Commentary on the Three Fundamental Principles of Islam

Every Muslim will be asked three questions in the grave. Thalathat-ul-Usool exists to make sure he can answer them, and it is one of the shortest and most widely taught texts in the Islamic curriculum.

Short does not mean simple. This volume is Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih Al-'Uthaymin's commentary, which opens the treatise up properly.

The Three Principles

1. Tawhid — the Oneness of Allah in His Lordship, in His right to be worshipped, and in His Names and Attributes
2. The religion of Islam — the complete way of life Allah prescribed, covering belief, worship and conduct
3. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — the final Messenger, whose teaching and example are to be followed

Each is unpacked from the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah, with attention to the common misconceptions and to why holding the correct understanding actually protects a person's faith rather than merely describing it.

Why This Commentary

Shaykh Ibn Al-'Uthaymin was known above all for clarity — explaining a difficult term or a compressed argument without diluting it. He was also known for showing his reasoning, so a student learns how a conclusion was reached and not only what it is.

That combination makes this the version to read if you are studying alone. The original text can be finished in an hour and understood in a year; the commentary closes most of that gap.

Who It Is For

New Muslims, since these three principles are precisely what a person needs secured first. Students of Aqeedah at every level — this text is taught early and returned to often. Teachers, who will find it directly usable as a syllabus.

Related Reading

• Al-'Aqidah Al-Wasitiyyah (2 Vol. Set) — the same commentator on Ibn Taymiyyah's creed treatise
• Authentic Creed and Invalidators of Islam — Shaykh Ibn Baz on creed and the invalidators of Islam
• Kitab At-Tauhid — the original author's foundational work on Tawheed