Introduction for Teachers and Parents

As Muslim parents and it is our duty to provide our children with a solid foundation in understanding our ʿAqīdah. The central most tenet of Islamic theology is the understanding of Allah and his attributes which are often misunderstood and imaginary as a result of influence from foreign ideologies. To aid in this endeavor, the following a concise and simplified summary of the essential beliefs regarding Allah's attributes, drawn from the Ṭaḥawī Creed: a famous and blessed foundational text used by all Sunnī creedal schools of thought. This original text was composed by Abū Ja'far Aḥmad al-Ṭaḥawī (d. 933 CE / 321 AH). This summary is designed to make these important concepts more accessible to children and new Muslims who are beginning to explore their faith.

Allah, subḥānahū wa-taʿālá

Allah's Oneness

• Allah can only be known through the attributes He taught us in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
• Allah, there is no other god worthy of worship other than Him.
• Allah is One and has no partners, nor parents, spouse, children, nor siblings.

Allah's Perfection and Uniqueness

• Allah is unique and unlike anything in His creation.
• Allah cannot be imagined and His essence is beyond comprehension.
• Allah's attributes are perfect and complete, without any defects or limitations.

Allah's Existence

• Allah has always existed; Having a beginning does not apply to Him.
• Allah will always exist; Having an ending does not apply to Him.

Allah's Timelessness

• Allah exists outside of time and space; Past, present, or future does not apply to Him.
• Allah's attributes remain constant, eternal; Having a change does not apply to Him.

Allah as the Eternal Creator

• Allah is the Creator of the universe, bringing everything into existence.
• He created the heavens, the Earth, and all living beings, including humans.
• Everything other than Allah is His creation.

Allah's Self-Sufficiency

• Allah is not in need of anything, any time, any space, any place, or anyone.
• All of creation, time, and space depends on Allah for everything.

Allah's Power and Control

• Allah has unlimited power and everything is possible for Him.
• Allah is in control of everything in the universe; Nothing can control or overpower Him.
• He provides for all living things and maintains the order of the universe.

Allah's Hearing and Seeing

• Allah hears everything, even our thoughts.
• Allah sees everything, nothing is hidden from Him.

Allah's Mercy and Compassion

• Allah is full of mercy and compassion for His creation.
• Allah forgives those who seek His forgiveness sincerely.

Allah's Justice and Fairness

• Allah is absolutely just and fair in His actions and decisions.
• Allah's judgment is based on His perfect knowledge.

Allah's Knowledge and His Will

Allah's Knowledge and Wisdom

• Allah has perfect knowledge of everything.
• Allah's wisdom is infinite and is not something humans can understand.

Allah's Endless Knowledge and Will

• Allah knows everything about the past, present, and future; what happened, and what could have happened, and what will happen.
• His Will is always active, guiding the everything that happens.

Allah's Eternal Knowledge and Purpose

• Allah created everything according to His eternal knowledge and Will, with a purpose.
• He knew everything about His creation even before creating them.

Destiny and Life Spans

• Allah set and defined the future and destinies of all His creations.
• He assigned fixed life spans to every living thing.

Divine Will and Control

• Everything happens according to Allah's Decree and Will.
• His Will cannot be changed by anyone else's desire or will.

Advance Knowledge of Actions

• Allah knew in advance everything His creation would do before creating them.
• He commanded them to obey Him and forbade disobedience.

Guidance and Justice

• Allah guides and protects those He Wills out of His kindness.
• He leads astray and afflicts those He Wills out of His justice.

Good and Evil Decreed

• Allah has Decreed both good and evil for people.
• People are responsible for their actions based on their abilities.

Subjugation to His Will

• All creation is subject to Allah's Will, balanced between His generosity and justice.
• No one can escape or overpower His Decree.

Allah is Clear of Injustice

• Allah is free from evil, injustice, imperfection, or flaw.
• He is not questioned about His actions, but His creation will be questioned about their actions.

The Sacred Tablet and The Pen

• We believe in the Sacred Tablet and the Pen as the creation of Allah.
• Everything written on the Tablet by the Pen is final and unchangeable.