Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-Din al-Sarmari fi Taqrir al-Aqida

Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-Din al-Sarmari fi Taqrir al-Aqida (The Methodology of Imam Jamal al-Din al-Sarmari in Establishing Creed) is a contemporary theological study and critical edition by Khalid ibn Mansur al-Mutlaq Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D…. It investigates the creedal methodology of the Hanbali scholar Jamal al-Din al-Sarmari and incorporates a critical edition of his treatise on prophetic virtues, Khasa'is Sayyid al-Alamin wa-ma Lahu min al-Manaqib al-Aja'ib ala Jami al-Anbiya' (alayhim al-salam) Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….

Background and Purpose

The work was presented as an academic master's thesis in the Department of Creed and Contemporary Schools during the academic year 1434–1435 AH (2013–2014 CE), under the supervision of Ali ibn Muhammad al-Dakhil Allah al-Suwaylim Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….

The author aimed to introduce the scholarly standing and theological legacy of Jamal al-Din Abu al-Muzaffar Yusuf al-Sarmari, elucidate his method in establishing the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jama'ah and defending it, and publish an unedited manuscript of his prophetic treatise Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D…. Al-Mutlaq highlighted al-Sarmari's affiliation with the school of Ibn Taymiyyah, citing his defense of him against Taqi al-Din al-Subki in the poem al-Hamiyyah al-Islamiyyah fi al-Intisar li-Madhhab Ibn Taymiyyah, as well as his adherence to the way of the early generations (Salaf) without scholastic theological (kalam) complexities Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….

Structure and Scope

The book is organized into an introduction, two main parts, and a conclusion Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D…:

• Introduction: Covers the importance of the topic, reasons for its selection, the research plan, and the scholarly methodology employed Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….
• Part One: An analytical study of al-Sarmari's theological approach across seven chapters Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D…:
  1. Era and Life of Jamal al-Din al-Sarmari: Examining his historical era, personal biography, and scholarly pursuits Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….
  2. Methodology of Reception and Derivation: Analyzing al-Sarmari's foundational sources—the Quran, the Sunnah, and the statements of the Salaf—along with his modes of textual argumentation Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….
  3. Methodology in Establishing Tawhid: Addressing the categories of divine Lordship (Tawhid al-Rububiyyah), divine Worship (Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah), and the Divine Names and Attributes (Tawhid al-Asma' wa-l-Sifat) Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….
  4. Methodology Regarding Other Articles of Faith: Treating belief in angels, prophets, the Last Day, and divine decree and predestination (al-Qada' wa-l-Qadar) Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….
  5. Issues of Faith (Iman): Exploring the definition and designation of faith, its increase and decrease, making exceptions in faith (al-istithna'), and the legal ruling regarding perpetrators of major sins Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D…+1.
  6. The Companions and the Imamate: Covering al-Sarmari's stance toward the Prophet's Companions and the rules governing political leadership Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….
  7. Stance on Sects and Innovators: Discussing the obligation of adhering to the community (al-Jama'ah), the censure of discord, and positions regarding theological innovations Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….
• Part Two: The critical edition of al-Sarmari's Khasa'is Sayyid al-Alamin Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D…. It opens with an introductory study documenting the title, authorship, subject matter, sources, and scholarly value of the text, alongside definitions of prophetic characteristics (khasa'is), virtues (manaqib), and miracles (mu'jizat), and a codicological description of the manuscripts Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D…. This is followed by the fully verified and annotated text Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….
• Conclusion: Summarizes the primary findings and insights reached in the study Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D….

Critical Edition and Sources

In editing Khasa'is Sayyid al-Alamin, al-Mutlaq collated manuscript witnesses, relying centrally on an early manuscript transcribed in 770 AH—six years prior to al-Sarmari's death—which contains the author's audition entry (sama') and scholarly license (ijazah) Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D…+1. The text demonstrates al-Sarmari's approach of comparing the miracles granted to previous prophets with those granted to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, resolving intricate theological inquiries in a question-and-answer format (fa-in qila / fa-l-jawab), and integrating hadith documentation Manhaj al-Imam Jamal al-D…+1.