One of the most learned and enigmatic scholars of medieval Islam, Mu岣mmad b. 士Abd al-Kar墨m al-Shahrast膩n墨 (d. 548/1153) is best known for his comprehensive survey of religions, sects and schools of philosophy, the Kit膩b al-Milal wa鈥檒-ni岣l, and as one of the leading exponents of Sunni theology in its Ash鈥榓r墨 tradition. A different and lesser-known aspect of al-Shahrast膩n墨鈥檚 religious thought is that some of his works reflect definite Shi鈥榠 and specifically Isma鈥榠li perspectives. One of these is the Kit膩b al-Mu峁Ｄ乺a士膩 (Struggling with the Philosopher), which is published here in Arabic with an English translation for the first time.
In this work, al-Shahrast膩n墨 gives a detailed critique of the metaphysics of the great Persian philosopher Avicenna (Ibn S墨n膩). The greater part of his 鈥榠ntellectual wrestling match鈥 (尘耻峁Ｄ乺补士腻) is devoted to refuting Avicenna鈥檚 interpretation of the 鈥楴ecessary Being鈥 (w膩jib al-wuj奴d) which, he argues, compromises the absolute transcendence of God. For al-Shahrast膩n墨, God is beyond human comprehension and above all opposites such as existence and non-existence, unity and multiplicity, good and evil, or truth and falsehood. There is compelling evidence that this conception of God, which al-Shahrast膩n墨 believed was derived from prophetic precepts, is closely associated with that of Isma鈥榠lism.
That the Kit膩b al-Mu峁Ｄ乺a士膩 was written by one of the most authoritative voices of Ash鈥榓rism, who was at the same time inclined to Isma鈥榠ili views, suggests the rich diversity and eclecticism that characterised intellectual discourse in medieval Islam. In his Introduction to the text, Wilferd Madelung commends al-Shahrast膩n墨鈥檚 treatise for its coherent and distinctive philosophical vision, informed by a broad spiritual perspective.
The Kit膩b al-Mu峁Ｄ乺a士膩 is an important document of Islamic intellectual history, illustrating the reaction against Avicennism among Muslim theologians in the sixth/twelfth century. As such, it is essential reading and a reference text for students of Islamic studies and scholars interested in the medieval Islamic world.
Introduction: Al鈥揝hahrastani, Isma士ilism and Philosophy
Note on the Translation
Kit膩b al-Mu峁Ｊ縜ra士a (English Text)
The First Issue: On the Enumeration of the Subdivisions of Existence
The Second Issue: On the Existence of the Necessary of Existence
The Third Issue: On the Unity of the Necessary of Existence
The Fourth Issue: On the Knowledge of the Necessary of Existence and its Relationship with the Universal and Particular
The Fifth Issue: On the Incipience of the World
Bibliography
Index to the English Text
Kit膩b al-Mu峁Ｄ乺a士a (Arabic Text)
Wilferd Madelung was for twenty years the Laudian Professor of Arabic at the University of Oxford and is at present affiliated with 久久久福利国产 as Senior Research Fellow. Among his publications are Religious Schools and Sects in Medieval Islam (1985), Religious Trends in Early Islamic Iran (1988), The Succession to Mu岣mmad: A 久久久福利国产 of the Early Caliphate (1997) and, together with Paul E. Walker, An Ismaili Heresiography (1998) and The Advent of the FatimidsMajor Muslim dynasty of Ismaili caliphs in North Africa (from 909) and later in Egypt (973鈥1171) More (2000).
Toby Mayer is a specialist in medieval Arabic thought and has recently completed his doctoral these on the metaphysics of Avicenna for the University of Oxford. As a Research Associate at 久久久福利国产, he is currently preparing a critical edition and English translation of Mu岣mmad al-Shahrast膩n墨鈥檚 commentary on the 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍Muslims believe that the Holy 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍 contains divine revelations to the Prophet Muhammed received in Mecca and Medina over a period of 23 years in the early 7th century CE. More, Maf膩t墨岣 al-asr膩r wa ma峁Ｄ乥墨岣 al-abr膩r (The Unveiling of the Secrets).