Ara Ibn Ajiba al-Aqdiyya Ardan wa Naqdan
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- Ara Ibn Ajiba al-Aqdiyya Ardan wa Naqdan
Ara Ibn Ajiba al-Aqdiyya Ardan wa Naqdan (The Creedal Views of Ibn Ajiba: Presentation and Critique) is an academic study in Islamic theology written by Abd al-Hadi ibn Awad al-Umari, examining and critiquing the theological and Sufi doctrines of the Moroccan scholar Ahmad ibn Ajiba from the viewpoint of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah .
Background and Purpose
The work originated as a doctoral dissertation submitted to the Department of Creed and Contemporary Trends at the College of Usul al-Din at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, supervised by Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah al-Turki and evaluated by committee members Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Sanad and Sulayman ibn Salim al-Suhaymi .
The author stated that his primary objectives were to collect the theological assertions dispersed across Ibn Ajiba's extensive writings—particularly his Quranic commentary al-Bahr al-Madid fi Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Majid—and evaluate them against the theological framework of the early Sunni forebears (Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jama'ah) . Al-Umari noted that earlier academic works had addressed Ibn Ajiba's literary output, hermeneutical method, or purely mystical concepts, but had not dedicated an independent, systematic theological critique to his creedal viewpoints .
Structure and Contents
The book is organized into an introduction, a preliminary chapter, three main parts comprising fifteen chapters, a conclusion, and analytical indexes :
- Preliminary Chapter (al-Tamhid): A concise biography of Ibn Ajiba and an overarching introduction to Sufi orders .
- Part One: Epistemological Sources (Masadir al-Talaqqi): Divided into two chapters examining the textual sources (the Quran and Sunnah) alongside distinctive Sufi epistemic sources, specifically mystical unveiling (kashf), intuitive tasting (dhawq), spiritual ecstasy (wajd), visions and anecdotes (al-ru'a wa-al-hikayat), and claimed direct learning from al-Khadir .
- Part Two: Articles and Doctrines of Faith (Usul al-Iman wa Masa'iluhu): Comprises seven chapters analyzing Ibn Ajiba's positions on faith in God (Lordship, Names and Attributes, and Divinity), angels, revealed scriptures, messengers and prophethood (including the distinction between a prophet and a saint, and his beliefs regarding Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), the Last Day (signs of the Hour, eschatological events, Paradise, and Hell), Divine Decree (al-qadar, human acts, and divine will), and the definition and branches of iman (its increase and decrease, and the status of the committer of major sins) .
- Part Three: Sufi Doctrines (Ara'uhu al-Sufiyya): Encompasses six chapters exploring the relationship between disciple and master (al-murid wa-al-shaykh), sainthood and miracles (al-wilayah wa-al-karamah), doctrines of incarnation, union, and the unity of existence (al-hulul wa-al-ittihad wa-wahdat al-wujud), mystical states and stations (al-ahwal wa-al-maqamat), Ibn Ajiba's stance toward earlier Sufi masters and orders, and an assessment of the Darqawiyya order, Ibn Ajiba's role in its development, and Sunni scholarly attitudes toward it .
- Conclusion and Indexes: A synthesis of findings and recommendations, accompanied by eight reference indexes covering Quranic verses, hadiths, historical figures, technical terms, geographical locations, sects and schools, sources, and subjects .
Methodology and Research
The study employs an inductive, analytical, and critical approach (al-manhaj al-istiqra'i al-tahlili al-naqdi) . During his research, the author traveled to Morocco to collect Ibn Ajiba's printed works and unedited manuscripts preserved in local libraries, consulting experts to decipher Maghrebi ra'shah handwriting . He also conducted field visits to document Ibn Ajiba's shrine and his sons' tombs at al-Zimij in the rural commune of Khamis Anjra near Tangier, as well as the shrine of the Darqawi order's founder in the Bani Zarwal region north of Tetouan .
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