'Aqeedah al-'Awwam (The Creed of the Muslim Laymen)

[asamad91]

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

One of my favourite 'Aqidah texts is the beginners poem on belief named 'Aqeedah al-'Awwam (The Creed of the Muslim Laymen) written by Shaykh Ahmad al-Marzuqi al-Maliki. I had been puzzled for some time why this wonderful work has seemingly been ignored by translators (not least as it is the first text studied by students of knowledge in many parts of the Muslim world) whilst other more detailed and complex works have been translated and offered to the English speaking public. Please find below an extract from pg 11-12 of Sayyid Malikis commentary compiled by his wonderfully named student (Muhammad Ihya Ulum al-Din). The commentary states:

The Reason For the Composition of This Poem:

A unique story is reported from the author regarding the reason for his composing this poem which we will make mention of, and it is:

The author (Allah have mercy on him) saw the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and his companions (Allah be pleased with them) standing around him (in a dream). He (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to him:

Recite the poem of al-Tawhid which whomsoever memorizes it will enter paradise, and will attain all that is desired from every good which is in conformity with the Book and the Sunnah.

He said to him:

"What is that poem O Messenger of Allah?"

The Companions said to him:

"Listen to the Messenger of Allah to what he says." The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

"Say أَبدَأُ بِسْمِ اللهِ وَالّرَحْمن"

So he said:

"أَبدَأُ بِسْمِ اللهِ وَالّرَحْمن"

To its end which are his words:

"وَصُحُفُ الخَلِيْلِ وَالكَلِيم فِيْهَا كَلاَمُ الحَكَمِ العَلِيْم"

Whilst the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) was listening to him. When he awoke from his sleep he recited that which he had seen in his dream and found that it was preserved with him from its beginning to its end. He then saw the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) a second time in a dream at the time before dawn, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to him:

"Recite that which you have gathered (meaning in your heart)."

So he recited it from its beginning to its end whilst standing in front of him (Allah bless him and give him peace) and his companions standing around him saying: ‘Ameen’ after every verse of this poem. When he had completed his recitation the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

"May Allah (the Exalted) give you success to that which pleases Him, and accept that from you, and bless you and the believers, and benefit the slaves by it, Ameen."

The author was then questioned after people came to know of the poem, so he answered their question, and added to it the poem from his words:

كُلُّ مَا أَتَى بِهِ الّرَسُوْلُ فَحَقُّهُ الّتَسْلِيمُ وَالقَبُوْلُ until the end of the poem. This is what the author has informed regarding himself, and we have conveyed it exactly, and the responsibility is upon the narrator.

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Here is the full version of the poem:
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أبــدأ بسم الله والـرحـمنِ * وبـالـرحـيـم دائـم الإحـسان

