Maqalat al-Tatil wa al-Jaad ibn Dirham

Maqalat al-Ta‘til wa al-Ja‘d ibn Dirham (The Doctrine of Divesting Divine Attributes and al-Ja‘d ibn Dirham) is a theological and historical monograph by the contemporary Saudi scholar Muhammad ibn Khalifa al-Tamimi, examining the historical genesis of theological negation (ta‘til) and the life and ideas of its earliest prominent exponent in Islamic history, al-Ja‘d ibn Dirham Maqalat al-Tatil wa al-Ja…+1.

Background and Purpose

The author completed the treatise on 25 Ramadan 1417 AH while serving as an associate professor in the Department of Aqeedah at the Faculty of Da‘wah and Usul al-Din at the Islamic University of Madinah Maqalat al-Tatil wa al-Ja…. Al-Tamimi notes that theological discourse surrounding divine names and attributes in Islamic intellectual history stemmed significantly from the emergence of ta‘til, a doctrine initially voiced by al-Ja‘d ibn Dirham and later disseminated by his disciple al-Jahm ibn Safwan Maqalat al-Tatil wa al-Ja…. The book was written to provide a systematic historical and doctrinal survey of ta‘til, outlining its chronological development, degrees, associated factions, and historical origins, while addressing misunderstandings and modern apologetics concerning al-Ja‘d Maqalat al-Tatil wa al-Ja…+1.

Structure and Content

The work is organized into an introduction and two comprehensive parts (abwab) Maqalat al-Tatil wa al-Ja…:

• Part One: Definition of the Doctrine of Ta‘til and Its Stages: Divided into two chapters Maqalat al-Tatil wa al-Ja…+1. The first chapter defines ta‘til linguistically and doctrinally, classifies its broad categories—such as total denial of the Creator, divesting acts of worship, and denying divine names and attributes—and categorizes its varying degrees with respect to God's names and attributes al-Mawsuaa al-Aqadiyya+2. The second chapter charts the historical evolution of theological sects that preceded ta‘til (the Kharijites, Shi'a, Qadariyyah, Mu'tazilah, and Murji'ah), analyzes the emergence of ta‘til in the late era of the Successors (Tabi'un), and details its subsequent stages and expanding influence Maqalat al-Tatil wa al-Ja…+1.
• Part Two: Al-Ja‘d ibn Dirham: Divided into two chapters Maqalat al-Tatil wa al-Ja…. The first chapter focuses on his biography, investigating his name, origins, birthplace, homeland, the initial manifestation of his doctrines, his execution by the governor Khalid ibn Abd Allah al-Qasri, and the broader stance of Umayyad caliphs toward theological innovators Maqalat al-Tatil wa al-Ja…+1. The second chapter treats his specific heterodox assertions—chiefly denying that God took Abraham as an intimate friend or spoke directly to Moses—along with classical scholarly assessments and refutations of three specific fallacies and claims raised regarding his character and doctrines Maqalat al-Tatil wa al-Ja…+2.

Publication

The book was published in Riyadh by Maktabat Adwa' al-Salaf al-Mujalla fi Sharh al-Qa…+1.