al-Durra al-Bahiya Sharh al-Qasida al-Taiya fi Hall al-Mushkila al-Qadariya
- Author died
- 1376 AH
- Editions
- Aḍwāʾ al-Salaf
al-Durra al-Bahiya Sharh al-Qasida al-Taiya fi Hall al-Mushkila al-Qadariya ("The Splendid Pearl: Commentary on the T-Rhyming Poem on Resolving the Problem of Predestination") is a theological commentary by the Hanbali scholar Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi (1307–1376 AH / 1890–1956 CE) on the poem composed by Ibn Taymiyya concerning the doctrine of divine decree and predestination (al-qada' wa-l-qadar) .
Background and Composition
Ibn Taymiyya originally composed his Qasida al-Taiya in response to verses presented to him by an interlocutor said to be a dhimmi (non-Muslim subject), who raised doubts aimed at confusing Muslims regarding divine decree and deterministic compulsion (al-jabr) . In his commentary, al-Sadi noted that he undertook the work after some fellow scholars requested an accessible exposition of Ibn Taymiyya's ode, given the density and difficulty of its verses alongside the fundamental importance of understanding predestination correctly .
Al-Sadi completed writing the commentary on 30 Rabi' al-Akhir 1376 AH, shortly before his death in Jumada al-Akhira of the same year .
Method and Content
Al-Sadi designed the work as a medium-length commentary (sharh mutawassit) aimed at unlocking the intricate meanings of the original poem without excessive brevity . He emphasized that clarifying issues related to predestination requires detailed explanation and clear examples rather than mere concise summary . The work explains the Sunni creed regarding divine omnipotence, human choice, and divine wisdom, dismantling fatalistic arguments and resolving recurring theological difficulties that cause confusion . He incorporated multiple illustrative examples to illuminate the principles governing divine actions, creation, and moral accountability .
Publication History
The commentary was published with an introduction and editing by Abd al-Ghani Abd al-Khaliq, and later issued by Maktabat al-Ma'arif in Riyadh in 1406 AH / 1986 CE . It was also republished in an edition prepared by Ashraf Abd al-Maqsud, who collated the text of the base poem against printed copies from Muhammad Hamid al-Fiqi's 1375 AH edition and Ibn al-Qasim's Majmu' al-Fatawa .
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