فالـحـمـد لله الـقديم الأول * والأخـر الـبـاقـي بلا تـحـول

ثـم الـصلاة والسلام سرمدا * عـلـى الـنبي خير من قد وحدا

وآله وصـحبه ومـــن تبع * سـبـيـل دين الحق غير مبتدع

فـالله مـوجـود قـديـم باقي * مخـالـف للـخـلق بالإطلاقِ

وقـائم غـنـي وواحـد وحي * قـادر مـريـد عـالم بكل شيْ

سـمـيـع البـصـير والمتكلـم * لـه صـفـات سـبـعـة تنتظم

فـقـدرة إرادة سـمـع بـصر * حـيـاة الـعـلـم كـلام استمر

وجـائـز بـفـضـله وعدله * تـرك لـكـل مـمـكـن كفعله


أرسـل أنبيا ذوي فـطـانـه * بالـصـدق والـتـبليغ والأمانة

وجـائـز في حقهم من عرض * بغـيـر نـقـص كخفيف المرض

عـصـمـتهم كسائر الملائكة * واجـبـة وفـاضلوا الـمـلائكة

هم أدم إدريس نوح هود مع * صـالـح وإبـراهـيـم كل متبع

لوط وإسـماعيل إسحاق كذا * يـعـقوب يوسف وأيوب احتذى

شعيب هارون وموسى واليسع * ذو الـكـفـل داود سليمان اتبع

إلـيـاس يونس زكريا يحيى * عـيـسـى وطـه خاتم دعه غيا

عـلـيـهـم الصلاة والسلام * وآلـهـم مـادامـــت الأيــام


والـمـلك الـذي بـلا أب وأم * لا أكـل لا شـرب ولا نوم لهم

تـفـضـيل عشر منهم جبريل * مـيـكـال إسـرافيل عزرائيل

مـنـكر نـكـير ورقيب وكذا * عـتـيـد مالك ورضوان احتذى


أربـعـة مـن الكتب تفصيلها * تـوارة مـوسـى بالهدى تنزيلها

زبـور داود وإنـجـيـل على * عـيـسى وفرقان على خير الملا

وصـحـف الـخـليل والكليم * فـيـهـا كـلام الـحـكم العليم


That which the author further added:

وكـل مـا أتى بـه الـرسول * فـحـقـه الـتـسـلـيم والقبول

إيـمـانـنا بـيـوم أخر وجب * وكـل مـا كـان بـه من العجب


نـبـيـنـا مـحمد قـد أرسلا * للـعـالـمـيـن رحـمة وفضلا

أبـوه عـبـد الله عـبد المطلـب * وهـاشـم عبـد مـناف ينتسب

وأمـه آمـنـة الـزهـريــة * مرضـعته حـليـمـة السعدية

مـولـده بـمـكـة الأميـنـة * وفـاتـه بـطـيـبة الـمـدينة

أتـم قـبـل الـوحي أربـعينا * وعـمـره قـد جـاوز الـستينا


وسـبـعة أولاده فـمـنـهـم * ثـلاثـة مـن الـذكـور تـفهم

قـاسـم وعـبد الله وهو الطيب * وطـاهـر بـذيـن ذا يـلـقب

أتـاه إبـراهـيـم من سـريه * فأمه مـاريـة الـقـبـطـيـه

وغـيـر إبـراهيم من خديجة * هـم سـتـة فـخـذ بـهم وليجه

وأربع مـن الإنـاث تـذكـر * رضـوان ربـي للـجـمـيع يذكر

فـاطـمـة الزهراء بعلها علي * وابـنـاهما السبطان فضلهم جلي

فـزيـنـب وبـعـدهـا رقـيـة * وأم كـلـثـوم زكـت رضيه


عـن تـسـع نسوة وفاة المصطفى * خـيـرن فاخترن النبي المقتفى

عـائـشـة وحـفـصة وسـوده * صـفـيـة مـيـمـونة ورمله

هـنـد وزيـنـب كـذا جويرية * لـلـمـومنين أمـهات مرضية


حـمـزة عـمـه وعـبـاس كذا * عـمـتـه صـفية ذات احتذا


وقـبـل هـجـرة الـنبي الإسرا * مـن مـكـة ليلا لقدس يدرى

وبـعـد إسـراء عـروج للـسما * حـتى رأى الـنـبـيُ ربا كلما

من غير كيف وانحصار وافترض * عـلـيه خمسا بعد خمسين فرض

وبــلـغ الأمــة بـالإسـراء * وفـرض خـمـسة بلا امتراء

قـد فـاز صـديقٌ بتـصديق له * بـالـعروج الصدق وافى أهله


وهــذه عـقـيـدة مـخـتصره * ولـلـعـوام سـهـلة ميسره

نـاظـم تـلـك أحـمد المرزوقي * مـن ينتمي للصادق المصدوق

و الـحـمـد لله وصـلـى سـلما * علـى النبي خير من قد علما

والآل والـصـحـب وكـل مرشد * وكـل مـن بخير هدى يقتدي

وأسـال الـكـريم إخـلاص العمل * ونـفـع كل من بها قد اشتغل


Here is the link where you can find the poem with full tashkeel and its recitation. In the meantime, I will try and get hold of a translation Inshaa Allah.

