Three Fundamental Principles

Explanation of the Pillars of Eemaan – Usool al-Thalaatha | Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgJune 10, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lessons 33 (Part C), 34 , 35, 36 (PartA)
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

The Pillars of Eemaan

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

قال : وأركانه ستة : أن تؤمن بالله ، وملائكته ، وكتبه ، ورسله ، واليوم الآخر ، وتؤمن بالقدر خيره وشره

Its pillars are six: to have eemaan in Allaah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to have eemaan in Pre-Decree, the good of it, and the bad of it.^[43]

[43] Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

[Note: Shaykh Fawzan covers Difference between Pillars and Branches of Eemaan before explaining the Pillars]

His saying: «Its pillars are six» meaning: it supports which it is established upon, and if they are absent, then it will be absent, or if one of them is absent, then it will be absent.

They are six pillars, and they are:

The first one: «To have eemaan in Allaah.» So, the first pillar is having eemaan in Allaah, and it includes the three categories of Tawheed: Eemaan that Allaah the Perfect and Most High is One, Unique, Alone, the Perfect Lord and Master whom everything depends totally upon, Who has no Partner in His Lordship, nor in His Right to worship, nor in His Names and Attributes.

The head of the affair is al-Islaam, its supporting pillar is the prayer, & its highest part is Jihaad – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgJune 8, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 50 (Part B) – [Final Part of the Series]
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

The proof is His saying, He the Most High:

وهذا هو معنى لا إله إلا الله، وفي الحديثِ : « رأسُ الأمْرِ الإسلامُ وعمودُهُ الصَّلاةُ وذروةُ سنَامِهِ الجهادُ في سبيلِ اللهِ »

And this is the meaning of ‘laa ilaaha ill Allaah’ (none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah).

And in the hadeeth:

“The head of the affair is al-Islaam, and its supporting pillar is the prayer, and its highest part is jihaad in Allaah’s cause.” [1]⁸⁴

[84] : Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

The Shaykh said: “And this is the meaning of laa ilaaha ill Allaah…” – Meaning: rejection of at Taaghoot and eemaan (true faith) in Allaah.

No-one is to be compelled to enter the Religion, true guidance has been made clear – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgJune 8, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 50 (Part A)
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

The proof is His saying, He the Most High:

لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

No-one is to be compelled to enter the Religion, true guidance has been made clear and distinct from falsehood. So whoever rejects at Taaghoot and truly believes in Allaah, then he has grasped the firmest handhold that will never break. And Allaah is All Hearing, All Knowing. [2:256]⁸³

[83]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

He, the Perfect and Most High, said:

لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

No one is to be compelled to enter the Religion, true guidance has been made clear and distinct from falsehood. So whoever rejects at Taaghoot and truly believes in Allaah, then he has grasped the firmest handhold that will never break. And Allaah is All Hearing, All Seeing.[2:256]

No one is to be compelled to enter the Religion… : Meaning – no one is to be forced to enter into Islaam against his will, because entering into Islaam must occur as a result of being convinced and from believing in the heart. And no one is to be forced into it against his will – this is not possible because no one can act with regards to the hearts except Allaah, the Perfect and Most High. No one may force anyone to enter Islaam because we do not possess and own the hearts. Rather it is just Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, He is the One who owns them and acts with regards to them. However we should call to Islaam and encourage people upon it.

Hadeeth of Jibreel : Islaam, Eemaan, Ihsaan & the Signs of the Hour – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgJune 5, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah : Lessons 37 (Part B) , 38 & 39
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

والدليل من السنة حديث جبريل المشهور:

»عن عمر رضى الله عنه قال : بينما نحن جلوس عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ طلع علينا رجل ، شديد بياض الثياب ، شديد سواد الشعر«

And the proof from the Sunnah is the famous hadeeth of Jibreel:

From `Umar radiyallaahu`anhu who said: «Whilst we were sitting with Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam, a man came to us whose clothing was very white and whose hair was very black.» ^[48]

[48] Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

Speech with regard to Islaam, eemaan and ihsaan has preceded and the pillars of each level. The Shaykh (rahimahullaah) has mentioned the evidences for each level from the Qur`aan. All of that has preceded and finished.

