Alsaidia_828_Modified

The K. al-Rasf is a compendium of kal?m theology from an Ib??? point of view. Occasional redactional notes seem to indicate that the text originally consisted of lectures presented over a period of time and then collected and abridged by a student of the author. Internal and external evidence suggests that it may have been composed between 260/874 and 270/884. By his emphasis on the essential rationality of the basic religious truths، including the existence of God، His attributes، knowledge of good and evil، and desert of reward and punishment، the author aligns himself with contemporary Mu'tazil? teaching. In the preamble، God is praised for His omnipotence and wisdom in His creation and in the imposition of obligations (taklif) on mankind. The chapter on the origination of the world is based on the kal?m concepts of substance and accidents. The chapter on divine Unity (taw?id) draws the distinction between eternal and originated being، between attrib- utes of essence and of act. Knowledge is based on sense perception and rational analogy. Every human being of sound mind is obliged to acquire knowledge of God even if revelation has not reached him or her. The chapter on the Qur'an deals with its rhetorical perfection، the stable veracity of its information، the obligation to promulgate the Promise and the Threat (al-wa'd wa l-wa'id). general and particular commandment، and abrogation. The chapter on legal Names and Rules (al-asma' wa l-a?k?m) discusses the implications of names denoting legal status in the religious law. In the chapter on the Sunna، the degrees and the extent of obligation arising from the practice of the Prophet and the community are examined. The section on the Imamate presents arguments for its necessity on the basis of the Qur'?n، the Sunna، and Consensus. The final chapter، on the names and rules of the Abode (d?r)، deals with the legal status of lands where unbelief or grave immorality (fisq) prevails and the conditions under which the believer may visit or stay in such lands. Ib??? concerns are evident in this chapter.

The K. al-Mu??raba essentially deals with the law of warfare. Like the K al-Rasf، however، it begins with the praise of God's omnipotence، omniscience، and wisdom apparent in His creation and presents a rational proof for the origination of the world. The author goes on to prove the unconditional veracity of God's Messengers in conveying their messages to mankind and in particular the truthfulness of the Prophet Mu?ammad، which is necessarily known. He then turns to the Qur'an، quoting and analyzing the verses authorizing and regulating war against refractory opponents and wrongdoers in their historical progression. He distinguishes between the rules applying to the fight against the idolators، the unbeliev- ers of the People of the Book، and the apostates from Islam. The next