This course is based on Kitaab at-Tawheed by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab. It covers over 60 chapters on worshiping Allah alone, showing how Tawheed applies in daily life. It’s a must-study for anyone serious about understanding and living by Islamic monotheism.
Birth and Family
Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab was born in 1703 (1115 AH) in al-‘Uyainah, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He came from a respected family of scholars. His father was a knowledgeable scholar, and his grandfather was the chief scholar of his time.
Childhood and Education
He grew up under his father’s care. By age ten, he had memorized the Qur’an. He studied tafseer (Qur’an explanation), hadith (Prophet’s sayings), and fiqh (Islamic law). He loved the works of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim. Later, he performed Hajj in Makkah, then went to Madinah to study with great scholars like Sheikh Abdullah bin Ibrahim an-Najdi and Sheikh Muhammad Hayat as-Sindee. He also traveled to Basrah in Iraq and other places to gain more knowledge.
The Situation of His Time
In Najd and many other areas, people had fallen into wrong practices. They worshipped graves, trees, stones, caves, and even jinn. Magicians and fortune tellers misled people, and some scholars taught false ideas for money. These practices were also found in Makkah, Madinah, and Yemen.
His Mission
Sheikh Muhammad was very saddened by this. He decided to call people back to Tawheed — worshipping Allah alone. He urged people to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah instead of blind traditions. He invited scholars to help, but while some supported him, others opposed him because they feared losing power and wealth.
In al-‘Uyainah and Then Diriyah
He moved to al-‘Uyainah, where the ruler, Uthman bin Ma’mar, welcomed him. Together, they removed false practices like worshipping graves and trees. His reputation spread widely.
But the ruler of al-Ahsa, Sulaiman bin Urai’ar, saw him as a threat and ordered Uthman to kill him. Uthman became afraid and asked Sheikh Muhammad to leave. Sheikh Muhammad then went to Diriyah.
Partnership with Amir Muhammad bin Saud
In Diriyah, he met the ruler Muhammad bin Saud. They agreed to work together. Ibn Saud promised to support his mission, and Sheikh Muhammad promised to remain by his side. Together, they worked to spread Tawheed, revive the Sunnah, and fight against shirk (polytheism) and innovations.
Dar’iyah Becomes a Learning Center
In Diriyah, Sheikh Muhammad found peace to teach. Many people came from near and far to learn. Even Ibn Saud and his family studied under him. Diriyah became full of students, and he taught Qur’an, Sunnah, Tawheed, and fiqh. His enemies spread lies about him, calling him a sorcerer or heretic. Still, he continued teaching and debating with patience. His message spread across Arabia and reached other lands like Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, India, and Africa.
Death and Legacy
He spent about 50 years teaching, writing, and calling people to pure Islam. He died in 1792 (1206 AH) in Diriyah. After his death, his sons, grandsons, and students continued his mission. His family became known as Aal al-Sheikh, and many of them remained respected scholars.
His Writings
He wrote many important books, including:
Impact of His Work
Because of his efforts:
Even after his death, his students and family spread his teachings far and wide, helping Islam return to its pure form.
Course Outline
Introduction – “And I created not the Jinn and mankind…”
Chapter 1 – The virtue of Tawheed and its ability to expiate sins.
Chapter 2 – Those who fulfill the requirements of Tawheed will enter Paradise without reckoning.
Chapter 3 – The fear of Shirk.
Chapter 4 – The call to testify that none is worthy of worship except Allah.
Chapter 5 – Explaining Tawheed and the testimony of “La ilaha illallah.”
Chapter 6 – Wearing rings, threads, or the like to prevent or remove afflictions is Shirk.
Chapter 7 – The use of incantations.
Chapter 8 – Seeking blessings from trees, stones, or similar objects.
Chapter 9 – Slaughtering for other than Allah.
Chapter 10 – The prohibition of slaughtering in Allah’s name at places where others are worshiped.
Chapter 11 – Vows to others besides Allah as Shirk.
Chapter 12 – Seeking refuge in anything other than Allah.
Chapter 13 – Seeking help or aid from others besides Allah.
Chapter 14 – Allah’s words: “Will they associate with Me those that do not create…?”
Chapter 15 – Allah’s words: “Until when terror is removed from their hearts…”
Chapter 16 – Intercession.
Chapter 17 – Guidance is only from Allah: “Verily, you will not guide everyone whom you love…”
Chapter 18 – Excessive adoration for the righteous as a cause of disbelief.
Chapter 19 – Worshiping Allah at the grave of a righteous man.
Chapter 20 – Elevating the graves of the righteous to idols of worship.
Chapter 21 – The Prophet’s efforts to safeguard Tawheed and block paths to Shirk.
Chapter 22 – Parts of this Ummah will worship idols.
Chapter 23 – Magic.
Chapter 24 – Types of magic.
Chapter 25 – Fortune-telling and similar practices.
Chapter 26 – Clarification on “Al-Nushra.”
Chapter 27 – Belief in omens.
Chapter 28 – Astrology.
Chapter 29 – Seeking rain by the stars.
Chapter 30 – Allah’s words: “And among the people are those who take partners besides Allah.”
Chapter 31 – Fear of Allah versus fear of His enemies.
Chapter 32 – Reliance on Allah: “Depend on Allah if you truly believe.”
Chapter 33 – Feeling secure from Allah’s plan.
Chapter 34 – Patience as part of belief in Allah.
Chapter 35 – Showing off.
Chapter 36 – Performing good deeds for worldly reasons as Shirk.
Chapter 37 – Obeying scholars or rulers over Allah’s commands.
Chapter 38 – Resorting to false judgments: “Do you not see those who claim that they believe…”
Chapter 39 – Denying Allah’s names and attributes.
Chapter 40 – Allah’s words: “They know the favors of Allah, yet they deny them.”
Chapter 41 – Allah’s words: “And do not ascribe partners to Allah when you know the truth.”
Chapter 42 – Dissatisfaction with an oath sworn in Allah’s name.
Chapter 43 – Statements like “As Allah wills and you will.”
Chapter 44 – Cursing time as wrongdoing against Allah.
Chapter 45 – Names like “Judge of Judges.”
Chapter 46 – Honoring Allah’s names and changing inappropriate names.
Chapter 47 – Mocking anything related to Allah, His Quran, or His Messenger.
Chapter 48 – Allah’s words: “And truly, if We give him a taste of mercy…”
Chapter 49 – Allah’s words: “But when He gives them a righteous child, they ascribe partners…”
Chapter 50 – Allah’s names are the most beautiful: “So invoke Him by them.”
Chapter 51 – Avoid saying: “Peace be upon Allah.”
Chapter 52 – Avoid saying: “O Allah, forgive me if You will.”
Chapter 53 – Avoid terms like “my slave” or “my slave girl.”
Chapter 54 – Do not refuse requests made in Allah’s name.
Chapter 55 – Ask for Paradise by Allah’s countenance.
Chapter 56 – On saying “if.”
Chapter 57 – Cursing the wind.
Chapter 58 – Wrong thoughts about Allah from ignorance.
Chapter 59 – Denying Allah’s Qadr (decree).
Chapter 60 – Creating images of living things.
Chapter 61 – Frequent oath-taking.
Chapter 62 – Allah’s covenant and the covenant of His Prophet.
Chapter 63 – Binding oaths upon Allah.
Chapter 64 – Allah cannot be asked to intercede for His creation.
Chapter 65 – Safeguarding Tawheed and blocking paths to Shirk.
Chapter 66 – Allah’s words: “They made not a just estimate of Allah…”
