Advanced Topics in al-Asmaa wa Sifaat
Historical Background
- The Orthodox Creed – al-Saffarini
- The Creed of Imam Ahmad and His Early Followers
- How Ash’arism Spread – al-Maqrizi
- Imam al-Mizzi Imprisoned by the Ash’aris for reading out Imam Bukhari’s book
The Sifaat of Allah (General)
Establishing the Proper Usool
- The Meaning of Dhahir (Apparent)
- Use of ‘Aql (Darimi)
- Are the Sifaat of Allah from the Mutashabih?
- Muhammad Mukhtar Shinqiti: A Principle Of Athari Creed, On Metaphorical And Literal Meaning In The Arabic Language
- Ash’ari Misconception: the Dhahir of the Texts Promote Anthropomorphism
Influence of the Philosophers on the Ash’aris
- Focus on the Existence of Allah Rather than Worship of Him
- Censure of Kalam: A Consensus of the Ages
- Kalami Reason Ash’aris Make Ta’wil and Tafwid
- The Role of Atomism on the Groups of Kalam – Yasir Qadhi
- Rational Proofs for God’s Existence: Ahl al-Sunnah vs. the Ash’aris
Tafwid
- Debate with the Mufawwidhah – Look at the Athar of Imam Malik
- Tafwid and ‘Defining’ the Attributes of Allah
- Ash’ari Scholars Refute Tafwid
- Ibn Qudama on Tafwid
- Tafwid al Ma’na in Istiwa?
Ash’aris and Specific Attributes of Allah
- ‘Jiha’ of Allah According to the Salaf
- The ‘Shin’ and ‘Face’ of Allah
- Is Affirming Allah’s Eyes Affirming a Bodily Organ?
- Ash’ari Concept of Iraada vs. Yadd
- Razi Admits Most People Believe Allah is Above the Heavens
The Issue of the Qur’an Being Created
- Ash’aris Believe the Qur’an is Created and ibn Qudama’s Refutation of Them
- Ash’aris/Maturidis – Is the Quran Speech or Meaning?
- Ash’ari Textbooks – Qur’an is Created
- Maturidis Believe the Quran is Created
Scholars Refute the Ash’aris
Allegations Against the Scholars
- Subki’s Allegations Against ibn Taymiyyah
- Did Imam Ahmed Make Ta’wil of “Your Lord will come…”?
- Ibn Rajab Comments on Imam Ahmad’s Supposed Ta’wil of “Your Lord will come…”
- Did ibn Katheer Make Ta’wil?
- Al-Dhahabi’s Alleged “Golden Advice” to ibn Taymiyyah (external link)
Abul-Hasan al-Ash’ari
The Prohibition of Studying Works on Speculative TheologyA treatise including a refutation of Abu al-Wafa ’Ali b. ’Aqil al-HanbaliBy al-Imam Muwaffaq al-Din Ibn Qudama al-Maqdisi (d. 620/1223)You can read it below or download the PDF.
- Preface
- The Text
- Author’s introduction
- Ibn ’Aqil’s retractation
- The position of the Salaf on the Divine Attributes
- The position of the Salaf on Speculative Theology – ’ilm al-kalam
- On Taqlid in beliefs
- On Ijtihad in beliefs
- On akhbar ahad
- Meanings of attributes
- Equal treatment of heretical adversaries and co-madhabists
- God speaks with a voice
- God speaks with letters
- Practise what you preach!
- Author’s counsel
- Notes
Creed of al-Saffarini – ‘Apples and Oranges’ Returned This is a critical analysis of a piece called “Apples and Oranges” written by an Ash’ari trying to prove their creed by using quotations of Imam al-Safarini al-Hanbali. A good analysis of the madhab of the Ash’aris and the creed of Ahlus Sunnah. This was written by Abuz Zubair and has been reproduced here with some slight modifications.
- Introduction
- On Allah’s Elevation, Rising, and Direction
- On Tafwidh and Literal Meaning (dhahir)
- On the Eternal, Eternal Attributes, Parts and Divisibility
- On Qur’an, Sound, and Letters
- On Substance (jawhar), Accident (‘aradh), and Body (jism)
- On Affirming Allah’s Face
- On Allah’s Hands
- On Allah’s Eye and Tafwidh of Tahdid (Definition)
- On Allah’s Nuzool (Descent)
- Takhliq and Takwin, between Salafis, Maturidis and Ash’aris
- Eternal, Temporal, and Comments by Salafi Editors
- Conclusion