Fatawa wa Rasail Samahat al-Shaykh Abd al-Razzaq Afifi - Qism al-Aqida
- Author died
- 1415 AH
- Editions
- Fatawa wa Rasail Samahat al-Shaykh Abd al-Razzaq Afifi - Qism al-Aqida
Fatawa wa Rasail Samahat al-Shaykh Abd al-Razzaq Afifi – Qism al-Aqida (Legal Rulings and Treatises of His Eminence Sheikh Abd al-Razzaq Afifi – Creed Section) is a collection of theological fatwas, research treatises, and answers by the Egyptian-Saudi scholar Abd al-Razzaq Afifi (1323–1415 AH / 1904–1994 CE), former deputy head of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta and member of the Council of Senior Scholars in Saudi Arabia.
Compilation and Background
During his lifetime, Afifi disfavored authoring standalone books, holding that returning directly to the Quran, the Sunnah, and the writings of early Muslim scholars (al-salaf) was sufficient for Muslims. Following his death on 25 Rabi' al-Awwal 1415 AH, his writings, articles, unpublished answers, and recorded sessions were gathered posthumously.
The compilation was prepared by al-Sa'id ibn Sabir Abduh and Walid ibn Idris ibn Mansi. Abduh collected material from published tracts, manuscript fatwas, journal essays, recorded study circles, and lectures. Walid ibn Idris, a student who remained close to Afifi toward the end of his life, contributed personal dictations and private queries recorded at the scholar's home, alongside a biographical account. The material was reviewed by Muhammad 'Id al-Abbasi, who also wrote an introduction for the work in Riyadh in Rabi' al-Thani 1417 AH.
Structure and Editorial Method
The collection opens with a detailed biographical study written by Walid ibn Idris covering Afifi's life, lineage, Azhari training, travels, character, and testimonies of contemporary scholars—such as Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani—as well as the trials he endured, including the loss of three children and a long-standing illness.
The compiler arranged the body of the work topically:
- Each section begins with Afifi's structured research treatises (mabahith) on the topic, followed by relevant individual fatwas and practical queries.
- Duplicate materials were excised, previously published typographical errors corrected, and subheadings added.
- Hadiths cited in the text were referenced and verified against Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, or other principal hadith collections where necessary.
Creedal Topics and Scope
The creed section (Qism al-Aqida) encompasses several major theological issues treated through textual proofs from the Quran, the Sunnah, and scholarly consensus (ijma'):
- Monotheism (Tawhid): Foundational principles of Tawhid, addressing seven key theological inquiries and rules concerning the divine names and attributes.
- Prophecy and the Afterlife: The necessity of belief in resurrection (al-ba'th wa-l-nushur), the refutation of doubts denying the Day of Judgment, and the affirmative position that Paradise and Hellfire are currently existing creations that will never perish.
- Governance and Rulings: A treatise on the ruling of judging by other than what Allah revealed (al-hukm bi-ghayr ma anzal Allah).
- Names and Judgments (al-Asma' wa-l-Ahkam): Questions regarding faith (iman), disbelief (kufr), and the principle of excusing on grounds of ignorance (al-udhr bi-l-jahl), including specific rulings on reviling the religion or the Prophet.
- The Companions and Sects: Love and defense of the Prophet's Companions, along with responses to ideological challenges and religious innovations.
Publication History
The work was first printed by Dar al-Fadila in Riyadh (1418 AH), and a second edition was subsequently issued in two volumes jointly by Dar al-Fadila and Dar Ibn Hazm in 1420 AH / 1999 CE.
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