The text:
http://ia600609.us.archive.org/16/items ... waamm.docx

The Translation in English:
http://www.slideshare.net/asamad_almaliki

A Recitation of the Text:
http://www.archive.org/download/aqeedatulawaamm/AAA.mp3

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Courtesy: Sheikh Abdur Rahman as-Sandalaani and Dar al-Hadith (website)

[StudentOfTheDeen]

For anyone who is interested, it may also be useful to mention that Shaykh Abdur Rahman Sondalaani has video recordings of the course from when he actually taught the text. The videos can be found on his youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/sandaltheashari

[SASLAMS]

in one sharh it is mentioned that the second half which was added on by Al Marzouqi was actually aproved by Rasulullah SAWS in a dream. in the second dream he was instructed to read what he has memorised & at the end he was told to read what is in his heart & hence he added on the second half of the poem.

does anyonw have a recorded of the poem being sung. I once saw a video of Yemeni children singing it. & even found a cassette of it being sung. yes an old cassette in a shop & this was two years back not in the 80s

[aMuslimForLife]

The Translation in English:
http://www.slideshare.net/asamad_almaliki

A Recitation of the Text:
http://www.archive.org/download/aqeedatulawaamm/AAA.mp3

=============================================

Courtesy: Sheikh Abdur Rahman as-Sandalaani and Dar al-Hadith (website)

No Offense but this translation does not seem to be accurate.... It's not a word for word translation.... The information in the text is correct in matters of creed but it is not a word for word translation...

Aqidat al ‘Awam

“Creed of the Muslim Laymen”

By the descendant of Prophet Muhammad Peace and Blessing be upon him

By Imam Ahmad al-Marzuqi al Maliki

The Grand Mufti of the Malikis in the sanctuary of Makkah who was born in 1205 AH, and was still alive (according to some) in the year 1281 AH May Allah, the Exalted, have mercy on him. Ameen.

Translated by the needy of his Lord Mostafa Azzam,

Though based on Marzuqi’s `Aqidat al-`Awamm.

