The Explanation of The Three Fundamental Principles

Among the most important texts a Muslim can study are the three questions they will be asked in the grave: Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your prophet? These are not arbitrary questions — they are the three fundamental principles of Islam, and a person's ability to answer them with certainty, from knowledge and conviction, depends entirely on what they understood and lived in this life.

The Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles is Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan's explanation of the foundational text written by Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab on these three principles — one of the most studied texts in Islamic education worldwide.

What This Book Covers

The First Principle: Knowing Allah

Who is your Lord? The book establishes how a Muslim knows Allah — through His signs in creation, through His revelation, and through His names and attributes. This section deals with the meaning of Rububiyyah (Lordship), Uluhiyyah (worship), and the names and attributes of Allah — the three aspects of Tawheed that a Muslim must understand to answer this question correctly.

The Second Principle: Knowing the Religion of Islam

What is your religion? The book covers what Islam is — its definition, its pillars, and what it means to submit to Allah alone. This section explores the three levels of the religion (Islam, Iman, and Ihsan) as established in the hadith of Jibril, and explains why Islam is the only religion accepted by Allah.

The Third Principle: Knowing the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)

Who is your prophet? This section covers who the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is, his biography in brief, his message, and his status as the seal of the prophets — and what it means to follow him and take him as one's prophet in practice, not just in word.

The Three Questions in the Grave

The book explains why these three questions are the ones asked in the grave, what the correct answers are, and what happens to those who answer correctly versus those who cannot. Understanding this gives the student of knowledge a framework for why aqeedah study is not an academic exercise but a matter of the utmost personal urgency.

About the Authors

The original text, The Three Fundamental Principles, was written by Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1115–1206 AH), who was born in al-Uyaynah in Najd and studied in Madinah, Basra and al-Ahsa before returning to teach in Najd. This explanation is by Shaykh Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan, who studied under Shaykh Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz and Shaykh Abd al-Razzaq al-Afifi, taught at the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, and serves on the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatwa and the Council of Senior Scholars. Published by Authentic Statements Publications.

Who This Book Is For

Every Muslim — without exception. The three fundamental principles of Islam are the foundation of the entire religion, and Shaykh al-Fawzan's explanation makes them accessible to anyone regardless of their level of prior knowledge. A good starting point for Islamic education, and a text worth returning to.

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The companion texts by the same imam are The Four Fundamental Principles, which distinguishes tawheed from shirk at its root, and The Removal of Doubts, which answers the arguments raised in defence of shirk. Browse more works by Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan and Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab, or see our guide to the best aqeedah books for beginners.