وَأَسَاسُ قَوَاعِدِ عَقَائِدِ الْإِسْلَامِ
And the foundation of the principles of Islamic beliefs.
Asās means a foundation; qawāʿid means general principles; ʿaqāʾid refers to established convictions of faith. The phrase describes a coherent structure of belief, not merely scattered facts.
Divine oneness and attributes, prophethood, and revelation are core concerns from which further theological conclusions take shape. A principle is a general proposition that helps organize multiple particular questions; not every individual ruling is itself such a principle.
Example: The general principle that Allah is not in need of creation rules out attributing bodily needs or reliance on external assistance to Him.