1. Musallah at-Taqwa
Islamic College of Canberra
Saturday
August 15,
2009
‫ﺑﺴﻢ ﺍﷲ ﺍﻟﺮﲪﻦ ﺍﻟﺮﺣﻴﻢ‬
Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles
Class Notes – Term 3, Week 1
‫ﻓﺈﺫﺍ ﻗﻴﻞ ﹶﻟﻚ ﻣﺎ ﺍﻷﺻﻮﻝ ﺍﻟﱠﻼﹶﺛﺔ ﺍﱠﺘﻲ َﻳﺠﺐ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻹْﻧﺴﺎﻥ ﻣﻌﺮﻓﺘﻬﺎ ﻓﻘﻞ ﻣﻌﺮﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺒﺪ ﺭﱠﻪ ﻭﺩﻳﻨﻪ‬
ُ َ ِ َ ُ ‫ﹶ ﹺ ﹶ ِ ﹶ َ َ ُ ُ ﹸ ﺜ ﹸ ﻟ ِ ﹺ ُ َ ﹶ ِ َ ِ َ ْ ﹺ ﹶ ُ َ ﹶ ﹸ ﹾ َ ْ ﹺ ﹶ ﹸ َ ْ ِ َﺑ‬
.‫ﻭَﻧﺒﱠﻪ ﻣﺤ ﱠﺪﺍ ﺻ ﱠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﹶﻴﻪ ﻭﺳ ﱠﻢ‬
ْ ‫َ ﹺﻴ ُ ُ َﻤ ً ﻠ ُ َ ِ َ َﻠ‬
So if it is said to you: What are the three principles which a person must know?, then saythe
servants knowledge of his Lord, and his Religion (deen) and his Prophet Muhammad (saw).
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In this term we are continuing our explanation of the three fundamental principles.
In the previous semester we Alhamdulillah completed the explanation of the introduction of the
book, which the Sheikh (ra) began with and which contains enormous benefit.
Introduction to The Three Principles
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‫ – ﹸﺃ ُﻮﻝ‬This is plural for ‫ ﹸﺃﺻ ﹲ‬which means foundations or fundamentals.
‫ﺻ‬
‫ْﻞ‬
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Principles and foundations are things upon which other things are built upon. As an example the
Sheikh (ra) mentions ‘aslul‐jidaar’ (foundation of the wall) and ‘aslush‐shajara’ (trunk of the tree).
In these two examples we can see that a wall would crumble if its foundations were not strong,
and similarly a tree would be weak if its roots and trunk were not firmly established.
Similarly, the foundations of a wall allow you to further build upon it, and a well‐grounded tree
means that it can support branches, leaves and fruits.
Therefore the Sheikh (ra) uses the term usool, because the entire religion of Islam is established
upon knowing, believing and acting upon these three principles.
To illustrate the use of the term ‘asl’, the Sheikh (ra) uses the verse in Surat Ibrahim:
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Do you not consider the example of a goodly word as like a goodly tree, whose trunk (asl) is firmly fixed,
and its branches reach to the sky. [Ibrahim; 14:24]
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The goodly word in this verse refers to the shahaadah, and its example is compared to that of a tree whose
trunk (asl) is firmly established and its branches are long and reaching towards the sky.
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This parable describes how the shahaadah is firmly fixed in the heart of the believer, and only when it is
firmly fixed, the believer’s actions can be based upon something solid, i.e. raised up though that to the
heavens.

