Sharh As-Sunnah

Explanation of the Sunna of Imam Ismâ'îl Ibn Yahyâ Al-Muzanî, by Sheikh Zayd ibn Muhammad Ibn Hâdi al Madkhali - الجنة في إيضاح كتاب شرح السنة

Praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the Universe, and prayers and greetings be upon the best of all the prophets and messengers as well as his family, his companions and all who followed his way, until the Day of Retribution.

This says:

Anyone who meditates on the Book of Allah - may He be glorified and exalted -, understands the reality of Islam and has read the biography of the best of men as well as the writings of the scholars of Islam, point that the first thing the messengers called for was belief. Not only is it the most important science, but it is also the greatest obligation. Complying with it brings glory and dignity, and neglecting it brings shame and humiliation.

This epistle of the eminent scholar Al-Muzani , who died in the year 264 of the hegira - may Allah have mercy on him -, is one of the most important writings of scholars on the clarification and explanation of the belief pious predecessors.

The reason why this epistle was born is as follows: during a meeting of religious science, the discussion turned to the scholars of the people of the Sunnah such as Mâlik , Ach-Châfi'i , Ath-Thawri , Ahmad ibn Hanbal and many others. One of the students then argued about Al-Muzani , saying: He is not one of the scholars. The others then exclaimed: Why so? He replied: I have heard him speak about predestination and he argues using syllogism and speculation. This distressed them and they wanted to know the truth about these words. They then wrote a letter to Al-Muzani , asking him to clarify his belief. The letter reached him and his response was none other than this epistle which is in our hands.

Our Sheikh, the learned scholar Zayd ibn Muhammad Al-Madkhali - may Allah have mercy on him - has completed the explanation of this epistle which contains, in its few lines, a precious and beneficial summary of the belief of our pious predecessors, the companions - may Allah be pleased with them - and those who followed them in good.