This short treatise on theology written by Imam Tahawi was titled Bayan al- Sunna wa l-Jama'a and is commonly known as al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya. The importance of this creed lies in the fact that it corroborates the views of Imam Abu Hanifa, the founder of the Hanafi school, that have come down to us from different sources. Imam Tahawi does not make an attempt to explain the views of Imam Abu Hanafi or to solve the old theological problems by advancing any new arguments. His sole aim was to give a summary of the views of the Imam and to show indirectly that they were in conformity with the traditional views of the orthodox school. Imam Tahawi 's treatise, though small in size, is a basic text for all times, listing what a Muslim must know and believe and inwardly comprehend. It can be said to represent the creed of both the Ash'aris and the Maturidis, especially the latter, given his being a follower of the Hanafi school. The doctrines enumerated in this work are entirely derived from the undisputed primary sources of religion, the Qur'an and the confirmed Hadith. This text, representative of the viewpoint of Ahl al-Sunna wa l-Jama'a, has long been the most widely acclaimed, and indeed indispensable, reference work on Muslim beliefs.

Translated, annotated, and introduced by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, this title is a simple yet profound expression of the essential points of Muslim belief.

Before you is the English translation of Sharh al Aqidah Al tahawiya by Ali ibn Ali ibn Abi Al Izz. This is an explanation of the renowned treatise on the Islamic creed entitled al Aqidah Al Tahawiya. The author of this treatise is Imam abu Jafar al Tahawi (239 - 321 AH), one of the leading authorities on the Hanafi madhabs. The period he lived in was the zenith of the dissemination of the Islamic sciences and Imam at Tahawi was one of the giants this era produced. To illustrate this; his teachers included imam Ismail ibn Yahya Al Muzani (a major student of Imam al shaafi), he collected hadith from Imam an-Nasai (author of Sunan an-Nasai, one of the saheeh Sittah) and his students included the great Muhaddith Imam At-Tabarani. The purpose of this treatise was to state the creed of the early scholars of the Hanafi madhab and to indicate its correlation with the views of Ahl As-Sunnah Wal Jamaah in general. Imam Dhahabi (673-748 AH) said about At-Tahawi - He was the muhaddith and faqih of Egypt, equally distinguished in both fields. Whoever reads the word of this Imam is sure to acknowledge his erudition and width of vision. Ibn Kathir (702-774 AH) said - He was the most reliable and correct narrator of hadith and one of the greatest scholars of hadith Ibn Hajr Al Asaqalani (773-853 AH) said - He was a reliable narrator, a great scholar, famous jurist, very knowledgeable concerning the controversies of the jurists and a man of keen interests.

The author of this treatise is Imam abu Jafar al Tahawi (239 - 321 AH), one of the leading authorities on the Hanafi madhabs. The period he lived in was the zenith of the dissemination of the Islamic sciences and Imam at Tahawi was one of the giants this era produced. To illustrate this; his teachers included imam Ismail ibn Yahya Al Muzani (a major student of Imam al shaafi), he collected hadith from Imam an-Nasai (author of Sunan an-Nasai, one of the saheeh Sittah) and his students included the great Muhaddith Imam At-Tabarani. The purpose of this treatise was to state the creed of the early scholars of the Hanafi madhab and to indicate its correlation with the views of Ahl As-Sunnah Wal Jamaah in general. Imam Dhahabi (673-748 AH) said about At-Tahawi - He was the muhaddith and faqih of Egypt, equally distinguished in both fields. Whoever reads the word of this Imam is sure to acknowledge his erudition and width of vision. Ibn Kathir (702-774 AH) said - He was the most reliable and correct narrator of hadith and one of the greatest scholars of hadith Ibn Hajr Al Asaqalani (773-853 AH) said - He was a reliable narrator, a great scholar, famous jurist, very knowledgeable concerning the controversies of the jurists and a man of keen interests.

Aqeedah Tahawiyyah, though small in size, is a basic text for all times, listing what a Muslim must know and believe and inwardly comprehend. There is consensus among the Companions, the Successors and all the leading Islamic authorities such as the four Imams and their authoritative followers on the doctrines enumerated in this work, which are entirely derived from the undisputed primary sources of Religion, the Holy Qur'an and the confirmed Hadith. Being a text on Islamic doctrine, this work sums up the arguments set forth in those two sources to define sound belief, and likewise, the arguments advanced in refuting the views of sects that have deviated from the Sunna.As regards the sects mentioned in this work, familiarity with Islamic history up to the time of Imam Tahawi would be quite helpful. More or less veiled references to sects such as the Mu`tazila, the Jahmiyya, the Karramiyya, the Qadariyya, and the Jabariyya are found in the work. It also contains allusions to other views considered unorthodox and deviant from the way of Ahl al-Sunna. There is an explicit reference in the work to the controversy on the creation of the Qu'ran in the times of al-Ma'mun and others.While the permanent relevance of the statements of belief in the `Aqida are obvious, the historical weight and point of certain of these statements can be properly appreciated only if the work is used as a text for study under the guidance of some learned person able to elucidate its arguments fully, with reference to the intellectual and historical background of the sects refuted in the work. Since the present book is intended exactly as one such aid towards understanding the details of Islamic belief with clarity, it is hoped that the quotation of the entire text of Tahawi's "Doctrine," which we consider as the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a, will be of benefit to the reader. And may Allah grant us a true understanding of faith and count us among those described by the Prophet as the Saved Group.