The Taaghoots are many and the heads of them are five – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgJune 5, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 49
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

The Types of Taaghoot

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

والطواغيتُ كثيرونَ ورؤوسُهُمْ خمَسةٌ: إبليسُ لعنَهُ اللهُ، ومَنْ عُبِدَ وهو راض

The taaghoots are many, and their heads are five: Iblees – may Allaah’s curse be upon him. Whoever is worshipped and is pleased with that.⁷⁹

[79]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

His saying: “And the taaghoots are many and the heads of them are five.”

The taaghoots upon whom this definition applies are: everyone who is worshipped or followed or obeyed, and they are many but their heads are five – meaning their major ones are five.

Firstly, Iblees, may Allaah’s curse be upon him – meaning: may Allaah expel him and distance him away from His Mercy on account of the fact that he refused to prostrate to Aadam and he disobeyed Allaah, the Perfect and Most High and he was proud and haughty. And He said:

قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ

And he (Iblees) said: I am better than him (Aadam), You created me from fire and You created him from clay.[38:76]

So therefore he disobeyed the command of Allaah and was haughty; therefore Allaah cursed him and He repelled him and distanced him. And he is called Iblees, it is said, because he ablasa (despaired) of Mercy – meaning he despaired of Mercy. So the mublis is one who despairs of something.

Rejecting at-Taaghoot, and Having Eemaan in Allaah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgJune 4, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 48
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Rejecting at-Taaghoot, and Having Eemaan in Allaah

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

وافترضَ اللهُ على جميعِ العبادِ الكفرَ بالطاغوتِ والإيمانَ بالله

Allaah has made it obligatory upon all of the servants to reject at-taaghoot, and to have eemaan in Allaah.⁷⁷

[77]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

So the Shaykh rahimahullaah said, “And Allaah has made it obligatory upon all of the servants to reject at-taaghoot, and to have eemaan in Allaah…” Then he mentioned the definition of at-taaghoot.

The taaghoot has been mentioned by Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, in many aayaat. From them is His saying, He the Most High, in Soorat-ul-Baqarah:

فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

So whoever rejects at-taaghoot (everything which is worshipped besides Allaah) and believes truly in Allaah, then he has grasped the firmest handhold that will not break. And Allaah is All Hearing, All Knowing.

Belief in the Messengers – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgJune 3, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 46 (Part C) & Lesson 47
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Belief in the Messengers

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

Allaah sent all of the messengers as bringers of good tidings and as warners, and the proof is His saying, He the Most High:

رُّسُلًا مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا

Messengers were sent as bringers of glad tidings and as warners so that the people should have no excuse with Allaah after the sending of the messengers. And Allaah is ever All Mighty, All Wise. [4:165] ^[74]

[74]:Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

Eemaan in the Messengers is one of the six pillars of eemaan; he sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam said:

“Eemaan is that you truly believe in Allaah and in His Angels and in His Books and in His Messengers…”

Whoever Denies the Resurrection is a Disbeliever – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgJune 3, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 46 (Part B)
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

And whoever denies the Resurrection is a disbeliever, and the proof is His saying, He the Most High:

زَعَمَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَن لَّن يُبْعَثُوا ۚ قُلْ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّي لَتُبْعَثُنَّ ثُمَّ لَتُنَبَّؤُنَّ بِمَا عَمِلْتُمْ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ

Those who disbelieve claim that they will not be resurrected. Say (O Muhammad), ‘Yes, by my Lord you will certainly be resurrected and then you will certainly be informed of the deeds which you did. And that is easy for Allaah. [64:7] ^[73]

[73]:Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

His saying: “Whoever denies the Resurrection is a disbeliever…” – because he has denied a pillar from the pillars of eemaan and because he is denying Allaah and to His Messengers and to His Books because Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, informed about the Resurrection and the Messengers informed about the Resurrection and the Books informed about the Resurrection. So whoever denies it then he is a disbeliever. And the proof is His saying, He the Most High:

.. زَعَمَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا

Those who disbelieve za’ama claim…

Az –za’m means “a lie” ( a false claim)

أَن لَّن يُبْعَثُوا ..

