Iqamat al-Hujja wa al-Dalil wa Idah al-Mahajja wa al-Sabil

Iqamat al-Hujja wa al-Dalil wa Idah al-Mahajja wa al-Sabil (Arabic: إقامة الحجة والدليل وإيضاح المحجة والسبيل, lit. 'Establishing the Proof and Evidence and Clarifying the Pathway and Road') is a theological and polemical treatise by the Najdi Hanbali scholar Sulayman bin Sahman (d. 1349 AH / 1930 CE), written to defend the divine wisdom behind the Islamic pilgrimage (Hajj) rituals against skeptical objections Majallat al-Bayan+1.

Background and Occasion

The full title of the work is Iqamat al-Hujja wa al-Dalil wa Idah al-Mahajja wa al-Sabil 'ala ma Mawwah bihi Ahl al-Kadhib wa al-Mayn min Zanadiqat Ahl al-Bahrayn al-Durar al-Saniyya fi al…+1. In 1332 AH (1914 CE), during a visit to Bahrain, Bin Sahman encountered an inquiry addressed to the editor of al-Manar magazine, Muhammad Rashid Rida Majallat al-Bayan+1. The inquiry was presented on behalf of a group of ten individuals planning to perform Hajj, led by a man named Nasir bin Khayri (whom Bin Sahman identified as Nasir bin Mubarak), ostensibly seeking guidance on the rationale and wisdom of pilgrimage rites Iqamat al-Hujja wa al-Dal…+1.

Rashid Rida answered the questions directly, assuming good faith and a sincere desire for clarification on the part of the askers Iqamat al-Hujja wa al-Dal…+1. However, Bin Sahman and several of his contemporaries viewed the questions as deliberate theological subversion designed to cast doubt on divine wisdom and Islamic law Iqamat al-Hujja wa al-Dal…+1. At the prompting of colleagues who felt that Rida's accommodating response failed to confront the hostile premise of the questions, Bin Sahman authored this refutation Iqamat al-Hujja wa al-Dal…+1.

Contents and Arguments

Bin Sahman quotes the original question sent to Rashid Rida and evaluates the nature of the skepticism surrounding the Hajj rituals Iqamat al-Hujja wa al-Dal…+1. He argues that questioning the prescribed acts of worship stems from turning away from the Quran, the prophetic Sunnah, and the consensus of early Muslim scholars, and relying instead on secular and rationalist doubts imported from non-Muslim polemics Iqamat al-Hujja wa al-Dal…+1.

The work systematically defends the legitimacy and wisdom of pilgrimage practices—such as circumambulation (tawaf), the standing at Arafat, and associated rites—affirming that these acts constitute continuous practice established since the time of Abraham and confirmed by the Prophet Muhammad Iqamat al-Hujja wa al-Dal…+1. Bin Sahman also includes poetic verses reinforcing his defense of prophetic traditions and the underlying wisdom of divine legislation in worship Majmuat al-Qasaid al-Zuhd….

Publication History

The book was first printed as a lithograph edition in Delhi, India, in 1332 AH (1914 CE) Iqamat al-Hujja wa al-Dal…. After remaining scarce in printed circulation for decades, it was edited by Abd al-Salam bin Barjas Al Abd al-Karim and published by Dar al-Asima in Riyadh in 1409 AH (1988/1989 CE), based on the original Delhi lithograph al-Istighatha fi al-Radd …+1.