Works of the Salaf on Creed

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What these books are

They are not manuals but collections of transmission. Composed in the third and fourth centuries AH, they report, chain by chain, what the Companions, the Followers and the imams said on questions of creed. Their form is that of a hadith book: a chapter, then narrations with their isnads. You consult them to learn what was said and by whom, not to find a constructed exposition.

The main titles

Al-Sunna by Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal: one of the most cited, gathering what the author received from his father and his teachers.
Al-Sunna by Ibn Abi Asim, and that of al-Khallal.
Al-Shari'a by al-Ajurri: large, arranged by chapters, much used.
Al-Ibana by Ibn Batta al-Ukbari.
Sharh usul i'tiqad ahl al-sunna by al-Lalaka'i: the most systematic of these collections.
Khalq af'al al-ibad by al-Bukhari and Al-Uluww by al-Dhahabi, on specific questions.

Who they are for

The advanced student, and it is fair to say so plainly. Reading these works assumes you can assess a chain, hence the hadith sciences, since not every narration they contain is authentic and verified editions say so. For a beginner, an aqida treatise gives the same content in a usable form.

What to check in an edition

The editor first: on this kind of work, the handling of the chains is what the book is worth. The volume count next, since several of these titles exist as partial editions. And the presence of indexes, indispensable for locating a narration. Every listing states these three points with the publisher.

Related sections

For the doctrinal shaping of this material, see Aqida treatises. For the controversial works of the same period, Doctrinal refutations. For assessing chains, Narrator biographies and criticism.

Ordering and shipping

Real stock shown, dispatched within 24 to 48 working hours, shipped across Europe and worldwide. For a complete multi-volume set, write to us: we weigh the collection and give the exact rate to your country.

How do they differ from an aqida treatise?

In form. They are not constructed expositions but collections of transmission: a chapter, then narrations with their chains. You consult them to learn what was said and by whom, not to find a sustained demonstration.

Are all the narrations in them authentic?

No, and that matters. These collections gather what reached the author, with the chains, and it falls to the reader or the editor to assess them. Serious editions state the grading of each narration.

Do I need mustalah to read them?

Yes, at least the basics, since their value rests on the chains. Without that, better to go through an aqida treatise, which gives the same content in a directly usable form.

What should I check before buying?

The editor first, since on this kind of work the handling of the chains is what the book is worth. Then the volume count, as several titles exist as partial editions, and the presence of indexes.