Fath al-Mabud fi al-Radd ala Ibn Mahmud
- Author died
- 1413 AH
- Editions
- Maṭba‘at al-Madīnah
Fath al-Mabud fi al-Radd ala Ibn Mahmud ("The Revelation of the Worshipped in Refutation of Ibn Mahmud") is a theological refutation written by the Saudi scholar Hammud ibn Abdullah al-Tuwayjiri (d. 1413 AH / 1992 CE) to address and critique doctrinal positions published in two treatises by Abdullah ibn Zayd ibn Mahmud .
Background and Purpose
The work was composed as a critical response to two short treatises published by Abdullah ibn Zayd ibn Mahmud, who served as the head of the Sharia Courts of Qatar :
- al-Iman bi-l-Qada wa-l-Qadar ala Tariqat Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Athar ("Belief in Divine Decree and Predestination According to the Method of Ahl al-Sunnah and the Athar") .
- Ithaf al-Ahfiya bi-Risalat al-Anbiya ("The Gift to the Keen Concerning the Messages of the Prophets") .
Al-Tuwayjiri wrote the book to point out what he regarded as serious doctrinal errors in those two texts, stating in his introduction that urging a scholar to return to the truth is an obligation, citing classical precedents of early Muslims and Companions who publicly corrected themselves when confronted with evidence .
Content and Core Arguments
The book focuses on several main theological topics:
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Divine Decree and Predestination (al-Qada wa-l-Qadar): Al-Tuwayjiri refutes Ibn Mahmud's interpretation regarding the writing (kitabah) of divine destiny mentioned in prophetic traditions . Ibn Mahmud had claimed that the "writing" of decrees was identical to God's inherent, pre-eternal knowledge (al-ilm al-qa'im bi-dhat Allah) or was merely the creation of things according to a fixed order . Al-Tuwayjiri and the endorsing scholars argue that writing is an independent, distinct stage of destiny following divine foreknowledge, referencing the four classic stages of qadar outlined by scholars such as Ibn al-Qayyim and Ibn Taymiyyah (knowledge, writing, will, and creation) .
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Prophethood and Messengership: The author addresses thirteen distinct points arising from Ibn Mahmud's second treatise, Ithaf al-Ahfiya . Al-Tuwayjiri refutes Ibn Mahmud's contention that every prophet is a messenger without distinction, demonstrating from scriptural texts and the consensus of classical authorities that every messenger is a prophet, but not every prophet is a messenger . He also disputes Ibn Mahmud's claims that Ibn Kathir was the first scholar to distinguish between the two, that Ibn Taymiyyah did not distinguish them in Kitab al-Nubuwwat, that the distinction was unknown among early Muslim generations, and that Adam was not a messenger .
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Defense of Abu Dharr al-Ghifari: Al-Tuwayjiri defends the Companion Abu Dharr against criticisms made by Ibn Mahmud, who had impugned his memory regarding traditions enumerating the prophets .
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The Distinction Between Islam and Iman: The text clarifies the theological distinction between Islam and Iman when mentioned together, relying on treatments by scholars such as Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Kathir, and Ibn Rajab .
Reception and Publication
The work received endorsements and introductions from prominent Saudi scholars, including Abd al-Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz, then General President of the Departments of Scientific Researches, Ifta, Da'wah, and Guidance, and Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Humayd, President of the Supreme Judicial Council, both of whom praised the book's adherence to the Sunni creed and its systematic refutation of Ibn Mahmud's errors .
The book was first printed in Riyadh by Matba'at al-Madinah and published through Dar al-Ifta / the General Presidency of Scientific Researches, Ifta, Da'wah, and Guidance in 1399 AH (1979 CE), appearing in a single volume of approximately 187 to 196 pages .
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