THE CREED OF

AL-SHARNŪBĪ
ʿAbd al-Majīd al-Sharnūbī al-Azharī al-Mālikī
(d. 1348 AH)

Arabic-English Translation

AMJAD MAHMOOD
 INTRODUCTION

8
In the name of Allāh, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Praise be to Allāh; Lord of the Worlds; May His blessings and

salutations be upon the paragon of creation, the most sublime in
character, our Master Muḥammad a – The terminal seal and the
guide to the straight path – and upon his pure and noble wives, his
family, his companions and all those who follow the prophetic way and the
collective majority (Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jamāʿa) until the day of judgement.

The author of this didactic poem (Manẓūma) on creed entitled

Al-ʿAqā’id al-Sharnūbiyya [The Creed of al-Sharnūbī] is Abū Muḥammad,
ʿAbd al-Majīd b. Ibrāhīm al-Sharnūbī, al-Azharī, al-Mālikī g: Born in
Sharnūb, a town to the east of Damanḥūr in lower Egypt, a graduate of the
Al-Azhar seminary in Cairo and a follower of the juristic school of
Mālik b. Anas g; an erudite scholar, a master of the Arabic language
(Al-Lugha al-ʿArabiyya) - Jurisprudence (Fiqh) - Prophetic reports (Ḥadīth) -
and Islāmic mysticism (Taṣawwuf ).

His authored works include amongst others:

Al-Mukhtaṣar Ibn Abī Jamra – A commentary on al-Nawawī’s 40

reports (Al-Arbaʿīn al-Nawawīyya).

Taqrīb al-Maʿānī – A commentary on the epistle of Ibn Abī Zayd

al-Qayrawānī (Al-Risāla ibn Abī Zayd).
 Al-Kawākib al-Durīyya – A commentary on the text of Al-ʿIzzīyya
(Matn al-ʿIzīyya)

Al-Maḥāsin al-Bahīyya – A commentary on the juristic poem

Al-ʿAshmāwīyya

Shaykh ʿAbd al-Majīd returned to his Lord in the year 1348

AH/1929 CE. May Allāh shower him with His infinite mercy
and ennoble him with the lofty ranks of paradise.
 321
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

ُ ُّ ْ َ ْ ُ َُ
َ ‫ول‬
‫وب‬
ِ ‫ن‬ ‫ذل‬ ‫ل‬
ِ ِ‫ر‬‫ف‬ ‫غ‬‫ال‬ ‫اج‬
ِ‫ي‬ ‫ر‬ ‫يق‬
ُ ْ َّ‫ر‬ َ َ َ ْ ‫َعبْ ُدال‬
‫الشنوب‬ ‫يد األ ْزهري‬ ِ ِ‫ج‬ ‫م‬
1. The one hopeful for the forgiveness of his sins
ʿAbd al-Majīd al-Azharī al-Sharnūbī, says:

َ َّ‫ذ‬
‫الي ت َو َّح َدا‬
ِ ‫ل‬
ُ ْ
ِ ِ‫احلَمد هل‬
َ َ َ َ َ ْ‫َ َ ب‬
‫القا تف َّردا‬ ِ‫يِف ذاتِ ِه وب‬
2. All praise if due to Allāh who is One
In His essence, and [who] in perpetuity is alone.

َ َّ َ ْ َ‫َ ْ َ م‬
‫الصال ِة‬ ِ ‫َوبعد ح ِد ا‬
‫هلل و‬
َ ِّ َ ‫ب‬ ِّ َّ ‫ع‬َ‫لَى‬
‫الصال ِت‬ ‫ب‬
ِ ‫اح‬
ِ ‫ص‬ ِ‫ي‬ ‫انل‬
3. And after praising Allāh and [invoking] prayers
Upon the Prophet, the possessor of favours,
 ‫يد‬ ْ َّ ‫َف َهذه َع َقائ ُد‬
ِ ‫اتلو ِح‬ ِ ِِ
ْ َّ َ ْ ْ َ ُ ْ َ
‫يد‬
ِ ‫اتلق ِل‬ ‫ننجو بِها ِمن ِربق ِة‬
4. These are the tenets of divine unity
Through which we save ourselves from the noose of blind-following.

ْ َ َ ْ‫ر‬ ْ َ ْ‫َ ْ َ ْ َ ْ ىَ خ‬
‫شين ِصفه‬ ِ ‫فاحفظ لِمول الل ِق ِع‬
َْ ْ ُ ُ َ
‫تك ْن بِ َها يِف غ َر ٍف ُم َزخ َرفه‬
5. So memorize twenty attributes of our Master
Through which you shall dwell in homes embellished with gold.