Compiled by the needy of his Lord Abdul Samad al-Maliki

The Translation of the text in English
1 In the name of Allah, the most compassionate,
2 Who's the most merciful and most beneficent.
3 And to Allah, the pre-eternal, is all praise,
4 The everlasting, last, Who's subject to no change.
5 Then followed by favour forever, also peace
6 To the noble Prophet, best of monotheists,
7 And then his family, companions, and nation
8 That are on the true creed without innovation.
9 Know this is a brief epitome in faith, simple,
10 To be for memorization a vehicle.
11 The name of it is Basic Beliefs of Islam:
12 What Must Be Known By the Common Woman and Man.
13 Then afterwards, the following we all must know:
14 That twenty traits are necessary for Him, so
15 He is existent, ancient, also permanent,
16 And from all else is absolutely different.
17 And self-subsistent, also He is one alone,
18 And living, able, willing, knowing all the known,
19 And hearing, seeing everything and speaking, so
20 He has the seven attributes listed below:
21 They are His life, ability, and will, knowledge,
22 And hearing, sight, and speech—all must we acknowledge.
23 The proof of that is in the origination
24 Of this so changing (as is witnessed) creation.
25 And by His grace and justice is it possible
26 For Him to do or not do any potential.
27 To guide the world the messengers Allah has sent,
28 Truthful, loyal, conveying, and intelligent.
29 And human states are possible in their nature,
30 Including illness not decreasing their stature.
31 And they, like angels, are divinely safeguarded;
32 And they are by Allah more highly regarded.
33 Impossible’s opposite to necessary.
34 So memorizing fifty’s obligatory.
35 To everything of the Messenger’s transmission
36 We must have acceptance along with submission.
37 Of messengers all those accountable must know
38 The twenty-five whose names are all listed below:
39 With Adam they start, then Idris, and Nuh and Hud;
40 Along with Salih, Ibrahim do they include
41 The Prophets Lut and Isma`il, Ishaq, Ya`qub,
42 Then Yusuf, beautiful, unwavering Ayyub,
43 Shu`ayb, Harun and then Musa, who are brothers,
44 Al-Yasa`, Dhu l-Kifl, Dawud, Sulayman others,
45 Ilyas, and Yunus, Zakariyya, then the rest
46 Are Yahya, `Isa, then Muhammad, who is best.
47 Upon them and their families favour and peace—
48 Eternal favour and peace that will never cease.
49 And then the angels have no father or mother.
50 They do not eat or drink and do not sleep, either.
51 We must know ten specific ones: they are Jibril,
52 Mika’il, Israfil, as well as `Azra’il,
53 And Munkar and Nakir, Raqib, `Atid, and then
54 Malik, Ridwan—with them are listed all the ten.
55 Then four specific heavenly books must we know:
56 The first is the Tawrah to Musa, then also
57 Dawud’s Zabur, then the Injil came down upon
58 Our master `Isa, to Muhammad the Quran.
59 Know that to Ibrahim and Musa scrolls were sent,
60 Containing words of the Judge, the Omniscient.
61 We must have faith in that the Last Day will occur,
62 Along with all related matters of wonder:
63 Its signs, and death, and then questioning in the grave,
64 Then bliss and torment as one in life did behave,
65 Then resurrection, gathering, and reckoning,
66 The balance, bridge, pool, rewarding and punishing.
67 And Hell and Heaven, also the intercession,
68 And for believers is the ultimate vision.
69 We must have faith in destiny, that everything—
70 Both good and evil—is by Allah’s destining.
71 The rest of this rhyme’s verses are a conclusion
72 About the noble messenger of this nation.
73 Our messenger’s Muhammad sent to all the world
74 As a mercy, and above all he is preferred.
75 In character, he is the best of all people
76 And of them in appearance the most beautiful.
77 From `Abd Allah, `Abd al-Muttalib he descends,
78 Listed is up ’til his established lineage ends:
79 So Hashim have we, then `Abdu Manaf, Qusayy,
80 And then Kilab, and Murrah, Ka`b, and then Lu’ayy,
81 Ghalib, Fihr, Malik, an-Nadr, Kinanah, then are
82 Khuzaymah, Mudrikah, Ilyas, Mudar, Nizar,
83 Ma`add, `Adnan, which is his lineage’s extent.
84 Then we must know his mother and then her descent:
85 His mother she is Aminah, descendent of
86 Wahb, `Abdu Manaf, Zuhrah, the Kilab above.
87 He was born in and sent in Mecca the Secure.
88 And he left to and died in Medina the Pure.
89 The revelation came when forty years had he.
90 And he did pass away when he was sixty-three.
91 And seven was the number of his progeny.
92 The number of his children who were boys is three.
93 As for the girls that he had, four is their number.
94 Below are all his children in their birth’s order:
95 First Qasim, Zaynab second, then Ruqayyah three,
96 Then Fatimah, who then went on to wed `Ali,
97 Then Ummu Kulthum, `Abd Allah, the Pure, the Good,
98 Then Ibrahim. The boys all died in childhood.
99 All of the Prophet’s children were from Khadijah,
100 But Ibrahim, born from the Coptic Mariyah.
101 Nine were his wives at the end of his noble life.
102 Allah chose each to choose to be the Prophet’s wife.
103 Their names are `A’ishah, and Hafsah, and Sawdah,
104 And then Safiyyah, and Maymunah, and Ramlah.
105 Then Hind, and Zaynab, and Juwayriah others.
106 To all believers they, indeed, are like mothers.
107 Before his emigration was his night journey,
108 From Noble Mecca to Jerusalem Holy.
109 And then after his night journey was his ascent.
110 He saw his Lord Who spoke to him on that event,
111 Without any how and without limitation.
112 Ordered five prayers from fifty was his nation.
113 All of the other well-known matters of Islam.
114 Must be acknowledged by every woman and man.
115 And thus concludes what the most gracious Lord has eased.
116 So with its author and its reader He be pleased.
I ask Allah sincerity in writing it,
And through it for English-speakers much benefit.
By the blessing of every scholar and mentor
(Into the pleasure of Allah may they enter).
For its completion the Most High, Allah, we praise.
Then favour and peace to His Messenger always.

