Abu Abd Allah al-Misri
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Abu Abd Allah al-Misri is a contemporary Egyptian Islamic writer known for his writings on Sunni theology and contemporary Islamic missionary methodology.
Theological and Methodological Positions
In theological discourse, he addressed the principles governing descriptions of the Divine in his treatise Sharaiyyat al-Ikhbar an Allah bima lam yat bihi Quran wa la Sunna ("The Legitimacy of Predicating About Allah What Has Not Come in the Quran or the Sunnah"). In this study, he established that the domain of theological predication (al-ikhbar) regarding God is wider than the domain of divine names (al-asma') and attributes (al-sifat). While affirming divine names and attributes is strictly scripture-dependent (tawqifi) and gives rise to specific acts of servanthood, predication does not entail those liturgical implications; consequently, it permits using descriptive terms not explicitly revealed in the Quran or the Sunnah—such as "the entity" (al-shay'), "the existent" (al-mawjud), or "the self-subsisting" (al-qa'im bi-nafsihi), as cited from Ibn al-Qayyim—on the condition that the predication entails no deficiency whatsoever with respect to God.
He also addressed the dynamics of contemporary Islamic activism in Waqfa Hadiya ma al-Taainin fi Jamaat al-Dawa ("A Calm Reflection with Those Who Criticize Dawah Groups"). In it, he argued against sweeping dismissals of active Islamic groups, maintaining that evaluating widespread missionary efforts requires broad scholarly consultation rather than unilateral decisions by a few students of knowledge. He emphasized adhering to classical Sunni principles, such as differentiating between declaring an act to be an innovation and declaring a specific practitioner an innovator (ta'yin al-mubtadi'), and insisting that scholarly citations must be verified against their original sources.
Reception
His theological treatise received written commendations from academic and religious scholars. Mahmud Abd al-Raziq al-Ridwani, an associate professor of creed and contemporary trends at King Khalid University, praised his study for reflecting a sound grasp of the creed of the early generations (Salaf) on the intricate question of divine names and attributes. Similarly, the scholar Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Aziz wrote a preface commending the work for its adherence to the Quran, Sunnah, and the methodology of the Salaf, noting its clear and accessible presentation of a complex theological topic.
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List of Works
This treatise on Islamic theology examines the rules of predication (al-ikhbar) concerning God in Sunni creed. Prompted by debates regarding descriptions of the Divine, the work demonstrates that theological predication is broader than the revealed divine names and attributes, and that using non-scriptural expressions is legally permissible under defined scholarly conditions.
This contemporary treatise critiques severe condemnations directed at active Islamic proselytization groups, with a particular focus on the Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat al-Tabligh. Grounded in the Quran, Sunnah, and classical principles, it argues against harsh boycotts and establishes a balanced framework for assessing and advising contemporary dawah movements.