Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimin wa al-Mushrikin

Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimin wa al-Mushrikin (The Beliefs of the Sects of Muslims and Polytheists) is a heresiographical treatise written by the Ash'ari theologian and exegete al-Fakhr al-Razi (d. 606 AH / 1210 CE) Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…+1. The book outlines the doctrinal positions, origins, and subdivisions of various Islamic sects as well as non-Islamic religious and philosophical movements Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…+1.

Structure and Content

The treatise is organized into ten distinct chapters (abwab):

1. The Mu'tazilah: Discusses the overarching consensus of the Mu'tazilites—namely their negation of divine attributes such as knowledge and power, their doctrine of the createdness of the Quran, and their view that God does not create human actions Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…. It explores the origin of the name Mu'tazila through the withdrawal of Wasil ibn Ata and Amr ibn Ubayd from the teaching circle of al-Hasan al-Basri, and enumerates seventeen Mu'tazilite sub-sects, noting that in his era only two active branches remained: the followers of Abu Hashim and the followers of Abu al-Husayn al-Basri Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…+1.
2. The Khawarij: Covers their consensus that sinning renders a Muslim an unbeliever, their condemnation of Uthman, Ali, Talhah, al-Zubayr, and Aisha, and their reverence for Abu Bakr and Umar Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…. It reviews twenty-one Kharijite factions, including the Muhakkima, Azariqa, Najdat, and Ibadiyya Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…+1.
3. The Rawafid (Shi'a): Traces the origin of the term Rafida to the revolt of Zayd ibn Ali and examines four main branches: the Zaydiyya, the Imamiyya, the Kaysaniyya, and the extremist sects (Ghulat) such as the Saba'iyya, the Hattabiyya, and the Ghurabiyya Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…+2.
4. The Anthropomorphists (al-Mushabbihah): Discusses the origins of anthropomorphism in Islam, asserting that it initially emerged through early Shi'i thinkers like Bayan ibn Sam'an and Hisham ibn al-Hakam before influencing certain traditionists who lacked proficiency in rational sciences Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…. Al-Razi explicitly defends early Sunni authorities such as Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, and Yahya ibn Ma'in against allegations of anthropomorphism leveled by the Mu'tazilites Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi….
5. The Karramiyya: Surveys the followers of Muhammad ibn Karram, describing their doctrines on corporealism, divine location, and their internal branches such as the Heysamiyya and Abidiyya Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi….
6. The Jabriyya: Details fatalist currents, including the Jahmiyya of Jahm ibn Safwan, the Najjariyya, the Dirariyya, and the Bakriyya Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi….
7. The Murji'ah: Examines factions holding that sin does not impair faith, contrasting their views with the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunnah regarding sinful believers Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi….
8. The Sufis: Al-Razi remarks that most previous heresiographers omitted the Sufis, which he considers an omission since their core pursuit—spiritual purification and detaching the soul from bodily concerns—is commendable Mawsuat al-Amaal al-Kamil…+1. He divides them into distinct groups, praising the genuine adherents (Ashab al-Haqiqah) while criticizing antinomian (Mubahiyya) and incarnationist (Hululiyya) factions Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi….
9. Pseudo-Islamic Movements: Focuses on groups presenting an Islamic exterior while holding opposing doctrines, primarily the Batiniyya, including the Sabbahiyya of Hassan-i Sabbah, the Qaramita, and the Babakiyya Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…+1.
10. Non-Islamic Religions and Philosophers: Divided into six sections addressing Jews, Christians, Dualists (such as Manichaeans, Bardesanites, and Mazdakites), Sabeans (star worshippers), and Philosophers (al-Falasifa) Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…+2.

Addressing the hadith on the seventy-three sects, al-Razi explains that the number mentioned in the tradition refers to major divisions, and that enumerating all detailed offshoots would yield far higher figures Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi….

Author's Concluding Apologia

In the closing section of the tenth chapter, al-Razi provides a personal defense of his intellectual career Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…+1. He explains that his early engagement with philosophical literature was intended to master the subject in order to refute philosophers' arguments Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…. He lists several of his theological and polemical writings—including Nihayat al-Uqul, al-Mabahith al-Mashriqiyya, al-Mulakhkhas, and al-Bayan wa al-Burhan—noting that these works were dedicated to dismantling philosophical fallacies and defending orthodox tenets Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi…. He laments that critics and detractors continued to question his religious commitment, affirming that his own creed and that of his forebears had always been that of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimi….

Modern Editions

The work has been edited and published in multiple modern editions, including:

• An edition edited by Ali Sami al-Nashshar (published by Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya, Beirut) al-Ayat al-Quraniyya al-W…+1.
• An edition edited by Muhammad al-Mu'tasim Billah al-Baghdadi (Dar al-Kitab al-Arabi, Beirut) al-Ayat al-Quraniyya al-W…+1.
• An edition accompanied by a supplement titled al-Murshid al-Amin, edited by Taha Abd al-Ra'uf Sa'd and Mustafa al-Hawari (Maktabat al-Kulliyyat al-Azhariyya, Cairo, 1398 AH / 1978 CE) al-Tis'iniyya.