…that they will not be resurrected. [64:7]

So the aayah proves that denying the Resurrection is kufr (disbelief). They say, “there is no resurrection after death” – the people of shirk and the worshippers of idols in the time of the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam used to dispute about the Resurrection.

The Hisaab (Account) and the Meezaan (Balance) – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgJune 3, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 46 (Part A)
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

The Hisaab (Account) and The Meezaan (the Balance)

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

After the Resurrection the people will be brought to hisaab (account) and will be rewarded or punished for their actions. And the proof is His saying, He the Most High:

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسَاءُوا بِمَا عَمِلُوا وَيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا بِالْحُسْنَى

And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth,So that He may recompense those who did evil for what they did; and that He may reward those who did good with the best reward of Paradise. [53:31]^[⁷²^]

[72] Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

From the actions that will occur on the Day of Resurrection is al hisaab (the Reckoning) and al meezaan (the Balance). The hisaab has the meaning of munaaqashah (interrogation) of the people of sins.

Eemaan (True Faith) in al-Ba’th (the Resurrection) – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgJune 2, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 45
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Belief in the Resurrection

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

And after they have died, the people will be resurrected, and the proof is His saying:

مِنْهَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمْ وَمِنْهَا نُخْرِجُكُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَىٰ

From the Earth We created you (O Mankind), and to it We shall return you (after death) and from it We shall raise you to life again. [20:55]^[70]

[70]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

He moved on, to another fundamental principle, which is eemaan (true faith) in al-ba’th (the Resurrection) – meaning that death alone is not what is wanted. We know and everyone knows – even the disbelievers and the atheists and the evil heretics – all of them know that death will certainly occur. No one denies death, because it is something which is experienced. However the important matter is the Resurrection after death; this is the point of disagreement between the believers and the disbelievers, the Resurrection after death. And it (the Resurrection) is the restoration of the bodies which have rotted away and become decayed bones and dust and which have separated in the Earth. They will be restored and rebuilt just as they were before, because the One who created them in the first place is fully able to bring them back again.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: Settling in al-Madeenah and the Completion of the Religion – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgJune 2, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 44 (Part B)
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Settling in al-Madeenah and the Coming Down of the Rest of the Religious Duties and the Completion of the Religion

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

فلما استقر بالمدينة أمر ببقية شرائع الإسلام ، مثل الزكاة والصوم والحج والجهاد ، والأذان ، والأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر ، وغير ذلك من شرائع الإسلام ، أخذ على هذا عشر سنين ، وبعدها توفي صلوات الله وسلامه عليه ، ودينه باق وهذا دينه ، لا خير إلا دل الأمة عليه ، ولا شر إلا حذرها منه ، والخير الذي دلها عليه التوحيد وجميع ما يحبه الله ويرضاه ، والشر الذي حذر منه الشرك وجميع ما يكرهه الله ويأباه ، بعثه الله إلى الناس كافة ، وافترض الله طاعته على جميع الثقلين الجن والإنس

When he sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam settled in al-Madeenah, he was ordered with the rest of the prescribed duties of Islaam, such as the zakaat; fasting (Sawm); Hajj; Jihaad; the adhaan; commanding good and forbidding evil; and the rest of the prescribed duties of Islaam. He spent ten years establishing that, after which he passed away, may Allaah extol and send blessings of peace upon him. His religion remains and this is his religion. There is no good except that he directed his nation to it and there is no evil except that he warned them against it. The good that he guided them to is tawheed, and all that Allaah loves and is pleased with. The evil which he warned against was shirk and everything that Allaah hates and rejects. Allaah sent him as a prophet to the whole of mankind, and Allaah made it obligatory upon all of the jinn and mankind to obey him.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: Hijrah to al-Madeenah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgMay 26, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 43 (Part A)
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Hijrah to al-Madeenah

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

وبعدها أمر بالهجرة إلى المدينة

After that, he was commanded to perform hijrah to al-Madeenah.^[62]

[62] Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

His saying (rahimahullaah): «After that, he was commanded to perform hijrah to al-Madeenah»: When the harm from the Quraysh became severe and their evil increased on account of their blocking (people) from Allaah’s path, persecuting the Muslims and torturing those who had no group of people to defend them from the Muslims, who were in a state of weakness – then Allaah, the Perfect and Most High, gave permission for the Muslims to make hijrah to Abyssinia – the first hijrah, because there was a king with whom no one would be oppressed. He was a Christian, however he was just, so a large group of them migrated.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: He called the people to tawheed & warned against shirk for 10 years in Makkah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgMay 25, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 42 (Part A)
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

