Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles (Thalaathatul-Usool)
Transcribed from Classes by Shaykh Ahmad Musa Jibrilحفظه الله

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Table of Contents

Class One

Introduction

Chapter One

The Basmalah

Tawheed in Bismillahi Ar-Rahmaan Ar-Raheem

Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah

Tawheed Ar-Rububiyyah

Tawheed Al-Asmaa Was-Sifaat

Linguistic Rules in Bismillahi Ar-Rahmaan Ar-Raheem

Al-Jaar wal-Majroor fil-Basmalah Muta’alliqun Bimahthoof Taqdeeruhu Fi’il Laa’iqun Bilmaqaam

Ta’kheer Al-‘Aamil Yufeed Al-Hasr

Proofs for Beginning with the Basmalah

It is in Accordance with the Qur’an

The Prophet Began his Letters with Bismillahi Ar-Rahmaan Ar-Raheem

The Blessing in the Basmalah

Class Two

Do we say Bismillah or Bismillahi Ar-Rahmaan Ar-Raheem?

The Name Allah

Allah is The Sole Title for the Lord that Fashioned Everything

The Root of the Name Allah

Allah uses Allah and Rabb in the Qur’an

Allah is Different to any other Names

The Name Allah by Itself is not a Dhikr

Allah is the Name that All His Other Names Follow

Aspects of Tawheed in the Name Allah

The Mighty Name Allah

Ar-Rahmaan and Ar-Raheem

Ar-Rahmaan

Ar-Raheem

Ar-Rahmaan and Ar-Raheem

The Mercy of Allah

The Attribute of Mercy

The Mercy of Allah

Attaining the Mercy of Alah

Class Three

Know May Allah Have Mercy on You

The Importance of Knowledge

The Definition of Knowledge

The Use of the Word I’lam

Is Knowledge Conveyed to other than Humans?

Can you say I’lam to Someone More Knowledgeable?

The Levels of Knowledge: Ibn Al-Qayyim

The Honour of Knowledge

The Example of the Scholars

Jaabir and Abu Ayyub

Muhammad bin Hassan Ash-Shaybaani

Asad Ibn Al-Furaat

Sa’eed Ibn Musayyib, Ar-Raazi and Al-Bukhari

An-Nawawi, Lisaan Ad-Deen Ibn Khateeb and Mu’adh Ibn Jabal

Sulaymaan Ibn Abdul Malik the Khaleefah and Ataa’ Ibn Rabah

Al-Kasaa’ee and the Sons of the Khaleefah

Ash-Shaafi’ee and Ibn Jawzi

Rahimak Allah

Maghfirah and Rahmah

Do you say Rahimak Allahto a Non Muslim?

Why did he say Rahimak Allah?

Class Four

The Four Introductory Matters

What is the Definition of Waajib?

Is there a Difference Between Waajib and Fardh?

The Proof for the Opinion that Waajib and Fardh are Synonymous

The Proof for the Opinion that Waajib is Lesser than Fardh

How do they Categorise the Faraa’idh and Waajibaat?

The Result of this Dispute

The Islamic Knowledges are Intertwined

Which Definition of Waajib did the Author Intend?

Knowledge in Matters that Pertain to Allah

The Definition of Fardh ‘Ayn

The Definition of Fardh Kifaayah

Fardh ‘Ayn in Knowledge, Action, Leaving Matters and Belief

Fardh ‘Ayn in Knowledge

Fardh ‘Ayn in Action

Fardh ‘Ayn in Leaving Matters

Fardh ‘Ayn in Belief

The Four Obligatory Matters

The Definition of Mas’alah

The First Introductory Matter: Knowledge

Knowledge of Allah

Ma’rifatullah

Knowledge of the Halaal and Haraam

The Importance of Ma’rifatullah

Ignorance in Ma’rifatullah

Knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad

Knowledge of Islam

The Definition of Islam

Islam is the Only Religion Acceptable to Allah

The Foundation Actions of Islam

Class Five

The Order of the Definition of Knowledge

Knowing Allah, the Prophet Muhammad and the Religion with Proof

What is the Definition of Proof?

Is Taqleed Permissible in Matters of ‘Aqeedah?

The First Opinion that you Must Know the Proof

The Second Opinion that it is not Obligatory to Know the Proof

The Third Opinion that Knowing the Proof is Haraam

Summary of the Three Opinions

The Proofs that Taqleed is Permissible

The Second Introductory Matter: To Act Upon Knowledge

The Types of Actions in Islam

Do you get Reward for Leaving the Haraam?