ْ‫اء َوالْق َدم‬ُ َ َ ْ‫هَ ُ ْ ُ ُ ُ َ ب‬

ِ ‫ل الوجود والق‬
ْ ُ ُ‫خُ َ ٌ َ َ َ ه‬
‫ال ال َع َد ْم‬ ‫ما ِلف لِما ين‬
6. He has Existence, Everlastingness, and Pre-eternity,
He is dissimilar to that which is subject to non-existence,

َْ ٌ َ
‫اح ُد‬
ِ ‫َوقائِم بِنف ِس ِه َو َو‬
ُ َ ْ‫ُ ر‬ َ ُّ ََ
‫سد‬ ‫ات ت‬
ٍ ‫فه ِذ ِه ِست ِصف‬
7. And [He is] Self-Subsistent and One.
These are six attributes enumerated.
 ْ َّ ْ َ ٌ َ ُ ُ ُ ْ َ ْ
‫ِمنها الوجود ِصفة نف ِسيه‬
ْ ْ َّ َ َ َ ْ َ ُ ْ َ ْ‫َ خ‬
‫السل ِب َّيه‬ ‫والمس بعدها يِه‬
8. Amongst them is Existence, which is a personal attribute.
And the five after it are the negating [attributes].

َّ َ َ ِّ َ ٌ َ َ
‫المنان‬ ‫اجب لِربنا‬ ِ ‫وو‬
ْ َ‫َسبْ ُع ص َفات ُس ِّمي‬
‫ت َم َعان‬ ٍ ِ
9. Moreover, it is neccesary that our beneficent Lord has
Seven attributes which are called qualitative.

َ َ ٌْ
ْ َ‫اد ٌة َوقُ ْد َر ٌة بَ ر‬
‫ص‬ ‫ِعلم ِإر‬
َ َ ٌْ َ
ْ َ‫ال ٌم َو َحيَ ٌاة ُت ْعتَ ر‬
‫ب‬ ‫سمع ك‬
10. [They are] Knowledge, Will, Omnipotence, Sight,
Hearing, Speech, and Life. So reflect!

ُْ ْ َ َْ ٌ
‫َو َسبْ َعة قد ال َز َمت َها تدع‬
َّ ‫ب َم ْعنَو َّية فَأَلْق‬
َ‫الس ْمعا‬
ِ ٍ ِ ِ
11. Then there are seven that are inseperable from them called,
Predicative. So lend an ear!
 َ‫يدا قَادرا‬ َ َ
ً ‫ك ْونه َح ًّيا ُمر‬
ِ ِ ِِ ‫ك‬
َْ ٌَ ُ
‫َو يِف ثبُوتِ َها ِخالف قد َج َرى‬
12. Such as His being alive, Willing and Powerful.
Although disagreement has arisen in regards to their establishment.

َ َ ْ ُ َْ ْ ُّ َ ْ‫َ لح‬
‫الس ِتغناء بِالمعان‬
ِ ‫وا ق ا‬
َ ْ ُ‫َ ْ َ َ َ ُ ِّ َ ر‬
‫ان‬
ِ ‫عنها كما حقق بِالب‬
‫ه‬
13. The truth of the matter is that the qualitative (attributes) dispense
Of them, as has been established by proof.

ُ َ َ ُّ
‫َو ِضدها َعليْ ِه ي َ ْستَ ِحيل‬
ُ ُ ‫فَإنَّ ُه‬
ََّ‫الم ز‬
‫ن ُه اجل َ ِليل‬ ِ
14. The opposite[s] of these are impossible for Him
For He is Transcendent, the Majestic.

ْ ُ َْ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ ِّ ُ
‫ال قد و ِصف‬ ِ ‫اف الكم‬ ِ ‫بِكل أوص‬
ْ َ‫ُ ىَ َ ْ هَ ُ َ َ َ ْ ر‬
‫تف‬ ِ ‫طوب لِمن ل بِهذا يع‬
15. With all attributes of perfection He is described.
Glad tidings to whoever acknowledges this.
 ْ ُ ْ ُْ َْ َ ٌ َ َ
‫ك ِن‬
ِ ‫وجائِز علي ِه فِعل المم‬
ُ َ َْ ْ ََ َْ ْ ُ ُ ََْ
‫وتركه ِإن لم يشأ لم يك ِن‬
16. Moreover, it is possible for Him to do what’s possible
Or leave it undone. If he does not will [a thing] it does not come to be.

ْ َ َ َ ْ‫َ َ ٌ ُ ْ لأ‬
‫اجب لِرس ِل ِه ا مانه‬ ِ ‫وو‬
ْ َ َ ُ َّ َ ُ ْ ِّ َ
‫اتلبْ ِليغ َوالف َطانه‬‫والصدق و‬
17. Necessary for His Messengers is infallibility,
Veracity, conveying [the Message], and intellectual acuity.

َ ْ ْ َ َ ُّ ٌ
‫َو ُم ْستَ ِحيل ِضدها فلتَعل ِم‬
ِّ َ ْ َ ْ‫َ َ ٌ اَلأ‬
‫وجائِز ك ك ِل يِف حق ِه ِم‬
18. And impossible are the opposite[s]. So know!
The possible in regards to them are such [matters] as eating.

