The theological development of Imam al-Ash‘ari It’s often mentioned that Imam al-Ash’ari was a Mu‘tazili for 40 years of his life – he had become an Imam and authority of theirs. Then suddenly, one day, he experienced a tipping point (also known as the story about the three brothers[1]), upon which he became Sunni. Some…
Ibn Juzayy of Q21:22 + al-Razi’s reflection
Allah says in the Quran: ‘’If there had been in the heavens or earth any gods besides Allah, both would be in ruins.’’ (al-Anbiyā’ 22) Ibn Juzayy writes in his exegesis under this verse: ‘’This is evidence for the oneness of Allah, the pronoun in {fīhihimā} refers to the heavens and earth. {illā Allah} is…
The extent of the Prophet Muhammad’s knowledge ﷺ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Peace and blessings be upon His chosen servant, Muhammad, and his household and companions. The following is a translation of al-Naẓar al-Thānī of al-Dawla al-Makkiyya bi al-Māddah al-Ghaybiyya by Imam Ahmad Rida Khan. This should clarify the misunderstanding that revolves around the extent of…
Is every Kafir a Mushrik?
The following is a partial translation of an entry from Kashāf Iṣṭilāḥāt al-Funūn by Muhammad b. ‘Ali al-Thanwi al-Hindi. Entry: Shirk (polytheism, idolatry) It’s written with a kasra (on the shīn) and it’s a verbal noun (maṣdar). Its meaning is ‘to associate and believe in a partner besides the Lord Who has no partner’ as…
The crisis of science and peer-reviewed journals
How do we as Muslims deal with new studies that seemingly 'debunk' what our Sacred Law ordains to be good or bad?
Why does Allah take an oath by creation?
An oath [qasam] is a rhetorical device in the Arabic language and a way to emphasize a point in speech and to highlight the meanings and purposes of the speaker in the way he intends. Oaths are sometimes utilized to dispel the rejection or doubt of the listeners. The Quran is revealed in the Arabic…
Imam al-Sanusi’s refutation of the Trinity
Imam Sanusi writes in his Sharh al-Aqida al-Wusta[1] regarding Allah's Unicity: And neither is Allah unified with someone else, meaning: He's not one (being) together with someone else. If that weren't so, then: If both remain (as they were prior), then they are actually two and not unified. If both don't remain, then they didn't…
Fitrah isn’t what you think it is
Correcting the notion of Fitrah This article is a summary based on Shaykh Sa‘eed Foudah’s al-Sharh al-Kabeer and his Youtube videos. A lot of people mistakenly believe that Fitrah equals Islam. They infer this based on the ḥadith in which the Prophet Muhammad says: ‘’Every child is born on the Fitrah. Then his parents turn…
The concept of God in Islamic Theology
The topic of this paper is the concept [mafhūm] of God in Islamic theology and its role in removing doubts raised by modern-day atheists. Man always seeks to understand matters in life. If the understanding of servitude [‘ubūdiyya] is incorrect, then one’s worship of God will be too. If the understanding of free will is…
The Kaafiyah Channel 