The Essential Aspects of Applying Knowledge

Ordaining the Good and Forbidding the Evil and Application within Oneself are Two Separate Obligatory Matters

A Man whose Actions do not Match his Knowledge

One is Going to be Questioned about his Knowledge on the Judgment Day

Saying That Which You Do Not Do

Knowledge That Does Not Benefit

Class Six

Acting on Knowledge

Knowledge That Does Not Benefit Action

Knowledge is Different to Action

Knowledge Was Sent to be Acted Upon

The Consequences of Not Acting Upon Your Knowledge

One Should Not Abandon Seeking Knowledge Due to Being Accountable For His Knowledge

Being Higher in Knowledge Means You are Held to a Higher Standard

Examples of Applying Knowledge

Evil Scholars

Acting on Your Knowledge in Da’wah

Ibn Al-Jawzi And His Shuyookh

Do Not Get Conceited with Humans or with Allah

Class Seven

The Third Introductory Matter: Calling People Unto It

What Does the Dhameer Refer To?

Is Da’wah Fardh ‘Ayn or Fardh Kifaayah?

Attaining the Detailed Knowledge is Fardh Kifaayah

Every Muslim has a Personal Obligation to Perform Da’wah

Should One Leave Da’wah Until He Becomes Fully Knowledgeable?

The Dangers of Speaking About Allah Without Knowledge

Class Eight

Do Not Commit Any Sins Under the Pretext of Da’wah

When Sins Become Widespread it Affects Everyone

You Have to Know how to Give Da’wah

Proofs on Da’wah

Invite People Unto Allah with Knowledge

Da’wah is our Pride

Rise Up and Warn

The Value of Guiding One Man

The Day of Uhud and the Day of Ta’if

You Have to Know and Relate to Your Audience

Wisdom Must be in Da’wah

Da’wah Must be in the Best of All Manners

Class Nine

Wisdom in Da’wah can Include Harshness

The Difference Between Mudaaraah and Mudaahanah

Examples of Our Salaf in Da’wah

Conclusion on Da’wah to Allah

Class Ten

The Fourth Introductory Matter: Patience

Patience is Essential for a Daa’iyah

What do you get out of Patience?

What is the Definition of Sabr?

The Linguistic Definition of Sabr

Does Complaining Negate Sabr?

The Types of Patience

Why does Allah Test Us?

Do Not Expect a Life Without Trials

Some Verses on Trials

A Daa’iyah is Most Optimistic in the Darkest of Times

Class Eleven

One on the Guided Path Should Expect Hardships

Trials are a Purification from our Sins

The Importance of Intention

Stand Your Ground Even if you are Alone

The Majority are Usually Villified in the Qur’an

The Qur’an Praises the Minority

Why does Allah Test us when He has Knowledge of Everything?

Everything is Good for the Believer

Be Patient on Harsh Words

Always Head to Repentance When Tested and Have Mercy

Patience in Da’wah is Special

Wise Words from Shaykh Musa Hafidhahullah

Conclusion on Sabr

Class Twelve

An Introduction to Surat Al-‘Asr

What Does Al-'Asr Mean?

The First Opinion: All of Time

The Second Opinion: The Era of the Prophet Muhammad

The Third Opinion: The End of the Day

The Fourth Opinion:Salatul-‘Asr or the Timing of Salatul-‘Asr

The Selected Opinion

The Importance of Al-‘Asr

Oaths in the Qur’an and Sunnah

The Oaths of Human Beings

Class Thirteen

Do Not Waste Time

The Subject Matter of the Oath

Mankind is at a Loss

Khusr Comes in a Noun Form

Why is Khusr Mentioned as a Nakirah?

A Practical Example Pertaining to this Surah

Losses are Levels

Why Does the Surah Generalise and then Make Exceptions?

Those who Believe

Imaan is the Fruit of Knowledge

Why did Allah not Detail Imaan?

The Meaning of Imaan in this Verse

Those who do Good Deeds

There is no Imaan Without Action

Actions Without Imaan

All Deeds are Included in this Verse

Advise and Recommend with Truth and Patience

Da’wah is not a Monopoly

Advising is a Group Effort

Haqq Refers to All of the Revelation of Allah

Patience

Patience is Implied Throughout the Surah

Patience Refers to All Types of Patience

The Statement of Ash-Shaafi’ee

Class Fourteen

A Chapter Title from Sahih Al-Bukhari

Why did the Author use a Chapter Title from Bukhari as Proof?

