-Aqeedat-il-Wasitiyah (Islamic book) -A muslims foundation of beliefs

1. What is Aqeedah

What is Aqeedah

 Aqeedah (creed and belief) is the foundation of the religion and it ('aqeedah) is what is contained in the testification (shahaadah) that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and that Muhammad SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam is the Messenger of Allaah.

Aqeedah refers to the matters which are known from the Qur'aan and sound ahaadeeth, and which the Muslim must believe in his heart, in acknowledgement of the truth of Allaah and His Messenger.

The Muslim must believe in his heart and have faith and conviction, with no doubts or misgivings, because Allaah has told him about 'aqeedah in His Book and via His Revelations to His messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

The principles of 'aqeedah are those which Allaah has commanded us to believe in, as mentioned in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

"The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allaah, His Angels, His Books and His Messengers. They say, 'We make no distinction between one and another of His Messengers' – and they say, 'We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all).'" [al- Baqarah 2:285]

- and as defined by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the famous hadeeth which describes how Jibreel came to him and asked him about Islam etc.:

"Eemaan (faith) is to believe in Allaah, His angels, His Books, the meeting with Him on the Last Day, His Messengers, and the Day of Resurrection, Qadr."✨ (from Hadith of Jibreel A.S.)

Why is Aqeedah important❓

Without correct Aqeedah one cannot be called a Muslim no matter how much he offers Salah and reads the Quran.

 Jundub ibn 'Abdullaah (radiallaahu 'anhu) said:

" We were with the Prophet - sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam - while we were young boys, and we learned Eemaan before we learned the Qur'aan , and then we learned the Qur'aan and it increased us in Eemaan." [Ibn Majah, authenticated by Al-Albaanee; rahimahumullaah]✨

Aqeedah is the very base of Islam.

There are six pillars of faith and if one doesnt believe in any one of it even then one isn't a Muslim.

Pillars as in the hadith-

 Of course, Eemaan is the correct belief - the correct 'aqeedah - as comes in the hadeeth known as Hadeeth Jibreel ('alayhi salaam) who asked the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) about Eemaan, and the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) answered: To believe in Allaah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, The Last Day, and to believe in the Qadr - the good of it and the bad of it. And Jibreel said: You have said the truth. [Muslim (no. 1),

Bukhaaree in Kitaab-ul-Eemaan (1/18) ] These six articles of Eemaan comprise the Muslim 'Aqeedah - the 'aqeedah of Tawheed.✨

 Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) would teach the sahaaba Eemaan before the Qur'aan , and then they would learn the Qur'aan (with its legislated, intended meaning) and it would increase them in Eemaan.

A person's Aqeedah can save the person from hell by the will and mercy of Allah-

The Messenger of Allah ( ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) said:

"A man will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement, and will be shown his deeds which will be written on scrolls and each scroll, which will stretch as far as the eye can see, will be filled with bad deeds. These scrolls will be placed on one side of the scale, then a card, with "None has the Right to be Worshiped but Allah ( ﺳﺒﺤﺎﻧﻪ ﻭﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ ) Alone" written on it will be placed on the opposite side of the scale. A statement which this man made from his heart with sincerity, conviction and faith, and so this statement will outweigh and surpass all of the scrolls."✨

Saheeh - Narrated by At-Tirmidhi (2639) and Ibn Majaah (4300) on the authority of 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin al-Aas. Saheeh and it was authenticated by al-Albanee in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhi, (2127). Translation taken from "

The Explanation of the 6 Fundamental Principles of al-Imaam Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab" by DuSunnah Publication.

"A man will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement, and will be shown his deeds which will be written on scrolls and each scroll, which will stretch as far as the eye can see, will be filled with bad deeds. These scrolls will be placed on one side of the scale, then a card, with "None has the Right to be Worshiped but Allah ( ﺳﺒﺤﺎﻧﻪ ﻭﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ ) Alone" written on it will be placed on the opposite side of the scale. A statement which this man made from his heart with sincerity, conviction and faith, and so this statement will outweigh and surpass all of the scrolls."

The Messenger (Muhammad (peace be upon him) ) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say, "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers" - and they say, "We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)." -Surah Baqarah verse 285

What if the Aqeedah isn't correct

The person isn't a Muslim.

If a person doesn't believe in the ONENESS of Allah then that person isn't a muslim. Oneness means believing in ALLAH alone that ALLAH has all the powers. Visiting shrines and asking the dead,wearing amulets all this doesnt come under the concept of ONENESS of ALLAH

If one doesn't believe in Prophet Muhammad SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam and what all he said then that person is not a Muslim.

If one doesn't believe in the other messengers whom ALLAH had sent then he is not a Muslim

If one doesn't believe in angels then he is not a Muslim

If one doesn't believe in Qiyamah then he isn't a Muslim

If one doesn't believe and Qadr and Qada that is predestination which means Allah knows everything that had happened, that's happening and that will happen and Allah has decrees everything then he is not a Muslim.

This is the importance of Aqeedah. Read about Aqeedah from authentic Salaf books such as sharh ul aqeedatul waisitiyyah, etc.  A single mistake in Aqeedah can lead us to hell. Aqeedah is the base of Islam without the knowledge and faith of which one can't be a Muslim