2. Question Form
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You will notice that the Sheikh (ra) commenced the introduction of the three principles with a question.
Introducing the topic with a question is a way of highlighting the importance of the subject matter and
turning the reader’s attention to this very important topic, and these great and fundamental principles.
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Even if the one being asked already knows the answer to the question, it can still be phrased in this
manner, thereby highlighting its importance.
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We have previously discussed the type of wajib that is implied, and it is the one which is incumbent upon
every Muslim to know and practice.
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The Sheikh (ra) also uses the term ‘insaan’ and not just Muslim, because it is essential that every human
being (insaan) has knowledge of these principles.
Basis for The Three Principles
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The three principles which are obligatory upon every person to know are:
o
o
o
Knowledge of his LORD.
Knowledge of his DEEN (RELIGION).
Knowledge of his PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW).
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These are great pillars, and it is not acceptable that any person should be unaware or turn away from any
one of them.
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These questions may be asked of you in this world, but they will definitely be asked of you in the hereafter.
He will be asked in his grave, after the sand is poured over him and those who love him will walk away as is
reported in the authentic hadith (see Apendix).
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His soul will be returned to his body and two angels will come to him and ask: Who is your Lord? What is
your Deen? Who is your Prophet?
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The believer who learnt and implemented these principles and firmly believed in them will answer
correctly. After this, a bed from Paradise will be prepared for him and he will be clothed from the clothing
of Paradise, and a gate to Paradise will be opened for him. Then there comes to him some of its fragrance,
and his grave is made wide, as far as he can see.
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As for the hypocrite who only made an outward appearance of being a Muslim but had no certainty in his
heart of these principles he will stutter in response and he will say: “I do not know! I heard the people
saying something so I said it also” (i.e. he was a muqallid and the belief was not firmly established in his
heart). Then there comes to him some of its heat and hot winds, and his grave is constricted and
compresses him until his ribs interlock!
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Refer to the appendix at the end of these notes for the full hadith.
Therefore if these three principles are high of high importance, and a person’s akhira rides on it, then it is in
our interest to learn them, and not only learn them, but to believe in them firmly and to act upon them
throughout our lives. It may be that Allah (swt) will give us ‘thabaat’ (steadfastness) in our graves when
answering these very same questions!

3. The Three Principles in a nutshell
Knowledge of his Lord
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As we mentioned previously, we must come to know Allah (swt) such that we:
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o
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Accept what he has prescribed.
Submit to it through the laws of the Prophet (saw).
This knowledge of Allah (swt) can be obtained through various means.
Of these is by reflecting and considering what He (swt) has created, since that leads to awareness of Him.
All the creations, big and small, lead to the conclusive fact that only a Mighty and Majestic Lord (Allah)
could have created this and also looks after it.
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When the Bedouin was asked how he knows Allah (swt) he said: Just like the footsteps of the camel lead to
the camel, the creation leads to The Creator!
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Allah (swt) describes those who reflect and ponder as people of understanding
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Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and In the alternation of night and day, there are
indeed signs for men of understanding. [Al‐Imran; 3:190]
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This verse refers to the sky and its height and spaciousness, and the earth and its density. They have
magnificent features from planets, seas, mountains, deserts, trees, plants etc.
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As for the alternation of the day and night, one follows another and seasonally one may be longer than the
other.
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The people who reflect upon these signs are intelligent and of sound mind, unlike the deaf and mute who
passes by these signs without comprehension.
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Another means of knowing Allah (swt) is to consider the signs contained in his shareeah and the great
benefit they hold in preserving a persons dunya and akhira.
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A person who considers this and reflects upon this will see the perfect wisdom contained within it, and how
it has perfect harmony with the needs of the people. Who knows the needs of the creation better than The
Creator?
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Allah (swt) says that if the shareeah was from someone else, there would be many contradictions in it.
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Do they not consider the Quran carefully? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have
found much contradictions within it. [An‐Nisaa; 4:82]
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Also from the means of a servant knowing Allah (swt), is the knowledge and awareness Allah (swt) places in
the heart of the believer to the point as if he were seeing his Lord, i.e. Ihsaan as in the famous hadith
reported in Sahih Muslim.
Knowledge of his Deen
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In our previous discussions we explained the general and specific meanings of Islam.
We must know or deen because we are duty bound to comply with it.
The person who comes to know Islam will come to recognise that it comprises of mercy and wisdom and
takes into account all that is beneficial for the creation and wards of evil and corruption.

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The person who studies Islam will come to the conclusion that it is the religion of the haqq, and no servant
can be preserved except through it.
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Islam cannot be judged upon what the Muslims are upon today, for they have neglected many of its
important aspects and introduced many innovations, even in the so‐called Muslim countries.
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The Sheikh then explains Islam is suitable for all places and all times, and contrary to what some people
believe, it does not harm the welfare of the nation in any way.
Knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad (saw)
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We mentioned previously that this involves knowing about the Prophet (saw), because it is he who informs
us of Allah (swt).
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The Sheikh (ra) then mentions that knowledge of the Prophet (saw) can be achieved by studying:
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o
o
o
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His life history
His worship
His character and manners
How he called to Allah (swt)
If you want to know about him and have Iman in him, you should read and study about him, just like you
would a famous person.
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These are The Three Principles in general. Over the coming weeks we will Inshallah go over them in more
detail such that they are planted firmly in our hearts, as all matters of aqeedah should be, and to expel any
doubts and misgivings such that we do not have any of the characteristics of the hypocrites. Ameen.
Review questions
There are no review questions this week. Instead go over the lengthy hadith in the appendix regarding the
three questions a person will be asked in the grave.