Knowledge Precedes Action

Laa Ilaaha Illallah

Do Verses Addressed to the Prophet Include Us?

The Structure of the Book

Chapter Two

The Obligation to Know and Act on Three Matters

Why did the Author say Male and Female?

Why did the Author say Muslim?

The First Matter: Tawheed Ar-Rububiyyah

1A: Allah Created Us

Proofs from the Qur’an and Sunnah

Proofs from the Intellect

Poetry on the Existence of Allah

Class Fifteen

1B: Allah Provided Sustenance For Us

The Difference Between Ar-Raaziq and Ar-Razzaaq

The Definition of Provision

Allah is Ar-Razzaaq

Your Provision is in the Sky

Provision Comes From Allah

Your Unchangeable Provision is Already Written

Ar-Razzaaq is Wise in Giving Provision

True Tawakkul and Tawaakul

Seek Means but Keep your Heart Fully Attached to Allah

Provision is Not Only Materialistic

Depend on Allah in Hardship

They Worship Others Besides Allah Who Have No Control Over Provision

Ar-Razzaaq Will Send You Means

Class Sixteen

1C: He Did Not Create Us Without A Purpose

What is Hamala?

Incorrect Opinions on the Purpose of Our Creation

You Were Created for a Purpose

Save Yourself From Hell

Allah is Independent of His Creation

1D: He Sent Messengers to Us

1E: Whoever Obeys Him Will Enter Paradise

The Qur’an and Sunnah are Equal as Sources of Legislation

The Qur’an has a Higher Status in Other Areas

Obedience to the Prophet Must be Complete Obedience

The Story of Julaybeeb

Class Seventeen

Three Types of Commands in the Qur’an and Sunnah

A Command Accompanied by Evidence to Indicate it is Obligatory

A Command With Proof to Indicate it is Not Obligatory

The General Commands

The Relationship Between the Qur’an and Sunnah

In Accordance and Similarty

The Sunnah Gives Details, Explains or Specifies

The Hadith are Independent in Legislating

Those Who Deny the Sunnah

1F: Whoever Rejects and Disobeys Him Will Enter Hellfire

Categories of Disobedience

Major Shirk or Major Kufr

A Muslim who Meets Allah with Sins

One who Meets Allah with Minor Shirk

Does one who Commits Minor Shirk Fall Under the Mashee’ah?

The Du’aa to Shield Oneself from Minor Shirk

Why Did Allah Choose Musa to Compare with the Prophet Muhammad?

Class Eighteen

The Second Matter: Shirk Al-Uloohiyyah

Introduction on Tawheed and Shirk

Three Types of Shirk Al-Uloohiyyah

The First Type: Associating a Partner to Allah

The Second Type: Giving a Portion of Your Worship to Other Than Allah

Shirk in Du’aa At-Talab

Shirk in Du’aa Al-Ibaadah

Shirk in Intention

Shirk in Love

Shirk in Fear

Shirk in Hope

Shirk in Rukoo’ and Sujood

The Difference Between Sujood, Rukoo’ and Qiyaam

Class Nineteen

Shirk in Sacrifice

Shirk in Tawaaf

Shirk in Tawakkul

Is Tawheed Three Categories or Four Categories?

The Third Type: Shirk in Governorship

The Proof of the Author

Conclusion

Class Twenty

The Third Matter: Walaa’ and Baraa’

Proofs on Walaa’ and Baraa’

The Importance of Walaa’ and Baraa’

The Danger of Having Any Deficiency in the Belief of Walaa’ and Baraa’

The Goal and Result of Diluting Walaa’ and Baraa’

Two Athaar Regarding those who Change in Their Belief

A Special Category of Carriers of Knowledge

Conclusion of Halaqah

Class Twenty One

Types of People Who Promote Interfaith

Never Will the Jews nor the Christians be Pleased with You

The Statement of Abul-Wafaa’ Ibn ‘Aqeel

A Response to those who Shed in their ‘Aqeedah and Claim to be like Ash-Shaafi’ee

The War on Changing Islamic Terminology

Changing the Terminology in the Area of Walaa’ and Baraa’

Categories of Walaa’ and Baraa’

The First Category: Tawalli

The Second Category: Al-Muwaalaah

The Third Category: Permissible Dealings with Non Muslims

Class Twenty Two

The Third Category: Permissible Dealings with Non Muslims

Da’wah to Non Muslims

Eating from the Slaughter of the People of the Book

Marriage from the People of the Book

Exchanging Gifts

Visiting Non Muslims

Treatment of Non Muslims

Love and Hate is at the Core of Walaa’ and Baraa’

Baraa’ from Kufr and Kaafireen

Our Hate is Restrained by the Guidance of Islam

Islam Recognises Natural Love and Hate

The Son of Abdullah Ibn Ubayy Ibn Salool

Conclusion of Halaqah

Class Twenty Three

Chapter Three

The Types of Guidance

The First Type of Guidance

The Second Type of Guidance

The Third Type of Guidance

The Fourth Type of Guidance

Which Type of Guidance did the Author Intend?

