Imam Tahawi's al-Aqida 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 consensūs among the Companions, the Successors and all the leading Islamic authorities such as the four Imaam and their authoritative followers on the doctrines enumerated in this work, which are entirely derived from the undisputed primary sources of Deen, the Noble Qurān and the Hadith. Being a text in 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 Sunnah.

As regards the sects mentioned in this work, familiarity with Islamic history up to the time of Imaam Tahawi would be quite helpful. More or less references 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 Sunnah. There is an explicit reference in this work to the controversy on the creation of the Qur'an in the times of al -Ma'mun and others.

In our course, we will cover the following topics and creedal issues:

• Monotheism
• The Seal of Prophecy
• The Quran is the uncreated speech of Allah Almighty
• The Attributes of Allah are unlike those of human beings
• The looking of the people of Paradise at their Lord without encompassing Him
• Speaking about religious matters without knowledge
• The Night Journey and Ascension while the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was awake
• ︎The Prophetic Fountain
• The Intercession
• ︎The covenant that Allah took from Adam and his progeny
• ︎The Preserved Tablet and the Pen
• Faith in the angels, the revealed Books, and the Messengers
• ︎Punishment in the grave and its blessings