The Beneficial Epistle & Decisive Proof on The Science of Divine Unity

Shaykh Muhammad Salih al-Furfur

Paperback. 82 pages

9780993475672

Al-Risalah al-Nafi'ah wa al-Hujjah al-Qati'ah Fi Ilm al-Tawhid

The Beneficial Epistle, by the late Damascene polymath Shaykh Muḥammad Ṣāliḥ al-Furfūr, is a short, yet comprehensive text in mainstream Sunni theology and can be regarded as a summary of some of the more elaborate works in the field. For decades, it has been the primary beginners’ text, taught, studied and memorised as part of the curriculum of the prestigious al-Fatḥ al-Islāmī Academy of Damascus, which was founded by the shaykh himself. With his succinct and lucid style, the author explains the core tenets of faith that every Muslim should believe in, namely, Allah and His attributes, prophethood, the revealed scriptures, angels, divine decree and the Last Day. The work serves as an invaluable introduction to Sunni creed.

Contents

Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah: The Ash-aris and Maturidis

Asha’ris

Maturidis

Sects that Oppose Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah

The Mu’tazilah

The Qadariyyah

The Jabriyyah

The Karramiyyah

Introduction to the Science of Divine Unity (Tawhid)

1. Foundational Principles and Divine Attributes

Section 1: Faith (Iman) and Islam

Section 2: Allah Almighty and Majestic’s Entity, Attributes and Names

Section 3: The Ambiguous Verses

Acts of Slaves

2. Prophethood, Miracles and Revelation

Section 1: Prophets and Messengers 

Section 2: The Divinely Revealed Scriptures

Section 3: Our Master Muhammad (pbuh)

Epilogue: Following Qualified Scholarship in Jurisprudence

3. Eschatology

Section 1: Belief in Angels

Section 2: Belief in Jinn

Section 3: Belief in Other Matters of the Unseen Realm

Section 4: Belief in the Final Day

4. Degrees of Deeds

Section 1: Good and Bad Deeds

Section 2: Major and Minor Sins