Yusuf al-Ghafis
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Yusuf al-Ghafis (full name: Yusuf ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Ghafis) is a contemporary Saudi scholar, theologian, and academic who served as a member of both the Council of Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta .
Background and Education
Al-Ghafis belongs to the prominent al-Ghafis family (historically known as Al Ibn Nasir), which traces its lineage to the al-Ma'amirah branch of the Banu Khalid tribe . His family originally moved around 1120 AH from the region of al-Washm to settle in al-Qasim, establishing themselves west of Buraydah .
He pursued his higher academic studies in Islamic theology at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, where he completed his doctoral dissertation in 1422 AH in the Department of Creed, titled al-Tadakhul al-ʿAqaʾidi fi Maqalat al-Tawaʾif al-Mukhalifah fi Usul al-Din ("Theological Overlap in the Doctrines of Dissenting Sects Regarding the Principles of Religion") .
Career and Methodological Views
Al-Ghafis was appointed as a member of the Council of Senior Scholars as well as the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta . Alongside his official roles, he conducted numerous educational circles and lecture series expounding foundational Islamic creedal texts, such as his detailed audio commentary on Abu Ja'far al-Tahawi's al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya .
In his methodological lectures—such as his recorded explanation of Abu Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam's Kitab al-Iman—he articulated a critique of formal logical definitions (al-hadd), noting that such rigid definitions were introduced into scholarly terminology by scholastic theologians (mutakallimun) and often lead to narrowing and predetermining concepts prematurely . In place of scholastic definitions, he advocated the method of the early generations (al-salaf), which relies on induction (al-istiqra') across all textual sources to establish precise semantic meanings .
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List of Works
Sharh Lumat al-Itiqad is an Islamic theological commentary on Lum'at al-I'tiqad al-Hadi ila Sabil al-Rashad, the well-known creedal primer composed by the Hanbali jurist and theologian Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi. The commentary focuses on clarifying foundational issues regarding the principles of religion, divine lordship, the affirmation of God's names and attributes according to Ahl al-Sunnah, and core articles of faith such as predestination and the afterlife.
Sharh al-Qawaid al-Sab' min al-Tadmuriyya is an Islamic theological commentary expounding the foundational theological principles articulated by Ibn Taymiyya in his treatise al-Risala al-Tadmuriyya. The work focuses on the theological and rational rules that govern the affirmation of divine names and attributes and the refutation of various philosophical and scholastic theological schools.
Sharh al-Wasitiyya is a contemporary theological commentary on the foundational creedal treatise al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya by Ibn Taymiyya. The work examines the core tenets of the principles of religion, with particular emphasis on the affirmation of divine names and attributes, methods of dialectical and rational argumentation, and the six pillars of faith.
Sharh al-Hamawiyya is an Islamic theological commentary expounding Ibn Taymiyya's creedal treatise al-Fatwa al-Hamawiyya al-Kubra on the divine names and attributes. The work systematically analyzes the creed of the early generations, doctrinal lineages, critiques of later scholastic theology, and the reconciliation of divine transcendence with co-presence.
Sharh al-Aqida al-Tahawiya is a contemporary theological commentary on the foundational creedal treatise composed by Abu Ja'far al-Tahawi. It examines the historical and doctrinal context of the text, assesses its reception across juristic schools, and provides a clause-by-clause exposition of its statements on theological tenets, including divine attributes and faith.
Sharh al-Wasiyya al-Kubra (Explanation of the Major Testament) is a contemporary commentary on al-Wasiyya al-Kubra (also known as al-Risala al-Adawiyya), an epistolary treatise composed by Ibn Taymiyya. The work addresses religious devotion, creed, and Sufism.
Durus al-Shaykh Yusuf al-Ghufays is a compilation of transcribed audio lectures focusing on Islamic theology (ʿaqīdah) and classical creedal texts. The collection brings together verbatim and edited transcriptions expounding classical treatises on doctrine and legal methodology.
Sharh Kitab al-Iman (Commentary on the Book of Faith) is a theological commentary on the classical treatise Kitab al-Iman by Abu Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam. It explains the Sunni doctrine of faith (iman) and examines historical debates regarding its definition and reality.
Sharh Hadith al-Iftiraq (Commentary on the Hadith of Sectarian Division) is an Islamic theological treatise and transcribed commentary examining the prophetic tradition regarding the fragmentation of the Muslim community into seventy-three sects and the related theological principles of heresy and excommunication (takfir).
Sharh Risalat Raf al-Malam an al-Aimma al-Alam (Explanation of the Treatise on Removing Blame from the Notable Imams) is a contemporary commentary on the treatise Raf al-Malam an al-Aimma al-Alam by Ibn Taymiyyah. The work elucidates the reasons for divergence among early jurists and the principles governing adherence to prophetic texts and legal disagreement.