al-Radd ala al-Jahmiyya li-Ibn Manda
- Author died
- 395 AH
- Editions
- T al-Maktaba al-Athariyya
al-Radd ala al-Jahmiyya (Refutation of the Jahmiyya) is a theological treatise by the traditionist Ibn Manda (310–395 AH / 922–1005 CE), composed to refute the doctrines of the Jahmiyya and affirm the divine attributes through textual transmission.
Scope and Contents
The book directs its arguments against the theological positions of the early theologian Jahm ibn Safwan (d. 128 AH) and his followers, particularly their negation of divine attributes (taʿṭīl). Ibn Manda gathered ninety-one textual transmissions in the work to establish the attributes of God as reported in the Quran and prophetic traditions.
Its topical chapters include discussions on specific attributes, such as a chapter on the Quranic verse مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ ("What prevented you from prostrating to what I created with My two hands?"), wherein he cites prophetic reports to argue that God created Adam with two hands in reality.
Method and Approach
Ibn Manda structured his defense around textual evidence, opening topics with verses from the Quran and narrations from sound collections such as those of al-Bukhari and Muslim. He followed these with supporting prophetic traditions and reports (āthār) from the early generations, citing each through complete chains of transmission (isnāds) while occasionally pointing out weak or unestablished chains.
Regarding theological interpretation, Ibn Manda adopted a strict stance within the book, remarking: التأويل عند أصحاب الحديث: فرعٌ من التكذيب ("Interpretation among the scholars of Hadith is a branch of denial").
Editions
The work has been edited by Ali ibn Muhammad Nasir al-Faqihi and published in multiple printings, including editions by Maktabat al-Ghuraba al-Athariyya in Medina (1414 AH) and by al-Maktaba al-Athariyya in Pakistan.
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