This volume serves as a comprehensive manual of Islamic theology and creed, detailing the foundational beliefs of the Ahl-e-Sunnat wa Jama’at. It provides specific rulings on the nature of Allah, the status of the Prophets, the roles of angels and jinn, the state of the soul in the afterlife, the signs of the Day of Resurrection, and the nature of paradise and hell, while also delineating the boundaries of faith against various misguided sects.

Key topics & takeaways

Belief in Allah

• The nature of Allah — the work teaches that Allah is One, without partners, and is the Necessary Existent (Waajib ul Wajood), while His non-existence is impossible (page 51).
• Divine attributes — the text holds that Allah’s attributes are neither identical to His Being nor separate from Him, and they are eternal, uncreated, and not subject to His power in the sense of being created (page 52).
• Impossibility of defect — the volume warns that attributing deficiency, lies, deceit, or tyranny to Allah is absolutely impossible (Muhaal), and claiming He has power over such things is a rejection of His Divine Oneness (page 55).
• Divine knowledge — the source affirms that Allah’s knowledge encompasses everything, past, present, and future, and that He is the Creator of all actions and beings (page 57).

Prophethood

• The nature of Prophets — the text teaches that Prophets are human males, chosen by Allah, and are protected (Maasoom) from committing major and minor sins (page 67, page 73).
• Knowledge of the Unseen — the work holds that Prophets are granted knowledge of the unseen (Ilm-e-Ghaib) by Allah, which is distinct from Allah’s self-knowledge because it is bestowed (Ataa’i) rather than inherent (Zaati) (page 75).
• The Finality of Prophethood — the volume affirms that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Seal of the Prophets (Khaatamun Nabiyeen), and any belief that a new prophet can appear after him is an act of infidelity (page 82).
• Status of the Prophet — the text teaches that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the most exalted of all creation, and the entire universe is under his authority, subject only to the will of Allah (page 82, page 90).

The Afterlife and Unseen

• The state of the grave — the work details that the soul remains connected to the body after death, and the deceased can hear and see those who visit them (page 98, page 99).
• Questioning in the grave — the text describes the interrogation by Munkar and Nakeer, where the deceased is asked about their Lord, their religion, and their belief regarding the Prophet (page 101).
• Resurrection — the volume asserts that the physical body will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment, and the accountability of deeds is an indisputable fact (page 116, page 122).
• Paradise and Hell — the source holds that both are currently in existence, having been created by Allah long ago, and they are the eternal abodes for believers and unbelievers respectively (page 128).

Sects and Leadership

• Criteria for leadership — the text outlines that a leader (Imam) must be sane, adult, capable, and of Quraishi lineage, and that obedience to a leader is mandatory provided their commands do not violate the Shariah (page 190, page 191).
• Excellence of the Companions — the work teaches that the first four Caliphs are the most excellent of the Ummah in the order of their succession, and slandering any companion is a sign of a misguided sect (page 192, page 194).
• Warning against corrupt sects — the volume explicitly warns against the beliefs of the Qadianis, Raafdhis (Shias), and Wahabis, labeling their core doctrines as contrary to the established faith of the Ahl-e-Sunnat (page 160, page 169, page 173).
• Sainthood (Wilaayat) — the text holds that sainthood is a special closeness to Allah bestowed upon His servants, and that seeking their assistance through permissible means is a valid practice (page 202, page 204).