َ ِّ َ‫َ ْ ْ َ َّ ُ ْ َ ى‬
‫واج ِزم بِأن المصطف اتلهام‬
َ َ َ‫ى‬ ُ َْ ُ َ َْ
ِ‫وث ِإل األنام‬ٍ ‫أفضل مبع‬
19. Be certain that the Chosen One from Tihāma
Is the best Messenger sent to mankind
 َ ْ ْ َ َ ْ‫َ ْ ُ َّ إْ ر‬
‫اج‬
ِ ‫السا ِء وال ِمعر‬ِ ِ‫قد خص ب‬
‫اج‬ َ ْ ْ َ ‫الو‬ َ ‫َوالملَّ ِة‬
ِ ‫اضح ِة ال ِمنه‬
ِ ِ
20. He has been distinguished with the Night journey and Ascension,
And the religion that is upon a clear path.

َ َ ْ‫َ ْ َ ن‬ َ َ ِّ َّ
‫ي دنا‬ِ ‫س‬ ‫و‬ ‫ق‬ ‫اب‬ ‫ق‬ ‫ِمن رب ِه ك‬
ْ َ َ‫ا‬ َ َ َ
‫َونال ِم ْن ع َط ُاه غيَة ال ُمن‬
21. He drew near to His Lord at a distance of but two bow-lengths
And attained, from His accolade, the utmost wish.

َْ َ َّ‫َ جَ ُ إْ َ ُ ذ‬
‫الي ورد‬ ِ ِ‫اليمان ب‬ ِ ‫يب‬ ِ ‫و‬
ْ َّ ْ َ‫ْ ى‬ َْ
‫الص َمد‬ ‫عن ُه ِم َن ال َم ْول ال ُم َهيْ ِم ِن‬
22. It is necessary to have faith in what has been related
From him from his Master.

َ َ َ ِّ‫ر‬ َ ْ‫اَلحْ َ ر‬
‫ان‬ ِ ‫ش والص‬
ِ ‫اط وال ِمزي‬ ِ ‫ك‬
َ‫ال ْعث َواثلَّ َواب ف اجلن‬ َ ْ‫َ ب‬
‫ان‬
ِ ِ ِ‫ِ ي‬ ِ ‫و‬
23. Such as the Assembly, the Bridge [over the Fire], the Scales,
The Resurrection, reward in Paradise,
 َ ْ َ ْ‫َ لحْ ُ َ ْ دْ َ َ لأ‬
‫ان وا مال ِك‬ ِ ‫ور وال ِول‬ ِ َ ‫وا‬
َ
َ ْ ْ‫لأ‬
‫اجل ِّن َوا فال ِك‬ َ ‫َوالأْ نْبيَا‬
‫و‬
ِ ِ
24. The Houris, youthful servants, the Angels,
The Prophets, the Jinn and the Heavens.

ْ‫َو جَتْ َم ُع الْ َع َقائ َد الَّت َم َضت‬

ِ‫ِ ي‬
ْ َ‫اد ُة إْال ْسلاَ َح ْسبُ َما َثب‬
َ َ َ
‫ت‬ ِ‫ِ م‬ ‫شه‬
25. The aforementioned beliefs are contained
Within the testimony of Islām, according to what is established.

َ ْ َ ُ َ
‫فك ْن ل َها ُمعتَ ِق ًدا َوذا ِك ًرا‬
َ ً َ َ َ َ َ ْ َ‫ي‬
‫اخ َرا‬ِ ‫ِلك ترى بِها مقاما ف‬
26. So believe in it and invoke it
So that you may thereby see a splendid rank.

َ َ ْ‫َ َ ْ َ ُ ْ َ َّ َ َ لج‬
‫وأسأل المنان ذا ا ال ِل‬
َ‫ك‬ َ ْ َ ُ َ َّ ُ
‫ال‬
ِ ‫م‬ ‫ب ال‬
ِ ‫ر ِقينا لِرت‬
27. And ask the Beneficent, the Majestic,
To raise us to the degree of perfection
 َ ْ ِّ َّ َ َ َ
‫ري‬
ِ ‫جِباهِ طه السي ِد الب ِش‬
‫ري‬ ْ َّ َ َ ‫َو‬
ِ ‫آل منا ِه ِل اتلط ِه‬
ِ ِ‫ه‬
28. By the honour of Ṭa-Ha, the liege-lord, the Bringer of Tidings
And his family, the springs of purification.

َّ َ َّ‫ى‬
‫َصل ِعليْ ِه َر ُّبنَا َو َسل َما‬
ُ َ‫ك كت‬ ُّ ُ‫َ آْ َ ل‬
‫اب خ ِت َما‬ ٍ ِ ‫وال ِل ما‬
29. May our Lord bless him and give [him] peace
And [to] his family as long as every book is concluded.