al-Iman bayn al-Salaf wa al-Mutakallimin

al-Iman bayn al-Salaf wa al-Mutakallimin (Faith Between the Predecessors and the Scholastic Theologians) is a theological study by Ahmad ibn Atiyah al-Ghamidi (d. 1432 AH / 2011 CE) examining the definition, nature, and theological implications of faith (iman) across early traditionalist and dialectical schools of thought al-Iman bayn al-Salaf wa …+1.

Composition and Publication

The work was originally prepared as a Master's thesis at Umm al-Qura University in Mecca, where it was submitted as a typewritten dissertation in 1397 AH Usul al-Din inda al-Imam …+1. It was later published in Medina by Maktabat al-Ulum wa al-Hikam, with editions recorded in 1423 AH and 1432 AH (2002 CE) al-Athar al-Warida an al-…+1.

Structure and Scope

The author structured the book into an introduction (muqaddimah), a preliminary overview (tamhid), three main parts (abwab), and a conclusion (khatimah) al-Iman bayn al-Salaf wa …:

• Introduction: Details the author's motives for undertaking the study, the outline, and the research methodology al-Iman bayn al-Salaf wa ….
• Preliminary Overview: Defines the Salaf as those who derive doctrine directly from revelation (the Quran and the Sunnah) and the Mutakallimin (scholastic theologians) as those who rely on purely rational argumentation to articulate creed al-Iman bayn al-Salaf wa …+1.
• Part One: Presents the doctrine of the Salaf regarding faith and their textual proofs across five chapters, including:
  • Chapter 1: The reality and essential nature of faith, presenting it as an indivisible composite of inner conviction of the heart, verbal statement of the tongue, and physical righteous deeds al-Iman bayn al-Salaf wa …+1.
  • Chapter 2: The relationship between iman (faith) and islam (submission), discussing the questions of synonymity (taraduf) versus distinction (taghayur) al-Iman bayn al-Salaf wa …+1.
  • Chapter 3: The increase and decrease of faith (ziyadah wa nuqsan) through acts of obedience and disobedience al-Iman bayn al-Salaf wa …+1.

The remaining sections of the work examine the contrasting positions and arguments of various theological groups—such as the Mu'tazilah, Ash'aris, Maturidis, and Kullabis—on issues including the role of deeds, the status of the perpetrator of major sins, the concept of disbelief (kufr), and the theological question of qualification or exception in faith (al-istithna' fi al-iman, such as stating "I am a believer, if God wills") alongside the Ash'ari doctrine of final state (muwafah) Mawsuat al-Firaq al-Munta…+1.