Al-Haneefiyyah Millat Ibraheem

The Root Word of Haneefiyyah

The Connection Between the Linguistic and Shar’ee Definition

Haneefiyyah and Islam are Interchangeable

Haneefiyyah and the Ahnaaf are Different

A Dream Pertaining to Haneefiyyah

Millat Ibraheem

The Definition of Millah

Who is Ibraheem?

Class Twenty Four......

Why did Allah Specify Ibraheem and not any Other Messenger?

Salah and Salaam on the Prophets and Messengers

Why did the Author Mention Ibraheem Without Adding ‘Alayhis-Salaam?

Saying Sallallahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam and Writing it Fully

Is it Waajib to say Sallallahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam?

To Worship Allah Alone

The Definition of Ibaadah

Why did Allah Order us to Worship Him?

Allah does not Benefit from our Obedience and He is not Harmed by our Sins

Ibaadah is a Right of Allah Upon Us

Ibaadah is for Our Own Benefit

Class One

Introduction

As we promised, this is the start of the explanation on the Usool Ath-Thalaathah, the three fundamental principles. As you all know, it is a booklet, not a book, a booklet on Tawheed, and we have mentioned it many times. It is very small in words but has some great, great meanings. These meanings, no one can be ignorant of. Scholars have always discussed this book and taught it among the first that is taught in Tawheed. If you really look into the three principles, what he means about those principles, they are in reality the matters you are going to be asked about in your grave. So you need to know, really as best as one knows, those three principles, and you need to apply them, so when you are asked about them in the grave, you quickly go through them Inshaa Allah Ta’aala.

We start gradually because knowledge in Islam is to be taken gradual, you donot wake up overnight an ‘Aalim or a Shaykh. Ibn Abdil-Barr, in his book al-Jaami’ said Az-Zuhri said:

من رام العلمَ جملة ذهب عنه جملة، إنما يُطلب العلم على مرِّ الأيام والليالي

Whoever seeks to get knowledge in a lump sum overnight, it leaves him, knowledge leaves him, it ends up leaving him in a lump sum. Knowledge is to be attained slowly, over days and nights. Knowledge needs patience, it needs persistence, it is a step by step process. You do not go for example to some in depth ‘Aqeedah books and then you are getting frustrated, and facing complex matters you cannot break down, which you would have been able to do had you went in a step by step process. Some brothers tell me they are studying ‘Aqeedah books, Tawheed books that ‘Ulamaa have had a hard time breaking down. And the bigger problem is they are studying it on their own, and to top that off, they are not even studying it in the language of the author. So explain to me how you can understand it like that? If you are unable to get to a teacher, which many, especially in this day and age, they cannot get to a teacher, that is a whole different story but you still need to at least know how to start.

Now this is a starter book on Tawheed. Even though you can sit and read this book right now, before I even finish this introduction you can probably have the book done, reading it. It still needs to be broken down, sentence by sentence, so the student of knowledge understands the deep meaning of what that book really entails. If you start in the step by step process, and you find it difficult, which you may find, never ever give up. The simple book that you have before your hand, I studied it cover to cover with eleven different Shuyookh, and portions of it I studied with even more than that, but the entire booklet with eleven different Shuyookh. Al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadi in his book al-Jaami’ narrated, a student of knowledge went to the Shuyookh of Hadith to learn. He found knowledge of Hadith is very difficult, he got frustrated and he said this is not for me. One day he was walking, casual walk, and he seen water dripping on a stone, maybe a spring. If you have ever seen a spring, especially where water has been dripping on a stone for years and years, or even if you look at a fountain, it has been dripping on a stone or even cement, it dents it, it dents the cement or the rock over the years, water. He said to himself, wow, look at that, water as light as it is, soft, mild, it affected the stone as hard as it is. He said knowledge is softer and lighter than water and my heart and my mind are not as hard as the rock. He went back to studying Hadith and became a very well reputable, famous scholar of Hadith.