THIRD CHAPTER – AL-HANEEFIYAH (THE STRAIGHT & TRUE RELIGION)

The first treatise was the four matters which are comprised of Surat ul Asr, and the second treatise was the three matters which have preceded and now this is the third treatise starting with the following words,

اِعلم أرشَدَک اللہُ لِطَاعَتِہِ

“Know, may Allah direct you to obedience to Him”, 

Speech concerning Knowledge has preceded, so there is no need to repeat it here. (Its definition and explanation can be read here). 

Ar-Rushd i.e. may Allah direct you to uprightness upon the way of truth. This is a supplication from Sheikh Rahimullah for everyone who reads this treatise for understanding and to act upon it.  Ar-Rush (direction); it means guidance to what is correct, and towards beneficial knowledge and righteous actions. It is the opposite of Al-Ghayy that means misguidance or error. Ar-Rushd is the religion of Islam and Al-Ghayy is the religion of Abu-Jahl.

Taa’ah (obedience) i.e may Allah direct you to His obedience. This is also a tremendous supplication, since if Allah directs to Muslims to obedience than actually the person will be fortunate, and successful in this life and hereafter. It means conformity with what is required by doing what is commanded to be done, and avoiding what is forbidden.

اَنَّ الحنیفِّیةَ ملةَ اِبراھیمَ

“That Al-Haneefiyah (the straight and true religion) the Religious way followed by Ibrahim”

Al-Haneefiyah i.e the religion which is free from shirk, and founded upon purity and sincerity of intention for Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. Al-Hanf in the language means inclination. And Haneed is one who inclined towards the religion of Allah with sincerity and purity, so Haneefiyah is turning away from Shirk towards Tawheed. And Ibrahim A.s was Haneef, a muslim.

Al-Millah i.e. the way which he, Ibraaheem followed in religion. Allah subhana’watallah said in Quran,

إِبْرَهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَـنِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

“Verily, Ibrahim was (himself) an Ummah, obedient to Allah, a Haneef (monotheist), and he was not one of the idolaters”. (Surah An-Nahl: 120)

These were the characteristics of Ibrahim A.s, due to which he was known as Al-Haneef. And it was commanded to Prophet ﷺ and whole ummah to follow his foot steps by saying this:

أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

“Then, We have sent the revelation to you: “Follow the religion of Ibrahim (he was a) Haneef, and he was not one of the idolators.”  (Surah An-Nahl: 123)

It is obligatory upon us to be aware what is our duty to be done. This is the way of Prophets to follow the deen with complete submission. The religions way of Ibrahim A.s doesn’t accept any shirk in it. Shirk asghar (Small sins) doesn’t expel one from the boundaries of Islam but greater sins (Gunnah Kabira) like nifaq, Show off (riya kari) does. Everything has its purpose to serve in this universe, like Sun is to provide light and heat, and everything in working under the commandment of the Majesty, Allah. Similarly, a muslim should be aware of what is obligatory upon him, so that he comply with it and does not violate the orders.

اَن تعبدَ اللہَ وحدہُ مُخلِصًا لہُ الدینَ

“Is that you worship Allah alone, making the religion purely and sincerely for Him”

Here two matters are combined, 

• worship Allah alone
• and making worship purely for Him

So, who worship Allah but does not make it purely for Him, then his worship is unacceptable. It can be understand as, if one prays Salah, performs Hajj, pays his Zakah and does voluntary charity, he actually does a great acts of obedience. However, if his actions are empty from the sincere intention, and he does not perform purely for Allah subhana’watalah, that either it is for show off or he mixed his deeds something from shirk, this person will not consider as mukhlis (sincere) and he will not be upon the religious way of Ibrahim A.S. All his actions are wasted.

  ملتِ ابراھیم اُس طریقہ کو کہتے ہیں جو خالص اللہ کیلئے ہو۔ ابراھیمٴ نے یکسو ہو کر اللہ کا راستہ اپنایا۔ یہی انبیاء کا طریقہ رہا ہے۔ ملتِ ابراھیم کسی شریک کو قبول نہیں کرتی۔ شرکِ اصغر ملت سے خارج نہیں کرتا مگر گناہِ کبیرہ ایمان کیلئے خطرہ ہے جسمیں نفاق اور ریا کاری جیسی برائیاں شامل ہیں۔ نوحِ اِنسان کو اپنی تخلیق کا مقصد سمجھنے کی ضرورت ہے، کہ اللہ یے ہمیں صرف روزی کمانے کو پیدا نہیں کیا بلکہ ہمارا مقصدِ حیات اُسکی ذات میں پنہاں ہے۔ یہ بالکل اِسی طرح ہے کاجسطرح سورج کا کام روشنی اور حرارت دینا ہے، اگر وہ اپنا مقصد چھوڑ دے تو دنیا کا نظام بُری طرح متاثر ہو۔ تو اِنسان اگر اللہ کی عبادت کے بجائے صرف دنیا کمانے لگ کائے تو وہ کِسطرح قابلِ قبول ہوگااور وہ ایک بے درخت کی طرح کاٹ دیئے جانے کے قابل ہے۔

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Related Links:

Introduction to Author – Imam Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab

Al-Usool Ath-Thalatha

SOURCES:

ittibaa.com

Audio in Urdu: Dr. Farhat Hashmi – Al-Usul al-Thalathah

Arabic Text: Download Book-Al-Usul Al-Thalaathah

Explanation of Usool Ath Thalatha by Shaykh Uthaymeen

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

1ST CHAPTER OF BOOK:

PART 1 – INTRODUCTION TO FIRST OBLIGATORY MATTER TO LEARN

PART 2- INTRODUCTION TO NEXT THREE OBLIGATORY MATTERS TO LEARN

2ND CHAPTER OF BOOK:

Introduction

The First Matter (Part -1) , Part-2

The Second Matter (Part -1), Part -2  – Negation of Shirk

Evidence on Second Matter

The Third Matter – Alliance and the Disociation

Evidence on Third Matter

Third Chapter of Book:

What is Al-Haneefiyah?

Ibadah with Tawheed