The Principles of the Creed: Book 2 of the Revival of the Religious Sciences

by Khalid Williams (Translator)

Overview

In the Principles of the Creed (Kitab Qawa'id al-'aqa'id), the second of the forty books of the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya' 'ulum al-din), Abu Hamid al-Ghazali explains the fundamental beliefs of Islam, those that concern faith in God, His revelation, His messengers, and the hereafter. The scope of these beliefs includes the nature of God, Muhammad’s status as a prophet, the virtues of the Companions, the events related to the resurrection and judgment, and the nature of faith itself. This presentation of beliefs goes beyond a list of creedal statements; al-Ghazali cites the scriptural foundations in the Qur'an and hadith, refers to transmitted reports from the Companions and others from the righteous predecessors, and supports these beliefs with rational arguments.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781941610169
Publisher:	Fons Vitae of Kentucky, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/01/2016
Series:	The Fons Vitae Al-Ghazali Series
Edition description:	None
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Khalid Williams studied Arabic and Islamic studies at the University of Leeds, graduating in 2005, and then moved to Morocco to continue his study of traditional Islamic sciences and spirituality in Salé, Fes, Oujda and Nador. His previous translations include Our Master Muhammad by Imam Abdallah Siraj al-Din, Muhammad the Perfect Man by Sayyid Muhammad Alawi al-Maliki, Love in the Holy Qur’an by HRH Ghazi bin Muhammad, and The Qur’an and the Prophet in the Writings of Shaykh Ahmad al-Alawi.

Table of Contents

Editor's Note xi

Biography of Imam al-Ghazali xiii

About the Revival of the Religious Sciences xix

Introduction xxi

The Principles of the Creed 1

Chapter 1 Art Exposition of the Creed of the People of the Sunna [with regard to] the Two Testimonies of Faith, which are One of the Foundations of Islam 2

Unity 4

Transcendence 4

Life and Omnipotence 8

Knowledge 8

Will 10

Hearing and Sight 12

Speech 12

Acts 14

The Meaning of the Second Testimony [of Faith] is Bearing Witness to the Messenger of the Message 16

Chapter 2 On Imparting Religious Instruction Gradually, and the Stages and Levels of Conviction 25

Inquiry on the Ruling on Studying Debate and Theology 27

Inquiry: Is There an Outward Creed and an Inward Creed? 41

Inquiry on the Difference Between the Outward and the Inward 44

Chapter 3 Shining Proofs of the Creed, Entitled "The Jerusalem Epistle on the Principles of the Creed" 57

The First Pillar of Faith: Recognition of the Essence of God, and that God is One 59

The Second Pillar of Faith: Knowledge of the Attributes of God 69

The Third Pillar of Faith: Knowledge of the Acts of God 75

The Fourth. Pillar of Faith: Belief Based on Transmitted Reports and Believing in What [the Prophet <$$$>] Conveyed about God 85

Chapter 4 On Faith [Iman) and Islam, What Connects and Separates Them, Whether Faith Can Increase and Decrease, and Whether the Predecessors Qualified Their Claims to Faith [by Saying "God Willing"] 91

Inquiry: Is Islam Identical with Faith (iman), or Distinct from it? 91

Inquiry: On the Increase and Decrease of Faith 102

Inquiry: Is it Acceptable to Say, "I am a Believer, God Willing" 106

Bibliography 117

Indexes

Index of Qur'anic Verses 122

Index of Hadith 124

General Index 125

About the contributors 137