Firaq Muasira Tantasib ila al-Islam wa Bayan Mawqif al-Islam Minha
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- Al-Maktabah al-'Asriyyah al-Dhahabiyyah lil-Tiba'ah wal-Nashr wal-Taswiq
Firaq Muasira Tantasib ila al-Islam wa Bayan Mawqif al-Islam Minha (Contemporary Sects Claiming Affiliation to Islam and the Clarification of Islam's Stance Toward Them) is an encyclopedic study of Islamic sects and theological groups by Dr. Ghalib bin Ali Awaji, a faculty member at the Islamic University of Madinah .
Background and Purpose
The work developed from Awaji's teaching of the curriculum on sects (madat al-firaq) at the Islamic University of Madinah beginning in the academic year 1405 AH (1984–1985 CE) . The author noted that studying sects and recognizing the dangers they present to Muslims is essential for students of knowledge and preachers, likening this inquiry to the companion Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman asking the Prophet ﷺ about evil in order to avoid it . The book seeks to serve as an introductory reference for students by bringing together scattered historical and doctrinal material from classical Sunni literature, analyzing divergent theological doctrines, and refuting them according to the Quran, the Sunnah, and the creed of the early generations (al-Salaf) .
Structure and Scope
The book is arranged into an introduction and sixteen primary sections (abwab):
- Introduction to the Study of Sects: Examines the objectives and importance of studying sects, Quranic and prophetic prohibitions against sectarian division, the hadith on the seventy-three sects and the exception of the saved group, the origins and causes of disagreement among Muslims, and classical scholarly methods in enumerating sects .
- Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah: Details the creed, names, and titles of the Salaf, their insistence on adhering to the Sunnah, their avoidance of religious innovations, their theological moderation, their prominent figures, and the distinctive markers separating the saved group from astray sects .
- The Kharijites: Addresses their emergence, terminology, reasons for rebellion, engagements with the caliph 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, their branches, theological tenets (such as the status of perpetrators of major sins), and a focused study of the Ibadis .
- The Shi'a: Traces the stages of Shi'ism and its branches—including the Saba'iyya, Kaysaniyya, Zaydiyya, and Twelver Rafida—and critiques core doctrines including the exclusive right to the caliphate, infallible imamate, dissimulation (taqiyya), the Mahdi, return (raj'a), altering the Quran, and bada' (change in divine will) .
- The Batiniyya: Covers their emergence, founding objectives, deceptive recruiting strategies, and theological views regarding divinity, prophethood, the afterlife, and religious obligations .
- The Nusayriyya: Discusses their founder, secrecy, geographic spread, and doctrines, including deification of 'Ali, metempsychosis (tanasukh), and ritual practices .
- The Druze: Focuses on their origins, leaders, veneration of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, core tenets, and modern developments .
- The Baha'iyya: Analyzes the movement's connection to Babism, its founder 'Ali Muhammad al-Shirazi, ties to colonial powers, the Conference of Badasht, Baha'i leadership, sacred texts, and stated doctrines .
- The Qadiyaniyya (Ahmadiyya): Studies Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, his claims to prophethood and messianism, theological deviations, primary leaders (such as Hakim Nur al-Din), and the distinction of the Lahori branch .
- Sufism: Covers definitions, historical development, major orders (with an emphasis on the Tijaniyya order), retreat practices (khalwa), doctrines such as indwelling (hulul), unity of existence (wahdat al-wujud), and unity of witness (wahdat al-shuhud), ecstatic sayings (shatahat), and profiles of Sufi figures .
- The Murji'a: Explores the linguistic and technical definitions of irja', historical origins, subdivisions, core principles, and the Sunni definition of faith (iman) .
- The Jahmiyya: Addresses Jahm ibn Safwan, the origins of his ideas, the denial of divine names and attributes, fatalism (jabr), and claims regarding the annihilation of Paradise and Hellfire .
- The Mu'tazila: Discusses their origins, figures, and refutations of their "Five Principles" (al-Usul al-Khamsa): Divine Unity (tawhid), Justice ('adl), Promise and Threat (al-wa'd wa-l-wa'id), the Intermediate State (al-manzila bayn al-manzilatayn), and Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil .
- The Ash'aris: Treats the emergence of the school, the life and creed of Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari (including as expressed in al-Ibana), prominent figures, and their stance on divine attributes .
- The Maturidiyya: Summarizes the life of Abu Mansur al-Maturidi and the school's doctrinal stances .
- Shared Principles of the Scholastic Theologians: Synthesizes common positions among the Jahmiyya, Mu'tazila, Ash'aris, and Maturidiyya, such as prioritizing reason over transmitted revelation, misapprehensions concerning the oneness of worship (tawhid al-uluhiyya), figurative interpretation (ta'wil), and stripping texts of their apparent meanings (ta'til) .
Sources and Methodology
Awaji relies on primary classical texts and major historical works, as well as polemical and analytical contributions by modern authors. When analyzing non-Arabic movements, such as the Qadiyaniyya, he relies primarily on translations produced by scholars well versed in Urdu and Islamic doctrine, including Abul A'la Maududi, Abul Hasan Ali al-Nadwi, and Ihsan Ilahi Zahir .
Publication History
The first edition was published in 1414 AH (1993 CE) by Maktabat Layna in Damanhur, Egypt . An unauthorized photographic reprint labeled as the second edition appeared in 1416 AH (1996 CE) without the author's revisions . Awaji subsequently prepared a corrected and substantially revised third edition dated 20 Shawwal 1417 AH (February 1997 CE) . A fourth edition in three volumes was issued in 1422 AH (2001 CE) by al-Maktaba al-'Asriyya al-Dhahabiyya in Jeddah .
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