Explanation of a Summary of al Aqeedatul Hamawiyyah of Ibn Taymiyah is the commentary on one of Ibn Taymiyyah's works "al-Fatwaa al-Hamawiyyah" which he wrote as an answer to a question presented to him in the Hijrah year of 698 from Hamaah, a place in ash-Shaam. In it, he was asked what the scholars and Imaams of the religion say concerning the Aayaat and the Ahaadeeth of the Sifaat, or the attributes and characteristics of Allaah. So he answered in about 83 pages and due to which, he suffered trials and afflictions. May Allaah reward him on behalf of Islaam and the Muslims with the best of rewards. Due to the difficulty in understanding and comprehending this answer from many readers, Ibn Uthaymeen has summarized the most important points from it along with some other needed additions.

The author of this treatise is Imam abu Jafar al Tahawi (239 - 321 AH), one of the leading authorities on the Hanafi madhab. The period he lived in was the zenith of the dissemination of the Islamic sciences and Imam at Tahawi was one of the giants this era produced. To illustrate this; his teachers included Imam Ismail ibn Yahya Al Muzani (a major student of Imam al shaafi), he collected hadith from Imam an-Nasai (author of Sunan an-Nasai, one of the saheeh Sittah) and his students included the great Muhaddith Imam At-Tabarani. The purpose of this treatise was to state the creed of the early scholars of the Hanafi madhab and to indicate its correlation with the views of Ahl As-Sunnah Wal Jamaah in general. Imam Dhahabi (673-748 AH) said about At-Tahawi - He was the muhaddith and faqih of Egypt, equally distinguished in both fields. Whoever reads the word of this Imam is sure to acknowledge his erudition and width of vision. Ibn Kathir (702-774 AH) said - He was the most reliable and correct narrator of hadith and one of the greatest scholars of hadith. Ibn Hajr Al Asaqalani (773-853 AH) said - He was a reliable narrator, a great scholar, a famous jurist, very knowledgeable concerning the controversies of the jurists, and a man of keen interests.

Imām Ṭaḥāwī’s Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār is a timeless and universal masterpiece from amongst the greatest compilations of Islamic literature. Consisting of a wide array of vast and unique Prophetic traditions, it is a detailed and indispensable resource in jurisprudential matters. As a key text within the Ḥanafī School of Law, it dispels the oft-assumed notion of the School being solely one of reason by substantiating many legal verdicts of the great luminary Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (Rh.) with not only the proposition of rationale but also with highly authentic supporting evidences. The key distinguishing factor of this work from others is its unmatchable style of composition and argumentation in deducing legal rulings and deeply analysing therein; all the while assisting its readers by explaining in a coherent, cogent, and comprehensive manner. As an outstanding treatise of Imām Ṭaḥāwi (Rh.) it embodies a lifetime of discerning sacred knowledge and formulating independent decisions based on such; pro- viding a glimpse into the depths and magnitudes of his knowledge. This book has been translated into English in the hope of making the text more accessible and enabling an appreciation for it amongst the masses.

The Reason this Creed was WrittenIbn Taimiyah said:"A Shafi'ite judge from Wasit (in Iraq) whose name is Radiy ad-Din al-Wasiti, visited me on his wayto Hajj (pilgrimage). This Sheikh was a man of goodness and faith. He complained to me of thepeople's situation in that country (i.e., Iraq ) under the Tatars (Mongols) rule of ignorance, injustice,and loss of faith and knowledge.He asked me to write him an 'Aqidah (creed) as a reference to him and his family. But I declinedsaying: Many creeds have been written. Refer to the scholars of the Sunnah. However, he persistedin his request, saying: I do not want any creed but one you write. So I wrote this one for him while Iwas sitting one afternoon.Many copies of it are dispersed throughout Egypt, Iraq and other provinces. (Majmu' Fatawa IbnTaimiyah, VIII, p.164)

As a response to a request, Imam al-Bajuri, in this short treatise outlines, the core beliefs of the traditional, orthodox Sunni doctrine ('Aqida) that every Muslim should be aware of. Designed to be studied preferably with a teacher or read on one's own, this text will equip the student with sufficient knowledge of the bare essentials of his religion to be able to distinguish truth from falsehood, orthodox from unorthodox, Ahl al-Sunna wa al- Jama'a from others.