The Time Period of the Call in Makkah

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

أخذ على هذا عشر سنين يدعو إلى التوحيد

He carried this out for ten years calling to tawheed. ^[60]

[60] :Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

His statement: «He carried this out for ten years calling to tawheed» meaning: He called the people to tawheed and warned against shirk for ten years in Makkah. He was calling to tawheed and forbidding shirk, because they used to direct worship to the idols.

And the wisdom in Allaah’s sending him as a prophet in Makkah was that Makkah is Umm al-Quraa (the mother of all the cities), that to which all the cities relate back to. Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, says:

وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِي أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا

«And your Lord would not destroy the townships until He sent a Messenger in their original one.» [28:59]

The ‘Umm‘ is the source to which something relates back to and the foundation which it relates back to; this is the Umm.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: Early Life and the Coming Down of the Revelation to Him – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgMay 24, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 41
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

He lived for sixty-three years: forty before Prophet-hood and twenty-three as a Prophet and Messenger. He was sent as a Prophet through [the revelation of] “Iqra“ ^[58]

[58] Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

He was born in Makkah sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam and breastfed amongst the tribe of Banoo Sa`d with Haleemah as-Sa`diyyah. His father, `Abdullaah, died whilst he was still in the womb and his mother died a short time after his birth. So he was taken care of by Umm Ayman al-Habashiyyah whom he inherited from his father. He came to be under the guardianship of his grandfather, `Abdul-Muttalib, then `Abdul-Muttalib died and his guardianship moved to his paternal uncle, Aboo Taalib.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: His Name and Lineage – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgMay 23, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah : Lesson 40
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

The Third Fundamental Principle:
Knowledge About Our Prophet Muhammad –sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam
His Name, His Lineage, and His Early Life

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

الأصل الثالث : معرفة نبيكم محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم

The third fundamental principle: Knowledge about your Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam.^[56]

[56] Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

His saying: «The third fundamental principle» meaning: from the three fundamental principles, because the Shaykh (rahimahullaah) has mentioned at the start of the treatise that it is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female to have knowledge of these three fundamental principles, and they are: knowledge of Allaah, knowledge of the religion of Islaam, and knowledge about His Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam with the evidences.

Al-ihsaan (Perfection) : It’s Categories and Levels – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgMay 21, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah : Lesson 36 – Part B & Lesson 37
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

The Third Level is al-Ihsaan

The Definition of Ihsaan

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

:المرتبة الثالثة : الإحسان ، ركن واحد ، وهو

” أن تعبد الله كأنك تراه ، فإن لم تكن تراه فإنه يراك“

The third level is al-ihsaan. It is a single pillar and it is: «That you worship Allaah as if you were seeing Him, and even though you do not see Him, He certainly sees you.»⁴⁶

[46]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

Al-Ihsaan in the language means to perfect something and complete it. It is derived from al-husun which means al-jamaal (beauty), the opposite of ugliness.

And it is divided into (three) categories:

Firstly: Al-Ihsaan (Perfection) of what lies between the servant and his Lord. This is what is meant (in this book here).
Secondly: Al-Ihsaan (Perfection) of what is between the servant and the rest of the people.
Thirdly: Doing well and perfecting what you do. When a person makes something or does an action, then it is obligatory upon him that he perfects it and does it completely.

Eemaan has 70 and odd branches, its highest of them is the saying of “Laa ilaaha illAllaah” – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgMay 15, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah : Lesson 32 – Part B
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

The Second Level is Eemaan

المرتبة الثانية : الإيمان : وهو بضع وسبعون شعبة ، فأعلاها قول : لا إله إلا الله ، وأدناها إماطة الأذى عن الطريق ، والحياء شعبة من الإيمان

The second level is al-Eemaan (true faith) and it has seventy and odd branches, its highest of them is the saying of “Laa ilaaha illAllaah” and the lowest of them is removal of that which is harmful from the path; and al-hayaa (a sense of shame) is a branch of eemaan.^[42]

[42] : Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

Eemaan is more inclusive than Islaam, so every believer is a Muslim, but not every Muslim is a believer. So eemaan is more inclusive with respect to itself, and it is more specific with regard to its people.

