The Creed of Imam Abu Ja’far al-Tahawi – Explained by Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzan
The Importance of Islamic Creed (‘Aqidah)
The Islamic creed (‘Aqidah) is the foundation of the religion of Islam. It represents the essence of the first pillar of Islam: the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah.
Because of its central importance, Muslims are commanded to learn the correct creed, understand what invalidates it, and protect their faith from doubts and misconceptions. A faith built on a strong and authentic foundation is accepted by Allah, while a faith based on weak, corrupt, or misguided beliefs is rejected. This is why the scholars of Islam gave great attention to teaching ‘Aqidah consistently throughout history.
Deviant Sects and the Preservation of the Correct Belief
As Islam spread, new sects and groups arose. Some embraced Islam without deeply grounding themselves in the Qur’an and Sunnah, while others brought in foreign ideas and philosophies. These deviations threatened the purity of the Islamic creed.
In response, the Muslim scholars (‘Ulama) of every generation worked to preserve and clarify the authentic belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah. They wrote books, taught students, and passed down the true creed so that Muslims could remain firm upon the correct understanding until the Day of Judgment.
Imam Abu Ja’far al-Tahawi and His Creed
Among the great scholars who contributed to this effort was Imam Abu Ja’far Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Tahawi (رحمه الله), an Egyptian scholar of the third century Hijri. He authored the famous work known as “al-‘Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah” (The Creed of al-Tahawi), which summarized the belief of the early generations (the Salaf).
Imam al-Tahawi wrote this creed in line with the understanding of Ahl al-Sunnah, including the teachings of Imam Abu Hanifah al-Nu’man ibn Thabit al-Kufi (the earliest of the four imams), as well as his distinguished students Abu Yusuf and Muhammad al-Shaybani, and the scholars of the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.
Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation
In later times, scholars like Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzan have provided detailed explanations of al-Tahawi’s Creed, making it easier for contemporary Muslims to study, understand, and remain steadfast upon the authentic belief of Islam.
Through these explanations and preserved works, the Muslim Ummah continues to safeguard the correct creed, ensuring that future generations remain connected to the faith of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions.
