al-Ayat al-Quraniyya al-Warida fi al-Radd ala al-Bida al-Mutaqabala Dirasa Aqdiyya
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- al-Ayat al-Quraniyya al-Warida fi al-Radd ala al-Bida al-Mutaqabala Dirasa Aqdiyya
al-Ayat al-Quraniyya al-Warida fi al-Radd ala al-Bida al-Mutaqabala: Dirasa Aqdiyya ("Quranic Verses Concerning the Refutation of Diametrical Innovations: A Theological Study") is a contemporary Sunni theological work by the Saudi scholar Ahmad bin Ali al-Zamali. Originally prepared as a doctoral dissertation in the Department of Creed at the Islamic University of Madinah during the academic year 1437–1438 AH (2016–2017 CE) under the supervision of Muhammad Bakrim Muhammad Abd Allah, the work investigates how individual Quranic verses simultaneously refute mutually opposed heresies and establish theological moderation (wasatiyya).
Background and Scope
The author identifies the central objective of the study as demonstrating how Quranic verses expose the contradictions of opposing doctrinal extremes—such as excess (ghuluww or ifrat) and negligence (jafa' or tafrit)—and establish the balanced tenets of the Sunnah. The study addresses opposing factions across Islamic intellectual history up to the modern era, analyzing the arguments of theological schools such as the Mu'tazila, Ash'arites, and Maturidiyya, extreme Sufi tendencies (including adherents of hulul, ittihad, and wahdat al-wujud), and philosophical movements. Unlike general works on moderation or refutations of isolated heresies, it focuses specifically on instances where Quranic passages resolve paired theological antinomies within a unified context.
Methodology
The book employs inductive, historical, analytical, and critical methodologies. The author collects Quranic verses that refute counterposed innovations and arranges theological subjects in accordance with the articles of faith set out in the Hadith of Gabriel. In addressing refutational verses, the work divides its treatment into two tiers:
- An analytical study (dirasa tahliliyya) selecting three representative verses for in-depth exegesis and deconstruction of the opposing heresies.
- A general survey (dirasa ijmaliyya) compiling remaining relevant verses to demonstrate the overarching scriptural pattern.
Hadiths are verified with degrees of authenticity established from standard authorities, and scholarly quotations are traced back to their original sources.
Structure and Contents
The work is organized into an introduction, a preliminary foundational study (tamhid), three main parts (abwab), a conclusion, and extensive analytical indices.
- Preliminary Chapter (al-Tamhid): Covers four sections detailing lexical and technical definitions of key terms (ayat, taqabul, and al-bida' al-mutaqabila), the historical origins and causes of paired innovations alongside scholarly methods of refutation, the religious and intellectual harms of such innovations, and the authoritative status of the Quran among Sunni scholars compared to opposing sects.
- Part One: Examines the textual evidence for Islamic moderation (wasatiyya). It includes chapters analyzing verses establishing moderation and its core characteristics, followed by verses warning against theological extremism (ghuluww) and deficiency (jafa'), outlining extremist currents.
- Part Two: Examines verses refuting paired innovations in the domain of faith in God and issues of iman. It contains four chapters covering:
- Divine Lordship (Tawhid al-Rububiyya), treating errors of excess and deficiency.
- Divine Worship (Tawhid al-Uluhiyya).
- Divine Names and Attributes (Tawhid al-Asma' wa-l-Sifat).
- The nature and definition of faith (Masa'il al-Iman).
- Part Three: Treats verses refuting diametrical innovations across the remaining pillars of faith across five chapters:
- Belief in the angels (al-Mala'ika).
- Belief in the revealed scriptures (al-Kutub).
- Belief in the messengers (al-Rusul).
- Belief in the Last Day (al-Yawm al-Akhir).
- Belief in Divine Decree and Predestination (al-Qada' wa-l-Qadar).
The book concludes with a summary of research findings and indices for Quranic verses, prophetic traditions, historical reports (athar), cited bibliography, and subjects.
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