5. Appendix
With regard to the questions that the angels will ask in the grave, this is explained clearly in the
following hadeeth:
It was narrated that al‐Bara’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
We went out with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) for the
funeral of a man from among the Ansaar. We came to the grave and when (the deceased) was
placed in the lahd, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sat down
and we sat around him, as if there were birds on our heads (i.e., quiet and still). In his hand he
had a stick with which he was scratching the ground. Then he raised his head and said:
“Seek refuge with Allaah from the torment of the grave”, two or three times. Then he said,
“When the believing slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come
down to him from heaven angels with white faces like the sun, and they sit around him as far as
the eye can see. They bring with them shrouds from Paradise and perfumes from Paradise. Then
the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, and he says, ‘O good soul, come forth to
forgiveness from Allaah and His pleasure.’ Then it comes out easily like a drop of water from the
the mouth of a waterskin. When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before
they take it and put it in that shroud with that perfume, and there comes from it a fragrance like
the finest musk on the face of the earth. Then they ascend and they do not pass by any group of
angels but they say, ‘Who is this good soul?’ and they say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so,
calling him by the best names by which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest
heaven. They ask for it to be opened to them and it is opened, and (the soul) is welcomed and
accompanied to the next heaven by those who are closest to Allaah, until they reach the seventh
heaven. Then Allaah says: ‘Record the book of My slave in ‘Illiyoon in the seventh heaven, and
return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring
them forth once again.’ So his soul is returned to his body and there come to him two angels who
make him sit up and they say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Allaah.’ They say, ‘What is your
religion?’ He says, ‘My religion is Islam.’ They say, ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ He
says, ‘He is the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).’ They say, ‘What
did you do?’ He says, ‘I read the Book of Allaah and I believed in it.’ Then a voice calls out from
heaven, ‘My slave has spoken the truth, so prepare for him a bed from Paradise and clothe him
from Paradise, and open for him a gate to Paradise.’ Then there comes to him some of its
fragrance, and his grave is made wide, as far as he can see. Then there comes to him a man with a
handsome face and handsome clothes, and a good fragrance, who says, ‘Receive the glad tidings
that will bring you joy this day.’ He says, ‘Who are you? Your face is a face which brings glad
tidings.’ He says, ‘I am your righteous deeds.’ He says, ‘O Lord, hasten the Hour so that I may
return to my family and my wealth.’ But when the disbelieving slave is about to depart this world
and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him from heaven angels with black faces, bringing
sackcloth, and they sit around him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and
sits by his head, and he says, ‘O evil soul, come forth to the wrath of Allaah and His anger.’ Then
his soul disperses inside his body, then comes out cutting the veins and nerves, like a skewer
passing through wet wool. When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before
they take it and put it in that sackcloth, and there comes from it a stench like the foulest stench of
a dead body on the face of the earth. Then they ascend and they do not pass by any group of
angels but they say, ‘Who is this evil soul?’ and they say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so,

6. calling him by the worst names by which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest
heaven. They ask for it to be opened to them and it is not opened.” Then the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited (interpretation of the meaning):
“For them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the
camel goes through the eye of the needle”. [Al‐A’raaf 7:40]
He said: “Then Allaah says, ‘Record the book of My slave in Sijjeen in the lowest earth, and return
him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring them
forth once again.’ So his soul is cast down.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) recited the verse (interpretation of the meaning):
“And whoever assigns partners to Allaah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had
snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place”. [Al‐Hajj 22:31]
He said: “Then his soul is returned to his body, and there come to him two angels who make him
sit up and they say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They say, ‘What is
your religion?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ Then a voice calls out from heaven, ‘Prepare for
him a bed from Hell and clothe him from Hell, and open for him a gate to Hell.’ Then there comes
to him some of its heat and hot winds, and his grave is constricted and compresses him until his
ribs interlock. Then there comes to him a man with an ugly face and ugly clothes, and a foul
stench, who says, ‘Receive the bad news, this is the day that you were promised.’ He says, ‘Who
are you? Your face is a face which forebodes evil.’ He says, ‘I am your evil deeds.’ He says, ‘O Lord,
do not let the Hour come, do not let the Hour come.’”
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4753; Ahmad, 18063 – this version was narrated by him. Classed as
saheeh by al‐Albaani in Saheeh al‐Jaami’, 1676.
The correct view is that the two angels will only question the deceased in his grave about matters
of Tawheed (monotheism) and ‘aqeedah (belief). This is quite clear.