Sharh THREE Foundations Part 1/10} Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan
"The Three Fundamental Principles" Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and may blessings and peace be upon the leader of the messengers and the imam of the God-fearing, our Prophet Muhammad, as well as upon his family and all his companions.
And then: Know, may Allah help you to attain His pleasure and may He protect you from the path of sin, that every Muslim, male or female, is obligated to know and follow the Three Fundamental Principles.
The first principle: the slave's knowledge of his Lord. If you, O Muslim, are asked, "Who is your Lord?" say, "My Lord is Allah, Who nurtured me with His mercy and created me from nothing, bringing me into existence."
The proof is in the words of the Most High: "Verily, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path." [Surah Ali 'Imran, 51] If you are asked: "How did you know your Lord?" - Say: "By His signs and through His creation."
The proof of His signs is the words of the Most High: ﴾And of His signs are the night and the day, the sun and the moon. And do not prostrate yourself to the sun and the moon, but prostrate yourself to Allah, Who created them, if it is Him that you worship.﴿ [Surah Fussilat, 37].
And the proof of His creation is the words of the Most High: ﴾Indeed, your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then ascended the Throne. He covers the night over the day, which follows it swiftly. The sun,
the moon, and the stars are subject [to your interests] by His Will. Know that to Him belongs the creation and the command. Blessed be Allah, Lord of the worlds!﴿ [Surah Al-A'raf, 54].
If you are asked: "Why did Allah create you?" — Answer: "He created me to worship Him, obey Him, follow His commands, and avoid His prohibitions."
The proof for worship is the words of the Most High: ﴾I have not created the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me. I do not desire any provision from them, nor do I desire that they should feed Me. Indeed, Allah is the Provider, the Possessor of Strength, the Exalted in Might.﴿ [Surah Az-Dhariyat, verses 56-58].
And the proof for obedience is the words of the Most High: ﴾O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you dispute about anything, then refer it to Allah and the Messenger.﴿ [Surah An-Nisa, verse 59] — that is, to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet. ﷺ.
And if you are asked, "What has Allah commanded you and what has He forbidden you?" say, "He has commanded me Tawhid (oneness of God) and forbidden me Shirk (polytheism)."
The evidence for this command is the words of the Most High: ﴾Verily, Allah commands justice, and what is best, and giving to relatives, and He forbids immorality, reprehensible deeds, and transgression. He warns you that perhaps you will come to reason.﴿ [Surah Al-Nisa', verse 16:90].
The evidence for the prohibition of polytheism is the words of the Most High: ﴾Verily, Allah does not forgive the association of partners with Him, but He forgives other [lesser] sins to whom He wills.﴿ [Surah An-Nisa', verse 16:90] 48].
﴾Indeed, whoever associates partners with Allah, He has forbidden Paradise. His refuge is the Fire, and the unjust will have no protectors.﴿ [Surah Al-Ma'idah, verse 72].
#islam #three-principles #aqida