[Kabeer Ahmed]

The word Aqeedah particularly relating to faith or belief is not mentioned in the Quran.

Aqeedah relating to faith or belief is also a Hebrew word and is found in the Hebrew Bible. Aqeedat Yitzhak (aqeedah ishaac) refers to the act of Abraham wanting to sacrifice his son Ishak as an act of binding faith. This is in the Bible.

[SASLAMS]

The word Aqeedah particularly relating to faith or belief is not mentioned in the Quran.

Aqeedah relating to faith or belief is also a Hebrew word and is found in the Hebrew Bible. Aqeedat Yitzhak (aqeedah ishaac) refers to the act of Abraham wanting to sacrifice his son Ishak as an act of binding faith. This is in the Bible.

what is your point.

[Kabeer Ahmed]

what is your point.

We should obey Allah and the Rasool (attiulaaha wa attiur rasool). Then we are Muslims.
Do not obey the Jews or the Bible. If we obey the Jews or the Bible we are christian or
obeying judaism. That is the point.

The word aqeedah is not found in the Quran. But if you search Yahoo or Google 'Aqeedah
in the Bible' and you will get housands of references.

[SASLAMS]

We should obey Allah and the Rasool (attiulaaha wa attiur rasool). Then we are Muslims.
Do not obey the Jews or the Bible. If we obey the Jews or the Bible we are christian or
obeying judaism. That is the point.

The word aqeedah is not found in the Quran. But if you search Yahoo or Google 'Aqeedah
in the Bible' and you will get housands of references.

so each & every scholar who used the word aqeedah was not of this deen, is that what you saying.

[AimeSi]

We should obey Allah and the Rasool (attiulaaha wa attiur rasool). Then we are Muslims.
Do not obey the Jews or the Bible. If we obey the Jews or the Bible we are christian or
obeying judaism. That is the point.

The word aqeedah is not found in the Quran. But if you search Yahoo or Google 'Aqeedah
in the Bible' and you will get housands of references.

So, can I ask you a simple question, can we use words which are not found in the Quran and the Hadith but in the Injîl or the Tawrât or a text written by a non muslim ?
And by the way, like SASLAMS have said, do you mean that the scholars since the salafs have gone astray by using this word ?

[aMuslimForLife]

We should obey Allah and the Rasool (attiulaaha wa attiur rasool). Then we are Muslims.
Do not obey the Jews or the Bible. If we obey the Jews or the Bible we are christian or
obeying judaism. That is the point.

The word aqeedah is not found in the Quran. But if you search Yahoo or Google 'Aqeedah
in the Bible' and you will get housands of references.

Don't get lost in the wording... It is the meaning that is more important than the wording...

Salafis say we shouldn't follow madhabs we should follow the Quran and Sunnah... Nice advertisment but madhabs were designed to follow the Quran and Sunnah... what salafi intended by there statement is that we should abandon following our scholars to following their scholars because in reality there are many things that they encourage to follow which have no basis in the Quran or Sunnah like believing Allah having a literal hand...

So whether we call it Aqida, or some made up name like yula yula... is irrelevent.... what matters is whether or not the belief we have is sound...

If I believe Allah is one and call it Aqida... no problem...
if I believe Allah is like the moon and call it Quran and Sunnah... Big problem...

I would rather believe Allah is one and call it aqida, then to believe Allah is like the moon and called it Quran and Sunnah....

So what is your point and bring an example of where the real problem exist.... aqida, belief,, fiqh akbar, quran and Sunnah who cares what you call it... what beliefs are you trying to get us to follow???