Istihsan al-Khawd fi 'Ilm al-Kalam

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Istihsan al-Khawd fi 'Ilm al-Kalam
Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari
Original titleرسالة استحسان الخوض في علم الكلام
TranslatorRichard J. McCarthy [ar]
LanguageArabic, English
SubjectKalam (rationalistic theology)
Publisher
Preceded by
Hyderabad, India in 1323 AH (1905/1906 AD) and again in 1344 AH (1925/1926 AD).[2]

Al-Hath 'ala al-Bahth (

rational methods,[3][4] and discusses the antagonism between nazar (consideration)[Note 1] and taqlid (in this context means “blind imitation” or following the opinion and practice of others unquestionably, without due inquiry).[6]

Unlike ultra-traditionalists, al-Ash'ari considered

Qur'an and the Sunnah that supports and endorses dialectical rational thinking, logical reasoning, and critical examination and analysis in theology.[7][8]

Content

In this work, al-Ash'ari reflected himself as opposed to the ultra-traditionalists, literalists or fundamentalists (probably some of those associated with the Hanbali school),[9] and described them as being ignorant, unable to rationalize or inquire into religious matters, and inclined to blind imitation of authority.[8]

Beginning with a widespread critique of systematic theological reflection, the text responds from several perspectives to “objections” posed by opponents of kalām, offering a concise summary of one major systematic theological method.[9]

Al-Ash'ari defended kalam and mutakallimun (dialectic theologians), which means he gave strong recommendation on reason. To him, the basic principles, the objectives, and the method of kalam were generally present in the Qur'an and traditions. Al-Ash'ari emphasized that Qur'an and Hadith never neglect the role of reason and allow speculative thinking (nazar) and rational inference to be implemented.[10][Note 2]

Why, then, do you hinder (people from engaging in) kalam? You use it yourselves when you want to; but when you are silenced/confounded (in a discussion), you say: We are forbidden to engage in kalam. And when you want to, you blindly and unquestioningly follow your predecessors, without
Al-Ash'ari
, Istihsan al-Khawd fi 'Ilm al-Kalam

Translation

The treatise was translated into English in 1953 by Richard J. McCarthy [ar] and published under the title of The Theology of al-Ashʻarī: The Arabic Texts of al-Ashʻarī's Kitāb al-Luma' and Risālat Istiḥsān al-Khawḍ fi 'Ilm al-Kalām.[14]

Exposition

Samir al-Qadi, a student of

Arabic: إيضاح المرام من رسالة الأشعري الإِمام). First published in 2017 in Lebanon by Dar al-Mashari'.[15]

Reception and influence

Al-Bayhaqi (d. 458/1066) frequently quotes al-Ash'ari in al-Asma' wa al-Sifat. He apparently narrated from al-Ash'ari's treatise Istihsan al-Khawd fi 'Ilm al-Kalam ("The Endorsement of the Study of Dialectic Theology").[16]

Notes

  1. ^ The Arabic term nazar, which is being translated here as “consideration,” means to look, to gaze, to inspect, to investigate. For the proponents of Kalam, it denotes the process of investigation and reasoning whereby conclusions are drawn.[5]
  2. Mu'tazila who claimed for priority of reason over revelation.[10]
  3. ^ Al-Ash'ari tries to prove that his opponents accepted some other concepts introduced into the religion and for which there is no explicit text like a verse or a hadith, such as the blasphemous nature of claiming that the Qur'an was created. The argument of the declaration of unbelief of the one who says that the Qur'an is created is effective here because both al-Ash'ari and his opponents agreed that it was unbelief to profess that the Qur'an is created, in spite of the fact that this was not something said or professed by the Prophet.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "اللمع في الرد على أهل الزيغ والبدع وفي آخره (رسالة في استحسان الخوض في علم الكلام للمصنف)". al-ilmiyah.com (in Arabic). Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyya. Archived from the original on 18 Jan 2024.
  2. ^ a b "el-HAS ale'l-BAHS". islamansiklopedisi.org.tr (in Turkish). İslâm Ansiklopedisi. Archived from the original on 17 Jan 2024.
  3. ISBN 9781472569455
    .
  4. ISBN 9780691134840
    .
  5. ISBN 9780791498989
    .
  6. doi:10.35632/ajis.v25i3
    .
  7. ISBN 9788176252300
    .
  8. ^
    Ijma'
    . Therefore, it is not surprising that al-Ash'ari in his Risala fi Istihsan al-Khawd fi 'Ilm al-Kalam described the Traditionists (Ahl al-Hadith) as being ignorant, unable to rationalise or inquire into religious matter and more inclined to blind imitation of authority (taqlid). The Traditionalists accused the Mutakallimun of being deviationists (dallin) and innovators (mubtadi'in) and raised objections against the speculative Theology (Kalam).
  9. ^
    ISBN 9780520281899
    .
  10. ^
    ISSN 2232-1314
    .
  11. ISBN 9780520957718
    .
  12. ISBN 9780759116665
    .
  13. ^
    ISBN 9781838609825
    .
  14. ^ "The Theology of Al-Ashʻarī". searchworks.stanford.edu. Stanford University Libraries. Archived from the original on 17 Jan 2024.
  15. ^ "إيضاح المرام من رسالة الأشعري الإِمام". sunnaonline.org (in Arabic). Dar al-Mashari'. Archived from the original on 20 Jan 2024.
  16. ISBN 9781930409033
    .

Further reading

External links
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