The Four Fundamental Principles

The Four Fundamental Principles by Imam Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab is a short treatise that explains the foundations of understanding tawḥīd and shirk. The first principle shows that the disbelievers in the Prophet’s time affirmed Allah as Creator but still committed shirk by worshiping others besides Him. The second clarifies that the pagans used intermediaries for closeness to Allah, which is invalid. The third highlights that the Prophet ﷺ fought against all forms of shirk, whether directed to idols, saints, or righteous people. The fourth warns against being deceived by false excuses people use to justify shirk, stressing that worship belongs to Allah alone. This concise work lays out the essentials of pure monotheism and the dangers of associating partners with Allah.