The True Meaning of “Laa ilaaha illAllaah” and It’s Explanation from the Qur’an – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgMay 13, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah : Lesson 27 Part B & Lesson 28
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

ومعناها لا معبودَ بحقٍّ إلا اللهُ وحده؛ (لا إله) نافيًا جميعَ مَا يُعْبدُ مِنْ دونِ اللهِ (إلا الله) مُثْبِتًا العبادةَ له وحدَهُ لا شريكَ لهُ في عبادتِهِ، كما أنَّه ليس له شريك في مُلْكِه

And its meaning is none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah; laa ilaaha (nothing has the right to be worshipped) is a negation of everything which is worshipped besides Allaah. Illallaah (except Allaah) affirms worship for Allaah Alone, and that none is given any share of worship along with Him, just as He has no sharer in His Sovereignty.³⁴

[34]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation:

His saying, “And its meaning is none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah”: the meaning of laa ilaaha illAllaah is not as is said by the people of falsehood: “there is no creator and there is no provider except Allaah”, because this is tawheed-ur-Ruboobiyyah (tawheed of Lordship), the people of shirk agreed to that, but they would not say laa ilaaha illAllaah. He the Most High said:

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

وَيَقُولُونَ أَئِنَّا لَتَارِكُو آلِهَتِنَا لِشَاعِرٍ مَّجْنُونٍ

When it was said to them, “laa ilaaha illAllaah” (none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah), they became proud, and they say, “are we to abandon worshipping our gods for a crazy poet?” [37:35-36]

“Aalihatinaa” means: those things which we worship.

Allaah bears witness that “Lā ilāha illā Huwa”. Likewise the Angels & the people of knowledge bear witness – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgMay 12, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah : Lesson 27 Part A
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Allaah bears witness that “Lā ilāha illā Huwa”. Likewise the Angels & the people of knowledge bear witness. Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah| Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

So the proof for the shahaadah (testification) is:

شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ ۚ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

Allaah bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Him; and likewise the Angels and the people of knowledge bear witness. He Who maintains justice, none has the right to be worshipped but Him, the All-Mighty the All-Wise [3:18]³³

[33]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation:

His saying, He the Most High, “He testified“: meaning He judged and He decreed and He informed and He made clear and He made it binding.

The Meaning of Ad-Deen Al-Islam (The Religion of Islam), its Levels and Pillars – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

by AbdurRahman.orgMay 11, 2018October 22, 2026

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah : Lesson 25 Part D & Lesson 26
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link]

The Second Fundamental Principle: Knowledge of the Religion of Islaam

The Definition of the Religion (Ad-Deen)

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

الأصلُ الثَّاني: معرفةُ دينِ الإسلامِ بالأدلةِ

The second fundamental principle: knowledge of the religion of Islaam with its proofs.²⁷

[27]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation:

The Shaikh, having finished explaining knowledge of the first fundamental principle, which was knowledge of Allaah the Perfect and Most High, with the evidences, he now moves on to explaining the second fundamental principle, and it is knowledge of the religion of Islaam with the proofs.

So therefore he said, “The second fundamental principle: knowledge and awareness of the religion of Islaam with the proofs.” Then he mentioned its definition and he explained its meaning and then he mentioned its levels.

And his saying rahimahullaah, “knowledge of the Deen of Islaam”. Ad-Deen – it means obedience, for it is said about a person, daana lahu, when he obeys him with regard to what he commanded, and he abandons what he forbade.

And the word Ad-Deen is used to mean al-Hisaab (bringing to account or reckoning), just as occurs in His saying:

مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

The Sovereign Owner of the Day of Reckoning [1:4]

And it is said, “daanahu”, meaning he brought him to account, just as He the Most High said:

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الدِّينِ

ثُمَّ مَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الدِّينِ

And what will cause you to understand what is the Day of the Reckoning? Then what will cause you to understand what is the Day of the Reckoning? [82:17-18]

Meaning: the Day of the Reckoning.