al-Munazara fi al-Quran
- Author died
- 620 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat al-Rushd
Al-Munazara fi al-Quran (also titled Hikayat al-Munazara fi al-Quran ma'a ba'd ahl al-bid'a) is a theological treatise by the Hanbali jurist and scholar Ibn Qudama (541–620 AH / 1146–1223 CE) addressing the nature of the Quran and the speech of God .
Background and Purpose
Ibn Qudama composed the work in response to recurrent requests from his companions to recount a debate on the nature of the Quran that had taken place between him and opposing theologians . Explaining his method in the preface, Ibn Qudama stated that he chose not to write it as a strict verbatim transcription of the dialogue out of caution against inadvertent addition or omission; instead, he organized the text systematically by setting out the arguments and refuting opposing contentions while preserving the substance of what took place during the debate .
Core Content and Arguments
Ibn Qudama frames the central point of contention around whether the revealed Quran is itself the uncreated speech of God . He presents the position of his school that the Quran is God's literal speech, comprising the one hundred and fourteen chapters from Surat al-Fatiha to the Mu'awwidhatayn, structured into surahs, verses, words, and letters, which are recited, heard, and written down in codices .
He contrasts this with the stance of his theological opponents, who argued that the audible and written chapters and verses are created expressions ('ibarah) or representations (hikayah), whereas the true Quran is an indivisible, single meaning subsisting in God's essence (kalam nafsi) that is not recited, heard, written, or divided . In responding to their objections:
- Multiplicity and Divisibility: In response to the claim that multiple verses and chapters must be created because eternal reality cannot be manifold, Ibn Qudama points out that God's names, attributes, and revealed scriptures are multiple yet eternal and uncreated, invoking statements from al-Shafi'i and Ahmad ibn Hanbal .
- Letters and Articulation: In response to the rational objection that letters require physical vocal organs and instruments (makharij wa-adawat), Ibn Qudama argues that such reasoning improperly equates the Creator with creation . He emphasizes that just as God hears and sees without physical organs, He speaks without human vocal anatomy, adding that scripture records God causing stones, hands, skins, the heavens, and the earth to speak without vocal tracts .
- Textual Evidence: He gathers extensive Quranic verses and prophetic traditions demonstrating that the text recited and written among Muslims is directly referred to by God as His uncreated speech, challenging opponents who separate the revealed Arabic text from God's word .
Editions
The text has been published under the title Hikayat al-Munazara fi al-Quran ma'a ba'd ahl al-bid'a, edited by Abdullah ibn Yusuf al-Juday' and published by Maktabat al-Rushd in Riyadh .
Answer updated